While the Frankfurt, Germany-based Condor isn’t a household name for most, travelers may have already noticed the airline’s livery. That’s because Condor’s planes have bright stripes painted on the outside, and it’s unmistakable in a sea of similar-looking aircraft. The carrier has been making a splash in recent years with a growing route network across the Atlantic and an impressive onboard product. Here’s what you can expect from Condor.
Historically, Condor has been a leisure-focused airline for the German market. However, its focus has shifted to also capture travelers coming from the US bound for Europe. That’s great for people like you and me, since Condor offers competitive fares but isn’t a “low-cost” carrier in the traditional sense. The product is as good if not better than what is offered by today’s legacy airlines, especially in business class.
I really enjoyed my experiences on Condor since it fits a Goldilocks-like sweet spot in the industry (affordable pricing with a great onboard offering). Business class fares are often lower than other major carriers between the US and Europe, sometimes by thousands of dollars. I didn’t feel like I was sacrificing too much, either.
In the US, Condor flies from over a dozen destinations to Frankfurt, including secondary airports like Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Portland (PDX), and San Antonio (SAN). This makes it convenient for travelers to fly nonstop to Europe without first connecting somewhere else in the lower 48. I also like how Condor has a significant presence in Europe, so passengers can easily go onward to places like Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Munich, etc.
Elsewhere, Condor also flies to plenty of other leisure locales in Latin America and the Caribbean, including destinations like Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, and more. In Asia, Condor serves far-flung vacation spots like Thailand and the Maldives. These latter destinations could be helpful for US travelers who are looking to connect somewhere in Europe before flying onwards.
Here’s a closer look at the long-haul plane that Condor flies, the Airbus A330neo. Of note, Condor also flies some single-aisle planes on shorter flights within Europe and North Africa but those lack many of the amenities listed below.
Back in 2022, Condor brought on its first brand-new Airbus A330neo aircraft. It was a game-changer and a huge reason why the carrier is now competitive. Earlier in 2024, the airline completed its onboarding of this plane, and at the same time, retired its ancient (and not-at-all competitive) Boeing 767. Long story short—if you’re flying Condor across the Atlantic now, expect a newer, comfortable plane that will take you there.
On the Airbus A330neo, Condor has business class arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, meaning everyone has direct aisle access. The seat is a modern pod-style and lies completely flat. If you want to splurge, the airline even dedicates the first row of business as “Prime Seats,” with a larger seat that’s also wider with more legroom, and even room for a companion seat and larger monitor. These cost extra, though.
Behind business on the A330neo, there’s Condor’s premium economy and economy cabins. Unlike a “true” premium economy, these seats aren’t any wider or offer anything extra in the way of amenities. (It really should just be called extra legroom economy.) The major difference is in the amount of leg and foot space. We’re talking 36 inches of legroom in premium economy and around 30 inches of legroom in standard economy.
On short-haul flights, the Airbus A320 and A321 are Condor’s workhorse aircraft. They can accomodate around 200 passengers and are primarily used for flights within Europe. They lack most amenities, but since these journeys aren’t super long, it shouldn’t be too much of a chore to contend with.
Here’s what you should know about the Condor ground and pre-flight experience at airports in the US and abroad.
Like most other airlines, Condor has several fare types and cabin classes, and the baggage policy corresponds to each respective fare. Between North America and Europe, Condor does not offer any free checked baggage on “Economy Light” fares. Standard economy passengers get one bag up to 50 pounds, premium economy passengers get one bag up to 70 pounds, and business passengers get two bags up to 70 pounds each.
A full-size carry-on bag isn’t free for “Economy Light” fares which is called basic economy on most other airlines. Also, seat selection fees are an area to be mindful of, as Condor charges for this in both economy as well as premium economy. Business class passengers can choose any seat for free (as long as its not a “Prime Seat” at the front of the cabin).
Condor doesn’t operate its own lounges but passengers should have access to third-party lounges at most US airports. However, if you happen to fly out of a terminal without lounges, such as Los Angeles (LAX) Terminal 1, you unfortunately won’t have access even when flying in business class. Condor passengers in business can use Lufthansa Business lounges in Frankfurt.
Compared to full-service carriers, lounges are one area in which Condor isn’t very competitive. Considering that some of Condor’s business-class fares are much more affordable than those of other airlines, this seems like a pretty reasonable tradeoff.
Here's more of what you can expect when onboard a long-haul Condor flight.
One of the best aspects of the modern A330neos is all of the tech that comes preloaded on these planes. That means an in-seat monitor with 4K resolution and USB-A and USB-C ports for charging devices. My favorite feature is the ability to connect your own Bluetooth headphones (like AirPods) to the screen to watch movies and shows wirelessly. Wi-Fi is also available for a fee.
