Pula's tiny Istrian airport hardly seems built for a journey that begins in the Sonoran Desert, yet that's precisely what makes routing business class from Phoenix to Pula such a satisfying puzzle to solve. There is no nonstop option—nor will there ever likely be one—so the real work happens in choosing the right connection through Europe. Fact worth remembering: the most reliable itineraries route through Frankfurt or Munich on Lufthansa, through Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, or via Zagreb on Croatia Airlines, with total journey time from PHX running around 15-17 hours including connections, despite the air time between hubs clocking closer to 12.
My preference, after flying this corridor repeatedly over the past several years, leans toward Lufthansa's Frankfurt connection. Their long-haul fleet increasingly features the Allegris cabin on select 787 and A350 routes, with sliding privacy doors and a genuinely restful seat—though you'll want to confirm aircraft type at booking, since older configurations still fly this corridor too. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is the sleeper favorite among seasoned travelers: their business class comes with that famous onboard chef service and a lounge in IST that rivals any in the world, ideal for the inevitable layover before the short Star Alliance hop down to Pula on Croatia Airlines' regional jets. One insider tip few mention: book the Zagreb-Pula leg as a separate ticket only if your main itinerary has generous connection time, since Croatia Airlines' regional schedule shifts seasonally and irregular operations can strand you without protection.
Aim for April, May, September, or October—shoulder season in Istria means better award availability, milder Adriatic weather for arrival, and airfares that dip well below the summer tourist crush when Pula's coastline fills with yacht traffic. Given how thin premium cabin inventory can get on this multi-carrier routing, setting up fare alerts across Lufthansa, Turkish, and Croatia Airlines will save you from watching a good deal disappear before you've finished comparing connections.