Trip Reports - Request: Report on LH DUS-EWR op. by Private Air

Hi,

Since some weeks LH operates a new service between Dusseldorf/Germany and Newark. This service is business class only wet-lease operated by Private Air.
I am really wondering how the service and how the comfort is, anyone already flown on this service?

I second Uli's request. I've seen these neat PrivatAir jets at ZRH a couple of times and always wanted to know what it's like inside...

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airOli (http://www.olimade.com/airoli), the Swiss Air Line. ;)

If possible I would also like to know what the fare for this trip would be? Thank you!!

So, anyone booked on this ride yet?

Round trip fare is 3300.00 and change. That's roughly the normal cost for a full fare business class ticker from EWR-DUS. This is on a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). Basically this plane is a modified 737 with a very plush interior. This would be a much better experience, IMO. Much less crowded, more personal service, the whole immigration/customs experience would be easier. I think this is a great idea.

As Flyer, thanks for the quick response. I agree with you that that is an excellent fare for the service you will recieve and the special services. Thanks again.

Uli,

I thought after the AiRail days we were over that C-Class flying. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif What about a nice letter to LH that the idea was nice but execution missed the crucial point. We AiRailers demand an all F flight. Give us what we deserve after all these sandwiches on the train: a 737 with 12 F suites and nothing else (if there is any space left include a nice bar area and have it serviced by our favourite Mitropa employee)!

Privat air's homebase is Geneva. Always about 3/4 of them there parked away from the main terminal.

Uli and airoli

Here is a link to PrivatAir's Web site, which includes some lovely interior shots of their aircraft:

http://www.privatair.com/home.html

Paulusst,

I agree http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif but still want to read about how non-airrailers are flying http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

from the web page, it does not appear to be a regularly, scheduled airliner. More like a typical on-demand/charter type of operation. Did I miss something?

On the Privatair web site, it says that the flight attendants to passengers ratio is 12:1. Isn't that a little high for transatlantic business class?

In comparison, Cathay Pacific's web site says they have a 9:1 ratio in their transpacific business class.

Folks, please also see:

www.aerointernational.de (http://www.aerointernational.de)

They have a nice story on the BBJ service in their latest issue.
Rumours are spreading around, that Private Air will operate more of those flights in the near future.A hot candidate seems to be UAL according to the GM of Private Air !!

Privatair apparently does a "wet lease" for Lufthansa in that they lease the airplane and crew to LH for these flights. I imagine that they carry as many crew members as LH would normally staff one of their own business class cabins with. In any case - flying on such a small plane with a relatively small number of people, across the atlantic, sounds like a much nicer way then to be crammed into a 777 or A340. They are both nice planes but can't beat the feeling of being in your own private jet.

Threy, thanks for the link!

I got a friend of mine booked on that flight and here is his trip report (german only)

Mein Flug war super. Vorrausschicken muss ich
aber, dass ich ja noch nie mit Business unterwegs war (von Aeroflot
abgesehen). Von den 48 Sitzplaetzen waren so um die 15 nur besetzt. Der
Service war sehr gut - kaum machte man eine Bewegung, dann war auch schon
jemand da. Allerdings waren Frauen unterbesetzt. Also 2 Maenner und eine
Frau waren da staendig am Rumlaufen. Zum Essen komme ich gleich noch (ich
weiss, das Wichtigste...). Dann hatten wir eigenes (kleines) Kino mit so
einem Abspielgeraet am Platz - Auswahl aus 10 Filmen oder so....

Der Orangensaft war NICHT frisch gepresst - auf dem Flug nach Dus allerdings
war er es. Da gab es auch ein kleines leckeres Fruehstueck...

Nun zum Essen. Ich fand es echt gut - habe auch die Karte mitgenommen (wie
es sich fuer richtige Business-Class Flieger gehoert). Das allerdings
scheint das normale Programm fuer Business Class zu sein:

Menu vom Soelring Hof:

Vorspeise:

Terrine und Filet vom Matjes auf suess-sauren Gurken und Schnittlauch
schmand

oder

geraeucherte Entenbrust mit Honig-Korianderkruste, bunten Linsensalat und
Balsamicovinaigrette

Salat:
Frisee, radicchio, Rucala und Radieschen mit Senf-Kraeterdressing
Brot, Broetchen und Butter

Hauptspeise
Poularden-Mandel-Piccata
mit feiner Curry-Zitronensauce,
buntem Paprikagemuese und Wildreis

oder

Gebratener Kabeljau mit Bouillabaissesauce, Gemuesestreifen und
Kartoffelkugeln

oder

Penne Nudeln aromatisiert mit Limonen-Thymian, dazu Broccoliroeschen und
pikantes Tomatencoulis

Kaese und Dessert:

Appenzeller, Bavaria blu and and Camembert
mit blauen Weintrauben

Sylter Rote Gruetze mit Vanillesahne

Salat von frischen Fruechten


und als Imbiss:

Sommerliche Blattsalate mit delikatem Dressing

Broetchen und Butter, dazu Seehecht mit Kraeutern
Pfifflerling-Lauchquiche

Maracujaschnitte auf Erbeerquark

Der Imbiss - na ja, hoert sich mehr an als es letztlich war.

