Arnur
Jun 18, 01, 10:54 am
This flight was booked on rather short notice on a super-cheap 259 DM (appr. 114 US$) r/t fare. Service expectations were low as this was (a) LH and (b) a short sector of marginally more than one hour flying time.
14 June 01 LH 5936 CGN-STN 1235-1245 ARJ
Arrived at CGN at 1140. June 14th is a bank holiday in Germany, so I was expecting a rather empty Terminal A (which caters mostly to LH's limited international operation at CGN, used mostly by business flyers). Well, there was quite a crowd and I actually had to wait in line (novel experience at Terminal A). Check-in was smooth, however all window seats were gone. It seems that I always get my preferred window seat when I book online (even though I can't request a specific seat, they do remember my window preference). This time I had booked by phone with the LH FTL line - and no window seat held for me.
Head of to the SEN lounge, which handles all FTL cardholders as well on holidays. Quite a few people there. Usual selection of drinks and food (cookies & some sort of hot pizza snack). Not much in terms of newspapers (again!) but then, this is a public holiday.
All flights from Terminal A depart from bus gates. Boarding is quick and efficient. Service is on a LH Cityline Avro 85 jet, not the promised new CR7. Flight seems to very full in economy (95%+) and rather empty (4/10) in business class.
Inflight-service consist of a roll (smaller than on short mainline int. flights) and a piece of chocolate cake, served on a tray (both cake and tray missing on mainline flights on a similar distance). Food was quite ok. Open bar service, as always on LH flights.
Competition on the CGN-STN route is BUZZ, KLM UK's low cost subsidiary which serves nothing (not even drinks) free of charge, with similar fares, so no reason to complain.
Arrival at STN on-time. A long trek from the infield terminal (via people mover) to the baggage claim in the main terminal.
I had read that LH offers a discounted ticket for the Stansted express train to London Liverpool St, so after reclaiming my baggage, I set off to find the LH ticket counter, where a friendly person sells me the r/t ticket for 18 GBP, instead of the normal 23 GBP. The train ticket is printed on LH ticket stock and I understand, I could have purchased it in Germany already with my air ticket. Alas, I had an etix, so no chance to do that. Next time, I'll go for paper again.
The train ride is comfortable enough, but rather crowded. STN seems to be becoming more popular every time I get there.
17 June 01 LH 5935 STN-CGN 1330-1540 ARJ
I am at Liverpool St station at 1152 for the 1200 departure. When the train pulls out on the dot, I already know that this is going to be a tight one. The train arrives on-time at Stansted at 1245. Running-up the stairs, I was hoping for a quick check-in.
Not so. The five LH check-in counters are totally swamped. It seems that there are plenty of LH flights (MUC, HAM, FRA and CGN) leaving within a short window of each other. And all were pretty full... Even the business class line (which I was planning to use as a FTL) had at least 10 people in front of me.
Shortly before despair set-in, a friendly LH representative called-up passengers to CGN and HAM, they opened a sixth (and seventh) check-in counter for us. What a pleasant surprise, talk about customer service.
At least I would not miss my plane. Knowing fully well that the flight would be packed, I resigned myself to one hour of torture in a middle seat on a small plane... The check-in representative must have guessed that - and upgraded me to business class (1C). Clearly based on my FTL status as there were (a few) seats available in coach and my ticket was about the cheapest one could immagine.
Unfortunately, there was no time to visit the SAS Business Lounge, because boarding was just about to start when I made it to the midfield terminal.
The flight was quite full again, including business class, which surprised me a lot on a Sunday. No pre-departure drinks, but the flight attendants did offer magazines in addition to the newspapers offered to all passengers.
Food on this short flight was some sort of a salad/sandwich combo, plus a piece of cake. The flight attendants offered two rounds of drink service. Main difference to coach was the quantity of the food, quality was quite ok again, if not as inspired as on Crossair (see my trip report with LX).
Arrival was on-time. Baggage was off the belt shortly after arrival and off I went.
14 June 01 LH 5936 CGN-STN 1235-1245 ARJ
Arrived at CGN at 1140. June 14th is a bank holiday in Germany, so I was expecting a rather empty Terminal A (which caters mostly to LH's limited international operation at CGN, used mostly by business flyers). Well, there was quite a crowd and I actually had to wait in line (novel experience at Terminal A). Check-in was smooth, however all window seats were gone. It seems that I always get my preferred window seat when I book online (even though I can't request a specific seat, they do remember my window preference). This time I had booked by phone with the LH FTL line - and no window seat held for me.
Head of to the SEN lounge, which handles all FTL cardholders as well on holidays. Quite a few people there. Usual selection of drinks and food (cookies & some sort of hot pizza snack). Not much in terms of newspapers (again!) but then, this is a public holiday.
All flights from Terminal A depart from bus gates. Boarding is quick and efficient. Service is on a LH Cityline Avro 85 jet, not the promised new CR7. Flight seems to very full in economy (95%+) and rather empty (4/10) in business class.
Inflight-service consist of a roll (smaller than on short mainline int. flights) and a piece of chocolate cake, served on a tray (both cake and tray missing on mainline flights on a similar distance). Food was quite ok. Open bar service, as always on LH flights.
Competition on the CGN-STN route is BUZZ, KLM UK's low cost subsidiary which serves nothing (not even drinks) free of charge, with similar fares, so no reason to complain.
Arrival at STN on-time. A long trek from the infield terminal (via people mover) to the baggage claim in the main terminal.
I had read that LH offers a discounted ticket for the Stansted express train to London Liverpool St, so after reclaiming my baggage, I set off to find the LH ticket counter, where a friendly person sells me the r/t ticket for 18 GBP, instead of the normal 23 GBP. The train ticket is printed on LH ticket stock and I understand, I could have purchased it in Germany already with my air ticket. Alas, I had an etix, so no chance to do that. Next time, I'll go for paper again.
The train ride is comfortable enough, but rather crowded. STN seems to be becoming more popular every time I get there.
17 June 01 LH 5935 STN-CGN 1330-1540 ARJ
I am at Liverpool St station at 1152 for the 1200 departure. When the train pulls out on the dot, I already know that this is going to be a tight one. The train arrives on-time at Stansted at 1245. Running-up the stairs, I was hoping for a quick check-in.
Not so. The five LH check-in counters are totally swamped. It seems that there are plenty of LH flights (MUC, HAM, FRA and CGN) leaving within a short window of each other. And all were pretty full... Even the business class line (which I was planning to use as a FTL) had at least 10 people in front of me.
Shortly before despair set-in, a friendly LH representative called-up passengers to CGN and HAM, they opened a sixth (and seventh) check-in counter for us. What a pleasant surprise, talk about customer service.
At least I would not miss my plane. Knowing fully well that the flight would be packed, I resigned myself to one hour of torture in a middle seat on a small plane... The check-in representative must have guessed that - and upgraded me to business class (1C). Clearly based on my FTL status as there were (a few) seats available in coach and my ticket was about the cheapest one could immagine.
Unfortunately, there was no time to visit the SAS Business Lounge, because boarding was just about to start when I made it to the midfield terminal.
The flight was quite full again, including business class, which surprised me a lot on a Sunday. No pre-departure drinks, but the flight attendants did offer magazines in addition to the newspapers offered to all passengers.
Food on this short flight was some sort of a salad/sandwich combo, plus a piece of cake. The flight attendants offered two rounds of drink service. Main difference to coach was the quantity of the food, quality was quite ok again, if not as inspired as on Crossair (see my trip report with LX).
Arrival was on-time. Baggage was off the belt shortly after arrival and off I went.