While the main divide in the world of airline choices will often come down to low-cost or mainstream, the hidden third category is the vacation or leisure airline.
The term is generally used for airlines whose network is made up primarily of popular holiday, resort or beach destinations. A major example of the holiday airline in North America is the Canadian carrier Air Transat, which operates a large network of sun-seeking flights to Mexico and the Caribbean, while in Europe major vacation airline names include TUI Group, Jet2.com (the airline behind the viral jingle “nothing beats a Jet2 holiday!) and German airline Condor.
Launched out of Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in 1955 with routes to popular European destinations such as Mallorca and the Canary Islands on a fleet of 36-passenger Vickers VC.1 Viking planes, Condor is a well-known airline in Europe and Germany in particular but not as recognized in the U.S. despite the fact that the airline flies to nine U.S. destinations. (Those who have flown on it, however, will never miss one of its planes on an airport tarmac again due to the signature striped livery in five bright colors.)
Why holiday airlines are often your best bet for scoring more affordable business class
With vacation airlines operating on a different business model than mainstream ones through their heavy focus on economy seats and add-ons for things like baggage and seat selection, a long-haul flight on a holiday airline can often be a way to score a business class seat at a fare that is often between 20% and 40% lower than what would be available on a mainstream airline.
The model is to get more economy travelers to go for the upgrade that they may be on the fence about rather than relying on a stream of high-spending corporate and loyalty travelers who regularly go for the higher fares.
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As I recently had a chance to discover on a flight between JFK in New York and Frankfurt Airport, the Airbus A330neo-900 planes that Condor uses for its long-haul flights are equipped with 180-degree lie-flat beds in a one-two-one cabin layout that allows travelers to stretch out by up to 78 inches when fully reclined.
The menu on long-haul business class flights was envisioned through a “Taste The World” theme that gives passengers a choice of dishes inspired by different countries: appetizers like lemongrass prawns with yuzu mayonnaise or Italian burrata alongside mains like German asparagus with pork tenderloin and teriyaki salmon.
Condor
A Condor flight from JFK to Frankfurt: A mini review
Special treats include a selection of top cheeses from different countries and, because the airline is German after all, a big basket of bread options that one can pick from to go alongside the meal. Food is often the main way that an airline can differentiate itself from competitors and surprise guests who, in some cases, are used to all the benefits of traveling in business.
The food on Condor was a delightful surprise and nice way to become acquainted with the airline.
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Another signature of Condor are the lights that switch to the colors of the rainbow at different points in the flight: calming purple for the resting period immediately after the meal and energetic green as we neared descent at Frankfurt. The amenity kit was a reusable cosmetics organizer in Condor’s signature stripes filled with a bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste kit, facial moisturizer as well as a sleeping masks and recyclable polyester socks to wear throughout the flight.
My experience with Condor was that, for the “vacation airline” label, it provides a very nice experience that in no way lags behind many full-service airlines. With Frankfurt serving as a hub to Condor’s network of flights that cannot be reached directly from the U.S. (Spanish resort destinations like Gran Canaria and Ibiza as well as Eastern European countries like Georgia and Armenia), it can be a great option for those going on that summer trip to Europe.
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