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-   -   Atlanta to Rome - Lufthansa or Delta? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/atlanta-to-rome-lufthansa-or-delta-575167/)

EmmaRain Dec 8th, 2005 08:27 AM

Atlanta to Rome - Lufthansa or Delta?
 
I'm not a frequent flyer. We are trying to decide which airline to fly on a trip to Rome. Our choice is Lufthansa with one stop in Germany or Delta nonstop. Someone at work told me to fly Lufthansa even with the stop because they love this airline. I'd never heard of Lufthansa. Any advice? They are about the same price. Thanks!

Cato Dec 8th, 2005 08:42 AM

Go with the Delta nonstop.

Brian_in_Charlotte Dec 8th, 2005 08:45 AM

I can't imagine any difference being worth the extra stop and additional travel hours. I'd even pay extra for the non-stop.

Now, if the dates are a long way out, you have to consider Delta's position in bankruptcy court.

Intrepid1 Dec 8th, 2005 08:48 AM

Delta is flying non-stop to a German destination and Lufthansa is flying (through Frankfort, I suspect) to get you to the same destination? Seems somewhat unusual. Are we talking about Munich?

And neither is a code share flight?

I'd be curious to know the ultimate destination...if you'd care to share that information.

Intrepid1 Dec 8th, 2005 08:50 AM

Unless Delta doesn't emerge from bankruptcy protection (will THIS be the airline that we FINALLY allow to stay bankrupt rather than artificially propping them up???) I doubt they won't be flying.

NorthShore Dec 8th, 2005 08:58 AM

Delta flys nonstop to Rome.

ira Dec 8th, 2005 09:28 AM

Hi emma,

If the unions don't destroy Delta, the nonstop flight is better than the one-stop flight.

((I))

Mishka Dec 8th, 2005 10:14 AM

If you are flying business class/executive class, no one does it like Luftansa. No one....I didn't want to get off the plane when I went to Tunis, TUnisia a few years ago. The best flight I have ever taken.

buongiorno Dec 8th, 2005 10:19 AM

primarily for the sake of not getting your luggage lost, always go for the non-stop

wally34949 Dec 8th, 2005 10:19 AM

Free after dinner drinks with Lufthansa in coach. $5.00 beers with Delta in Coach. Do you drink? Do you collect miles?

Therese Dec 8th, 2005 10:26 AM

Non-stop with Delta. Lufthansa's fine, but not substantially better than Delta if you're flying coach (which I'll assume you are) and the extra time and hassle of switching planes is simply not worth it.

I fly a lot and there's absolutely no way I'd choose Lufthansa over Delta in this instance.

richardab Dec 8th, 2005 10:34 AM

I always use Lufthansa to Europe. They run a tight airline and really work hard to have on time departures. I find the service to be very professional and seats comfortable. Depending on where you are coming from you will connect thru Frankfurt or Munich. Both airports are OK but Munich is far nicer.

One tip, I don't know where you are flying from but make sure the Delta non stop to Rome isn't a code share on Alitalia, I hear they are horrible!

taxmej Dec 8th, 2005 11:07 AM

I flew the Atlanta/Rome flight in November and was very impressed. We arrived right on time without any problems

francophile03 Dec 8th, 2005 11:27 AM

I flew in cattle class (aka coach) on Lufthansa. I would choose to fly with them if the opportunity were to come up again. The service was attentive and patient and while the food is typical of all airlines' economy sections, I prefer Lufthansa over Delta even if I need to connect in Germany.


smueller Dec 8th, 2005 12:26 PM


Maybe this has already been mentioned, but Delta pilots are threatening a strike action if the bankruptcy courts nullify their contracts. Some have predicted that this would result in total bankruptcy of the airline - in other words, liquidation, not Chapter 11.

rick_c Dec 8th, 2005 12:30 PM

I flew nonstop from Atlanta to Rome last July on Delta, and it was a reasonable experience. All other things being equal, I'd choose Lufthansa, but a nonstop is a no-brainer, when you consider the hours saved and the greater likelihood of lost luggage with a connection. So go with Delta. I might be a little nervous about the issue of bankruptcy, but no airline has been allowed to disappear recently, and I doubt they are going to start now.

EmmaRain Dec 8th, 2005 02:24 PM

Thanks, everyone. We're still not sure which to choose. We live near Atlanta and are honeymooning in Rome. The Lufthansa flight stops in Frankfurt. The Delta flight goes straight to Rome, but we are concerned about the bankruptcy situation as well.

EmmaRain Dec 8th, 2005 02:28 PM

I forgot to mention - the trip is in March.

wally34949 Dec 9th, 2005 02:48 AM

I flew Atlanta to Rome last year on Delta. Had to wait in Rome for one hour (in line) to get my passport stamped, obviously not Delta's fault. Drinks were $5.00, no individual TV monitors, they had a projection television at the front of the cabin which was impossible to see and they woke everyone up at 2:00 in the morning with the announcement, "make sure your seatbelt is security fastened." I was never able to go back to sleep. When I told a Lufthansa flight attendant about that she laughed and said, we would never do something like that. Delta used an older 767.

Intrepid1 Dec 9th, 2005 02:50 AM

OK, Emma..so what are you going to do?


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