SAS or Luftansa

I'm looking at roundtrip airfare for our cruise next July from San Francisco to Copenhagen. The choices I'm considering are SAS (direct flight) or Luftansa (layovers in Germany). Lufthansa is a few hundred dollars cheaper for the five of us but not enough to override a direct flight. My main question is, which airline is better based on customer service, luggage issues, onboard economy experience, delays, etc.? I would love to hear from anyone with recent experience on either airline with this itinerary.

The economy experience is going to be very similar.

I would almost always take the non-stop (as opposed to the "direct") flight.

We have flown Lufthansa and the coach service was typical. Meals and some alcohol were included. However, Lufthansa seems to be very strike prone. Pilots, FAs, ground crew all stage frequent strikes. We flew in the middle of pilot strikes and the threat of one happening on our flight days cast a huge cloud over our trip. I spent a lot of time following the situation and researching our options. We were doing pre cruise days on our own but did not want to miss any of those plans let alone the cruise.

You will enter the Shengen area when you stop over in Germany. We had no problem with luggage-it was checked thru' to PRG which was our final destination.

If you decide to use LH I'd do some research on their labor situation.

Are you interested in earning FF miles? If so, check the fare class carefully on both airlines. Some fare classes earn little to no miles.

Agree about LH strike situation. Some insurance companies, Travel Guard for example, will currently not insure you against an LH pilot strike.

I have flown both Lufthansa and SAS in economy. My personal preference by a long shot would be the the direct flight on SAS ( I took the direct flight from ORD to CPH). The food was tasty ( as far as economy airline food goes), they give you bottled water, they have a good entertainment system and the seats are less cramped than Lufthansa ( this is my empirical opinion) . I also much prefer a direct flight if miles are not involved as there is no risk of missing a connecting flight and the risk of losing luggage is smaller. Just my two cents.

We chose SAS for our upcoming cruise (flying EWR to Oslo). Mostly because they have a nonstop flight. I also like that you can bid for upgrades to premium economy or business on SAS.

My main complaint with Lufthansa is you have to change in Frankfort or Munich. Both times we had to change in Frankfort we did not get gate space so we parked WAY out on the Tarmac and they bused everyone to the terminal... So it took forever to get off the plane (one bus gets full and you wait a while for another one to show up...). Then the terminal is huge and both times I think we walked miles to get to next flight. We had a 21/2 hour layover and barely made the connecting flight! So I'm kinda done with Lufthansa, at least if we have to hub through Frankfort.

We dislike Lufthansa since we travel with carry ons only. Not only do they measure your carry on but they weigh it - and if it's an ounce over 8 kg you have to check it. No other airline I have flown is as picky as Lufthansa

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We dislike Lufthansa since we travel with carry ons only. Not only do they measure your carry on but they weigh it - and if it's an ounce over 8 kg you have to check it. No other airline I have flown is as picky as Lufthansa

 

 

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On the contrary...most major European airlines are very strict with their carry on policies. If US airlines were half as strict, we could probably board planes twice as fast.

Actually, we have flown almost every European name airline and low cost airline, and only have had problems with Lufthansa. On our last flight FRA to VCE, I had the same exact suitcase - color, brand, size -as the gal sitting next to me - and I had to check my under 8 kg suitcase and she did not.

We are well aware of the airline luggage rules and we follow them carefully. And you are correct; the European airlines are far more strict than their American counterparts.

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The economy experience is going to be very similar.

^^^this. Far more similar than different when traveling in economy.

My personal preference by a long shot would be the the direct flight on SAS.....the seats are less cramped than Lufthansa ( this is my empirical opinion)

According to Seat Guru, both Lufthansa and SAS have an economy seat pitch of 31-32" This is the front-to-back space. As far as seat width, SAS is 17.3", while Lufthansa is 17.0-17.5 on all aircraft except the A380, which is 18.2.

So for the OP, unless you are looking at a flight on the A380, there really won't be much difference at all in seat size/space.

^^^this. Far more similar than different when traveling in economy.

 

 

 

According to Seat Guru, both Lufthansa and SAS have an economy seat pitch of 31-32" This is the front-to-back space. As far as seat width, SAS is 17.3", while Lufthansa is 17.0-17.5 on all aircraft except the A380, which is 18.2.

So for the OP, unless you are looking at a flight on the A380, there really won't be much difference at all in seat size/space.

As I stated, my comment was "empirical" ( which I stated clearly). I have flown on most major European carriers ( in coach and business), and my most cramped experience was on Lufthansa. I know the seat width and pitch is probably the same, but for reasons I cannot explain, it was worse than others. I was on the 747-8. They were also the most rigid airline with carry-ons. For reference, I have flown on Swiss, Turkish, TAP , Lufthansa, SAS and Iberia ( European Companies). I agree that the seat is similar on all, but I still find the experience varies in other ways.

We dislike Lufthansa since we travel with carry ons only. Not only do they measure your carry on but they weigh it - and if it's an ounce over 8 kg you have to check it. No other airline I have flown is as picky as Lufthansa

 

 

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That would solely depend on the check-in/gate agent you have assigned to your flight. You can have the most strict rules, if the agent decides not to enforce them, they mean nothing.

As I stated, my comment was "empirical" ( which I stated clearly). I have flown on most major European carriers ( in coach and business), and my most cramped experience was on Lufthansa. I know the seat width and pitch is probably the same, but for reasons I cannot explain, it was worse than others.

And I was clarifying for the benefit of infrequent flyers, who may see a comment like yours and assume the seats have measurably larger dimensions. People read how comfort+ and similar seats have a few extra inches of legroom and make the leap in their mind that "it's practically like first class" so it's not all that far-fetched to think someone could read more into this comparison than is really there. :)

Wow thank you all! I hadn't thought about a lot of these points. Such helpful information! I think I am leaning towards the SAS flight, and hoping to be able to swing for Plus (premium economy).

And I was clarifying for the benefit of infrequent flyers, who may see a comment like yours and assume the seats have measurably larger dimensions. People read how comfort+ and similar seats have a few extra inches of legroom and make the leap in their mind that "it's practically like first class" so it's not all that far-fetched to think someone could read more into this comparison than is really there. :)

I understand [emoji4].

OP, I think you will like SAS and the extra legroom is always nice in PE.

I'm glad they are picky and understand this. You might rather not be overloaded on a 747 that weighs 803,000 lbs as they make a big hole if they can't fly. I love Lufthansa. Good treatment and new airplanes. They have 20 new 747-800s and they are nice. We flew to India from IAD business class and they served Glenfiddich 30 yr old. The lounges are nice with beds to nap, food 24-7 and we were well treated. My 1st choice will always be Singapore Air to go the Asia.

I'm glad they are picky and understand this. You might rather not be overloaded on a 747 that weighs 803,000 lbs as they make a big hole if they can't fly.

Anyway, you don't want any aircraft to be overloaded, so it's pretty meaningless to single out the 747 in this respect.