Kiwi Flyer

Munich to Denver first class menu

Asian Delight menu [second meal]

Cold Specialties

Sliced papaya with vegetable salad, cashew nuts and curry dressing

Sweet and sour pork with roasted sesame

Corn fed poulard salad with leek, red lentils and onions

Grilled fresh pineapple

Pornelo salad

Mango ginger chutney

Hot Specialties

Filet of beef, wok fried vegetables and green thai curry sauce served with jasmin rice

Flavoured pike-perch with soy oyster sauce, spring onions, chili and mashed ginger

Dessert

Lime pineapple tart with coconut

Fresh fruit

Kiwi Flyer

Munich first class lounge menu

BREAKFAST

Freshly squeezed juices

Orange
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Multivitamin

Coffee / Tea / Hot Chocolate

Coffee / Cappuccino / White Coffee / Latte macchiato
Espresso / Espresso macchiato
Black tea / Green tea / Red tea
Hot chocolate

Fruits / Yoghurt / Cereals

Yoghurt, with fruits
Fruit salad with acacia honey
Homemade bircher granola
Fresh and dried fruits
Cornflakes
Oat flakes

Ham / Sausage / Cheese / Fish

Salami / South bavarian ham
Scottish salmon
Cottage cheese / Camembert

Freshly cooked - eggs from the organic farm

Eggs cooked as you like
Scrambled eggs / Omelette / Fried egg of your own choice with bacon, sausage, herbs, grilled tomato
Curd pancake with sour cherries

From our own bakery

Bread roll / Baguette / Toast / Leaven bread / Buttered croissant / Danish pastry

Jams / Honey


menu

Starters from the buffet

Antipasti

Sushi selection

Baby leaf salad with various toppings

Soups

Asparagus essence with bear's garlic balls

Carrot ginger soup with smoked duck breast

Pasta

Swayed swabian ravioli with butter onions

Fish

Poached salmon on saffron foam with black noodles

Dear Guest, For your convenience our wining and dining area is a cell phone free zone

Welcome to Germany

Fresh asparagus from Abensberg with sauce hollandaise, veal medallion and potatoes

It's your choice! We also serve asparagus with raw / boiled ham, beef filet or "viennese" schnitzel.

Pan fried

"Viennese" schnitzel with warm potato salad

Beef filet on redwine butter with romanesco and cream potatoes

Special of the day

Dear guest, We offer you a daily changing special. Just ask our service team!

Bavarian delicacies

Munich veal sausage with sweet mustard

Bavarian meat loaf

Fried sausage from Nuremberg on sauerkraut

Desserts from the buffet

Creme brulee served in a confectglas

Strawberries on sweet basil cream

Salad of fresh fruits and berries with acacia honey

Mousse of white and dark chocolate


BEVERAGE selection

Champagne

Champagne Ruinart blanc de blancs brut

Champagne Bourgeois brut

White wine

2007 Schloss Vollrads, riesling kabinett trocken, weingut schloss vollrads

2007 Stellenbosch sauvignon blanc, la motte

Red wine

1998 Chateau du Breuil, bordeaux, cru borgeois superieur

2006 Morellino di Scansano, le pupille, sangiovese

2006 Domaine de Saint Dominique, languedoc

Cognacs

Whiskies

Cocktails and longdrinks

Beer

Schneider wheat beer
Weihenstephaner pils
Augustiner beer
Beck's
Jever
Non-alcoholic beer

Mineral water

Vittel
Appollinaris
San Pellegrino
Staatlich Fachingen
Perrier
Taunusquelle
Pineo Water
Voslauer
Plose
Montes
Evian
Valser water


Candle Light Dinner

Dear guest, What about a romantic candle light dinner? Just ask our service team!

Kiwi Flyer

Munich to Denver (MUC-DEN) on Lufthansa A340-300 in first class

This was to be my first Lufthansa flight across the Atlantic ocean in a few years. When flying Star Alliance I tend to use NZ or SQ for the benefits of my status with those airlines (and reflecting that while I travel enormous distances I am unlikely to get even close to qualifying for Lufthansa's HON Circle status as this requires 600k in 2 calendar years but only counting miles earned flying Lufthansa, Swiss, LOT, Austrian and a few other close airlines - the nearest destination served is some 10 hours flying away).

