ALGIERS to FRANKFURT (ALG-FRA) on Lufthansa 737-500 in business class

The chairs in the general terminal were very comfortable, soft bench style. Although I hadn't been given a lounge invite card I spied a sign for an Air Algerie salon (lounge) and wandered over on the off chance I would have access to it, or another lounge. This is located down a dingy corridor connecting separate parts of the terminal (like the bar on a dumbell). On the way I passed a room for BA, which looks very similar to the Air Algerie lounge.

It turns out the Air Algerie lounge is available for business class and elite pax flying Lufthansa, so I have somewhere to rest in the few minutes before boarding. It has a bathroom, but no shower. Some soft drinks, juice and water. A couple of sweet desserts. No hot drinks or booze.

Boarding was called soon after. Just as I was leaving I spied a computer hidden away in the far corner. It was switched off and none of the half dozen lounge guests had been using it. At the gate there were 2 boarding pass scanners. However it was pointless having 2 lines because only 1 passport checker behind the BP scan thus holding up the queues.

I said goodbye to the immigration officer, and headed down the airbridge. There was a very cursory check of carry-ons and a pat down that was more like waving hands in my general direction than a proper search. Then I reboarded and chatted with the crew who were also doing a turnaround as boarding slowly took place.

The load was light and so we left early. No printed menu this time. A supper was served, of mini kebabs, fruit, yoghurt drink, vegetable wrap (it was labelled chili but the bell peppers were not at all hot), and an apple flavoured chocolate bar. Plus the usual drinks. There was also a paper bag on the tray so you could pack whatever food you wanted into it, sleep in the flight and eat the meal for breakfast or later.

I managed to doze in the short flight, without really sleeping.

We arrived very early. So early that I did not realise that Frankfurt curfew broke so early (or perhaps there are limited numbers of exemptions allowed?). We landed on the cross runway, a long, long way from the terminal and then taxiied at speed. Whether it was because of the origin country, or trying to use up time before a bus was needed to take us to the terminal, I do not know. However, we drove from one end of the airport to the other - several miles distance - to park at the furthest possible stand. Then we had a wait for stairs to arrive, before a long bus ride to the B bus arrival gate.

Back inside the terminal I headed to transfer desk once more. Along the way I stopped to change the last of my Egyptian pounds. The buy-sell spread has widened considerably to about 20% or more for many currencies - a sign of the times