Norwegian Long Haul

Before You Book: Know DU’s Status

Norwegian Long Haul (IATA: DU) was the long‑haul arm of Norwegian Air Shuttle and, as of 2021, it no longer operates scheduled flights. Because you may still encounter the DU code in historical searches or on interline tickets, it helps to know how pet travel worked and what rules still affect DU‑marketed itineraries today. The short version is simple: cats and dogs were not accepted as pets on DU long‑haul flights, and the only animals permitted in the cabin were qualified assistance/service dogs. If your booking is DU‑coded but flown by another airline, the operating carrier’s rules apply and can be very different. To avoid surprises, verify the policy for every flight segment before you commit to the itinerary.

Cabin vs. Hold: What’s Allowed

On DU’s long‑haul services (e.g., Boeing 787 operations), pet travel for leisure animals was not available in the cabin. Only trained and documented assistance/service dogs could travel with their handler, and they needed prior approval from the airline. ESAs (emotional support animals) were not accepted as service animals, and the dog had to remain harnessed, under control, and positioned at the handler’s feet without blocking aisles. You should expect the crew to assess whether the dog can be safely accommodated; if not, boarding may be denied or rebooking required.

Transporting animals in the hold or as checked baggage was likewise not offered by Norwegian Long Haul. This means DU itineraries were not suitable for moving pets as AVIH (animal in hold) or as airline‑managed cargo. If you needed to move an animal on a journey that included DU, the typical approach was to use a different carrier that accepts pets for the long‑haul leg or to arrange shipment through a specialized live‑animal cargo provider on another airline. When a ticket mixed DU with other carriers, only the segments operated by pet‑friendly airlines could carry animals, and connection rules often made such itineraries impractical.

Carriers, Sizes and Weight Limits

Because DU did not carry pets in the cabin or hold, it published no kennel dimensions or weight limits for leisure animals. For approved assistance/service dogs, the practical “size limit” was whether the dog could fit within the floor space of your seat area without protruding into the aisle or another passenger’s footwell. The animal could not occupy a seat, had to remain leashed or harnessed, and had to be able to lie or sit calmly for the duration of the flight. If the dog was too large to be safely accommodated, you would be advised to seek alternative arrangements.

If your journey is DU‑coded but a separate segment is operated by another airline that allows pets, that carrier’s exact kennel rules will control. As a rule of thumb on many short‑haul airlines, in‑cabin carriers must be soft‑sided, fully closeable, and small enough to slide under the seat, with a low combined weight allowance. However, do not assume dimensions or kilos—always check the operating airline’s published limits in centimeters/inches and total weight including the animal.

Documents and Vaccinations

For assistance/service dogs, advance approval was required along with documentation showing the dog’s training and role, plus vaccination/health records. Expect to present identification from a recognized assistance‑dog organization where applicable, and to affirm the dog’s behavior and control. Some destinations also require specific forms or attestations, and the handler is responsible for all border‑entry compliance. Bringing printed copies of approvals, vet records, and contact details for your training organization greatly reduces day‑of‑travel friction.

Border and veterinary requirements depended on origin and destination, not the airline. For Europe/Schengen, dogs and cats typically need an ISO‑compliant microchip and valid rabies vaccination; movements from outside the EU often require an EU animal health certificate issued shortly before travel. Several countries (for example Great Britain, Ireland, Finland, Malta, and Norway) require pre‑arrival tapeworm treatment for dogs, and the United States maintains CDC rules for dog entry from high‑risk rabies countries. Confirm timelines carefully—some documents have windows as short as 10 days, and rabies rules may impose a 21‑day wait after vaccination.

Fees and Route Restrictions

Since DU did not accept pets as cabin or checked baggage, there were no pet fees as such. Approved assistance/service dogs traveled in the cabin without a carriage fee, subject to space, safety, and documentation requirements. Certain jurisdictions impose additional restrictions—some routes limit animal carriage to assistance dogs only, some require entry through designated airports, and a few may mandate quarantine if requirements aren’t met. Breed‑based hold restrictions are moot here because DU did not offer hold transport; behavior and safety standards still apply to assistance dogs regardless of breed.

If your DU‑coded itinerary is operated by another carrier, its fees, species limits, seasonal embargoes, and blackout cities will apply instead. Pay special attention to flights involving the UK/Ireland (often assistance‑dogs‑only in cabins), the US (CDC dog import rules), and destinations with strict biosecurity. A quick check with both the ticketing agency and the operating airline can prevent a costly rebooking later.

