Icelandair vs Lufthansa
On the best documented aircraft, Icelandair scores 0/10 for the business seat and Lufthansa 10/10. The aircraft on your booking decides whether those seats apply.
By Jon Miksis · comparison updated
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What matters for your booking
Business fares
Of 45 shared business routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 45, Lufthansa on 0, and 0 were the same price.
Economy fares
Of 49 shared economy routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 34, Lufthansa on 15, and 0 were the same price.
Start with your route and cabin. A fare advantage in economy does not establish a business-class bargain, and a better seat does not establish that a connection or a higher fare is worth it for your trip.
The business seats being compared
These are each airline’s best-scoring documented business aircraft. The fare grid does not identify aircraft, so the seat below is not promised with any fare in the table. Service and food require a separate firsthand review.
Icelandair
737 MAX / 757 (Saga Premium)
- Seat layout
- 2-2
- Fully flat bed
- No
- Direct aisle access at every seat
- No
- Privacy door
- No
- Seat score
- 0/10
- Wi-Fi
- Paid in the recorded product
- Lounge access
- Included in the recorded fare
- Checked bags
- 2
Cabin checked .
Recorded source: Icelandair fare-type pages, Saga Premium reviews.
Lufthansa
A350-900 (Allegris Business Class Suite)
- Seat layout
- 1-2-1
- Fully flat bed
- Yes
- Direct aisle access at every seat
- Yes
- Privacy door
- Yes
- Seat score
- 10/10
- Wi-Fi
- Paid in the recorded product
- Lounge access
- Included in the recorded fare
- Checked bags
- 2
Cabin checked .
Recorded source: Lufthansa Allegris pages, Lufthansa Group rollout notes.
Seat scores describe bed, aisle access and privacy door only. Read the scoring method. A tie does not compare comfort, food, service or reliability.
Check the aircraft on Lufthansa
A350-900 (Allegris Business Class Suite): 10/10 for the seat. This door-equipped record describes the Allegris Business Class Suite, not every Allegris seat. Classic seats have direct aisle access but no suite door; seat-selection charges and available configurations vary. Confirm the named seat and operating flight before paying for it. Recorded August 30, 2026.
747-8 / A330-300 (legacy): 5/10 for the seat. This record describes a legacy paired-seat configuration. The aircraft family alone does not establish the cabin or seat on a particular booking; check the flight-specific seat map. Recorded August 30, 2026.
Compare the fares and the routing
Each row compares the same airports, cabin, travel dates and observation date. It can still compare a nonstop against a connection. Journey times, aircraft, baggage allowances and change rules were not recorded with these fares; check those before treating the price difference as a saving.
Showing 12 of 45 matched business routes. Round trip per person in USD, for travel November 8–14, 2026.
| Route and observation date | Icelandair | Lufthansa | Price difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Washington DC (IAD) → Munich (MUC) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,136Connects via KEF | $6,044Nonstop | Icelandair was $3,908 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Berlin (BER) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,169Connects via KEF | $6,064Connects via FRA | Icelandair was $3,895 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,292Connects via KEF | $5,994Connects via FRA | Icelandair was $3,702 less |
New York (JFK) → Frankfurt (FRA) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,470Connects via KEF | $5,458Nonstop | Icelandair was $2,988 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Helsinki (HEL) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,504Connects via KEF | $5,363Connects via MUC | Icelandair was $2,859 less |
New York (JFK) → Munich (MUC) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,509Connects via KEF | $6,059Nonstop | Icelandair was $3,550 less |
Boston (BOS) → Copenhagen (CPH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,619Connects via KEF | $4,372Connects via MUC | Icelandair was $1,753 less |
Boston (BOS) → Berlin (BER) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,743Connects via KEF | $5,340Connects via MUC | Icelandair was $2,597 less |
New York (JFK) → Berlin (BER) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,756Connects via KEF | $5,356Connects via MUC | Icelandair was $2,600 less |
Boston (BOS) → Munich (MUC) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,786Connects via KEF | $6,044Nonstop | Icelandair was $3,258 less |
Miami (MIA) → Rome Fiumicino (FCO) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,796Connects via KEF | $7,931Connects via MUC | Icelandair was $5,135 less |
Boston (BOS) → Frankfurt (FRA) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,797Connects via KEF | $6,875Connects via MUC | Icelandair was $4,078 less |
Your airport missing? Check the full route tool for the airlines we observed there. Confirm current fares, journey time, baggage and ticket rules before booking.
Before paying for the ticket
- Check the exact operating airline and seat map on every long flight, including the return. An airline name or business-class label alone does not guarantee a flat bed or aisle access.
- Compare total journey time and connection length. A lower fare may buy a much longer trip.
- Reprice with your bags, preferred seats and change rules included. These observations do not establish that the tickets have identical restrictions.
- Check other airlines on the route. Being cheaper than the other airline on this page does not establish the cheapest fare in the market.
Common questions
- Is Icelandair or Lufthansa better in business class to Europe?
- On the best documented aircraft, Icelandair scores 0/10 for the business seat and Lufthansa 10/10. The aircraft on your booking decides whether those seats apply. Of 45 shared business routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 45, Lufthansa on 0, and 0 were the same price. Service and food are not scored in this comparison. These are observations for travel November 8–14, 2026, not current quotes.
- Which is cheaper, Icelandair or Lufthansa?
- Of 45 shared business routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 45, Lufthansa on 0, and 0 were the same price. Of 49 shared economy routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 34, Lufthansa on 15, and 0 were the same price. Both counts refer to travel November 8–14, 2026. A cheaper fare may involve a connection; compare the itinerary as well as the price.
- Will I get the business seat shown here?
- These cards describe the named aircraft in our cabin records, not a seat guaranteed on every flight. At least one of these airlines has a recorded aircraft or cabin variation. Check the operating airline, seat map and aircraft for every segment before paying; equipment can change. The fare observations do not record the aircraft.
- Has Jon flown these business cabins?
- Icelandair business class is not on Jon’s confirmed flown roster. Lufthansa business class is on Jon’s confirmed flown roster. That records the airline and cabin, not every aircraft or itinerary. This page compares documented specifications and dated fares.
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