Der Sitzabstand war super - ich konnte mit ausgestreckten Beinen den
Vordersitz nicht erreichen. neben mir sass niemand, da hatte man viel Platz.
Die Stuehle waren solche Multifunktionsdinger. Da konnte man sich waagerecht
ausrichten und was weiss ich noch alles mit machen (wahrscheinlich auch
Karusellfahren). Ach ja, es ist eine 2-2 Bestuhlung. Gewundert hat mich,
dass es keine Business-Class Paket gab. So mit Zahnbuerste und so. Ich
glaube nicht, dass ich es uebersehen habe - vielleicht musste man danach
fragen. Das habe ich nicht getan.....

Champagner gab es auch - da habe ich gleich mal zwei Glaeser vor dem Start
abgepumpt - die dachten wohl, ich wollte mir Mut antrinken. Marke: Duval
Leroy Fleur de Champagne Brut.

Und waehrend des Flugs gab es guten Weisswein. Da habe ich - ich weiss gar
nicht wie viele - Glaeser geniessen duerfen. Das war ein 2000er Chardonnay
aus Chile. Nun kenne ich mich mit Wein nicht so gut aus - aber der hat mir
geschmeckt....

Thanks a lot, tmeyer !!

Actually I was wondering, why they started the service in the summer season, which always seems to be very calm in terms of Biz Travel...15 sold seats !!
I guess, they are downgrading the flight to a CRJ in the next weeks....!!
Or was it just on a weekend ??

Can anyone translate please?

I used babel.altavista.com to translate, but maybe somebody that speaks german fluently can help.

thank you tmeyer, i am so happy a report on this finally came in!

Thanks very much for posting this report - very different stlye from what we usually read here (merry-go-round seats http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif ), but very interesting!

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airOli (http://www.olimade.com/airoli), the Swiss Air Line. ;)

I know, this is pretty though stuff, but it's better than nothing (and it's funny!).
Here you go:

My flight was super. Vorrausschicken must I however that I was not ever with Business on the way (refrained from Aeroflot). By the 48 seats were so occupied around the 15 only. The service was very good - hardly one made a movement, then was already someone there. However women were understaffed. Thus 2 men and a woman were there constant at the Rumlaufen. To the meal I come equivalent still (I know, the most important...). Then we had own (small) cinema with so playing equipment at the place - selection from 10 films or so.... The orange juice was NOT freshly pressed - on the flight to Dus however it was it. There there was also a small leckeres breakfast... Now to the meal. I found it genuinly good - also the map had carried forward (like it for correct Business Class flier is right itself). However the normal program for Business Class seems to be: Menu of the Soelring yard: Hors-d'oeuvre: Terrine and filet duck chest with honey Korianderkruste, multicolored lens salad and Balsamicovinaigrette salad, smoked by the Matjes on sweet-sour cucumbers and chives schmand or: Frisee, radicchio, Rucala and radishes with mustard Kraeterdressing bread, roll and butter main food Poularden almond Piccata with fine Curry Zitronensauce, multicolored Paprikagemuese and game rice or roasted Kabeljau with Bouillabaissesauce, vegetable strips and potato balls or Penne noodles aromatizes Broccoliroe and pikantes Tomatencoulis cheese and dessert with Limonen limonen-Thymian, in addition: Appenzeller, Bavaria blu and and Camembert with blue weintrauben Sylter red Gruetze with vanilla cream salad of fresh fruits and as lunch: Summer sheet salads with delicate Dressing roll and butter, in addition Seehecht with herbs Pfifflerling Lauchquiche Maracujaschnitte on Erbeerquark the lunch - well, sounds oneself more than it in the long run was. The seat distance was super - I could not reach with stretched legs the front seat beside me sat nobody, there had one much place. The chairs were such Multifunktionsdinger. There one could align oneself horizontally and which white I still everything with to make (probably also Karusellfahren). Oh, it is 2-2 Bestuhlung. It surprised me that there was no Business Class package. So with toothbrush and so. I do not believe that I surveyed it - perhaps one had to ask for it. I do not have that done..... Champagner gave it also - there I had evacuated directly times two glasses before the start - probably thought, I wanted courage to antrinken itself. Mark: Duval Leroy Fleur de Champagne brood. And during the flight there was good weisswein. There I - I do not know at all like many - was allowed to enjoy glasses. That was a 2000er Chardonnay from Chile. Now I do not know myself with wine so well out - however that has me tasted....



[This message has been edited by Setjet (edited 07-22-2002).]

