Condor Airlines???
Feb 23, 2017, 8:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 814
Condor Airlines???
I am looking to book some summer travel. Amazingly, Condor Airlines has the best schedule for me in terms of arrival and departure times as well as layover times. They also are several hundred dollars cheaper than the big boys.
Apparently, they used to be Lufthansas' cheaper subsidiary, but now they are owned by Thomas Cook. But, I have no knowledge of them and I realize that there are often drawbacks to very discounted prices. Cheap is not my goal, the best value overall is. And value includes things like comfort, reliability, and how they handle problems such as bad weather delays and mechanical problems.
What, if any, are your experiences with Condor?
Apparently, they used to be Lufthansas' cheaper subsidiary, but now they are owned by Thomas Cook. But, I have no knowledge of them and I realize that there are often drawbacks to very discounted prices. Cheap is not my goal, the best value overall is. And value includes things like comfort, reliability, and how they handle problems such as bad weather delays and mechanical problems.
What, if any, are your experiences with Condor?
Feb 23, 2017, 9:10 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,024
...Condor Airline....they also are several hundred dollars cheaper than the big boys.
<snip>
Cheap is not my goal, the best value overall is. And value includes things like comfort, reliability, and how they handle problems such as bad weather delays and mechanical problems.
<snip>
Cheap is not my goal, the best value overall is. And value includes things like comfort, reliability, and how they handle problems such as bad weather delays and mechanical problems.
Remember you get what you pay for. They are low cost - charter for a reason.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condor_Flugdienst
Economy Class
Condor's long-haul Economy class is offered on all Boeing 767 aircraft. All seats have a 30-inch (760 mm) seat pitch[40] with a 17-inch (430 mm) width. The middle seats are slightly wider 2-inch (51 mm) than non-middle seats.
Condor's long-haul Economy class is offered on all Boeing 767 aircraft. All seats have a 30-inch (760 mm) seat pitch[40] with a 17-inch (430 mm) width. The middle seats are slightly wider 2-inch (51 mm) than non-middle seats.
Feb 24, 2017, 5:05 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Peterborough, UK
Programs: BA Silver; IHG Spire; Avis P+; Global Entry
Posts: 1,505
i work for the company that own's Condor.
They are pretty standard tbh, what route and class are you looking at.
However Condor (DE) is Scheduled Thomas Cook (MT) is charter
They are pretty standard tbh, what route and class are you looking at.
However Condor (DE) is Scheduled Thomas Cook (MT) is charter
Feb 24, 2017, 7:42 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
My experiences with Condor are rather old and go back to the early 90s (or even late 80s) when Germany still had multiple airlines flying mainly on holiday routes (back then you had Condor, LTU and Hapag Lloyd Flug).
My overall impression was: It's an airline. You got the usual airline service, but Condor wasn't something to write home about it.
If the fare is very low, go for it.
My overall impression was: It's an airline. You got the usual airline service, but Condor wasn't something to write home about it.
If the fare is very low, go for it.
Feb 24, 2017, 7:59 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Neither here nor there
Programs: UA Slvr, DL Slvr, AA plt, HH LTD, MR tit/LTP at least two of those buy 10 get 1 free coffee cards
Posts: 3,448
Have flown them several times...PDX-FRA not long ago. The 30" pitch isn't luxurious, but I don't recall feeling any more cramped than I do on any economy TATL flight. Bag and meals included, unlike FI. PE seems a reasonable price increase for the increased comfort. Flights on time, efficient, friendly crews IME.
Feb 24, 2017, 9:58 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 814
Thanks for your thoughts.
Reviews of Condor from people who paid their money to fly them, seem to be all over the map. Personally, I toss out any reviews that are much over 2 years old. There are so many changes being made that I don't think they are relevant anymore.
Most of the reviews are negative, but I expect that since most people who have had a good experience don't bother to write much praise. However, the latest reviews of the last 6 months seem to tilt very strongly in a negative direction.
The impression I am getting is that if everything goes well, as planned, it's OK. But, if a problem happens (weather, mechanical difficulties, staffing issues) then there is very little for the passenger to fall back on. Also, staffing issues come up quite frequently in terms of inadequate and/or unhelpful staff.
Reviews of Condor from people who paid their money to fly them, seem to be all over the map. Personally, I toss out any reviews that are much over 2 years old. There are so many changes being made that I don't think they are relevant anymore.
Most of the reviews are negative, but I expect that since most people who have had a good experience don't bother to write much praise. However, the latest reviews of the last 6 months seem to tilt very strongly in a negative direction.
The impression I am getting is that if everything goes well, as planned, it's OK. But, if a problem happens (weather, mechanical difficulties, staffing issues) then there is very little for the passenger to fall back on. Also, staffing issues come up quite frequently in terms of inadequate and/or unhelpful staff.
Feb 24, 2017, 10:29 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
Feb 24, 2017, 1:52 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,024
Feb 25, 2017, 8:35 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 814
The negative reviews were on other websites like this one:
http://uk.whattheflight.com/airlines...r-thomas-cook/
As I said, people who are upset about something tend to post more reviews, IMHO. I feel I can trust FT people more than other groups which I why I asked the questions here.
http://uk.whattheflight.com/airlines...r-thomas-cook/
As I said, people who are upset about something tend to post more reviews, IMHO. I feel I can trust FT people more than other groups which I why I asked the questions here.