Condor adds nonstop Frankfurt service to several US cities
May is just a few days away, and it’s going to be a month when one European carrier makes major changes to its U.S. flight schedule. Over the next few weeks, German leisure carrier Condor is going to add a long list of direct flights between Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) and several U.S. cities as the airline expands its U.S. flight schedule.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the largest U.S. airport that will begin direct service on Condor to Frankfurt. The airport reminded travelers of the upcoming flights in a tweet over the weekend.
LAX officials tweeted about the new service, although it’s worth noting that the photo the airport used of a Condor jet did not include an aircraft decked out in the Condor’s new brightly-striped livery unveiled earlier this month.
As part of its service expansion this summer, Condor is also adding nonstop flights between Frankfurt and both New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and San Francisco (SFO).
The airport is also returning service it had suspended to Portland, Oregon (PDX), San Francisco (SFO), Phoenix/Sky Harbor (PHX), Boston/Logan (BOS), Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) and Baltimore/Washington (BWI).
The move follows a resumption of the airline’s service to Seattle/Tacoma (SEA), Las Vegas (LAS), Anchorage (ANC) and Fairbanks (FAI). Service to these airports had been suspended during the pandemic.
Condor’s vice president and area manager for North America, Mathias Freiss, cited unprecedented “pent-up demand” from U.S. travelers as a driving force behind the changes.
The first airport to add service to Frankfurt during the month of May will be JFK Airport in New York, with service starting May 6. Service between Frankfurt and LAX begins May 24 – shortly before Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and the season's anticipated travel surge.
Related: 4 reasons you should visit Germany in the summer
Booking your trip
If you’re considering travel to Germany this summer – and paying your trip outright without miles – Condor’s initial service might be a relatively affordable way for you to get there.
I checked flights from some of the cities where this service is starting up, and the prices are certainly less than you could often end up paying.
It looks like seats are available on Condor’s first flight from JFK to Frankfurt on Friday, May 6. The round trip, with a return on May 12, goes for $539. Of course, you’ll want to be sure you’re fully up to speed on what fees might be associated with your trip, and what size carry-on bag your particular ticket allows, regardless of the class of service you’re in.
Meanwhile, a round trip from LAX to Frankfurt on the first day of service – May 24 – with a return a week later goes for $759. The outbound, nonstop service is a flight close to 12 hours, with the return flight lasting about 12 and a half hours.
Getting into Germany
U.S. travelers who are fully vaccinated are able to get into Germany, under the country’s current COVID-19 protocols. Meanwhile, travelers who are not fully vaccinated can only get into the country if they can demonstrate “an important need to travel.” The German Foreign Ministry updates its COVID-19 restrictions and guidance here.
Related: A country-by-country guide to coronavirus reopenings
Bottom line
Travel from the U.S. to Europe is expected to surge this summer after two years where COVID-19 made things highly unusual. Airlines, like Condor, are taking notice of this demand.
This additional service is going to mean many more routes between the U.S. and Germany are operating by the time summer officially kicks off.
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.