Preparing for a Smooth Journey

When traveling with an assistance/service dog, contact the airline early, request written approval, and choose seating that provides realistic floor space—bulkhead window or middle seats may work better than aisles on some aircraft. Bring a well‑fitted harness, a short leash, absorption pads, and a compact cleanup kit, and plan relief breaks around long ground times. Feed lightly several hours before departure, avoid sedatives unless your vet explicitly advises them, and practice extended settle‑and‑stay behaviors in busy environments before the trip. If you must move a pet on a journey that would have included DU, consider re‑routing entirely on a pet‑friendly carrier or using a reputable animal shipper; these arrangements often take weeks to coordinate.

• Quick checklist: request approval 48–72 hours in advance; carry original vet documents plus copies; pack harness/leash and cleanup supplies; bring a collapsible, non‑spillable water bowl; and reconfirm all segments 24 hours before departure.

This guidance reflects DU’s long‑haul practice and common regulatory requirements. Policies do change, so for any itinerary you’re booking now, double‑check the rules published by the airline actually operating each flight.

What ages mean on Norwegian Long Haul (DU)

Norwegian Long Haul (IATA: DU) aligned its family travel rules with the wider Norwegian group, so you’ll find familiar definitions. An infant is any child under 2 years old (0–23 months) on the day of travel; a child is 2–11 years. From 12 years, tickets price as adult and standard seating and baggage rules apply. Each young traveler must be booked with an accompanying adult per your fare’s conditions, and only one lap infant can be assigned to each adult. If your itinerary is managed under Norwegian (DY), the same principles generally apply—always check your booking confirmation for specifics.

Seats and tickets for infants

You can fly with an infant as a lap child or buy them their own seat. A lap infant shares your seat space and travels for a reduced infant fee or taxes; this is the lightest option, but space is tight on long sectors. Only one lap infant is allowed per adult; a second infant with the same adult must have a booked seat and use an approved car seat. If you prefer extra room, book a seat for your baby at the child fare and plan to secure them in a compliant restraint.

Bulkhead seats are popular with families because they position you for bassinets on the 787, yet they’re limited and should be requested early. Remember, a lap infant doesn’t have their own seat during taxi, take‑off, and landing; if there’s an empty seat nearby, crew may let you use it, but it’s never guaranteed. When purchasing a seat for a baby, choose a window position for the car seat—aisle and exit rows are not permitted. For twins with one adult, the most straightforward setup is one lap infant plus one infant in a purchased seat with a car seat.

Baggage, strollers, car seats, and bassinets

A lap infant generally does not receive a full cabin or checked baggage allowance, but you may bring essential baby items. A small diaper bag is typically allowed in addition to the adult’s carry‑on, and child equipment such as a stroller and car seat can be checked without charge. A child with their own seat follows the allowance of the fare you buy—LowFare, LowFare+, Flex, or Premium—so if your fare includes checked baggage, the child’s ticket does too. Always review your e‑ticket for exact bag numbers and weights, as allowances vary by fare and route.

For each infant or child, DU typically accepted up to two child items—such as a collapsible stroller, car seat, or travel cot—checked free of charge. Strollers can usually be taken to the gate, tagged there, and returned at the aircraft door or oversized belt at arrival; a protective bag is highly recommended. If you plan to bring a car seat into the cabin, it must fit the aircraft seat and be approved for aviation use; install it in a window seat and never in an exit row.

The program behind Norwegian Long Haul

Norwegian Long Haul (IATA DU) once operated the long‑haul services of Norwegian Air Shuttle. Those routes were discontinued, but the loyalty scheme that covered DU still lives on as Norwegian Reward. Instead of traditional miles, you collect CashPoints—a cash‑like balance you can spend on flights and travel extras. The idea is deliberately simple and transparent, with easy earning on everyday travel and straightforward redemptions. If you flew DU in the past or you fly Norwegian today, this is the program that applies.

Membership structure: rewards, not tiers

Norwegian Reward has no classic status tiers—there’s no Silver/Gold/Platinum ladder to climb. Instead, you unlock Frequent Flyer Rewards based on activity: every six one‑way flights you take within a rolling 12‑month period earns one Reward. You then choose the benefit you want, and it’s valid for 12 months from activation. Multiple Rewards can be active at the same time and they stack, so your benefits grow the more you fly. It’s a low‑maintenance structure that favors regular travelers without the complexity of elite qualification.

