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When I fly internationally, I like to have options. One of the primary airlines that I like to use when I fly to Europe is Lufthansa. It’s a well-known European airline that I trust.
In fact, I flew with Lufthansa to visit a German friend I met while traveling in Italy. However, one of my “go-to” airlines that I like to fly with is United. But I must say, there’s a vast difference between Lufthansa vs. United Airlines.
I generally decide between the two based on airfare prices and the destination I’m traveling to. For some European countries, it makes more sense for me to fly with United; other times, Lufthansa is the better option. Stay tuned because I will deep dive into the main differences between these two popular airlines. Read on to discover more!
Bottom Line Up Front
Hands-down, United Airlines takes the win over Lufthansa. Since I live in the United States, I have more travel access with United Airlines. I can take domestic flights with them, as well as international flights. Furthermore, there’s a wider variety of international destinations from the USA through United Airlines. In my opinion, they also offer better amenities than Lufthansa.
Main Differences Between Lufthansa and United Airlines
- Lufthansa is a German-based airline, whereas United is not.
- Lufthansa has numerous flight routes within Europe, whereas United does not.
- United Airlines reward miles don’t expire, whereas Lufthansa’s does.
- United Airlines has numerous flight routes within the USA, whereas Lufthansa does not.
Key Features of Lufthansa
Snacks and Meals
When flying with Lufthansa, guests are given complimentary beverages and snacks. On flights between 30-60 minutes, passengers are given a bottle of water. For flights over an hour, passengers are provided with snacks and a selection of hot or cold beverages.
What I enjoyed about Lufthansa is that they have an excellent selection of snacks. I noticed that they provide a few more options than some other airlines. I appreciate that they also have a good selection of healthy food options.
Baggage
Free baggage allowance for Lufthansa isn’t cut and dry, and all baggage is subject to travel class and route. The airline provides a baggage calculator for passengers to help to determine what’s included with their airfare. But in most cases, a personal item, carry-on, and one piece of checked luggage are included with airfare.
In-flight Entertainment
In-flight entertainment is available on Lufthansa routes. Passengers have access to over 150 movies, audiobooks, and music. I like that Lufthansa offers a wide selection of movies and TV programs from around the world. For me, it’s always fun to watch programming from other countries. Passengers also have access to broadband internet on all long-haul aircraft.
Rewards Program
Lufthansa offers a Miles and More rewards program. Passengers receive miles for every flight, which helps them achieve a higher frequent flyer status. Plus, miles earned can be used for hotel bookings and flights with partner airlines.
Lufthansa offers three categories within its flyer program. If you reach the HON circle, you could receive complimentary limousine and transfer services from your arrival and departure destinations.
Pros
- Lufthansa Chocolate
- Compensaid
Cons
- No Snack Service for Short Flights
- Baggage Calculator
Lufthansa Chocolate
Lufthansa chocolate is so good! I absolutely love chocolate, so it was a pleasant surprise to receive it when I flew with them. It’s not a treat you normally get with other airlines, so I was impressed.
Compensaid
Lufthansa developed a concept called Compensaid. It allows passengers to offset their CO2 emissions. This is done by reducing emissions using sustainable aviation fuel. I really like that they are taking the initiative to create a cleaner environment. I think it’s a brilliant idea.
No Snack Service for Short Flights
There are no complimentary beverages or snacks if your flight is under 30 minutes. There are no snack bags, either. However, passengers on short flights are given a piece of chocolate, and in my opinion, that helps to make up for the lack of complimentary snacks.
Baggage Calculator
Although the calculator is simple, I didn’t like this feature. When I fly with an airline, I like everything to be cut and dry, and I don’t particularly appreciate going through extra steps when booking my trip. Not only that, but I prefer standard rules across the board. For example, if I’m allowed free baggage for one of my trips, I don’t like that I may not get it on another trip. This may not bother some people, but I find it unnecessarily complicated. When you book a flight, you have to run your route through the calculator, so you never know what baggage will be like for your trip.
Further Read: Lufthansa Economy vs Premium.
Key Features of United Airlines
Food and Beverages
United offers complimentary snacks and meals. However, refreshments are served based on flight duration and fare class. For instance, for Economy Class passengers, no complimentary snacks are provided for flights under 800 miles.