There are several special amenities in the business class “Prime Seats,” the first row of business on the Airbus A330neo. Of course, there’s the extra space with the seat itself, including a bigger bed, a “visitor” seat, and an extra-large screen. Then, there are pajamas provided along with slippers and an inflight kit featuring premium skincare products and toiletries. This all comes at an additional cost.
While fares are cheaper than many legacy airlines, Condor still offers economy guests meals and non-alcoholic beverages for free on international flights. In business class, passengers receive a full multi-course meal, with a choice of several main dishes served on real china and glassware. I was particularly impressed with the individual plating of each course; it wasn’t just a tray plopped down in front of me.
Finally, there’s one other nice touch if you happen to be flying in one of the four “Prime Seats.” Those passengers get their own personal sweet and savory snack basket that’s replenished throughout the flight. And you can have a drink or a bite with another passenger (since there’s a buddy seat right in front of you).
Don’t expect over-the-top, doting service but on my flights with Condor, crews have been friendly and efficient (this is a German carrier, after all). The “Prime Seats” definitely get more personalized treatment as these four berths at the front of business class almost get a “first-class light” type of experience.
Unfortunately, Condor isn’t part of a major airline alliance so don't expect to collect miles (or redeem them) with most carriers. In fact, Condor doesn’t have a mileage program of its own at all. However, they do partner with two specific airlines and their respective programs: Alaska Mileage Plan and Emirates Skywards. That means you can use those miles for credits, upgrades, or redemptions.
My favorite partnership is with Alaska, as you can earn valuable Alaska miles on paid flights and redeem miles on Condor, even for business class. This tie-up also allows passengers to connect domestically in the US on an Alaska flight, and have all segments and checked bags be on one ticket.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
Low season | January |
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High season | July |
Cheapest flight | $365 |
Flight # | Departure Airport | Arrival Airport | Duration | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2500 | Berlin (BER) | Dubai (DXB) | 7h 10m | • | • | • | • | • | • | • |
2501 | Dubai (DXB) | Berlin (BER) | 7h 10m | • | • | • | • | • | • | • |
2315 | Port Louis (MRU) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 12h 5m | • | • | • | • | |||
2368 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Phuket City (HKT) | 11h 15m | • | • | • | • | |||
2369 | Phuket City (HKT) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 12h 50m | • | • | • | • | |||
2314 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Port Louis (MRU) | 11h 20m | • | • | • | • | |||
2363 | Bangkok (BKK) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 12h 50m | • | • | • | • | |||
2362 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Bangkok (BKK) | 10h 50m | • | • | • | • | |||
2290 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Cape Town (CPT) | 11h 55m | • | • | • | ||||
513 | Agadir (AGA) | Munich (MUC) | 4h 0m | • | • | |||||
512 | Munich (MUC) | Agadir (AGA) | 4h 0m | • | • | |||||
2283 | Zanzibar (ZNZ) | Mombasa (MBA) | 0h 55m | • | • | |||||
2283 | Mombasa (MBA) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 9h 20m | • | • | |||||
1415 | Funchal (FNC) | Düsseldorf (DUS) | 4h 0m | • | ||||||
139 | Agadir (AGA) | Düsseldorf (DUS) | 4h 10m | • | ||||||
145 | Pristina (PRN) | Düsseldorf (DUS) | 2h 40m | • | ||||||
168 | Munich (MUC) | Pristina (PRN) | 2h 5m | • | ||||||
1522 | Munich (MUC) | Puerto del Rosario (FUE) | 4h 40m | • | ||||||
1522 | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA) | Munich (MUC) | 4h 35m | • | ||||||
1522 | Puerto del Rosario (FUE) | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA) | 0h 45m | • | ||||||
2115 | Cancún (CUN) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 10h 10m | • | ||||||
1414 | Düsseldorf (DUS) | Funchal (FNC) | 4h 5m | • | ||||||
144 | Düsseldorf (DUS) | Pristina (PRN) | 2h 40m | • | ||||||
138 | Düsseldorf (DUS) | Agadir (AGA) | 4h 5m | • | ||||||
2114 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Cancún (CUN) | 12h 0m | • | ||||||
2163 | Montego Bay (MBJ) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 9h 35m | • | ||||||
1479 | Granadilla (TFS) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 4h 50m | • | ||||||
1417 | Santa Cruz de la Palma (SPC) | Munich (MUC) | 4h 45m | • | ||||||
2229 | Punta Cana (PUJ) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 9h 10m | • | ||||||