Lufthansa has a lot of trans-Atlantic flights, and I was spoiled for choice. I had a constraint in that I was stopping in USA and back-tracking from the west coast would put me over the mileage limit for the RTW. I wanted to visit a new state and add to my list of airports visited if possible. I also wanted to carefully pick a long flight with suitable expected loads in first class, for I had a complimentary space available upgrade to use.

The result after some analysis was to pick Munich to Denver, and keep my fingers crossed the first class cabin remains empty enough. The availability remained F4A4 for as long as I checked. I am not sure what I would have done if it suddenly looked like a full cabin in first class. Rerouting would have been difficult given how fully optimised my itinerary already was (any reroute could neither add segments nor flown miles, and my schedule was tight).

That I have already posted menus and titled this post first class, means there is no suspense for you the reader. For me, however, there was suspense at the time. Would the upgrade clear or not?

I checked out early and headed to the airport, for I was keen to see if my upgrade had cleared. When I was given the boarding pass the day before at Sarajevo for business class, my heart sank a little. But I appreciated that the loads were such that it might only clear close to departure and there was a reasonable chance that it would. In any event, I had an excuse to visit the check in counter for Sarajevo had not collected my API information that USA requires.

So, shaking off a residual tiredness that seems to happen post deep sleep of the dead that could have done with being another hour or two longer, I took the shuttle to the airport. I could just as easily taken a cab, but the shuttle was leaving bang on the time I checked out and we all were being dropped off at the same terminal so it would be just as quick as a cab (probably quicker given no cabs waiting at the hotel).

I was dropped off at the main entrance. I am not sure if Lufthansa has a special first class entrance or lobby (like for example they do in Frankfurt, and Singapore Airlines has in Singapore). I didn't see one but that doesn't mean it isn't there tucked away. It took me a while to find the business class check in, with the first few rows of check in desks I encountered all being either quick check bag drop-offs or economy check in, or ticketing desks in the middle of the check in area. Normally Lufthansa allows *G to check in with first class, and I did not come across first class check in desk, so perhaps really there is a separate area with it's own entrance.

I had no wait at business class check in. I did not ask about the upgrade to first class but merely advised I hadn't given API information and see what happened. That was quickly entered and the agent then asked how the upgrade was being supported, from which I surmise there is a field for mileage upgrade, UA SWU or HON/SEN evoucher information to be entered. I explained how the request came about and that seemed to satisfy her. Phew, no downgrade back to business class for me. I was even given the best seat in first class - yay - and then directed to the first class lounge.

jongar

and how did you secure your upgrade - rakish good looks, an armful of charm and the support of a midget muscle troop ?

J

Kiwi Flyer

nah, I had a complimentary space available upgrade from LH.

everywhere

How some people get their LH love!

Kiwi Flyer

I enjoyed a nice breakfast in the lounge. I checked and unlike the FCT in FRA there are no laptops available for use for those like me who travel sans laptop. It was suggested I use the SEN lounge computer (which I noted from a visit a few days prior has just 2 computers both of which are likely to be in use at any given time)

As with FRA FCT immigration is dealt with while you relax - passport taken on entry and flight number noted. When ready to go, stop by the immigration counter inside the lounge, pick up passport and straight out the door into the non-schengen zone.

I was warned to leave the lounge early to allow time for passport check and security screening. There was a first & business class line at passport check saved a few minutes wait but no equivalent at security where it would have been more beneficial. A small wait at the gate as boarding didn't start on time. The right hand gate is for economy, and that started before the left hand gate for first/business class was ready

Load in first class was 7 out of the 8 seats. Nonetheless there was plenty of overhead bin space. I was quickly offered pre takeoff drink, some nuts, handed the first menu plus a Bogner amenity and a Van Lack sweater. The captain announced a longer than normal flight time - bonus ^. We pushed back right on time and after a short taxi we were on our way.

I stayed awake as planned, watching some movies (the selection on Lufthansa while not that extensive is rather different to other airlines - while I often find the same movies playing on many airlines' IFE there was not so much overlap which is good for me) and reading a book at the same time, which a flight attendant commented on.

The first meal was served early in the flight. I loved the nice slow pace of the meal, allowing plenty of time even for a slow eater like myself to savour the nice food and drink, sampling and contrasting the different appetisers as well as doing some wine tasting and comparing the drink-food matches suggested. Not once did I feel rushed to complete. After all, there is just one main meal on this longish flight so I have plenty of time to enjoy the offering. Ahh, it is good to be back in longhaul first class again.

