Is Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa a Good Airline From the US in 2026?

For most US travelers, Turkish Airlines is a good airline: Skytrax ranked it 5th in the world for 2026 and named it Best Airline in Europe, so compare it with Lufthansa, then book through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. Lufthansa ranked 14th in the world and 3rd in Europe in the same 2026 Skytrax awards, which makes it a sound pick for flights from the US to Europe through Frankfurt or Munich.

ShopBack US is a free rewards app, website and browser extension. Plan the trip, then book through ShopBack: you start from the airline's page on ShopBack US, book on the airline's own site as usual, and part of what you paid comes back as cash after you fly. Join ShopBack US for free before you book.

Tip. Flying through Istanbul? Go through ShopBack before you book Turkish Airlines. Flying to Germany or central Europe? Start from Lufthansa on ShopBack.

The verdict

Both airlines are long-established, full-service carriers with strong 2026 results. The better choice depends on where you are going after you cross the Atlantic.

	Turkish Airlines	Lufthansa
Skytrax World's Top 100 Airlines 2026	5th (6th in 2025)	14th (15th in 2025)
Skytrax Best Airlines in Europe 2026	1st	3rd
Main hub	Istanbul Airport	Frankfurt and Munich
Star Alliance	Member since April 2008	Founding member, May 1997
Usually the better fit for	Turkey, the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa	Germany, Austria, Switzerland, central and northern Europe

Sources for the table: the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2026 pages, the Turkish Airlines investor relations site and the Star Alliance history page, at the time of writing.

For US travelers, the practical rule is simple. If Istanbul is on the way to where you are going, Turkish Airlines is often the more natural route. If your trip is in Germany or central Europe, Lufthansa usually gets you there with one change in Frankfurt or Munich. In both cases, compare the total fare and the connection time for your dates, then go through ShopBack before you pay.

Is Turkish Airlines a good airline to fly from the US?

Yes, for most trips Turkish Airlines is a good airline to fly from the US, and its 2026 results back that up. Skytrax, which runs the passenger-voted World Airline Awards, ranked Turkish Airlines 5th in its World's Top 100 Airlines 2026, one place higher than in 2025. In the 2026 regional results it was named the Best Airline in Europe and the Best Airline in Southern Europe.

Turkish Airlines also picked up a run of cabin awards at the 2026 World Airline Awards, according to Skytrax:

• Best Business Class in Europe
• Best Economy Class in Europe
• Best Business Class Onboard Catering
• Best Economy Class Onboard Catering in Europe

Its network is the other reason people choose it. According to the Turkish Airlines investor relations site at the time of writing, it flies to 133 countries and 358 destinations, 305 of them international, from its home at Istanbul Airport. Skytrax notes that the airline was founded in 1933 and uses the line "We fly to more countries than any other airline in the world".

What that means for a US traveler: one stop in Istanbul opens up a long list of cities that would otherwise need two connections, from Turkey itself to the Gulf, the Caucasus, Central Asia and East Africa. If your trip is a simple hop to Paris or Rome, compare it with nonstop options too, because a connection through Istanbul adds travel time on routes where a direct flight exists.

Is Turkish Airlines good in 2026?

Turkish Airlines had a strong 2026: Skytrax moved it from 6th to 5th in the world and named it Best Airline in Europe. Rankings change each year, so the 2026 list is the most current independent snapshot. If you are comparing with older reviews, keep in mind that the airline moved up a place from 7th in 2024 to 6th in 2025 before reaching 5th in 2026, according to Skytrax.

Is Lufthansa a good airline for flights to Europe?

Lufthansa is a good airline for flights from the US to Europe, especially when your trip is in Germany or central Europe. Skytrax ranked it 14th in its World's Top 100 Airlines 2026 (15th in 2025), 3rd in the Best Airlines in Europe 2026 list behind Turkish Airlines and Air France, and 2nd in the Best Airlines in Western Europe 2026.

Lufthansa's 2026 Skytrax awards point to the premium end of the cabin and to families:

• Best First Class Onboard Catering, and the same award for Europe
• Most Family Friendly Airline in Europe
• Best First Class Airline Lounge in Europe, for its Frankfurt lounge

Lufthansa was one of the five airlines that launched Star Alliance on May 14, 1997, alongside Air Canada, SAS, Thai Airways International and United Airlines, according to Star Alliance. Its long-haul flights run mainly through Frankfurt and Munich, which makes onward connections to German cities and to the rest of central Europe straightforward.

