There’s an airline with a fleet of recent, comfy Airbus A330 planes outfitted in eye-catching striped branding able to fly you to Europe this yr.
Serving 12 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada, German airline Condor presents a cushty business-class choice at aggressive fares. It additionally supplies inexpensive financial system and premium financial system choices to Europe and past. Moreover, Alaska Airways Mileage Plan members may even earn and redeem miles when flying with Condor.
I had the possibility to fly the airline for the primary time only a few months in the past. Let’s go over what makes Condor distinctive, the place it flies and whether or not it’s best to use your miles or money to e-book your subsequent summer season journey to Europe.
What’s Condor?
Condor is predicated out of Frankfurt Airport (FRA), the world’s second-most-connected hub (measured by variety of nonstop locations).
It began as a leisure airline, primarily centered on financial system class. Nonetheless, since then, it has taken supply of a fleet of contemporary Airbus A330neo-900 plane. These have an glorious enterprise class and a premium financial system cabin that gives extra legroom than financial system.
After I flew Condor in late 2024, it was my first time on the A330neo. It was so easy that I did not even understand that we had taxied from the gate to the tarmac; it is one of many quietest plane I’ve flown, making it an important alternative for sleeping on in a single day flights to Europe.
The airline will get you in a summer season trip temper with a daring, striped design on the skin of its planes, impressed by seaside umbrellas, towels and chairs.
The place Condor operates
The airline flies to Frankfurt from 9 U.S. cities:
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Boston
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York
- Portland, Oregon
- San Francisco
- Seattle
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For those who do not stay in one in every of these cities, you may connect with them on Alaska Airways or JetBlue — all on the identical ticket.
The provider additionally serves three Canadian cities: Calgary, Alberta; Toronto; and Vancouver, British Columbia.
From Frankfurt, you may connect with Condor‘s short-haul community, which is especially intensive all through the Mediterranean. So, if you’re planning a visit to Italy, Greece, Spain or Turkey in the summertime, that is an particularly good choice.
Beginning subsequent month, Condor will broaden its short-haul community with new flights to Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, Germany, plus Zurich and Vienna. New flights between Frankfurt and Rome with persevering with service to Palermo, Italy, will begin in April, adopted by new routes to Milan, Paris and Prague in Might.
The airline additionally has an interline settlement with Lufthansa, which suggests you may fly Condor to Frankfurt after which reap the benefits of Lufthansa’s frequent connections all through the remainder of Europe.
Enterprise class
In case you have Alaska Airways Mileage Plan miles, then a redemption in Condor enterprise class is worthy of your consideration.
All passengers get a cushty, lie-flat seat with direct aisle entry. The fashionable seat converts right into a mattress with a mattress topper, a comfy pillow and an opulent blanket, together with a sleep masks, earplugs and a pair of socks that can assist you get some relaxation.
TPG Senior Reporter Zach Griff was on the inaugural A330neo flight and was completely impressed by the swanky cabin, tech-forward facilities and delightful, eye-catching design.
Passengers additionally get lounge entry, precedence boarding and check-in privileges, and a bigger checked baggage allowance.
Spherical-trip fares to Europe begin at 110,000 Alaska miles and below $250 in taxes and charges. Plus, you may add a free stopover in Frankfurt (which, for my part, is an underrated metropolis to go to) on the best way there or again. You may e-book these award flights immediately on the Alaska web site.
As for money fares, tickets presently begin at $2,400 round-trip, which is what many airways cost for a premium financial system fare to Europe.
For those who actually need to deal with your self, you may pay a further price (from 199 euros, or about $209) to pick one of many 4 Prime Seats on the entrance of the cabin. In doing so, you may get a bigger seat, with sufficient room to dine with a companion reverse you — one thing you normally solely discover in top quality. You will additionally get a 40% bigger leisure display, complimentary pajamas and your very personal snack basket with candy and savory choices to take pleasure in between meals.
Premium financial system
For those who’re searching for a center floor between enterprise and financial system, Condor‘s premium financial system is the reply.
On this cabin, you may take pleasure in:
- A further 5 inches of legroom
- A welcome beverage and complimentary alcoholic drinks
- An elevated baggage allowance
- A pillow and a blanket
- An amenity package that features an eye fixed masks and socks
The legroom you’ll take pleasure in on this cabin is just like that in American Airways’ Major Cabin Additional, Delta Air Strains’ Consolation+ and United Airways’ Economic system Plus cabins.
I discovered the cabin crew on my flight to be pleasant, proactive and environment friendly, which is what you need on transatlantic flights of seven-plus hours.
Premium financial system fares to Europe begin at $700 round-trip however are extra generally discovered for round $1,000. You may e-book a redemption by way of Alaska Airways Mileage Plan beginning at 70,000 miles plus $242 in taxes and charges, and, once more, you may e-book a free stopover in Frankfurt.
Maintain an eye fixed out for improve presents from the airline. On my flight, there have been upgrades from premium financial system to enterprise class accessible for $475, which is a superb worth for a lie-flat seat on an in a single day flight.
Economic system
All passengers flying on long-haul Condor flights obtain the next advantages:
- A free private merchandise
- A complimentary meal with nonalcoholic drinks
- A crystal clear 4K seatback touchscreen with free leisure
- Not less than one free carry-on and one complimentary checked bag on most long-haul flights; these with primary financial system (known as Economic system Gentle) fares can add a checked bag from 59 euros (roughly $62) one-way
Economic system class is about up in a 2-4-2 configuration, making it a sensible choice for {couples} and households wanting privateness of their house.
I loved with the ability to use my very own headphones by way of the inflight leisure system’s Bluetooth connection. My AirPods paired in lower than 10 seconds and gave me superior noise cancellation whereas watching motion pictures.
There may be additionally a helpful system holder, which I put to make use of whereas watching Netflix exhibits I had preloaded on my iPad.
All A330neos have Wi-Fi connectivity, in addition to USB-A and USB-C charging retailers.
You’ll find financial system fares to Europe as little as $270 however extra generally from $500, which presents good worth in comparison with Condor’s bigger opponents. As an added bonus, you may credit score these flights to Alaska Airways Mileage Plan to earn Alaska miles.
Backside line
If you’re searching for a well-priced ticket on your summer season journey to Europe, then Condor is a good choice to contemplate. And if in case you have a stash of Alaska miles, why not search for a redemption in enterprise class to take pleasure in a lie-flat seat, comfy bedding and pleasant service?
With a contemporary fleet, aggressive pricing and frequent connections, Condor is a hidden gem that savvy vacationers ought to take note of.