Interesting translation by setjet http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Well, I'll have a go at it

My flight was super. But as a preface, (I must add that) I have not been in Business class before (sent off from Aeroflot). Of the 48 seats, 15 were occupied. The service was very good - one hardly makes the slightest movement and someone is already there (at the side). However they were understaffed with women. Well, there were 2 men and a woman constantly on the run. I'll come to the food soon (I know that is the most important ...) Then we had our own (small) cinema with a sort of video player at the seat - selection of 10 films or so ...

The orangejuice was not freshly pressed - but it was on the flight to DUS. It also had a small delicious breakfast ...

Now to the food. I found it really good - also took the menu (as it belongs rightly to the Business-Class flyer). It all looks like the normal programme (service sequence) for
Business Class :

Menu from the Soelring Court:
Appetiser:

Terrine and Filet of Matjes (herring) over
sweet-sour pickles (pickled cucumber) and chives
or
smoked duck breast with honey-coriander crust, colourful bean salad and balsamic vinaigrette

Salad:
Frisee, radicchio, Rucola and radishes with mustard-herb dressing
Bread, roll and Butter

Main Course
Chicken-Almond-Piccata
with fine Curry-lemon sauce,
colourful capsicum and wild rice

or

Pan-fried Cod with Bouillabaisse sauce, julienne vegetables and pommes noisette

or

Penne noodle flavoured with Lemon-Thyme, (served) with Broccoli roses and spicy tomato coulis

Cheese and Dessert:
Appenzeller, Bavarian blue and Camembert
with blue (purple) grapes

Sylt red berry jelly with vanilla cream

Fresh fruit salad

and as snack:

Summer leaf salad with a delicate (gourmet) dressing

Breadroll and butter, with Seehecht (type of fish, maybe flounder) with herbed mushroom-leek quiche

Apricot slice with strawberry yogourt

The snack - well, sounds more substantial than the previous (lunch).

The pitch was super - I could not touch the seat in front with outstretched legs. No one sat next to me, thus one has more room. The seat is one such multifunctional thing.
Thus one would stretch out horizontally and what else do I know what to do with it (perhaps even turnaround ?).
Ah yes, it is a 2-2 layout. I had wondered why there wasn't a Business class amenity kit, one with toothbrush and etc. I don't believe I have overlooked it - perhaps one should request it. That I did not do ....

There was also champagne - that I had gushed down 2 glasses from the beginning - they must have thought I wanted to toast to my courage.
Brand : Duval Leroy Fleur de Champagne Brut.

And there was good white wine during this flight. I had that - don't know how many glasses I was allowed to enjoy. There was a 2000 Chilean Chardonnay. Now I don't know so much about wines - but I liked that.

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UA 1P, QF Silver
I like NZ,NG,NH,UA,SK,LH & QF
Star Alliance defecting to Oneworld

(edited for grammar)

[This message has been edited by igel (edited 07-23-2002).]

According to a quote in the latest issue of Aviation Week and Space Technology this flight is operating at over 60% load factor, which is just above it's breakeven point, despite it being the relatively slow summer season for business travel.

What are the fares like? Any discounts???

Thanks igel for the editing!

I couldn't have done it any better...

by accident, on http://www.airlinemeals.net/ I found a picture of food on the routhe DUS-EWR in the LH section from July 10.

Looks not so special IMO...

But the website is quite interesting!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Posted by AS Flyer:
This would be a much better experience, IMO. Much less crowded, more personal service, the whole immigration/customs experience would be easier.</font>

Why? It depends when the bird is landing. When it arrives after some Jumbos from Russia, South America etc., you have loooong lines at customs and immigration.
Regarding this, EWR is much better than JFK, and many FFs prefer EWR for exactly that reason.

There's a picture of the cabin on airliners.net added today:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/266705/M/

The cabin looks very average to me. Nothing special.
Anybody who took this flight yet?!?

Tim

Someone on airliners.net posted a trip report (http://www.airliners.net/discussions/trip_reports/read.main/24821/) about this service over the weekend.

Thanks for the links,

great!

Another trip report is available on airliners.net (with a load of 11 pax only). The poster also published the report on his web site with some pictures: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/5959/tripreports/report52.html .


[This message has been edited by LH738 (edited 09-26-2002).]

Thanks LH 738 for the link !!

Very nice report, but only 11 pax.....

DUS-IAD only non-revs in F http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif 2 of 3 sectors in F

mikefly, dont quite understand ? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

anyway, I would hope LH would have more PAX in this adventure. I like the idea of luxurious point-to-point travel.

Uli,

I was just making a tongue in cheek reference (hence the smilie) to the Employee Class situation after the lengthy discussions about it in the UA forum

Yikes ... 11 passengers on a Monday ... that can't bode well for that flight ...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
Yikes ... 11 passengers on a Monday ... that can't bode well for that flight ...</font>

Keep in mind that August is the middle of the German summer vacation season. I would be worried if loads are still that low. I think LH reported 60% loads for the first few months, which isn't too bad as almost all pax are paying good fares.

I found this report in Airliners.net

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/trip_reports/read.main/27924/4/