Most of the other passengers rushed their meal and then slept during most of the flight. I guess this may help acclimitising to US timezones (our departure from Munich was wee small hours in Denver time). This didn't bother me as I still had enough light to read by, very attentive crew who saw my glasses never got empty more than momentarily, and given my crazy itinerary my own body clock was stuffed. While I would have liked to watch Greenland and northern Canada (both still snow covered) pass by, I contented myself with the odd peek.

The menu for the second meal was offered about 75 minutes prior to arrival. Thus, while this gave a few passengers in first a longer sleep in, it did also mean a more rushed feel to the service.

We landed about 30 minutes late on a brilliantly fine day, if a little nippy. I was second off the aircraft and sped to immigration. After a few seconds I was seen by the officer. She asked why I was visiting USA and when I told her, she snapped back "I don't believe you". Oh boy. I realised the itinerary information they have means that no matter what I say or do I am going to secondary so I act pleasant and sure enough a few moments later I am directed to the secondary room.

After 30 minutes waiting finally an officer shows up and calls me up. By now there are half a dozen or so passengers from this flight waiting. I'm glad I was the first to be sent here and not the last (eventually there were about a dozen of us from that flight). This officer was much more pleasant. I took him through why I did my crazy itinerary, and what I planned to do while in USA. He was quickly happy with my explanations but took a long time to ask all the questions and document it all. Then I was done and off to customs. The 3rd person sent to secondary from my flight had still not yet been seen and had already missed her onward flight - it seems the last person was in for a loooong wait indeed.

A poor Lufthansa agent was hanging around and checked if I had any checked luggage to pick up - the belt having long since stopped with bags removed.

At customs I was directed to secondary for a bag search and more questions (some of which were identical to the ones I had just been asked - do they really expect me to change my story?). I don't know what customs was looking for as the search was perfunctory. Eventually, 2 hours after arriving (and nearly 3 hours behind scheduled arrival), I was allowed to go. A good job I had allowed for a long connection.

Kiwi Flyer

Denver to Salt Lake City (DEN-SLC) on United 737-300 in first class

This part of my itinerary was originally a thing of beauty. Arrive in USA in a state I hadn't visited. A longish connection allowing plenty of time for immigration and customs (ideally I wanted to do the RTW in the other direction but schedules and availability quickly put paid to that idea). Avoid Ted Transit to my destination through another state I hadn't visited. That transit being fairly short so not much waiting around in an airport for which there is no *A lounge. Arrive at my destination early enough that I have a stopover there (my required 3rd stopover in the round the world ticket), and also early enough to get together with a bunch of FTers that will be in town that night.

It all came undone months ago when United changed their schedule, making this flight a little later than the original timing. The change wasn't much, just a few minutes. But it was enough that I couldn't connect as easily in Salt Lake City. I did think about switching to the direct flight, which would have been a free change due to invol schedule change. However, that flight gave a much longer connection in Denver and, well, it was Ted.

Clearing immigration I hung a right to security where my passport was inspected with suspicion. Gee - if it is good enough to enter the country just now then it should be fine to confirm my identity to fly (not that that should be required, but by now I didn't have too long until my flight and thus was in no mood to dally and "chat" with security).

A short train ride later and I went up to the red carpet club. There I noticed the flight was delayed 30 minutes so I would have time to use the meagre facilities after all. I tried checking in for my onward flight but was unable to do so.

At the appropriate time I left the lounge for the gate. There, we were told the delay was due to late inbound aircraft (which arrived some 20 minutes late). However the turnaround was very slow and we ended up departing 45 minutes late.

No pre-takeoff drink. Once we had completed the initial climb we got a drink and a bag of pretzels. No real food or drink. The view out the window was great the whole way as the sun descended.

We arrived late, but as my connection was lengthened due to the schedule change I had plenty of time to explore the terminal (all connected airside) and pop outside for a little walk also. I didn't hang around outside too long though, as the air was cooling rapidly and looked to be in for a frost.

Kiwi Flyer

Salt Lake City to Phoenix (SLC-PHX) on US Airways A319 in first class

I checked in at an empty counter and headed for security. SLC has the 3 "ski lanes" at security - leisure traveler, families and needing assistance, and expert traveler. Naturally only the leisure traveler lane was open with a long snake of passengers. This, despite the xray and WTMD behind the expert lane being manned by bored officers standing around doing nothing.

While I waited I watched the puffer machines in action. It seemed to be optional to take the puffer or not. Hardly anyone took it as it was slower than the WTMD. By the time I reached the front of the line 15 minutes later, the puffer had been shut down.

