Trip Reports - LH MAN-DUS-BIO-FRA-MAN

heres a trip report from last week when i had to go to Bilbao for a couple of days business. Im sure people will ask why i did it this route well to be honets one was for star alliance miles and other was it gave me most time in Bilbao without spending 2 nights.

MAN - DUS
LH
Canadair RJ200

Check in at Manchester Termianl 1 was chaotic one economy desk and one business class desk for 5 flights leaving within one hour of each other. I didnt have to wait at the business class line but economy was at least 30 passengers long. Lufthansa checked my luggage right thru to Bilbao but was quite suprised no security questions about my luggage. Headed up to the lounge operated by Globe, full bar and soft drink selection along with hot drinks, only cookies or cheese and biscuits for food. Boarded on time and i was lucky that I had an empty seat next to me, seems that seats are same in both business and economy and the only real difference on this aircraft is the food service. Was served a cold meat and cheese breakfast with warm rolls and a fresh fruit salad, pretty good for a 90 minute flight. Landed on time in Dusseldorf and was taken by bus to the terminal .

DUS - BIO
LH operated by Eurowings
CRJ 700

Had a 15 minute delay at the gate due to the late arrival of the incomming aircraft. Once again had an empty seat next to me for the 1 hour 45 min flight to Bilbao. Cabin attendents offered newspapers and magazines and then served a hot meal which consisted of Beef Fillet with parsley potatoes and vegetables, warm bread and cheese and biscuits. Landed early in Bilbao and luggage was on belt 5 minutes after getting into the terminal building.

BIO-FRA
Lufthansa
Boeing 737-500

Check in is handled by Iberia and there weer 3 desks open with no queues at either economy or business class. Headed through security and was rather puzzled why my mobile phone inside my jacket pocket (i forgot it was there) didnt set off the metal detector. Headed to the lounge only to be told my business class ticket and my *A Gold card didnt alow me entrance... Boarded thru an air bridge and my jacket was quickly taken and hung up by the attendent. The flight was totally full in both classes. Took off for the 2 hour flight up to Frankfurt. I was totally amazed to be offered a printed menu card with a choice of main mean on such a short flight. The menu was Smoked Salmon and Anchovie Salad followed by either Roast Turkey or Slated Fillet of Cod, a cake and cheese followed by coffee, a very good selection for a 2 hour flight. Landed on time and headed from the A area to the B area for my onward flight to Manchester, had time to look into the senetor lounge and also the business lounge. I also had 30 minutes in the Airport Casino which was a fun way to spend a short time.

FRA - MAN
Airbus A320
Lufthansa

Boarded on time and a very full flight once again i was lucky enough to have a empty seat next to me. Attendents offered drinks followed by yet another hot meal Beef Goulash with Noodles followed by cake and some nice chocolates. The seats were wide and config was 2-3 on this aircraft. Landed at Manchester on time and waited about 20 minutes for baggage.

A pretty quick 2 day trip and was impressed by the service offered by Lufthansa on short flights

Thanks for a wonderful trip report! it is nice to read about the superb service on intra-European flights. I know some people complain about those convertible seats, but the catering is really good with the lounge access.

After seeing all these cutbacks in the US, it is nice to read that things are somewhat the same in Europe. Printed menus sound great!

Carfield

Hey Carfield thanks for your reply

More and more european airlines are using the changable seats depending on the demand for each class, on most jets they do give the a and c seats more room and say they keep the E seat empty but on busy flights this doesnt happen. I feel sorry for the guys flying on BMI F100 aircraft as the seats are exactley the same in business and economy.

Has any other *A Gold Members had trouble accessing LH lounges??

In some cases where LH uses contract lounges (LIS, OPO, TRN to name a few) they will restrict entry to Business Class and LH SEN members only, i.e. turning up with another *Gold card and an economy boarding pass won't work.

In some cases the lounge will insist you have an invitation card (handed to you at check-in) in addition to the boarding pass, usually as a means of knowing how much to charge the airline. It may be that the IB check-in staff didn't hand you your invite (I make sure I always ask at check-in about it unless I know the airport well).

Otherwise I can't understand why they won't let you in Business Class though, unless BIO has no LH lounge arrangements at all.

BTW, LH have a decent, relatively uncrowded lounge at DUS.

BigBadJohn,

thank you for the nice trip report.
i also think the service on intra-european flights in LH C is relatively good.

I dont understand the lounge problems as well. I am sure somebody at the entrance did misinterpret the rules.

About the mobile phone in your jacket: I can only say I really have no questions anymore about the security checks at the airports at all. Either you trust nobody wants to harm your flight, or you stay home. Security really does not help. In Seouls two days ago I found the security being really tight until I saw that everyone who wears any kind of uniform could jump freely over all barriers and change between landside and airside without any checks.