Kiwi Flyer

My next flight has been delayed so I have enough time to update a bit more of this report, although if the delay gets any longer I'll have to spend some time working out alternate flights as the buffer in my schedule has now evaporated.

Edited to add - I've been checking and if I misconnect at the next airport there is no way to reach the following airport today. Fingers crossed.

Kiwi Flyer

CAIRO to FRANKFURT (CAI-FRA) on Lufthansa A300-600 in business class

After a busy morning in town I rushed back to the hotel for a quick shower, checked out and headed back to the airport. There was a big queue at pre-check-in security but it moved fast and 15 minutes later I was inside. There was no queue at the first or business class check-in line. Check in however did take a few minutes due to an issue which I'll mention later, and also due to the agent not wanting to switch FFP number until I insisted. "Look you have gold status, it does not matter". Clearly not an FTer

Immigration was quick. I did a lap around the terminal and then headed to the lounge. The lounge was basic but comfortable. Hot and cold drinks, some pastries, separate sections for smoking and non-smoking, weak wifi signal but no computer terminals, also no shower. Our flight came up on the monitors as boarding over an hour before departure, which of course is a ruse to get people to go through gate security in plenty of time. There is nothing beyond security other than some seats to sit on. At security a family in front of me was talking a long time to get organised with stuff to go through xray. The guy behind me was getting impatient - needlessly as we were in plenty of time and there is nothing to do on the other side anyway. Liquids rules apply here, but no need to remove the baggy.

The flight was chockers. 2 passengers were double booked in the seat beside me. Apparently one guy had done return check in from Frankfurt and had not bothered to visit check in desk at Cairo. There was a delay in departing for a missing economy passenger. An old lady rushed through the cabin some 15 minutes after scheduled pushback looking a bit embarrassed. There was also a check of boarding passes in business class with a reported extra passenger, but I think that was related to the double-booked seat.

Kiwi Flyer

So we were late leaving, but having the (rare for this trip) luxury of a long connection time I was totally unfazed.

A mobile media player was handed out. This plugs into the in-seat power supply and has half a dozen movies and tv shows loaded. Not a particularly good selection, which bodes poorly for me as I have some more flights coming up in the same aircraft type I think. I caught up on some reading instead.

A slow meal service. The flight passed quickly and reminded me just how much I am used to long flights.

When we arrived in Frankfurt we had a very fast taxi. It was as if the captain was running late for a hot date. We got a very close gate, so only a few metres to get to the transfer desk, and a passport check at the top of the airbridge.

Kiwi Flyer

Lufthansa
Business Class menu
Cairo to Frankfurt
October 2008

Lunch

Hors d'oeuvres

Air dried Beef and Italian Pickles

Marinated grilled Seabass, Potato Salad and Tomato Salsa

Salad

Mixed green Salad
presented with Dressing

Entrees

Tenderloin of Beef with Mushroom Gratin,
turned Potatoes and Spaghetti with Vegetables

Chicken Biryani with Saffron Rice and grilled Vegetables

Tricolor Polenta served with Vegetable Medley and Mustard Sauce

Cheese and Dessert

Edam, Camembert and smoked Cheese

Apple Tartlet

Fruit Salad


Vinothek Discoveries

Champagne

Champagne Jacquart Brut Mosaique, Frankreich
The chalky soils of Champagne have a determining influence on the character of the grapes varieties pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, which are found in this cuvee. Maturation on the fine lees after the second fermentation lends the sparkling wine further character. This explains the intense straw-yellow colour, the yeasty aromas as well as the fruity notes of pear and apple. On the palate, this Champagne is very refreshing with a pleasant mousse.

White Wine

2007 Leo Riesling, German Hill, Pfalz, Deutschland
"Quality starts in the vineyard, not in the cellar". The Austrian, Leo Hillinger, and the German, Andreas Bender place importance on working in an environmentally-friendly way and on gentle grape and wine handling. The latest technology goes side by side with traditional vinification methods in the cellar. Mineral notes, obvious citrus aromas and subtle fruit characterise the modern style of this wine, which is most pleasing on the palate with its fresh acidity and smooth texture.