I reached the gate and there was still no agent at the desk. I was glad I had decided to leave airside to check in (as well as getting some fresh air outside). The aircraft arrived late. The flight was full and so boarding took a while.

This time we got pre-departure drink (in fact two) and plenty more drinks in the air, which contrasted with the miserly single drink on the United flight despite the flight times being similar. We also got a choice of junk food from the box - crisps, some kind of muesli bar and something sweet I think.

By now it was dark and so no view. I was disappointed as my original flight (which left on time so no chance of making it) would have been in bright daylight and offered a great view on this clear day.

We arrived at one of the furthest gates so a reasonably long walk to baggage claim, where I called for my hotel shuttle. This came some 20 minutes later. Like LAX it is not very pleasant standing around waiting for a shuttle at PHX - lots of fumes and noise, and even at this late hour the temperature was still rather warm.

Kiwi Flyer

Updating the how many countries have you visited? list, I notice I now have 101 Travelers Century Club locations.

Kiwi Flyer

Phoenix to Los Angeles (PHX-LAX) on US Airways A319 in first class

After a productive day in Scottsdale with some other FTers I headed to the airport. Check in was a shambles - the worst I can recall for years at least. The only good bit was there was no queue when I arrived (at the first class line) so I had no wait. Everything went downhill from there.

The agent offered to put me on the earlier flight, which I initially thought was a great idea - for not only was my transit in Los Angeles not particularly long (some readers may recall I almost misconnected last year when the PHX-LAX flight was delayed) but I also wanted to switch to an earlier flight from LAX. This would make a less rushed return to work and also a chance to catch up properly with an FTer on that earlier flight (from LAX). But on the flight from PHX to LAX that I was booked on, I had no chance of connecting to that flight.

The agent tapped away, 2 boarding passes were printed, and only then asked for US$50 change fee. Hmmm. I don't think 19B is in first class, and furthermore the RTW fare does not require a change fee (although US presumably calls it a service fee). So you want me to pay to downgrade to a rear middle seat? No thanks. There were apparently no first class seats left, nor any aisle or window seats or emergency exit seats, on the earlier PHX-LAX flight. The agent then ripped up the two boarding passes and cancelled me from BOTH flights.

The agent was incompetent and took a phone call to be talked through how to reinstate me to the flight I'd been booked on. Fortunately that flight was wide open so I got back into first class, after several minutes tapping away. In the process of reinstating somehow they lost my FFP information and had to re-enter that (when I spotted the boarding pass did not reflect my status).

Right, I am back on my original flight (this by now some 30 minutes later) but would also like my onward boarding pass since the connection is tight and if the flight is delayed as it was when I took it last year I may be in trouble if I am not checked in. For the onward flight is the last one for the night - if I misconnect I will be stranded at least overnight. The agent was unable to print it, despite calling in a colleague over to try also and disappearing out the back for long periods of time. After 45 minutes she gave up and just said good luck. I was very annoyed by now, and so no doubt also were the long line of first class passengers who had been waiting all this time. Yup - US Airways had just the one counter open for first class. I hope no one missed their flight.

I haven't yet communicated with US Airways over this shambles, but I plan to shortly. In my view, it is not acceptable to process a change of flights without first explaning to the customer what they will be accepting (in this case a downgrade, a much worse seat, and a spurious change fee). It is also poor training to take 45 minutes on such a simple matter as changing flights. It shouldn't be impossible to print out a boarding pass for a connecting flight, especially when they've proved it can be done by doing it once already. If they offload the passenger from an onward flight then they should make it right and not just wish the passenger luck and hope they make the connection. That they also held up lots of other first class passengers in the process can be blamed on cost cutting - they should have had more than one agent manning the first class desks.

Kiwi Flyer

Security was empty so I was at the US lounge in no time. There were only 2 other passengers in here and so we were well outnumbered by staff. Despite that service and amenities are abysmal. Just as bad as a RCC.

With check in taking so long I did not have much time, just enough to almost fall asleep before jolting awake at realisation of the time. Then a longish walk to our gate. Our flight was on time and the load was very low (3 including me in first class and maybe 20 or 30 in economy). I wonder if they were trying to merge the 2 flights into 1 but there just weren't quite enough no shows to do that?

Onboard my mood slowly improved with better service (although still rubbish food, drink & IFE offerings). We arrived in Los Angeles rather early, thankfully, and I raced through terminal 1 on my way to the next flight.