Not only that, but some snacks are complimentary, while the others are for purchase. Furthermore, food and beverage services differ for other fare classes, like Premium Cabin. For Premium Cabin, wine, beer, and other drinks are free on all flights. But if your flight is under 300 miles, there is no food service. However, you’ll get something on flights over 300 miles, depending on the route.
Baggage
With United, a carry-on bag and a personal item are allowed on most flights. However, carry-ons are not permitted for a basic economy ticket, and basic economy passengers are only allowed one personal item. Also, checked baggage differs with United Airlines, depending on travel class. First Class and Business Class passengers are allowed free checked baggage on any flight. Economy passengers get free checked luggage on extended flights to long-haul destinations. United has a baggage calculator as well.
Rewards Program
United has a loyalty program known as MileagePlus. It allows members to accumulate travel miles to use towards flights to various destinations worldwide. Miles can also be used in conjunction with money, in case you want to purchase a flight but don’t have enough points. Much like Lufthansa, United offers various tiers within its loyalty program. Once you reach Premier status, you’ll enjoy preferred seating, waived fees, upgrades, and more.
Further Read: Best Credit Cards for United Miles.
In-flight Entertainment
You’ll definitely keep yourself entertained while flying with United Airlines. They have a vast selection of movies and other types of entertainment. While United does offer in-flight Wi-Fi, it’s not free. Passengers have to pay, even on international routes. However, travelers have access to free messaging apps like iMessage and WhatsApp.
Pros
- New Movies and Shows
- Reward Miles Don’t Expire
Cons
- Layovers
- In-flight Power Is Hit or Miss
New Movies and Shows
I like that United offers a selection of the newest movies and shows. A lot of airlines tend to only provide movies that are a bit outdated. I remember being excited about watching a movie that I really wanted to see, and luckily, it was available on my flight with United.
Reward Miles Don’t Expire
One thing that I really like about United is that their loyalty miles don’t expire. For me, that’s a huge relief. Sometimes I choose different airlines, depending on my needs and fare prices. So, it’s nice to know that I’m not forced to always fly with United based on expiring miles.
Layovers
One thing that I noticed about United Airlines is that they usually have layovers—even for domestic flights. United is a huge airline, and they operate in many cities. Therefore, it’s hard to avoid layovers when flying with them. The problem is that their flight prices are higher than the budget airlines, but the routes take longer to get you to your destination.
In-flight Power Is Hit or Miss
If you fly Economy with United Airlines, the seat may not have a power outlet. For me, that’s a big deal because I like to make sure that my electronics are charged while I’m in the air. Sometimes I don’t have the option to sit and let my electronics charge while waiting to board, so this is an inconvenience. Thankfully, United allows passengers to search their flight to check whether their seats might have an outlet.
Other Competitors to Consider
1. British Airways
British Airways is one of the airlines that I like to use as an alternative to Lufthansa. From my experience, they’re a pretty good airline. On most flights, they offer a cabin bag, a personal item, and one free checked bag. I really like British Airways’ customer service as well. Not that Lufthansa has bad service, but I noticed that the British Airways staff seems to be a bit more hospitable and friendly.
See also: British Airways vs American Airlines
2. American Airlines
When I fly domestically or internationally, American Airlines is one of the options that I like to choose. Compared to United, I feel American Airlines offers a bit more. In most cases, passengers don’t have to pay a fee for up to three bags. Carry-ons are included, and the first checked bag is free, depending on the route.
However, I sometimes choose United over American Airlines when the airfare is cheaper. Sometimes their prices are relatively the same, but other times, American is a bit more expensive.
3. Southwest Airlines
Southwest is one of my favorite airlines. In comparison to United, they offer so much more. All passengers are allowed two free checked bags! Not to mention, their prices are lower. Unfortunately, Southwest doesn’t fly to as many destinations as United. I can’t fly to Europe on Southwest, and they don’t operate in some North American cities.
FAQs
Answer: Yes, you can cancel your flight. However, the reimbursement depends on the type of airfare you have. All cancellations within 24 hours after purchasing a flight are free. If you want to know if your flight is refundable, you can check the fare conditions section in your confirmation email.
Answer: Yes, you can take food on the plane. Generally, passengers buy snacks or meals within the airport after they’ve passed through security.
Answer: Yes, for the most part. You may not always find super cheap airfare, but they do have flight deals. You can check their website, and it’ll show you the various countries they’re flying to for low prices. For instance, you could fly from New York to Lisbon for $410. But if you’re flying from a different part of the United States, the ticket price might be higher or lower.
