For the return portion of my fast journey to Germany, I flew Condor’s new Airbus A330-900neo enterprise class from Frankfurt to Seattle. I used to be trying ahead to this flight, as Condor is completely refreshing its lengthy haul fleet, changing previous Boeing 767s with leading edge Airbus A330-900neos that includes an all-new onboard product.
So, how was my Condor enterprise class expertise? For probably the most half I discovered the product to be wonderful. The onerous product is nice, whereas the comfortable product is arguably even higher than Lufthansa’s. I can’t look ahead to the implications of Condor more and more competing head-to-head in opposition to Lufthansa in lots of markets, particularly given Condor’s affordable pricing.
How I booked my Condor enterprise class ticket
I booked my Condor enterprise class ticket utilizing Alaska Mileage Plan miles. I booked the next in enterprise class for 55,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles plus $170.95 in taxes and charges:
3/02 DE2032 Frankfurt to Seattle departing 1:55PM arriving 3:55PM
I really like Alaska Mileage Plan’s distinctive airline companions, as that is the one main program with which you’ll guide Condor flights.
I did find yourself paying some money to improve to Condor’s Prime seats, that are the premium seats within the first row of enterprise class. Not solely do these seats have considerably extra space, however in addition they include some particular facilities. I’ll cowl that under, after which in a separate submit I’ll discuss whether or not I feel it was price it. The one-way improve value was $360, which is on the steep aspect.
I feel one different necessary factor to recollect is that Condor has affordable paid enterprise class fares. For instance, in some circumstances one-way enterprise class fares crossing the Atlantic begin at simply over $1,000, which is a spectacular deal for such a aggressive enterprise class product.
Admittedly I’m beginning to see Condor improve costs a bit, given the way more aggressive product being provided. Nonetheless, Condor’s fares (notably for one-ways) are sometimes a fraction of what you’d pay with the airways belonging to the worldwide joint ventures.
So whereas Condor isn’t going to be large throughout the Atlantic, I’m hoping that it has an analogous influence on transatlantic pricing to what we’ve seen in the US with JetBlue Mint.
Condor enterprise class lounge & boarding
Condor operates from Terminal 1 at Frankfurt Airport. The airline doesn’t function its personal lounges, however reasonably enterprise class passengers can entry the Lufthansa Enterprise Lounges. My flight was departing from gate B45, so I used the Lufthansa Enterprise Lounge (which I lately reviewed) proper throughout from the gate.
It’s sort of humorous how Condor sends its enterprise class passengers to the lounges of its greatest competitor, however that’s simply the fact of Terminal 1 at FRA, as there aren’t any third get together lounges airside.
Based on my boarding cross, boarding was scheduled to start out at 12:55PM (one hour earlier than departure), although it ended up beginning at round 1:25PM. I headed to the gate a bit early, and admired this beautiful A330-900neo. I completely love Condor’s new striped livery — it’s completely on the market, however so enjoyable.
For what it’s price, I used to be flying onboard the airplane with the license plate D-ANRH, which had simply been delivered to the airline in December 2022.
Condor A330neo enterprise class cabin & seats
Condor’s Airbus A330-900neos have a complete of 30 enterprise class seats, unfold throughout eight rows in a 1-2-1 configuration. Particularly, Condor selected Safran’s Skylounge Core seats, that are in a staggered format.
The explanation these seats are staggered is as a result of this permits house to be utilized as effectively as attainable. That’s as a result of the footwell is to the aspect of the seat in entrance, so it minimizes the pitch required for every seat.
On this part let’s have a look at the 26 common enterprise class seats, after which within the subsequent part I’ll have a look at the 4 Prime seats.
The seats alongside the home windows alternate between being nearer to the aisle and being nearer to the window. The seats in odd numbered rows are nearer to the aisle, and these wouldn’t be my most well-liked seats, as you don’t have a lot privateness, and it’s additionally more durable to look out the window.
The seats in even numbered rows are nearer to the home windows, and these can be my most well-liked seats, as they provide probably the most privateness, and make it best to look exterior.
Within the middle part, you’ll discover that odd numbered rows have “honeymoon seats,” that are seats which might be shut collectively. That is very best for these touring collectively, since you’ve gotten some separation from the aisle, and may be nearer to the individual you’re touring with.
In the meantime the center seats in even numbered rows can be my least most well-liked seats on this configuration. That’s since you’re seated removed from the individual subsequent to you, and really near the aisle.
In these sorts of staggered configurations, one of many downsides is that you need to place your ft in a footwell, which may be fairly restrictive. The footwells appeared like they had been a reasonably respectable measurement to me. Nonetheless, admittedly the A330-900neo isn’t as vast as another plane, so the seats will really feel a bit narrower than on an A350, for instance.