Is Lufthansa a good airline in 2026?

In 2026 Lufthansa ranked 14th in the world and 3rd in Europe on the Skytrax lists, a small step up from 15th in 2025. It was also named Most Family Friendly Airline in Europe for 2026. If you are traveling with children or flying in a premium cabin, those are the awards most relevant to you.

Turkish Airlines vs Lufthansa: which suits your trip from the US?

Pick by destination first, then by price and connection time. Both airlines sit in Star Alliance, so if you collect miles with a Star Alliance airline such as United, either flight can usually earn with that programme, subject to the fare and the programme's own rules.

• Turkey, the Middle East, Central Asia or Africa: Turkish Airlines through Istanbul is usually the shorter way to get there.
• Germany, Austria, Switzerland or central Europe: Lufthansa through Frankfurt or Munich usually is.
• Western Europe (Paris, Rome, London, Madrid): both work with one connection, but compare them with nonstop flights from your nearest US hub.
• Families: Lufthansa holds the Skytrax 2026 Most Family Friendly Airline in Europe award.
• Economy comfort in Europe: Turkish Airlines holds the Skytrax 2026 Best Economy Class in Europe award.

The same route can also be sold by other Star Alliance and booking site partners. If you are comparing several airlines at once, sites such as Expedia show them side by side, while booking directly with Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa keeps changes and refunds with the airline.

Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa reviews, complaints and refunds: what to check

Before you book either airline from the US, check three things: what rights apply to your route, what your fare allows, and who holds your ticket.

Your route. According to the European Commission's Your Europe site, EU air passenger rights apply when your flight leaves the EU, on any airline, and when your flight arrives in the EU from outside it on an EU airline. Lufthansa is a German, so EU, airline. That means a Lufthansa flight from the US to Frankfurt is covered, while a Turkish Airlines flight from the US to Istanbul is not, because it neither leaves nor lands in the EU. Flights to or from the US may also fall under US Department of Transportation refund rules for cancelled or significantly changed flights.

Your fare. If you cancel a trip yourself, the fare rules decide what you get back. Cheaper economy fares usually allow less, so read the fare conditions on the booking page before you pay.

Who holds the ticket. If you booked on turkishairlines.com or lufthansa.com, the airline handles changes and refunds. If you booked through a booking site, that site handles them first.

Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa official refund policy and customer service

For a refund or a change, start with the airline's own contact and refund pages, or with the booking site if you used one. Keep your six-character booking reference, your ticket number and any emails about the change in one place, because both airlines will ask for them.

If a problem on a flight to or from the US is not resolved, the US Department of Transportation accepts air travel complaints. If your flight was covered by EU air passenger rights, the Your Europe site explains how to claim them, including compensation, re-routing and assistance when a flight is cancelled or you are denied boarding.

Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa reviews on BBB and Trustpilot

Review sites are worth a look, but they are one signal, not a verdict. People who had a problem are more likely to post, and the scores change from week to week, so a single number tells you little about your own trip. For a broader view, pair them with passenger-voted rankings like the Skytrax World Airline Awards, the airline's published refund rules and the conditions of your own fare.

Book Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa through ShopBack

Plan the trip, then book through ShopBack. ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

How to do it on ShopBack US:

1. Compare fares and connection times for your dates.
2. Open the Turkish Airlines page or the Lufthansa page on ShopBack US and tap through to the airline's site.
3. Book on the airline's site.
4. Our guide to earning on travel bookings explains each stage.

Your effective price is the fare minus the Cashback, at the rate shown on the airline's ShopBack page.

Cashback is based on what you keep, so book once your plans are firm.

Paying with a travel credit card and ShopBack on the same flight

You may be able to earn your card's travel rewards and still book through ShopBack on the same Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa flight, because card rewards come from the card issuer and follow the issuer's rules. Your card's rewards follow your card's terms. Our guide to ShopBack and credit cards in the US has the details.

Frequently asked questions

Is Turkish Airlines a good airline to fly from the US?

