I Flew in Condor Enterprise Class From NYC to Germany: Is it Definitely worth the Improve?

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a… candy cane? No, it’s a plane, one of many striped Boeings in the fleet of German carrier Condor Airlines. Americans unfamiliar with the airline might, upon seeing one of their planes for the first time, think of Kate Spade. Such a daring choice of livery is divisive amongst av geeks—it’s the closest thing those peaceful people have to a political divide—as my colleague Hannah Towey learned when she spent the day plane spotting atop the TWA Hotel at JFK last year.

What’s less divisive are the pleasures of Condor’s business class, which I got to fly from New York City to Frankfurt before connecting to Berlin. My flight there was a red-eye, and the return happened mid-day. Condor was founded in 1955, but is today defined by two key developments. Firstly, many consider it a budget airline due to its 2004 launch of discount prices on long-haul flights from Germany to North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.

Nowadays, Condor’s airfare is more in line with legacy carriers, but it’s still known for having comparatively affordable transatlantic flights. Then, there are the stripes, which only wrapped around Condor planes after a major rebrand in 2022. That was also when they started adding Airbus A330neos to the fleet (the last Boeing B757-300 exited the picture in November 2025) with its three-cabin configuration including business class.

The one unfortunate aspect of Condor’s service

The one unfortunate aspect of Condor’s service is that they are based out of Frankfurt Airport. From my experience passing through customs there, the airport’s infrastructure is not up to the challenge of being a major transport hub. However, that’s a Frankfurt problem, not a Condor one. If you’re considering the upgrade to Condor Business Class, here’s everything you should know—besides the fact that you should bake in extra time into your itinerary if you’re making a Frankfurt connection.

The lounge
When leaving through JFK’s Terminal 7, Condor Business Class gets you access to the Horizons Lounge which is perfectly nice with a small spread of complimentary hot food and a full bar. I did not have time to check out the Lufthansa Business Lounge that my ticket gave me access to in Frankfurt on the way over because, as mentioned, the passport control line was such that I made my connection by the skin of my teeth.

On the return, though, I did get to enjoy two airport lounges: the spacious Tempelhof in Berlin, where a little robot buzzed about collecting dirty dishes, and Lufthansa Business Lounge. Both of these were excellent—showers, buffets, ample seating, the whole thing. Tempelhof had Jagermeister on tap. The seat
The business class cabin is low-lit in blues and purples—a nice touch for the impending red eye—and the 30 seats are arranged in 7 rows of 1-2-1 configuration.

The very front row, which I did not

The very front row, which I did not experience, are the Business Class Prime seats. These are larger and come with extras like complimentary pajamas. Business class proper is not shabby, though. The seats, a nice indigo in color, do a full 180-degree recline. I successfully slept for several hours in fetal position during both flights. The flight crew will not come help you lay out the bed mat (the service is otherwise attentive without being suffocating, with the German attendants variously playful and stoic), but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there for you to enjoy—it’ll make that recline all the more blissful.

There is also, of course, a pillow and a blanket. By way of storage there is a compartment at your feet for shoes, into which you can also stick your feet once you’ve reclined. Seatside, there’s a console with outlets (US, EU, and USB all accounted for), over-ear headphones, and a dopp kit. On the way there, my dopp kit was striped blue and white in the same way as the interior and read “beach vibes”—inside, a toothbrush and toothpaste, eye mask, striped socks, and some moisturizer.

On the way back, the dopp kit took a slightly deeper drawstring shape, but contained the same amenities. Wi-Fi was free only for Prime customers. The food
Food is solid and plentiful, its impending arrival signaled by a flight attendant bringing down your tray table and laying upon it a white napkin-as-tablecloth. On the way there, they brought out a four-compartment starter tray of bell pepper dip, smoked duck breast, marinated salmon, and salad; a main course selection of beef tenderloin, shrimps with herb polenta in Diavola sauce, or ricotta ravioli (I went for the beef); a cheese course; chocolate cake; and coffee or tea (an alcoholic digestif, as with all spirits and alcoholic beverages, are complimentary as well in business class).

Breakfast, served right before landing, centered around

Breakfast, served right before landing, centered around an omelet filled with feta and sweet potato with satellite bowls of fresh fruit and cereal. On the return, lunch was served just after take-off and took a German turn by way of a main course of “Oktoberfest Style” fried chicken with potato salad, cabbage, and wild lingonberries. By fried, they meant breaded—which was actually a relief, eating in the air being a treacherous endeavor even without a deep fry (other options were salmon and pumpkin gnocchi, less special).

Before landing, a lighter dinner consisting of salad, chicken breast, and vanilla cream with caramel and meringue rattled down the aisle. If I have one critique, it’s the lack of a privacy barrier for passengers to put up during sleeping hours. The recline of your seat is such that, if you wake up while somebody is just passing by through the aisle, you might be startled by the mistaken impression that they were lurking above.

The two business class seats in the center or each row also do not have privacy screens between them, and so are best booked by people on speaking terms. The bottom line
Compared to legacy European carriers (like Lufthansa, for example), Condor is known for having more affordable transatlantic business class fares. That doesn’t mean every flight is a deal, but there are deals to be found.

The deal sweetens if you are an Atmos Rewards member (the loyalty program for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, of which Condor is a global partner). Everything about the flying experience that Condor has control over is on par with international business class expectations at this price point. If you are used to flying business class, you will be satisfied. If you are lucky enough to find an especially good points and miles deal, it will be all the more special and delightful.

Source: www.cntraveler.com