Trip Reports - IST-FRA-OSL-FRA-IST (Lufthansa)




View Full Version : IST-FRA-OSL-FRA-IST (Lufthansa)


rozy
May 9, 00, 7:19 am
This is my first trip report.

05MAY00 LH3481 ISTFRA 1810/2015
05MAY00 LH3102 FRAOSL 2145/2340
07MAY00 LH3117 OSLFRA 1840/2050
07MAY00 LH3470 FRAIST 2135/0125+1

This is a free ticket and I thought that one and a half day would be enough for OSL but no! Now I have to go again. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

05MAY00 LH3481 ISTFRA 1810/2015
I planned to take the Havas Airport Bus from Taksim Square at 16:00 but I missed that one. I took the 16:30 Bus. It took around 35 minutes. So I was at the airport at 17:05. Well, this is the new airport terminal. The ones who visited Istanbul remembers that Istanbul Ataturk Airport was a black, disorganised and ugly terminal. New international terminal is very very nice. This was my first time there since it was opened in Feburary. All white marbles, well organized check-in counters, perfect shopping and dining area after passport control. I can recommend "Divan Pub" there. I didn't eat there this time but it is a chain in Istanbul and I can say that I love their food and service quality.

FRA Flight was on time. My seat was 14F. I requested an aisle seat but since I was late for check-in, "This is best I can do," said the agent. The flight was fully booked.

Lufthansa always served hot meal on Istanbul flights. The meal was beef, pasta salad and lemon cheese cake. After the meal I slept till landing.

05MAY00 LH3102 FRAOSL 2145/2340
I believe this was my tenth or eleventh time in Frankfurt Airport but I never learned to love it. You have to walk a lot from one gate to another and use the small train from one terminal to another. It may be enjoyable for the first times but when you are travelling with a lot of hand baggage and with a very short connecting time it may be pain.

My flight to OSL was delayed around 30 minutes due to change of the aircraft. Later the pilot announced that the aircraft which was supposed to fly to OSL was delayed in Venice and this aircraft was newly assigned. This time, my seat was 22D, an aisle as I requested. And the middle seat was empty. A light meal was served. Salad and Chesse with a Nestle Kit-Kat.

We landed in OSL Airport at 00:15. I didn't have any luggage to claim so I directly went to passport control. Then I followed the signs for the train. And learned that the last train was only 5 minutes later. Perfect timing. I paid 120 NOK to Oslo S Station for a 15-20 minutes ride.

I stayed in my friend's home so the strikes didn't affect me much in Oslo. But we had the problem of finding cheap local beer. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif) I saw that many hotels were closed.

After one and a half day in Oslo, I understand that this is not enough for a visit. I will definetly go back to Norway for Oslo and Bergen.


07MAY00 LH3117 OSLFRA 1840/2050
I took the Airport Express from Central Station at 16:40. I was at the check-in counter at 17:05. I spent sometime at the bookshop. I bought Clive Cussler's "Atlantis Found". It was a very good decision. I read the book through all flight to FRA. They served a light meal. Well I do not like fish so I didn't eat anything. So it was good thing that I ate a slice of pizza from Pizza Hut just opposite Gate 43. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

We had to spend about 30 minutes in the plane before departure. The reason was stated as high traffic over Frankfurt.

Nice flight with cheerful FAs. The flight was again quite empty. My seat was 24D.

When we reached FRA, I started to think that I missed my flight to Istanbul but the screens said that IST flight was delayed also. 21:50 was the new time.

07MAY00 LH3470 FRAIST 2135/0125+1
The flight then delayed to 22:00. No reason was stated. But later I learned that this last flight to IST from FRA has always delays. Late arrival of aircraft is the main reason.

My seat was 35D. The last row of the plane. I wasn't planning to sleep so it was OK. I continued to read my book. The meal was good. Beef, potatoes, vegetables and shrimph salad with beer. Only dessert was not quite good.

We landed IST at 01:50. The arrival section of the new terminal is also well organized. There were enough passport control officers. There were only 4 people in front of me.

The worst thing is that there are no shuttle buses to the city center after 00:30. You have to take a taxi. And taxi is 50% extra charged between 00:00 - 06:00. I was lucky that my boyfriend was waiting me so I finished the weekend without paying 40USD taxi fare. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by rozy (edited 05-10-2000).]


BlondeBomber
May 9, 00, 8:45 am
Thanks Rozy, we do like to hear about trips that are outside the US!

magic111
May 9, 00, 10:03 am
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


Carfield
May 9, 00, 11:29 am
Thanks rozy for your wonderful report!
Welcome to the board! We look forward to more of your trip reports in the future! Traveling in the European continent is so different from the US. We, who fly in the US mainly, will not dare to think about a hot meal on a flight, regardless of length, which depart at 9:50pm. Even a light meal is unthinkable, especially in Y class.

Thanks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



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Carfield
Menu Scavengers
Inflight food critics

richard
May 9, 00, 11:45 am
Nice report! Welcome!

Austman
May 9, 00, 5:47 pm
Thank you too!

I'm not much fond of FRA either. It's so big and (is it only me who says this?) confusing. And mostly on LH European flights you have to use a bus.

smooth
May 9, 00, 11:05 pm
Rozy, great report! Did you go to Vigeland Park? What do you think ? What are the best memories of your weekend?

rozy
May 10, 00, 6:28 pm
Hey! Thanks everybody!

I never thought I will receive this attention. Glad to hear that you enjoy reading my report. Opss! Sorry for a lot of tense mistakes. I'll try to correct them!

Oh yes, I went to Vigeland Park! Perfect! I never expected this! I love it!

We had a picnic at first. There were so many people in the park because of the Women Marathon. Then walking and touching and photo shooting session. The angry boy was cute but I love the other baby sculptures, too.

I also loved the boat tour and listening the band in open air concert in the castle on sunday afternoon. We had again a picnic lunch there listening the band.

I had a great time. Now I look forward my next trip, this time a long one with an intercontinental flight: Buenos Aires. IST-FRA-EZE-FRA-IST. I will start this itinerary on May 31st and be back in Istanbul on June 09th.

Unfortunetly, it will be again in economy. I am sure that I am going to love flying Business when I have the chance. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I am going there because of Rotary World Convention. I am a Rotaract and my Rotary Club is sending me there. So it will be a free ticket for me with miles which is just enough for another free ticket in Europe. It will be a great chance for me.



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