For most US travelers, yes. Turkish Airlines ranked 5th in the Skytrax World's Top 100 Airlines 2026 and was named Best Airline in Europe 2026, and according to its investor relations site it flies to 133 countries from its home at Istanbul Airport. It suits trips to Turkey, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa with one stop in Istanbul.

Is Lufthansa a good airline for flights to Europe?

Lufthansa is a solid choice for flights from the US to Europe. It ranked 14th in the Skytrax World's Top 100 Airlines 2026 and 3rd in Skytrax's Best Airlines in Europe 2026, and it was one of the five airlines that launched Star Alliance in May 1997. Its Frankfurt and Munich hubs connect to cities across Europe.

Which is better from the US, Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa?

Neither is better for every trip. Turkish Airlines placed higher in the Skytrax 2026 rankings (5th in the world against Lufthansa's 14th) and is the natural pick for Istanbul and points east. Lufthansa usually fits Germany and central Europe through Frankfurt or Munich. Compare the total fare and the connection time for your own dates.

What refund rights do I have on Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa?

It depends on the route and the fare. According to the European Commission's Your Europe site, EU air passenger rights cover flights leaving the EU on any airline and flights arriving in the EU on an EU airline such as Lufthansa. Flights to or from the US may also fall under US Department of Transportation refund rules. Your fare rules decide what you get back if you cancel yourself.

How do I contact Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa customer service from the US?

Start with the contact and refund pages on turkishairlines.com or lufthansa.com and keep your booking reference ready. If you booked through a booking site such as Expedia, contact that site first, because it holds the ticket. If a problem on a flight to or from the US is not resolved, the US Department of Transportation accepts air travel complaints.

Are Trustpilot and BBB reviews a good guide to Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa?

Use them as one signal, not the whole picture. Review sites tend to collect posts from people who had a problem, and the scores move often. Passenger-voted rankings such as the Skytrax World Airline Awards, the airline's published refund rules and the conditions of your own fare tell you more about what to expect.

Is Turkish Airlines good in 2026?

Turkish Airlines had a strong 2026. Skytrax ranked it 5th in the world, up from 6th in 2025, and at the 2026 World Airline Awards it won Best Airline in Europe, Best Business Class in Europe and Best Economy Class in Europe.

Is Lufthansa a good airline in 2026?

Lufthansa ranked 14th in the Skytrax World's Top 100 Airlines 2026, up from 15th in 2025. Skytrax also named it Most Family Friendly Airline in Europe for 2026 and gave it Best First Class Onboard Catering.

Can I get Cashback on Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa flights?

Yes, on eligible bookings. Both airlines have live pages on ShopBack US. Go through the Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa page on ShopBack before you book, finish the booking, and part of what you paid comes back as cash after you fly. Check the live rate on each page before you book.

How does ShopBack lower the price of a flight?

ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

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Key takeaways

• Turkish Airlines ranked 5th and Lufthansa 14th in the Skytrax World's Top 100 Airlines 2026, and they placed 1st and 3rd in the Best Airlines in Europe 2026.
• Turkish Airlines suits trips through Istanbul to Turkey, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa; Lufthansa suits Germany and central Europe through Frankfurt or Munich.
• EU air passenger rights cover Lufthansa flights from the US into the EU and any flight leaving the EU; check your fare rules for voluntary cancellations.
• Plan the trip, then book through ShopBack US on the Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa page so part of what you paid comes back as cash.

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Plan your trip deeper

• United MileagePlus vs ANA vs Lufthansa vs Turkish, US 2026 Sweet Spots
• Cheapest Month to Fly From the US 2026: Europe vs Asia vs Caribbean
• Best Site for Cheap Flights in 2026: A US Flyer Site-Picker by Trip Type
• Can I Get Cashback or a Discount on Emirates Flights in 2026?

Sources

• Skytrax World Airline Awards: World's Top 100 Airlines 2026, Best Airlines 2026 by Region, and A-Z of Airline Award Winners 2026, read October 2026.
• Turkish Airlines Investor Relations: Flight Network and company history pages, read October 2026.
• Star Alliance: History page, read October 2026.
• European Commission, Your Europe: Air passenger rights, read October 2026.

Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author.

Airline rankings, routes, fares, refund rules and passenger rights can change. Please check details directly with the airline or booking site before you book. Cashback rates change; check the live rate on each airline's ShopBack page.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or travel advice.