Answer: Unfortunately, you can only bring one personal item onboard. It has to be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you, and that’s generally about the size of a small backpack. If you need a purse, you can always put it inside your personal item and make sure that it’s small enough to fit.
Answer: Yes, they are. They are partnered with several other airlines, like Air New Zealand, Air Portugal, and Eva Air. Believe it or not, Lufthansa is one of United’s travel partners within the Star Alliance group.
Answer: Any flight canceled within 24 hours of purchase may be eligible to get cancellation fees waived. However, that may differ if the purchase was made less than a week before the scheduled departure. Cancellations made after 24 hours are subject to fees. If your ticket qualifies for a refund, you can request it under the “My Trips” tab on the United Airlines website.
Are United and Lufthansa “The Same”?
The short answer is that no, Lufthansa and United are not the same. They ARE however part of the Star Alliance, meaning that on many international routes they offer each others routes through the same booking interface and and system.
Other Lufthansa Alternatives
There are a variety of other Lufthansa alternatives to consider, particularly for European travel.
- British Airways – British Airways has a strong brand reputation and offers extensive global coverage, which gives it a competitive edge over Lufthansa. Its frequent flyer program, Executive Club, is also highly regarded for its robust rewards and benefits.
- Air France – Air France’s top advantage is its substantial network in the French market and its strong presence in Europe. Being the national carrier of France, it enjoys a good reputation and offers direct flights to many destinations that Lufthansa does not. Further Read: Air France vs Lufthansa.
- KLM – KLM’s advantage lies in its commitment to sustainability. It is recognized as one of the world’s most sustainable airlines, which can be a deciding factor for environmentally conscious customers. Further Read: KLM vs Lufthansa.
- Swiss International Air Lines – Swiss International Air Lines, like Lufthansa, is known for its quality of service. However, it offers a more personalized in-flight experience, which gives it an edge over Lufthansa. Further Read: Swiss Air vs Lufthansa.
- Emirates: Emirates’ advantage over Lufthansa is its reputation for luxury and exceptional in-flight service, including gourmet meals and in-flight entertainment. Its hub, Dubai International Airport, is a major global transit point, which allows it to offer a wide range of destinations.
- Turkish Airlines: Turkish Airlines is known for its extensive network. It serves more destinations globally than any other airline, providing an advantage over Lufthansa for customers seeking a wider range of direct flights.
Other United Alternatives
Similarly, here’s United’s top competitors that may be worth a look:
- Delta Airlines: Delta’s main advantage over United is its extensive domestic network and excellent on-time performance, which is often rated higher than United’s. Delta’s customer service is also generally considered superior. Further Read: Delta vs United.
- American Airlines: American’s main advantage is its strong presence in key U.S. markets such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, and Chicago. It also has a strong international network, particularly to Latin America. Further Read: American vs United.
- Southwest Airlines: Southwest’s biggest advantage is its ‘bags fly free’ policy and no change fees, which have made it a favorite among cost-conscious travelers. It also has a strong customer-centric culture and a reputation for punctuality.
- JetBlue Airways: JetBlue distinguishes itself with a focus on customer comfort, offering amenities like more legroom and free high-speed WiFi. It’s especially strong in the Northeast and Florida markets. Further Read: JetBlue vs United.
- Spirit Airlines: Spirit’s advantage comes from its ultra-low-cost model, offering some of the cheapest fares in the industry. This makes it a strong competitor on price-sensitive routes.
- Alaska Airlines: Alaska is highly regarded for its customer service and in-flight experience. It also has a strong network in the Western U.S., particularly in and out of its Seattle hub.
- Emirates: Emirates’ advantage is its superior in-flight experience, with luxurious seats and high-quality entertainment. It also offers extensive connections through its Dubai hub.
My Final Thoughts on Lufthansa vs United
In my opinion, Lufthansa and United are quite different, and they have some similarities, but I had various experiences when I flew with both airlines. Generally, I’ll choose Lufthansa when they have flight deals to Europe.
As for United, they’re one of my top five airlines for domestic and international flights, depending on the experience I’m looking for and airfare prices.
Bottom Line Summary: Overall, I believe that United takes the cake against Lufthansa. Although, that’s primarily because of the additional countries that I can fly to with them.
What do you think? Which one of these airlines do you like the most?
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