Condor’s normal enterprise class seats flip into 1.99 meter lie flat beds, and have 17.3″ 4K private televisions, with a touchscreen and distant management. I’ll speak extra in regards to the tech within the part under about Prime seats, for the reason that tech is usually equivalent.
Condor A330neo Prime seats
Now let’s check out Condor’s Prime seats, that are the 4 particular seats within the first row seat (in actuality there’s no row one by the home windows, so this consists of seats 1E, 1F, 2A, and 2K).
Whereas the precise seats (like, what you sit on) are equivalent to all the opposite seats, what makes this product so particular is how a lot house you’ve gotten on your ft. Slightly than having to position your ft in a small footwell, you’ve gotten a large ottoman to get pleasure from. The non-public house provided by this seat actually is on par with what you’ll discover in some first-class suites.
I assigned myself seat 2K, the Prime window seat on the best aspect.
The window seats on this configuration are actually particular, although I do should say that the pair of the seats within the middle felt a bit much less premium to me. Not solely are they a lot nearer to the galley, however the ottomans appeared narrower. So I’d positively suggest going for a window seat if attainable.
Condor’s new A330-900neos have excellent tech on the enterprise class seats.
To the aspect of the seat is a hook for headphones.
Beneath that’s the headphone jack, and three charging retailers, together with USB-A, USB-C, and AC.
There’s additionally an leisure controller, which can be utilized to manage the display (given how far the display is from the Prime seats, it is a higher choice than simply utilizing the touchscreen function).
The seat controls are on a panel to the aspect of the seat, and are straightforward to make use of.
Now, on to the distinctive options of the Prime seats. The Prime seats have considerably bigger televisions, as they’re 24″. The massive ottoman can double as a buddy seat, if you wish to dine face-to-face with a journey companion.
The tray desk folds out from the aspect of the seat. It’s a superb measurement, although not notably massive when you had been to dine with somebody.
Then to the left of the seat is a small storage compartment, which you gained’t discover on the different seats.
Above that’s the literature pocket, which is uncovered.
The overhead consoles on the A330-900neos have studying lights, although sadly don’t have particular person air nozzles.
Condor enterprise class facilities
There was no scarcity of facilities in enterprise class, and people in Prime seats even received some additional goodies. Ready at every enterprise class seat upon boarding was a pillow and blanket. The pillow was respectable, whereas the blanket was tremendous cozy. I additionally beloved how the within of the blanket had a striped sample, such as you’ll discover all through the cabin (and on the surface of the plane, for that matter).
Subsequent up was an amenity package, which was fairly fundamental, and in a cardboard container. It had socks, eyeshades, a dental package, facial moisturizer, and lip balm. Earplugs can be found on request from the crew.
There have been additionally slippers at every seat, which you gained’t usually discover on transatlantic Lufthansa flights — that’s a pleasant contact.
Subsequent, there was a striped journey organizer (I used to be even given certainly one of these final yr in Condor’s regional enterprise class).
There have been additionally a pair of headphones. They had been simply okay, however that doesn’t actually matter, since Condor’s A330-900neos have bluetooth audio in enterprise class, so you should use your personal headphones.
Subsequent, there was a bottle of water at every seat.
Throughout boarding, pre-departure drinks had been served, with the selection of champagne, orange juice, or water. Drinks had been even served with a package deal of blended nuts. You’ll virtually by no means discover a snack with a pre-departure drink, in order that’s a cute little function.
Then there have been some facilities completely for these in Prime seats. This included pajamas, which had been Condor branded.
Prime seat passengers additionally obtain a snack basket, which contained Haribo gummy bears, peanut butter M&Ms, Pringles, some chocolate crackers, and salted caramel popcorn.
All-in-all, I’d say it is a fairly spectacular choice of facilities.
Condor A330neo enterprise class leisure & Wi-Fi
With the introduction of the A330-900neo, Condor has massively improved its inflight leisure providing… with one catch.
Let’s begin with the non-public televisions. Condor has wonderful excessive definition displays at every seat, with an intensive choice of films and TV exhibits. By my rely, there have been over 230 films, and over 100 TV exhibits. I discovered the system to be straightforward to make use of, and fairly responsive.
As talked about above, Condor additionally has bluetooth audio on its A330-900neos, so you’ll be able to pair your personal headphones with the leisure system. That is an superior improvement that we’re seeing at a number of airways.
The A330-900neo additionally has a map function, which lets you customise your most well-liked view, zooming in or out so far as you’d like.
