There’s an airline with a fleet of latest, snug Airbus A330 planes outfitted in eye-catching striped branding able to fly you to Europe this 12 months.
Serving 12 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada, German airline Condor provides a snug business-class possibility at aggressive fares. It additionally supplies reasonably priced economic system and premium economic 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 just some months in the past. Let’s go over what makes Condor distinctive, the place it flies and whether or not it is best to use your miles or money to e-book your subsequent summer time journey to Europe.
What’s Condor?
Condor relies 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 targeted on economic system class. Nonetheless, since then, it has taken supply of a fleet of recent Airbus A330neo-900 plane. These have a superb enterprise class and a premium economic system cabin that gives extra legroom than economic system.
Once I flew Condor in late 2024, it was my first time on the A330neo. It was so clean that I did not even notice that we had taxied from the gate to the tarmac; it is one of many quietest plane I’ve flown, making it an amazing alternative for sleeping on in a single day flights to Europe.
The airline will get you in a summer time trip temper with a daring, striped design on the surface of its planes, impressed by seashore 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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In case you do not dwell in one in all these cities, you possibly can connect with them on Alaska Airways or JetBlue — all on the identical ticket.
The service additionally serves three Canadian cities: Calgary, Alberta; Toronto; and Vancouver, British Columbia.
From Frankfurt, you possibly can connect with Condor‘s short-haul community, which is especially intensive all through the Mediterranean. So, in case you are planning a visit to Italy, Greece, Spain or Turkey in the summertime, that is an particularly good possibility.
Beginning subsequent month, Condor will develop 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 possibly can 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 snug, lie-flat seat with direct aisle entry. The fashionable seat converts right into a mattress with a mattress topper, a comfy pillow and a luxurious blanket, together with a sleep masks, earplugs and a pair of socks that will help 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 exquisite, 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 possibly can 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 possibly can e-book these award flights instantly 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 economic system fare to Europe.
In case you actually need to deal with your self, you possibly can pay a further payment (from 199 euros, or about $209) to pick out 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 often solely discover in top quality. You may additionally get a 40% bigger leisure display screen, complimentary pajamas and your very personal snack basket with candy and savory choices to take pleasure in between meals.
Premium economic system
In case you’re on the lookout for a center floor between enterprise and economic system, Condor‘s premium economic 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 equipment 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’ Principal Cabin Further, Delta Air Traces’ 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 economic system fares to Europe begin at $700 round-trip however are extra generally discovered for round $1,000. You possibly can e-book a redemption by means of Alaska Airways Mileage Plan beginning at 70,000 miles plus $242 in taxes and charges, and, once more, you possibly can e-book a free stopover in Frankfurt.
Preserve an eye fixed out for improve provides from the airline. On my flight, there have been upgrades from premium economic system to enterprise class out there for $475, which is a wonderful 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
- At the least one free carry-on and one complimentary checked bag on most long-haul flights; these with fundamental economic system (known as Economic system Gentle) fares can add a checked bag from 59 euros (roughly $62) one-way
Economic system class is ready up in a 2-4-2 configuration, making it a good selection for {couples} and households wanting privateness of their area.
I loved with the ability to use my very own headphones by means 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 machine 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 could find economic system fares to Europe as little as $270 however extra generally from $500, which provides good worth in comparison with Condor’s bigger opponents. As an added bonus, you possibly can credit score these flights to Alaska Airways Mileage Plan to earn Alaska miles.
Backside line
In case you are on the lookout for a well-priced ticket in your summer time journey to Europe, then Condor is a superb possibility to think about. 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, snug 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.
