This past September we took Lufthansa from JFK to Athens with a connection in Frankfurt leaving on a Friday around 5:40 pm and arriving Frankfurt around 7:05 am. We had a 1 hour and 40 minute layover which scared me after reading some pretty bad reviews of others airport experience. However, we were through passport control and to our gate in about 20 minutes after deplaning.

Our experience with Lufthansa was very positive. While the plane itself was quite cramped the staff was some of the best we've experienced. They couldn't have been more attentive and pleasant if asked. My partner was very sick due to a bumpy ride and the flight attendants did what they could to make her comfortable. The Lufthansa crew at the Frankfurt airport gate were very accommodating and allowed us early boarding when told of my partner's condition. All of our flights were on time. At JFK we were able to check ourselves in and our bags though to our final destination Chania, Crete as the leg from Athens to Chania was on Aegean Air, a partner. The only glitch was that the woman who checked our bags told us we would have to claim the bags in Athens and then do the recheck, but this wasn't the case and we waited about 20 minutes at the luggage carousal before we asked at the lost luggage counter. Ultimately no big deal since we had enough time to make out connecting flight.

The only thing I would add and I'm not sure if this has to do with Lufthansa or JFK but the Lufthansa terminal was the most depressing one I've seen in a long time. The duty free was out of kiosks in the corridors and there was no restaurant/bar, just a few small places to pick up food and drink.