Compare / LH vs LX
Lufthansa vs SWISS
Two very different offers for the same job. Here is what actually separates Lufthansa and SWISS for cabin crew — pay, roster, rules and who each one suits.
Lufthansa
LH · Frankfurt
7.2
crew score
SWISS
LX · Zurich
7.5
crew score
Choose Lufthansa if…
- ✓Faster progression (career 8.0 vs 7.2)
- ✓Bigger network: ~200 destinations vs ~100
Choose SWISS if…
- ✓Starting pay is higher — about 72% more per month
- ✓Visible tattoos may be accepted — a hard stop at the other airline
Side by side
| Lufthansa | SWISS | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry pay / month | $2,200-$2,800 | $3,900-$4,700 |
| Senior pay / month | $3,400-$4,900 | $5,300-$7,000 |
| Tax-free | No | No |
| Housing | Not provided | Not provided |
| Base | Frankfurt | Zurich |
| Type | Full-service | Full-service |
| Fleet | ~280 | ~90 |
| Destinations | ~200 | ~100 |
| Alliance | Star Alliance | Star Alliance |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Reach / height | 160 cm | 158 cm |
| Visible tattoos | Not allowed | Some allowed |
| Language beyond English | German | German |
Crew scores compared
Lufthansa
SWISS
Apply
Lufthansa
Continuous large-scale recruitment for Frankfurt and Munich as long-haul fleet grows; rolling online applications with assessment days held year-round, German language required.
SWISS
Regular intakes for Zurich (German-speaking) with periodic Geneva campaigns; applications open on the SWISS careers portal with assessment days scheduled throughout the year.
Still torn? Let the data decide.
Tax-free money or home every night? Fast promotion or a calm roster? Seven questions, ranked against pay, lifestyle, career and hiring data.
Frequently asked questions
Does Lufthansa or SWISS pay cabin crew more?
SWISS pays more at entry level: about $3,900-$4,700 a month against $2,200-$2,800. Remember to weigh tax status and housing before comparing headline figures.
Which is easier to get into, Lufthansa or SWISS?
Lufthansa is actively hiring (Continuous large-scale recruitment for Frankfurt and Munich as long-haul fleet grows; rolling online applications with assessment days held year-round, German language required.) while SWISS is actively hiring (Regular intakes for Zurich (German-speaking) with periodic Geneva campaigns; applications open on the SWISS careers portal with assessment days scheduled throughout the year.) Requirements differ too — check both requirement pages before deciding where to spend your effort.
Lufthansa or SWISS — which is better for a first cabin crew job?
SWISS scores higher overall in our index (7.5 vs 7.2), but "better" depends on what you want: money, roster, promotion speed or where you live. The reasons listed above split it by priority.