Condor, a German budget airline, unveils new Airbus A330 cabins that are nicer than Lufthansa's
You may never have heard of Condor Airlines before, but after seeing these new cabins, you might want to give the carrier a deeper look.
Condor, a budget carrier based in Germany, is gearing up to replace its aging Boeing 767 fleet with new Airbus A330-900neo aircraft beginning this fall. While we've known about the fleet modernization project since last year, Condor on Wednesday unveiled the interiors of its new aircraft.
The A330neo will be outfitted in a three-cabin configuration, with 30 lie-flat business-class pods, 64 premium economy recliners and 216 standard coach seats. The first A330neo will enter the fleet in the fall, and the airline is promising to debut the plane on long-haul routes by the winter to the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Seattle.
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30 business-class lie-flats
Condor's new business class is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, giving each flyer direct aisle access. Each seat converts into a nearly 80-inch bed, with what the airline is calling an "extra-large foot space."
These forward-facing pods are finished in deep blue and white, which looks quite understated (especially compared to the flashy livery on the outside).
Each seat sports a 17.3-inch 4K inflight entertainment system that can be controlled by your finger or with a remote control.
Perhaps most notably is that Condor will have a nicer business-class product than German flag carrier Lufthansa. Even though Lufthansa has unveiled mockups of a revamped biz product, the airline still hasn't started flying it.
The latest plan calls for Lufthansa to debut the cabin in summer 2023.
64 premium economy recliners
Condor's 64-seat premium economy cabin is nearly double the size of its big German competitor. On a similarly sized Lufthansa A330, you'll find somewhere between 21 and 28 premium economy recliners.
Meanwhile, Condor's A330neo will have a whopping 64 recliners. Hopefully, that'll keep the buy-up from coach relatively modest.
That said, Condor's premium economy cabin doesn't appear to offer larger or more spacious seats. Instead, these seats offer additional legroom and recline compared to standard coach. On U.S. carriers, this cabin would likely be marketed as extra-legroom coach, as opposed to premium economy.
Condor's premium economy cabin is arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, with 35 inches of pitch and 12 degrees of recline.
The adjustable footrest and headrest should help make it easier to catch some sleep during long-haul flights.
Each seat has a 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen inflight entertainment system.
216 coach seats
The 216 coach seats offer 30 inches of pitch, which is a bit tight, but not as cramped as you'd find on some ultra-low-cost carriers.
The seats recline 8.5 degrees.
Like premium economy, each seat has a 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen inflight entertainment system.
Nose-to-tail improvements
Perhaps the most exciting upgrades are those coming to every cabin: Each seat will feature access to an AC outlet, as well as USB-A and -C ports.
Additionally, the plane will feature high-speed Wi-Fi, though the airline didn't reveal any provider or pricing details yet. Condor historically hasn't offered Wi-Fi, so this will make it much easier to stay connected when traveling with the carrier.
Finally, each seat will offer Bluetooth connectivity to allow you to pair your wireless headphones, AirPods included, without carrying any additional dongles or cables.
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There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees