Need a friend in Iceland? Icelandair will give you one for free

Icelandair already offers transatlantic passengers the option to make a stopover in Iceland for up to seven days at no additional charge. Now the airline is also offering a free travel friend.

From Feb. 2 through April 30, passengers can order a "Stopover Buddy" -- an Icelandair employee who will accompany the traveler, free of charge, on various Icelandic adventures. They're basically native tour guides, available to show a local view of the popular north Atlantic destination.

"It’s not just any adventurer — it’s an Icelandair employee"

"Birkir, 41, is one of the available Buddies, offering passengers a tour of his hometown and a day of backcountry skiing," the airline said in a statement about available buddies. "Visitors could also pair up with Margret, 64, a flight attendant of 30 years who is an expert on geothermal springs. Enjoy a cooking lesson in traditional Icelandic fish dishes with travel consultant, Inga, 45."

Although the service is free of charge, spending a few days in Iceland of course has its own costs, from hotels to meals.

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Iceland's tourism companies and officials have long promoted the potential for an adventurous stopover on the island. There are even itineraries available for travelers who only have a few hours to explore.

The country has been riding a wave of traveler interest since about 2013, but the promotion of Iceland specifically as a stopover is one way to grow tourism even more.

"The Stopover Buddy service will give our passengers an authentic taste of Iceland and we look forward to hearing about their journeys,” said CEO Birkir Holm Gudnason.

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