Air France vs. Lufthansa: Which Is Best?

When flying to Europe, it’s possible you’ll be contemplating flights on Lufthansa or Air France. Each worldwide airways are well-respected within the trade and provide distinctive experiences for passengers.

From a complimentary glass of champagne on Air France long-haul flights to Lufthansa’s first-class lounge rubber geese, every airline presents particular facilities. Should you see flight choices for each airways, it’s possible you’ll be questioning should you ought to select Lufthansa versus Air France.

On this article, we’ll examine Lufthansa versus Air France based mostly on:

We compiled this info that can assist you determine which one, Lufthansa or Air France, is greatest for you.

The place they’re based mostly and the place they fly

When selecting an airline, it is necessary that it travels to all kinds of locations so you should use them over and over. Flying the identical airline repeatedly lets you earn frequent flyer miles for future flights and credit towards elite standing. Air France is the winner with extra locations and flights aboard its personal planes.

The airline presents greater than 205 locations worldwide with 5,200 weekly flights scheduled for summer time 2023. Its major hubs are Frankfurt and Munich, but it surely flies everywhere in the world with its companions as a founding member of Star Alliance.

Air France operates 1,500 every day flights to 312 locations in 116 nations. It’s a SkyTeam member, which allows prospects to e book flights with its companions to fly to locations worldwide. The airline’s major hubs are in Paris and Amsterdam.

Journey bank card availability

Having an airline’s bank card allows vacationers to earn additional miles and obtain extra perks when flying on the airline.

On the subject of Air France versus Lufthansa, Air France has the extra interesting journey bank card choices with increased incomes energy and higher cardholder perks.

Plus, it’s a switch companion of the a number of versatile factors applications. This lets you earn miles a number of methods, even when you do not have the airline’s co-branded card.

The Lufthansa Miles & Extra® World Elite Mastercard® earns 2x miles per greenback on Lufthansa purchases and 1x miles on all the things else, and cardholders can convert as much as 25,000 miles into elite standing miles at a 5:1 ratio.

For its $59 annual charge, it additionally consists of two complimentary Lufthansa enterprise class lounge vouchers and a companion ticket every year.

And don’t overlook the welcome bonus:

Earn 60,000 award miles should you spend $3,000 in purchases and pay the annual charge, each inside the first 90 days.

The draw back is Lufthansa doesn’t companion with any versatile factors applications to transform factors into its miles.

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® cardholders obtain 3x miles on Air France purchases and 1.5x miles all over the place else. In trade for the cardboard’s $89 annual charge, you may obtain 5,000 miles in your card anniversary so long as you spend a minimum of $50 every year.

It, too, has a welcome bonus:

Get 50,000 Bonus Miles after you make $2,000 or extra in purchases inside the first 90 days of account opening.

Plus, you may obtain 60 XP towards elite standing upon approval of your card software. Members can switch factors to Air France KLM Flying Blue from plenty of applications, together with:

Vacationers earn miles for future flights based mostly on their paid tickets, bank card utilization and different actions with companions.

Moreover, they will obtain elite standing by hitting sure milestones inside the program. Ideally, a loyalty program is easy and simple to encourage members to earn and redeem miles regularly.

Lufthansa is within the technique of simplifying its loyalty program, and the modifications will not be carried out till January 2024. Air France presently has a greater program that rewards vacationers for his or her loyalty and makes it simple to redeem miles.

Lufthansa is within the technique of launching a brand new loyalty program that was introduced in 2019.

The brand new program is scheduled for launch in January 2024 providing a clear level system and the power to earn lifetime elite standing. Adjustments are meant to remove sophisticated program parts to make it simpler for vacationers to earn and redeem rewards sooner or later.

Moreover, members will robotically obtain extra advantages as they attain milestones based mostly on their annual flights.

Flying Blue is the mixed loyalty program for Air France and KLM. The loyalty program makes it simple to redeem miles to e book award tickets and presents a “miles & money” choice the place you possibly can pay as much as 25% of your ticket with money.

Flying Blue additionally presents month-to-month promo award flights the place it can save you as much as 50% off award flights. There are 4 ranges of elite standing vacationers can obtain based mostly on their flights, bank card use and companion actions.

Airways usually cost charges when reserving a flight with an agent, for checking baggage and different points of touring.

When deciding on an airline, you need one that doesn’t cost a whole lot of additional charges that may improve the price of your flight. Air France is our selection for fewer charges because it waives charges for phone reserving and on-line modifications or refunds.

Like many airways, Lufthansa prices charges for a lot of companies when interacting with staff or making modifications to flights. In some circumstances, rebooking or refunds will not be allowed on lower-level tickets.

If you want to cancel or change your flight, you could have charges starting from $250 to $1,000 per passenger plus any distinction in fare. On the plus facet, all passengers get a minimum of one checked bag without spending a dime, even financial system class tickets.

Air France waives many charges for reserving, making modifications or canceling flights once they’re made on-line or at airport kiosks. Nevertheless, charges could apply on the day of departure or over the cellphone.

Most passengers get a minimum of one checked bag without spending a dime. Nevertheless, financial system passengers could also be charged on some flights. Vacationers can save 20% on extra baggage charges by buying allowances on-line forward of their flights.

Each airways provide premier journey experiences on the bottom and within the air. Whether or not you are flying Economic system or upgrading to top notch, you possibly can’t go fallacious when selecting between Lufthansa versus Air France.

Economic system class passengers obtain complimentary meals, drinks and on-board leisure with seats measuring over 16 inches broad (40 cm).

First-class vacationers take pleasure in entry to private assistants, top notch lounges and limousine service from the lounge to the aircraft. Onboard, you may dine on culinary delights and nice wines from lie-flat seats that regulate to your consolation degree.

The airline is launching an overhaul of its in-flight service often known as Lufthansa Allegra. This redesign reimagines the in-flight expertise from scratch with most privateness in thoughts.

Air France presents 4 ranges of seats, starting from financial system to La Premiere First Class. Economic system class seats differ barely based mostly on which area you are touring to, however all financial system passengers have entry to onboard leisure and Wi-Fi.

In choose cities, top notch passengers touring in La Premiere obtain complimentary premium driver service to the airport, a personal check-in lounge and a chauffeured journey to the plane.

Onboard, you may take pleasure in personalised employees service plus culinary meals in your non-public suite providing hotel-standard consolation.

Is Lufthansa higher than Air France?

Within the competitors of Lufthansa versus Air France, there’s a transparent winner: Air France.

Whereas each airways are a part of alliances, Air France flies to extra locations with extra every day flights. Every airline has its personal bank card, however the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® has increased incomes energy and solely Air France companions with different playing cards for factors transfers.

Lufthansa is within the technique of streamlining its loyalty program, which illustrates how convoluted its present program is. Each airways have high-end experiences on the airport and in-flight experiences, however Air France additionally has decrease charges in widespread conditions.

General, these two worldwide airways provide very completely different execs and cons. Air France is our selection between Lufthansa versus Air France. Nevertheless, the most effective one for you relies on the place you reside, the place you need to fly and your journey preferences.

(High picture courtesy of Air France)