Earning CashPoints on flights and partners

On Norwegian flights, you earn a percentage of the ticket price (excluding taxes and government fees), typically in the 2–10% range depending on fare type—entry‑level fares earn at the lower end, while more flexible fares earn more. Certain ancillaries, like pre‑paid seat selection or baggage, also earn. If you’ve chosen the Extra 2% CashPoints Frequent Flyer Reward, it boosts your flight earning during the time it’s active. Always add your Reward number when booking, and double‑check it’s attached before you fly to avoid missed credit.

Beyond flights, you can top up CashPoints with select partners. Hotel and car‑rental partners, the Norwegian Reward eShop (with hundreds of online retailers in Scandinavia and the UK), and the co‑branded Bank Norwegian Visa in the Nordics all offer earning opportunities. A handy feature is the Family Profile, which lets you pool CashPoints with household members for faster redemptions. There’s no alliance and no partner‑airline earning—this is a point‑of‑sale program focused on Norwegian and everyday partners.

Redeeming: simple, flexible, and fee‑friendly

CashPoints work like cash at checkout. You can pay partially or in full for any available Norwegian flight—sales fares included—plus taxes, fees, and most extras such as seats, baggage, and ticket changes. There are no blackout dates or complicated award charts; what you see is what you can buy. While you’ll find plenty of flight uses, note there are and no mileage‑based upgrade awards.

A simple, all‑Dreamliner fleet

Norwegian Long Haul (IATA: DU) was the long‑range arm of Norwegian Air Shuttle, and its fleet strategy was refreshingly straightforward: fly only the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. That meant two wide‑body types—787‑8 and 787‑9—covering transatlantic and select Asian routes from 2013 until the long‑haul program was wound down in 2021. Because aircraft moved between Norwegian’s different air operator certificates, the exact DU count fluctuated, but the unit typically managed a double‑digit number of Dreamliners. At the wider group level, Norwegian’s long‑haul operation peaked at roughly the high‑20s to around 30 Dreamliners before the pandemic.

The aircraft you were most likely to fly

If you flew DU, you almost certainly stepped onto either the 787‑8 or the larger 787‑9, both in a two‑cabin layout: Economy and Premium. The 787‑8 usually seated about 291 passengers (around 32 in Premium and 259 in Economy) with a 2‑3‑2 Premium and 3‑3‑3 Economy layout. The 787‑9 appeared in two common configurations over time: an earlier 344‑seat version (about 35 Premium/309 Economy) and a later, comfort‑heavy 338‑seat version with an expanded Premium cabin (about 56 Premium/282 Economy). For you as a traveler, that meant generous 787 perks—larger dimmable windows, improved pressurization and humidity, and quiet cabins—paired with Norwegian’s high‑utilization, low‑fare model.

Youngest and oldest jets

Norwegian’s first 787‑8s arrived in 2013, making them the oldest frames in the DU portfolio, yet still relatively young by wide‑body standards. The newest additions were 787‑9s delivered in 2018–2020, many of which featured the larger Premium cabin and upgraded interiors. Because deliveries were recent and retirements happened abruptly, the long‑haul fleet’s average age remained strikingly low—often under six years—when operations paused. That youthful profile was a key part of performance, reliability, and passenger comfort.

What happened next: orders and retirements

Before 2020, Norwegian planned steady 787‑9 growth and had additional deliveries lined up. The pandemic and a strategic reset changed course: in January 2021 the group exited long‑haul flying, cancelled remaining 787 growth plans, and returned aircraft to lessors; DU activity effectively ceased. Many former DU Dreamliners later found new homes—most visibly with Norse Atlantic Airways and other carriers—while Norwegian Air Shuttle refocused on a single‑type short‑haul fleet. For you, that means DU’s long‑haul experience is now a chapter in aviation history rather than a current option.

A quick note before you fly

Norwegian Long Haul (IATA DU) suspended scheduled long‑haul operations in 2021. The details below summarize its historical onboard service so you know what to expect if you come across DU‑coded charters or legacy references in booking tools. Policies could vary by route and aircraft, but the core approach to meals, beverages, and special requests remained consistent. Treat this as a practical guide rather than a current promise, and always verify specifics on your itinerary.

What to expect by cabin and flight length

On true long‑haul sectors, economy service was structured around one main meal after takeoff and a lighter second service before landing. If you booked LowFare+ or Flex, these meals were included, typically with soft drinks, tea, and coffee; LowFare travelers could still eat but needed to pre‑order a hot meal or rely on the buy‑on‑board snack bar. The main tray usually featured a hot entrée, salad or side, bread, and dessert, while the pre‑arrival service leaned lighter—often a breakfast‑style box or snack depending on direction and time of day. Between services, a cashless snack bar offered sandwiches, wraps, sweets, and soft drinks.

In Premium, the experience stepped up with a more elaborate hot meal after takeoff and a lighter second service before arrival. Beverages were more generous in this cabin, and the overall pacing felt closer to a boutique long‑haul product than a classic low‑cost model. Cabin crews aimed to keep the flow unhurried and friendly, with refills available during service windows. It wasn’t white‑tablecloth dining, but it was polished and pleasantly consistent on the 787 fleet.

Special meals and dietary needs

Norwegian Long Haul supported a limited range of special meals when pre‑ordered, notably vegetarian options (and on some routes, fully vegan) plus a child meal. Other medical or religious special meals—such as strict gluten‑free, kosher, or halal—were generally not available. If you needed a specific composition, the safest approach was to bring your own sealed, cold items that comply with security rules and destination agriculture restrictions.

The airline could not guarantee an allergen‑free environment and nuts or traces of allergens might be present anywhere in the catering chain. Crew could take reasonable steps—like pausing sales of certain snacks nearby—but absolute avoidance could not be ensured. If you have severe allergies, consider carrying doctor‑advised medication and informing the crew after boarding. For all special requests, the typically closed about before departure.

What you’ll watch and hear

Norwegian Long Haul’s cabins center on a simple promise: plenty to watch and listen to without fuss. The onboard library blends recent Hollywood releases with Scandinavian and wider European cinema, a spread of acclaimed documentaries, and a dependable Kids zone with age‑appropriate series. You’ll find movies, TV shows, music, and—on select aircraft—casual games, so there’s always something to fit your mood. TV choices range from full seasons of popular dramas and comedies to travel and lifestyle shows that fit neatly between meals. The interactive flight map provides real‑time stats and viewpoints that make the long hours feel shorter, and the overall selection is refreshed regularly, though specific titles can vary by route and month.

How you access it

Everything lives on your personal seatback touchscreen on the Boeing 787 long‑haul fleet, so you won’t need to juggle apps or codes. The interface is intuitive—browse by genre, language, or runtime—and the screen doubles as a service portal where you can order snacks and drinks to your seat and pay by card, a hallmark of Norwegian’s long‑haul experience. A standard headphone jack and USB power make it easy to plug in and keep your devices topped up while you watch. On some aircraft, you may also find a handful of touch‑friendly puzzles and quizzes alongside the main catalog. Menus, audio tracks, and subtitles appear in multiple languages, and brightness plus parental controls help tailor the screen to your comfort.

Economy vs Premium: what changes

Entertainment access is the same in Economy and Premium—every seat gets an on‑demand screen with the full catalog—yet Premium typically enjoys a larger display and more elbow room to watch comfortably. In Premium, headphones are usually complimentary, while in Economy it’s wise to bring your own or purchase a set onboard. Power outlets and USB charging are more prevalent in Premium, but Economy rows also provide at least USB power on most aircraft. Content itself doesn’t change by cabin, so you won’t miss a headline title because of your fare; what differs is the hardware and comfort around it. That setup keeps the experience fair, especially if you’re traveling with family spread across both cabins.

Wi‑Fi, streaming, and your own device

Norwegian began rolling out long‑haul Wi‑Fi on its Dreamliners with two tiers: a lighter tier for messaging and browsing, and a paid high‑speed tier suitable for streaming and larger downloads. Coverage can vary by aircraft and route, and speeds naturally ebb over busy stretches of ocean, so think of it as a helpful add‑on rather than a home‑broadband replacement. The IFE library itself lives on the seatback screen rather than a bring‑your‑own‑device portal; if you want to watch on your phone or tablet, you’ll be streaming from the open internet via the onboard network. Wi‑Fi typically becomes available at cruising altitude and pauses during certain phases of flight. For reliability, it’s still smart to pre‑download a couple of favorites before you fly.