Condor Airlnes

We flew with them twice last year, both times Seattle to Frankfurt on the new A330 Neo planes. Each time we paid about $99/person each way for exit row seats in economy. We didn’t find it any less comfortable than any other economy flight. Food was pretty bad, as usual.

The biggest challenge is their extremely small carryon size. And they will weigh and measure each rolling bag in a double-duty sizer/scale. We connected in Seattle from a different airline and had to collect boarding passes at the gate. Our bags were weighed/measured there. They didn’t weigh backpacks. Normal 20” x 9” carryon rollers are too big.

Aside from that, the flights were on time, and there were lots of entertainment options. We’d fly with them again.

If not, then can anyone recommend alternative carriers that offer competitive rates ...going to Madrid specifically?

Does Iceland Air serve your home airport? They may be worth a look for low fares.

I flew Condor SEA-FRA last summer because I was able to get Business Class tickets with my Alaska miles. The business class seats were very nice with a lie-flat option, decent food and drinks. I'm flying the same route again in March. This time, Alaska miles didn't go very far, so I'm paying to fly in Premium Economy. I am paying more than $99 each way, though. Still, it was the most affordable way to get over the Atlantic with a little extra legroom, and believe me, I tried a LOT of combinations of flights and miles. I'm 6' tall and a big lady. I can't sit in a coach seat for 9 hours.

I flew Condor from LAX to FRA and return in September of this year. I booked Business Class outbound and their premium economy returning. Aircraft was great....crew was wonderful....both flights departed on time. I decided to try them as their Business Class fare was considerably less than other carriers. I was not disappointed. I would fly them again. Maybe the difference between what you experienced years ago has a lot to do with the new aircraft they are flying??

I flew them last year Seattle to Frankfurt in Premium Economy. The price was great, but I did not think the PE cabin was as good as other airlines. For one thing, there were way more seats in that area; therefore it was noisier. Also, the seats did not have as much of a divider/wide armrest area between the seats. I also remember having to put my coat behind my back as the seat was not very comfortable. The food and service were fine.

I tried to speak to Condor multiple times to figure out what flight she would be on and when she would be flown out. All I can say is their customer support is absolutely useless.

I doubt any airline would divulge 'who is on a flight'; the privacy and safety concerns are obvious.

In 2018, our Condor PDX -> FRA was delayed a day. The incoming flight FRA -> PDX did not arrive that morning, so we had to wait a day. They put us up on a local hotel, as we are more than a 2-hour drive away. Others had to go home. They didn't rebook our connecting flight FRA -> ATH, so we had to scramble with a voucher at Frankfurt to find our own flight. They only had flights a couple of days a week out of Portland, so there was no replacement airplane. We lost a day in Athens that trip and vowed to never fly Condor again. I don't remember the level of service.

In 2024, our Aegean airplane didn't arrive in Rhodes to take us to ATH. The airline put us up for the overnight in a hotel and rescheduled our connecting flight to FRA. The next day an additional plane was added, but our arrival in FRA was too late to make our FRA -> SEA flight. We rebooked a hotel in Frankfurt and booked a new flight home for the following day on Condor. That Condor economy flight was as good as the Lufthansa economy (incoming SEA -> FRA) we missed for home and $300 cheaper, even at the last minute. Our travel insurance covered the missed flight and the missed hotel stay in Frankfurt. That time we had an extra day in Rhodes.