Travelers Agree That Flying With This European Airline Is A Regrettable Decision
Low-cost airlines have been a feature of European travel since the 1990s and have revolutionized the tourism market. Taking inspiration from Southwest and other affordable air carriers in the U.S., companies like Ryanair and EasyJet transformed their operations to be able to offer incredibly low fares, with passengers able to fly across the continent for as little as $20 each way!
These days, low-cost airlines are a fundamental feature of the European travel landscape, and while Easyjet and Ryanair still dominate the market, there are now a whole host of competitors who operate routes all over Europe and beyond. These low-cost airlines are hugely popular, but they also have their fair share of detractors. Most low-cost airlines sacrifice things like legroom, comfort, luggage allowance, and even customer service in order to offer the lowest fares, and have a lot of sneaky ways to make their passengers pay more.
One of the most distinctive and recognizable airlines in Europe, thanks to its bright, stripy livery, is Condor, a German carrier that flies to destinations around Europe and even includes several long-haul routes as well. While its colorful planes stand out, traveler reviews of Condor are mixed, with many travelers agreeing that their experience was not worth the cheap price they paid.
What passengers say about Condor
When booking a low-cost airline like Condor or Easyjet, there are some important things that every traveler should know. It is vital to remember the saying: "You get what you pay for." There are a few things that come with the territory, and passengers shouldn't expect the level of service or comfort that comes with the bigger, more premium airlines. But there are certain things that shouldn't be overlooked. One of the biggest and most egregious complaints about Condor is its failure to properly look after unattended minors flying on its planes. Passengers describe how, after paying for the unattended minors service, their children were left to fend for themselves, making their own way to the plane, left unsupervised throughout the flight, and, most unacceptably, left to deal with passport control and customs alone.
Other passengers describe different issues with Condor that have a huge impact on the value for money of the airline. Things like dirty cutlery, blocked toilets, delays, lost bookings, and last-minute changes of flights show a pattern of service that makes choosing Condor a potentially problematic decision. Alongside word-of-mouth reviews, Condor gets an unimpressive 1.6-star rating on Trustpilot, with most customers who rated the airline feeling underwhelmed and let down by their flight experience. From booking and boarding to customer service and luggage handling, the consensus is that Condor is an airline worth reconsidering.
Who should you fly with in Europe?
Unfortunately, these problems aren't unique to Condor. In fact, many low-cost airlines receive similar customer feedback. Condor doesn't even make it into the top five in a recent study by Flightright of the worst airlines in Europe. The study, based on reliability, the speed of refunds and compensation, and customer satisfaction, showed that Ryanair, Vueling, and Finnair performed among the worst, while low-cost German airlines Eurowings and Discover Airlines received the highest scores. Condor came in at eighth – doing better than most of the other main low-cost airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air, and even outperforming flag carriers like British Airways and KLM.
Choosing who to fly with in Europe seems to be a difficult decision, and one that inevitably comes with compromises. The standard wisdom is that if you are happy to sacrifice comfort for affordability, choose a low-cost airline, while if you prefer more legroom, better customer service, and don't want to pay crazy budget airline fees for bags, then a national flag carrier like British Airways might be a better choice. But the study by Flightright indicates that while this is the trend, it isn't always true, and it is important to take a closer look at the reviews of any airline you are considering before booking.