Now, on to the much less spectacular factor. It’s unbelievable that Condor lastly launched Wi-Fi on its A330-900neos, as that hasn’t traditionally been obtainable on 767s. The airline has 4 completely different Wi-Fi plans:
- There’s a free chat cross that permits you to textual content and message for 10 minutes
- There’s a vast chat cross, legitimate for all the flight, which prices €7
- There’s a fundamental two hour cross, permitting you to make use of the web for €12
- There’s a premium 4 hour cross, permitting you to make use of the web (allegedly with greater speeds) for €20
There are two main points. Initially, the Wi-Fi is de facto costly. For €20 you have to be getting Wi-Fi for all the flight, not for 4 hours. For those who wished Wi-Fi for all the 10-hour flight, you’d have to pay €60. Although I ended up simply shopping for two passes for €40, which lined me for a lot of the flight.
The pricing is excessive, however I might abdomen it if the standard had been good. Sadly it wasn’t. Condor’s Wi-Fi is excruciatingly sluggish, the slowest I’ve had on any new airplane in a really very long time. It truthfully jogged my memory of the OnAir Wi-Fi we noticed on many airways a decade in the past. For what it’s price, Condor chosen Inmarsat’s high-speed GX Aviation inflight broadband for its A330-900neos.
If Wi-Fi goes to be so sluggish, Condor must make huge modifications to the pricing. It’s unreasonable to cost among the many highest Wi-Fi costs within the business whereas delivering the bottom speeds, all whereas being a worth oriented airline.
Nonetheless, suffice it to say that Condor’s new leisure and Wi-Fi is a large enchancment over the earlier setup.
Condor A330neo departure from Frankfurt
Our departure was a bit delayed, however happily our flight time was shorter than ordinary. At 2:05PM the captain made his welcome aboard announcement, which was very detailed. He knowledgeable us that we’d be departing from runway 7C, that our flight time can be 10 hours, that we’d have a takeoff weight of 212 tons, and that we’d have a cruising altitude of 38,000 ft. He additionally gave us a rundown of our route, which might see us flying over Scotland, Greenland, Northern Canada, after which the Rockies.
At 2:15PM we started our pushback, with a very full enterprise class cabin (economic system didn’t appear to be fairly as full).
Round this time the security video was screened. It doesn’t seem that Condor has up to date its security video to mirror the brand new branding, because the video felt a bit outdated, and depicted Condor’s previous livery.
At 2:20PM we started our taxi, and it solely took about 10 minutes to get to our departure runway. As soon as there, we had been cleared for takeoff. It was an attractive, clear morning over Frankfurt.
The seatbelt signal was turned off about 20 minutes after takeoff. At that time the crew closed the curtains between the cabin and galley.
Condor enterprise class lunch service
On this flight, lunch was served after takeoff. About half-hour after takeoff, the menu and drink listing for the flight had been distributed.
About 10 minutes after that, heat towels had been handed out, and 10 minutes after that tablecloths had been positioned on trays.
Beneath you will discover the Condor enterprise class lunch menu for this flight.
Beneath you will discover the Condor enterprise class drink listing for this flight.
The meal service began with drinks being provided. Apparently these had been served back-to-front, so I used to be served final. That’s not a giant deal, however when you’re going to have the primary row be a premium product with a considerably differentiated comfortable product as nicely, you’d assume that you simply’d perhaps begin the drink service there. Like I mentioned, it’s not a giant deal in any respect, however only a minor level.
To drink, I ordered the Italian white wine that was on the drink listing. I used to be knowledgeable that it was sadly not loaded for this flight, however that there was as a substitute an Argentinian chardonnay. I normally dislike chardonnay, but it surely was fairly tasty. I additionally had a glass of water to associate with it. Drinks had been served with a ramekin of blended nuts.
The service tempo was very leisurely on this flight, with the appetizer being served just below two hours after takeoff. Once more, I used to be very impressed, and located the standard and amount to be higher than on Lufthansa. The primary tray consisted of two appetizers, a salad, and a choice of bread.
The 2 appetizers had been a hen couscous praline with smoked beef fillet slices and quinoa salad, and a sizzling smoked salmon fillet with backyard salad and beetroot cream. This was very tasty.
All the starter tray was cleared, after which round half-hour after the appetizer service, the primary course was introduced out. Of the three selections, I chosen the cod fillet with bread mustard crust, brown butter sauce, mashed potatoes, creamed savoy cabbage with truffle, and carrots. The dish was flavorful and properly offered (the garnishing was a bit higher than the appetizer on my current British Airways first-class flight).
One other half-hour later, a trolley was rolled down the aisle with a cheese course. I beloved the choice, because it consisted of montagnolo, sheep’s cheese, and gouda with pesto, all with dried cranberries.
Final however definitely not least, I used to be provided a cheesecake tart with berry sauce, which was additionally wonderful.
On the conclusion of the meal, I used to be requested if I wished espresso or tea. I ordered an espresso, and that was even served with an edible spoon.
