Norwegian Airlines, the Dreamy New Airlines for Americans

If you're like me, you love to travel, but hate the thought of long-haul flights. I remember the worst flight I ever took; I was crammed into the last seat in the corner, no reclining available, video didn't work, food was inedible, air was stuck on, so was freezing; hence, the longest international flight I ever took!

Today, however, thanks to Norwegian's proactive stance on saving the environment and providing a pick-as-you-go menu of services, I really enjoyed my trans-global flight from Oslo, Norway to Los Angeles, California.

First, the interior looks more like a scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey than a typical airline. There is more headroom height, and the baggage compartments allow for easier access and larger bags. The windows are 65% larger, using an innovative dimming window adjustable individually. The technology is an electrified gel technology that darkens the gel as the electric current increases.

For me, though, the best aspect even before boarding was the fact that I could choose different options that would impact the price. For example, to assign a seat, 15€, to have a meal 34€, to check your bag, 50€, so since this trip was a budgetary one, I opted out of all three, bringing a gourmet sandwich from Chef Pierre, crammed everything into a carry-on, and left it for fate to decide if I would get a window seat or not.

Next was the really cool personalizable video screen with a Netflix-style display of choices: TV shows, New Movies, Classics, or even Documentaries. I could also choose from a few games, but didn't find the choices worthwhile, so settled down to choose a movie, selecting Rules Don't Apply, directed by Warren Beatty. Oops, forgot my earplugs, so I went to the amenities screen, clicked on earplugs, and within minutes a flight attendant appeared. The best--I just had to swipe my card under the screen, and voilà, instant payment! They just needed to add The Sharper Image or some other fun gadgety-style accessories to buy, but I knew that was just a matter of time.

Lunch was actually quite tasty, with a roasted chicken and edamame beans. They arrived in recyclable containers, including all of the utensils and glassware. Norwegian actually has the most environmentally friendly fleet of all the airlines to date. Their commitment to the environment is impressive:

● Committed to replacing traditional jet-fuel with a greener biofuel when available, using biofuel on all of its Oslo flights in 2016

● Using the latest fleet of aircraft to reduce negative impact on the local environment, with significantly quieter aircraft

● Employing lighter materials such as slim and lightweight seats to reduce weight and emissions

● Adding winglets to reduce drag, and a tailfin-like extension to reduce fuel consumption by approximately two percent per aircraft

● Using a special engine and aircraft wash, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 16, 000 tons per year

● Flying from medium-size city destinations with direct flights; fewer take offs and landings

● Robust website with easy online booking capabilities including affordable fare calendar

With currently only 8 destinations to the USA, options are a bit limited, but Norwegian is adding a significant number of flights this coming fall, including but not limited to:

• Seattle, WA

• Denver, CO

• Newburgh, NY

As a final note, their rewards program is also very customizable and easy to use. They have a rewards program, where for every six flights on Norwegian, you earn rewards in the form of the following: 1) 2% Cash Point Boost 2) Free Fast Track 3) Free Seat Reservation or 4) Free Baggage. You can even earn cash points which are literally like cash when you use Norwegian Reward. Use them for car rental, hotels, restaurants, and of course more Norwegian tickets! Can't wait to book another flight!