Other European Frequent Flyer Programs - Comparing AB and LH

Regulars know I am an AB fan. Last weekend I once again got the confirmation that AB is a great alternative. My routing was DUS-VCE-DUS, booked well in advance, outbound Friday early, inbound Sunday late.


AB:
Price: Euro 168 all in.
Direct flight
Prioriy counter and security
No lounge (could use BA lounge as BA gold :D)
A319
Extensive newspaper service
Exit row reserved for free, seat blocking
Free non alcoholic drinks plus sandwich
I ordered a so called gourmet meal for about 10 Euro (not bad)
2800 AB miles

LH:
Price: Euro 403 all in.
transfer in MUC
Prioriy counter and security
SEN lounge in DUS
A321 / EB195 / A320
No newspapers
Exit row reserved for free, seat blocking
Free non alcoholic drinks plus free beer/wine plus a dry snack
Not possibility to order a further meal.
3124 LH Miles

For me this was a pretty easy choice....

Whilst I agree with you that AB is definitely a very good airline, in order to be fair I think we should make some comments:

1) LH offers a very wide variety of newspapers for free not only in the lounge, but throughout the A section at DUS airport and the Terminal 2 in MUC.

2) If you had a connecting flight with AB through MUC you would have had no option on the meal as that is only offered on flights >120 min. (however you would have had free beer/wine on the domestic flight plus the chocolate heart :cool: ).But I absolutely agree that this is something REALLY nice with the Gourmet meals..!^

At the end of the day usually AB is a better option for domestic and european travel, offering a very competitive product at a very good price and their crews are usually excellent (even to a lowly silver member ;) )

You can now compare AB and LH between Frankfurt and Hamburg. AB announced they start flying up to six times daily this winter. Starting at 29 Euro one way. Sounds interesting.

http://www.flugrevue.de/de/zivilluftfahrt/airlines-flugbetrieb/air-berlin-kuendigt-fluege-zwischen-frankfurt-und-hamburg-an.14664.htm