Lufthansa

Pros

• Extensive direct long-haul connections, such as daily flights between Germany and Bangkok.
• Option to pay for business class lounge access regardless of ticket class.
• Functional bidding system for seat upgrades available the week before departure.
• Efficient handling of tight layovers at hubs like Munich, often including dedicated passport control lines.

Cons

• Adversarial customer service and unhelpful live chat support for complex issues.
• Strict enforcement of carry-on size and weight restrictions.
• Difficulty obtaining refunds, with some users reporting they were incorrectly marked as 'no-shows' by the system.
• Reports of staff at specific airports (e.g., Berlin) demanding double-payment for baggage already paid for via partner airlines.

Caveats

• The airline may offer small 'goodwill' payments to settle disputes which may be less than the traveler's legal entitlement.
• Refund processes can be so difficult that some users have resorted to credit card chargebacks, which carries a risk of being blacklisted by the carrier.
• Flight cancellations to specific regions can be announced months in advance, requiring proactive monitoring.

Best for

• Travelers flying direct from German hubs who strictly follow baggage guidelines.
• Passengers interested in bidding for upgrades or paying for lounge access.
• Flyers who prefer clear, documented rules over flexible service.

Avoid if

• You require flexible or empathetic customer support for itinerary changes.
• You are traveling with borderline oversized carry-on luggage.
• You are booking through third-party sites or partner airlines where billing visibility might be an issue.