Actually, what an incredible meal, particularly on condition that Condor has traditionally been a reduction leisure airline. The meal service was noticeably higher than in Lufthansa enterprise class, when it comes to amount and high quality.
The one concern I’ve in regards to the meal service is that it was solely accomplished 3.5 hours after takeoff. I don’t thoughts a leisurely meal service on a daytime flight (particularly since Condor doesn’t have many individuals connecting off a redeye from the Center East or India), although I’m confused by the tempo, for the reason that crew gave the impression to be hustling.
In equity, Condor does have a very in depth meal service, extra so than in Lufthansa enterprise class. I simply hope the service is quicker on in a single day flights.
Condor A330neo enterprise class mattress
After the meal, I made a decision to attempt to get some relaxation. At this level there have been round 6.5 hours remaining enroute to Seattle. I reclined my seat and put out my bedding.
These Prime seats completely rock when it comes to consolation. Whereas the seat itself isn’t that vast, the ottoman is very large, and I felt like I used to be extra in a first-class suite than a enterprise class seat. I didn’t find yourself sleeping for very lengthy, however that was extra a perform of it being a daytime flight, and desirous to get some work completed.
Condor A330neo enterprise class toilets
So far as toilets go, there are three loos across the enterprise class cabin — there’s one behind the cabin at every aisle, plus one by the cockpit. I’d observe that there’s not a galley behind enterprise class, so the toilet is subsequent to some seats. That could possibly be a cause to keep away from assigning a seat within the final row (which is ordinarily my choice).
The toilets had been clear and trendy, however weren’t notably massive, and didn’t have any particular facilities.
Condor’s A330neo enterprise class midflight snack
Round 4 hours earlier than touchdown (simply 2.5 hours after the earlier meal service completed), the crew handed by means of the cabin with a snack service. At this level we had been over Northern Canada, and had been handled to some breathtaking views.
This snack service as soon as once more exceeded my expectations, since Lufthansa doesn’t have heat midflight snacks in enterprise class on routes like this. Yow will discover the snack menu under.
I chosen the Mexican puff pastry stick, which was virtually a bit like a calzone. I had a glass of water and a cup of espresso to associate with it.
Condor’s A330neo enterprise class pre-landing meal
This flight was virtually a nonstop consuming journey, as a result of just below two hours earlier than arrival, the pre-landing snack was served. Yow will discover the menu under.
The menu advised that the meal can be a Hungarian goulash soup, although because it turned out, currywurst was truly being served. I’m not a currywurst fan, so I requested if they’d another choices. I used to be glad after they mentioned that they did, and I as a substitute had a tasty tomato and cheese ravioli dish. This got here with a aspect salad, a bread roll, and a passionfruit cheese tart.
My tray was cleared a bit over an hour earlier than touchdown.
Condor enterprise class service
The crew on this flight was pleasant {and professional}. In addition they labored onerous, given that there have been mainly three meal companies in the course of the flight. As I discussed above, the primary meal service was on the sluggish aspect, however that didn’t hassle me on this context.
Condor A330neo arrival in Seattle
At round 2:55PM the captain introduced that we’d be descending shortly, and can be touchdown at round 3:30PM. My eyes had been glued out the window in the course of the strategy, given the views.
I used to reside in Seattle, however haven’t been again in years. The view of the town certain made me wish to return.
We had a easy landing in Seattle at 3:40PM. From there we had a really brief taxi to the airport’s new worldwide terminal. The entire arrivals facility was stunning, although it required plenty of strolling (which personally I like after an extended flight, however I think about it’s extra of a wrestle for others).
I used to be by means of immigration shortly, and headed to the Marriott SeaTac Airport, the place I’d be spending the evening, previous to returning to Miami the next morning.
Backside line
I had an distinctive flight in Condor’s new A330-900neo enterprise class. The airline is reinventing itself, with swanky new lengthy haul jets that examine favorably to what Lufthansa gives. A very powerful factor to recollect is that Condor gives worth, because the airline considerably undercuts the competitors on pricing.
I beloved Condor’s new cabins, the largely nice tech, the superb leisure choice, the facilities, and the meals, all of which had been higher than what you’ll discover in Lufthansa enterprise class.
The main space for enchancment is with Wi-Fi, because it’s very sluggish and overpriced (however nonetheless higher than nothing). In the meantime the service circulate was sluggish, which I didn’t thoughts on a point-to-point daytime lengthy haul flight, although that will be extra of a problem on an in a single day flight.
If you may get a superb deal on Condor enterprise class, I’d completely suggest flying with the airline. I hope Condor more and more offers Lufthansa a run for its cash, as German aviation might use some competitors.
What do you make of Condor’s A330-900neo enterprise class?
