Podgorica remains one of Europe's quiet corners, unreachable by any single carrier from the American Midwest, which is precisely what makes routing strategy so consequential here. There is no nonstop option, so business class from Indianapolis to Podgorica invariably means constructing a journey through one of three legacy hubs: Delta via Amsterdam or Paris, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, or Lufthansa via Frankfurt or Munich. In practical terms, the fact that stands out for planning purposes is this: Turkish Airlines' Istanbul hub offers the most frequent and geographically logical onward connection to Podgorica, given Turkish's dense Balkan network, while Lufthansa and Delta require more creative positioning through their German or Franco-Dutch gateways.
Having routed this itinerary numerous times, I favor Lufthansa's long-haul segment from a US gateway using their Allegris business class where equipped — the redesigned seat with the door option and dedicated storage is a meaningful upgrade over the airline's older long-haul product, though it's not yet fleet-wide, so it pays to check aircraft type before booking. Turkish Airlines' business class, particularly their signature lounge in Istanbul with its putting green and live cooking stations, makes a six-hour layover feel like a destination unto itself rather than dead time. Delta's transatlantic business class, especially on Delta One suites-equipped aircraft, offers reliable comfort into Amsterdam or Paris, but the subsequent regional jet down to Podgorica is a noticeable step down in cabin quality, so mentally prepare for that contrast. My insider tip: build in at least a three-hour connection window in Istanbul specifically, since Turkish's regional gate assignments for Podgorica departures are often in a distant terminal pier requiring a shuttle.
Winter and shoulder season—January through March, then October into November—consistently deliver the softest fares on this corridor, as Montenegro's coastal tourism season has fully receded and business travel demand from the Balkans remains modest. Given the routing complexity and the way award and paid business class space fluctuates across three different alliances, setting up fare tracking alerts for this specific city pair is the smartest move you can make before booking.
