Lufthansa and SWISS are sister airlines in the Lufthansa Group and both belong to Star Alliance. Lufthansa flies from Frankfurt and Munich, while SWISS flies from Zurich and Geneva. Travellers in central Europe often compare them for transatlantic and Asian long-haul trips, or for routes such as Frankfurt or Munich to Zurich.
Quick verdict
Both are full-service carriers with similar alliance benefits, so the choice mostly comes down to which hub suits your journey. Lufthansa has the larger network and two German hubs. SWISS is a smaller, Zurich-centred airline whose standard fares include a checked bag in Economy. Choose by departure airport and fare conditions first, then by the cabin on the specific aircraft.
Choose Lufthansa if…
- You are starting from Frankfurt or Munich, or want the wider choice of destinations and connections at two hubs.
- You want the newer Allegris cabins, which are spreading across the long-haul fleet.
- You want First Class on selected long-haul aircraft, with the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt.
Choose SWISS if…
- You are starting from Zurich or Geneva, or want a smaller hub that is simple to connect through.
- You want a checked 23 kg bag included in a standard Economy fare (not Light or Basic).
- You want the newer SWISS Senses cabins on the A350, which has been delivered since October 2025.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
Lufthansa operates from Frankfurt and Munich, and is Germany's largest airline with a mainline fleet of 274 aircraft. SWISS uses Zurich as its main hub and Geneva as its secondary hub, serving around 120 destinations with 87 aircraft. SWISS long-haul goes from Zurich to North America, South America, Africa and Asia. Lufthansa offers more routes and more departure choices, particularly within Germany.
Cabins and seats
Both offer Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First on selected aircraft. Lufthansa's Allegris long-haul cabin is being introduced across its long-haul fleet, with availability varying by aircraft. SWISS has been flying the A350-900 with its SWISS Senses cabins since October 2025. Its First Class is offered only on the Boeing 777-300ER, with eight suites. On both airlines the seat you get depends on the aircraft, so check the flight before booking.
Baggage and fares
SWISS includes 1 x 23 kg checked in standard Economy, but not on Light or Basic fares. Premium Economy gets 2 x 23 kg, Business 2 x 32 kg and First 3 x 32 kg. Lufthansa's Economy Light includes no checked bag, while Economy Flex includes 2 x 23 kg. Both allow an 8 kg cabin bag in Economy, although SWISS Basic fares allow only a personal item. Compare the exact fare names, because the cheapest fares on both airlines exclude a hold bag.
Lounges and ground experience
Lufthansa runs lounges at Frankfurt and Munich, including dedicated First Class lounges and a First Class Terminal at Frankfurt. Access depends on cabin or Miles & More and Star Alliance status. Check SWISS lounge access for your fare and route on swiss.com. Your hub is the main factor here.
Loyalty and alliances
Both airlines are in Star Alliance and both use Miles & More, so miles earned on one count towards status with the other. Frequent Traveller is Star Alliance Silver, and Senator and HON Circle are Gold. Because the programme is shared, loyalty rarely decides between the two. Choose on schedule, price and cabin.
Safety
SWISS has had no fatal accidents since its formation in 2002. Its notable incidents are the 2002 Saab 2000 hull loss, in which everyone on board survived, and a smoke-related emergency landing of an A220 at Graz in December 2024. Both airlines are major European carriers within the same group.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lufthansa better than SWISS?
Neither is better overall. Lufthansa offers a larger network from Frankfurt and Munich, while SWISS offers a smaller Zurich-based operation with a checked bag included in standard Economy. Pick based on your departure airport and fare.
Does SWISS include checked baggage?
Yes on standard Economy fares, with 1 x 23 kg, but not on Light or Basic fares. Lufthansa Economy Light has no checked bag, while Economy Flex includes two 23 kg bags.
Are Lufthansa and SWISS in the same alliance?
Yes. Both are Star Alliance members and both take part in Miles & More, so miles and status are shared. SWISS is a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group.
About Lufthansa Read more
Overview
Lufthansa is Germany's largest airline and the flagship carrier of Lufthansa Group. According to Wikipedia, it traces its history to Deutsche Luft Hansa, founded on 6 January 1926, and was re-established in 1953. It is headquartered in Cologne, operates hubs at Frankfurt and Munich, and is a founding member of Star Alliance. Its frequent-flyer programme is Miles & More. The airline is still operating passenger services in 2026, its centenary year.