1416 | Munich (MUC) | Santa Cruz de la Palma (SPC) | 4h 50m | • | ||||||
2162 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Montego Bay (MBJ) | 11h 20m | • | ||||||
2228 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Punta Cana (PUJ) | 10h 20m | • | ||||||
1478 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Granadilla (TFS) | 4h 50m | • | ||||||
1571 | Funchal (FNC) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 4h 10m | • | ||||||
1570 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Funchal (FNC) | 4h 0m | • | ||||||
1288 | Berlin (BER) | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA) | 5h 5m | • | ||||||
1289 | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA) | Berlin (BER) | 5h 5m | • | ||||||
1573 | Funchal (FNC) | Munich (MUC) | 4h 15m | • | ||||||
1572 | Munich (MUC) | Funchal (FNC) | 4h 25m | • | ||||||
1585 | Granadilla (TFS) | Munich (MUC) | 4h 40m | • | ||||||
1584 | Munich (MUC) | Granadilla (TFS) | 4h 55m | • | ||||||
2321 | Malé (MLE) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 10h 50m | • | • | • | • | |||
2320 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Malé (MLE) | 9h 50m | • | • | • | • | |||
2291 | Cape Town (CPT) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 12h 10m | • | • | • | ||||
143 | Antalya (AYT) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 3h 40m | • | • | • | • | • | ||
142 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Antalya (AYT) | 3h 20m | • | • | • | • | • | ||
155 | Antalya (AYT) | Hamburg (HAM) | 3h 50m | • | • | • | • | • | ||
154 | Hamburg (HAM) | Antalya (AYT) | 3h 35m | • | • | • | • | • | ||
1518 | Hamburg (HAM) | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA) | 5h 15m | • | • | |||||
2017 | New York (JFK) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 7h 30m | • | • | • | ||||
2016 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | New York (JFK) | 8h 50m | • | • | • | ||||
169 | Pristina (PRN) | Munich (MUC) | 2h 0m | • | ||||||
1463 | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA) | Leipzig (LEJ) | 4h 50m | • | ||||||
1522 | Munich (MUC) | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA) | 4h 55m | • | ||||||
1466 | Leipzig (LEJ) | Granadilla (TFS) | 5h 15m | • | ||||||
1462 | Leipzig (LEJ) | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA) | 5h 5m | • | ||||||
2032 | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | Seattle (SEA) | 10h 45m | • | • | |||||
2033 | Seattle (SEA) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 10h 10m | • | • | |||||
746 | Munich (MUC) | Antalya (AYT) | 3h 5m | • | • | • | ||||
1468 | Munich (MUC) | Heraklion (HER) | 2h 40m | • | • | |||||
1457 | Puerto del Rosario (FUE) | Düsseldorf (DUS) | 4h 25m | • | • | |||||
1543 | Palma de Mallorca (PMI) | Hamburg (HAM) | 2h 50m | • | • | |||||
1469 | Heraklion (HER) | Munich (MUC) | 3h 5m | • | • | |||||
1520 | Hamburg (HAM) | Palma de Mallorca (PMI) | 2h 40m | • | • | |||||
747 | Antalya (AYT) | Munich (MUC) | 3h 15m | • | • | |||||
1403 | Puerto del Rosario (FUE) | Frankfurt am Main (FRA) | 4h 35m | • | • |
When flying with Condor, there are three types of tickets that you can purchase, with Economy Class being the most popular and offering services such as standard entertainment choices and snacks. For more comfort, select Premium Class, as it comes with free snacks, drinks, headsets, and one piece of checked baggage. Business Class is the most luxurious option, as it provides travelers with particularly comfortable seats, priority boarding, and the option of choosing your own seat.
If you are flying with a small child, the airline can provide you with several useful amenities for free, such as baby food, diapers, and bottles. Additionally, all bathrooms conveniently contain changing tables, and bassinets are available on long haul flights in order to provide both parents and the child with some rest. Items such as car seats and strollers can be checked at no additional cost along with your regular baggage.
Although Condor is primarily based in Frankfurt, Germany, the airline offers flights to many countries across the world and to six different continents. Italy, Spain, and Greece are just some popular options that are convenient choices for travelers hoping to visit Europe, while Kenya is another choice if you have always wanted to go to Africa.
To ensure that the airline can offer as many flights as possible, the company is known for partnering with several other businesses, such as Air Tanker and Smartlynx. Thomas Cook Airlines also commonly services flights for Condor, with their planes generally offering Economy Class, Premium Class, and XL seats that provide passengers with additional legroom.
IATA Code | DE |
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Routes | 359 |
Top route | Hurghada to Munich |
Airports served | 91 |
Top airport | Frankfurt am Main |