Kiwi Flyer

Los Angeles to Auckland business class menu

Air New Zealand is proud to welcome you to our Business Premier experience and invite you to tailor your dining experience to meet your requirements.

A full supper will be offered on departure from Los Angeles, with a Fast Dine soup option available should you wish to go to sleep earlier. If you prefer a little extra sleep, let your flight attendant know that you do not wish to be woken for the full breakfast. A Fast Dine breakfast option will ensure you have a quick bite to eat prior to landing.


SUPPER

Fast Dine

Yellow split pea soup
served with condensed yoghurt, smoked trout and herb salad

Hot sourdough bread

Chocolates

Starter

Cured New Zealand salmon pastrami
wrapped asparagus with arugula salad and rye croutons

Bakery

Garlic bread, black olive bread and sourdough bread

Main Course

New Zealand lamb cutlets
with warm bulghar wheat salad, spicy lamb sausage, sauteed corgette and eggplant

Grilled prawns, scallops and organic pompano
(delicate white fish) with cream sauce, polenta gnocchi, wild mushrooms, sweetcorn and pancetta

Wood roasted chicken breast
with parsnip mashed potato, garlic lemon confit, fresh thyme and caramelised broccolini

Dessert

Gourmet ice cream dessert
of peaches and cream ice cream and sticky toffee pudding ice cream

Cheese and Fruit

Fine New Zealand cheese and fresh seasonal fruit

Hot Drinks

Freshly brewed or decaffeinated coffee, tea, herbal tea or hot chocolate


SELF-SERVICE SNACKS

Help yourself from our range of snacks available for you to enjoy during your flight.


BREAKFAST

Wake-up Drinks

Start your day with a fruit smoothie, your choice of juice, freshly brewed or decaffeinated coffee, tea, herbal tea or hot chocolate.

Light Breakfast

A bowl of cereal topped with yoghurt and fresh fruit is available as a lighter option.

Fast Dine Breakfast

Please let your flight attendant know if you would like to sleep-in and we will wake you as late as possible and offer you an orange and almond breakfast pastry and a beverage of your choice.

Full Breakfast

Fruit and cereals will be offered followed by a hot bakery selection and your choice of a hot breakfast or cold plate.

Fresh fruit salad

Fruit or plain yoghurt

Flaked muesli, low fat granola, Weetbix, Cornflakes

Bakery

Croissants, wholemeal and fruit toast with fruit conserve

Hot Breakfast

Herb and brie omelette
with kassler ham, roasted tomatoes and chicken apple sausage

Croissant French toast
with seasonal fruit compote and passionfruit mascarpone

Cold Plate

A selection of Italian, baked and smoked ham
with New Zealand cheese, Dijon mustard and crusty breakfast rolls


BEVERAGES

Wine

For details of our onboard wines, refer to your Air New Zealand Wine Guide.

Champagne

Champagne Laurent-Perrier L-P NV Brut, France

New Zealand Sparkling Wine

Cocktails

Falling Water

Backyard Bellini

Spirits

Glenfiddich Malt Whisky
Chivas Regal Blended Whisky
Jack Daniel's Black Label
Gordons Gin
42 Below Vodka
Courvoisier VSOP
Captain Morgan Rum
Ron Bacardi Superior

Port and Liqueurs

Portuguese Port
Grand Marnier
Baileys Irish Cream

Beer

A selection of beer featuring Steinlager, Export Gold, Heineken and low alcohol lager

Soft Drinks

Mineral water, orange juice, apple juice, tomato juice, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, cola, lemonade, L&P (sparkling lemon drink), tonic water, ginger ale, diet cola and diet lemonade

Hot Drinks

Freshly brewed coffee
Decaffeinated coffee
English Breakfast tea
Chamomile tea
Lemon tea
Decaffeinated tea
Darjeeling tea
Earl Grey tea
Peppermint tea
Green tea
Hot chocolate

opushomes

When I first started following your TR, I figured it was going to be a review of your run-ins with U.S. Immigration/Customs and TSA. I never expected that you would visit exotic places like Erbil and Tripoli before getting to the true "Axis". Great report so far, as usual, keep it coming please.

SASfan

Kiwi - sorry to hear about your terrible US experience! In my view, they are part of the "axis of frequent flyer evil" here in the US.

I bet getting on the Air NZ flight from LAX was like heaven for you.