Network and hubs
Frankfurt and Munich are the main hubs. For summer 2026, Aviation Outlook reports that Lufthansa Group offers more than 14,000 weekly connections to 330 destinations in around 100 countries. That figure covers the whole group, not only the Lufthansa brand, and the same source describes a shift away from loss-making short-haul feeder flying towards long-haul growth. Lufthansa has also taken a stake in ITA Airways, with an option to acquire the remainder later.
Fleet
Wikipedia lists a mainline fleet of 274 aircraft and 229 destinations (retrieved September 2026; some infobox data may lag). Lufthansa Group as a whole had 737 aircraft at the end of 2025, with 219 more on order, according to Aviation Outlook. The long-haul fleet includes Airbus A350-900s, and Wikipedia also covers A340-600s, A380s and Boeing 747-8s, some of which are being refitted.
On board
- Cabins: Economy, Premium Economy, Business and, on selected aircraft, First Class.
- Premium Economy: introduced in 2014, with a seat pitch of about 38 inches, according to Wikipedia.
- Allegris: the airline's newer long-haul cabin product, which is being introduced across the long-haul fleet. Availability varies by aircraft.
- Meal, entertainment and Wi-Fi details vary by route and cabin. Check the airline's website before booking.
Good to know
- Baggage: a third-party guide (2025) says Economy and Premium Economy include one 8 kg cabin bag (55x40x23 cm). Economy Light includes no checked bag, while Economy Flex includes two 23 kg bags. Business and First include two cabin bags. Rules change, so confirm on lufthansa.com.
- Lounges: Lufthansa operates lounges at Frankfurt and Munich, including First Class lounges and a First Class Terminal in Frankfurt.
- Loyalty: Miles & More has Frequent Traveller (Star Alliance Silver), Senator and HON Circle (both Star Alliance Gold) levels, with lounge access at the higher tiers.
About SWISS Read more
Overview
SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines) is the flag carrier of Switzerland. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 31 March 2002 after the bankruptcy of Swissair and was built around the regional airline Crossair. It keeps Crossair's IATA code LX and Swissair's ICAO code SWR. The airline is a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group and a member of Star Alliance. Its headquarters are in Kloten, near Zurich Airport. It reported revenue of €6,481 million for 2025.
Network and hubs
Zurich is the main hub and Geneva the secondary hub. SWISS operates scheduled services across Europe and to North America, South America, Africa and Asia, serving around 120 destinations. Edelweiss Air is a subsidiary, and Helvetic Airways flies Embraer E190 aircraft on SWISS's behalf.
Fleet
The same Wikipedia article lists 87 aircraft in service and 13 on order (September 2026). Types are:
- Airbus A220-100 (3) and A220-300 (21)
- Airbus A320 family: A320-200 (6), A320neo (11), A321-100 (3), A321-200 (3), A321neo (7)
- Airbus A330-300 (14)
- Airbus A340-300 (4), due to be retired by 2028 and replaced by the A350-900
- Airbus A350-900 (3), delivered since October 2025
- Boeing 777-300ER (12)
The A220-100s have been affected by Pratt & Whitney engine problems and are due to be retired by 2027.
On board
Short-haul flights are in a single economy cabin plus business seating. Long-haul aircraft have Economy, Premium Economy and Business; the Boeing 777-300ER also has First with eight suites. A330-300 and 777-300ER cabins are due to be retrofitted with the SWISS Senses interior. Seat pitch, meal service and Wi-Fi vary by aircraft and fare, so check the booking page for the specific flight.
Good to know
- Baggage: according to the SWISS baggage FAQ, Economy includes 1 x 23 kg checked, but not on Light or Basic fares. Premium Economy includes 2 x 23 kg, Business 2 x 32 kg and First 3 x 32 kg.
- Cabin bags: Send My Bag reports an 8 kg cabin bag in Economy, but only a personal item on Economy Basic fares. Confirm this with SWISS before travelling.
- Loyalty: SWISS participates in the Miles & More programme.
- Fees for changes, upgrades and lounge access depend on fare and route; check swiss.com.
Sources (4)
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