2006 Chardonnay Trentino "Virtuoso", Casa Girelli, Italien
The vines for this chardonnay are trained on the typical pergola system, although care is taken to ensure yields are strictly reduced. The grapes are harvested by hand and then pressed. The must ferments, and then ages, in new oak barriques. This chardonnay shows fine fruit, combining ripe melon and pear with a touch of spiciness from the wood. On the palate the wine has a pleasing, supple character and is elegantly balanced between fruit and acidity.

Red Wine

2004 Chateau Leboscq, Medoc, Cru Bourgeois, Frankreich
Being suggestive of Cabernet Sauvignon, enhanced by proportions of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, Chateau Leboscq has all hallmarks of a classic Cru Bourgeois. With a deep, intense purple red and aromas of blackcurrants, dark berry fruits, gentle spices and elegant toasty notes it is sheer allurement in a glass of wine. Discreet mineral hints give the wine complexity. Fruit flavour is also dominant on the palate and combines well with the ripe tannins, giving the wine a pleasant length.

2006 Monte de Cal Reserva Vino Regional Alentejano, Portugal
The Alentejo plain used to be known as the granary of Portugal and was also famous for cork production. In recent years, however, this region has evolved into an up-and-coming wine region, as this Reserva shows. Purple in colour with an almost opaque centre, this wine has a bouquet suggesting ripe plums and juicy cherries as well as touches of vanilla, gentle spices and toasty notes. On the palate the tannins are powerful yet well-knit, marking their character on this richly structured, complex wine.

Beer

Warsteiner premium verum
Warsteiner premium alkoholfrei

Spirits

Bacardi, Campari,
Bombay Sapphire Gin, Wodka Gorbatschow
Jack Daniel's, Johnnie Walker Black Label
Cognac Lheraud VSOP
Scheibel Williams-Christ Birmen-Brand
Frenet Branca

Liqueur

Baileys Irish Cream
Graham's Portwein

Soft Drinks

Fruit juices
Natural Mineral Water and
Sparkling Natural Mineral Water
Elisabethen Quelle
Apollinaris
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Light
Sprite
Kinley Tonic Water
Kinley Bitter Lemon
Kinley Ginger Ale

Hot Beverages

Jacobs Royal Diplomat 100% Arabica Coffee from the Highlands
Eilles Black Tea

Kiwi Flyer

Arrrgghhhh - the computer has swallowed my post. Well it is time I am off for yet some more flights. More later.

Kiwi Flyer

ALGERIA TRANSIT VISA QUESTION

When I checked my itinerary with the visa specialists I use I was advised that I probably could not do the transit in Algeria that I booked without a visa. Furthermore, a visa for Algeria is not trivial to get - requiring an invitation (and I have no business contacts or land travel arranged so would basically be bribing someone to invite me) and no local embassy.

I did consider changing my ticket for a while, however, the itinerary and visa restrictions resemble those for Tunisia which some readers may recall I successfully transitted earlier this year. So I decided to just give it a go.

Now consider earlier in the day. Scene, check in at Cairo. Lufthansa check-in passengers for all Lufthansa operated flights within 24 hours at once (different treatment occurs when some flights are on partner airlines). So when I checked in at Cairo for the flight to Frankfurt, the agent saw my onward itinerary and attempted to check me in for the next couple of flights. But he was unwilling to do so without a visa for Algeria. I do not know whether this was based on personal knowledge of the rules or a computer generated instruction.

I have read that Star Alliance is creating a computerised system to check visa and entry rules and validate them, but I am unsure if that has yet been implemented. This is a good idea, after all how many check in agents in say El Paso would know the rules for arriving in say Sudan, and the intracacies involved where people may have passports for multiple countries, and live in multiple countries (that may or may not coincide with the countries of their passport). However it may have a downside for people like me - travelling on oddball itineraries that no one in authority would have dreamed of, and sometimes pushing boundaries to my own advantage.

I pondered the possibility of not being able to fly. Could I find an affordable hotel at short notice? Would I end up sleeping in the airport (this would be in a concourse as the lounges close during the overnight curfew)? Or would I manage to take the flight after all?

Fast-forward to the transit desk at Frankfurt. There I was simply checked in with no questions asked, and no search for a visa. I was also checked in for my onward flight. I breathed a sigh of relief. While there was still a chance I could be offloaded, either at the gate or even onboard the aircraft before departure, the odds were very low in my view. I should make the flight and, once again, beat the system.

Kiwi Flyer

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

As mentioned above I got 2 more boarding passes at the transfer desk. I wasn't crediting the flight to Miles & More (using FFP arbitrage to good effect) and the agent said my other card (also *G) would not be good enough to use the Senator lounge but I'd be okay entering if I showed my LH*G card. I politely tried to disabuse such nonsense - the Senator lounge is a *G lounge. The only difference between LH*G and xx*G is LH*G can use it as an arrivals lounge as well as departures whereas xx*G can only use it as a departures lounge. Where do these people get trained?

I scurried into the nearby lounge and grabbed a shower with only a 5 minute wait. What a difference time of day makes to the wait time (more on this later). Refreshed I did some reading while waiting for one of the 2 computers to become free, and then caught up with some messages. When it was time to board I walked the short distance to the gate. We had a bus gate. At the boarding pass scan the passenger in front of me was being told she had to gate check her rollaboard as she could not take that as well as her little backpack and a large purse. Naturally she wasn't happy. I squeezed on by with my rollaboard and headed straight down to the waiting bus.

We had a full load. As I settled in the purser let me know she was aware I was coming back with them. The flight was fairly short. A quick light meal. Then snoozed a bit. On descent we had a view of the lights of the city but couldn't discern much else. We had an airbridge to disembark.

Kiwi Flyer

Lufthansa
Business Class menu
Frankfurt to Algiers
October 2008

Flavours of Austria

Hors d'oeuvres

Roast Veal in Walnut Vinaigrette with Mushrooms and Pumpkin Seeds

Entrees

Grilled Poulard Breast served with Cider Sauce and Tender Wheat with Vegetables

Fillet of Pike Perch with Meaux Mustard Sauce, Kohirabi and Peas

Dessert

Poppy Mousse with Strawberry Sauce and Cream


Beverages

Sparkling Wine

Red and White Wine

Beer
Warsteiner Pils

Soft Drinks

Mineral Water

Spirits

Jacobs Coffee

Eilles Tea

Kiwi Flyer

Sorry I am getting further and further behind reality. I'm about to board another flight so thanks for your patience. There are some ups and downs (and I'm not just referring to the flights) still to come.

Thai-Kiwi

Keep it up, and good luck! Nothing could be worse than the Labour Weekend Sunday Weather in Wellington....although a warm house, and fresh coffee makes the perfect reading environment.

Cheers, TK

WellingtonFF

You have certainly said it - back to winter this morning

Kiwi Flyer

"You'll need to leave the aircraft so we can close the flight."

Not words one wishes to hear ... especially in the middle of the night when trying to leave a country with few flights and for which I have no visa.

I'll update more later, but it has been a crazy 24 hours.

CHC Kiwi

I hope all's well (a relative term, I know), Kiwi Flyer. You've got quite a potentially difficult series of transits/turnarounds.

Kiwi Flyer

Yes I was wondering if it would be trouble-free, and it turned out not to be. Male, Kathmandu and Dili are some of the easier transits/turnarounds on this trip!

My next flight is about to board, so I apologise for the delay in the next instalment of the trip report.

Gatwick Alan

Ive always been fascinated by your reports and routings, and cant wait to read what happened.
I hope everything turned out ok in the end.
Has your experience put your off being quite so adventurous in the future?