Ok, from the Delta lounge I walked, and a long walk it is, to Terminal 1. The skytrain was the other way and I needed the walk, but turned out to be longer than I had thought.

Some history. On a previous trip in this middle area there was an ELAL 757. I photographed the ELAL 757, they have police and security all over. ELAL and the Frankfurt Airport security didn't like that. I was duly followed but never approached in a situation that was just quite freaky. I was so happy to get out of there.

Obviously, more than 24 hours going to Israel and walking past the scene of the crime, it came back to me, haunted me a little./ They followed, I ducked into a lounge, got out of the way, boarded a Lufthansa flight home to LA and that was that. Boy did it put me off and it didn't help me going to Israel anytime soon, ouch. /

Walked past the infamous area, even stood there, of course an empty gate. They have a special security gate C 21-23 for all fights to Israel and I hear it is nasty. No thanks. Hence, I would never fly directly from Germany to Israel, period.

It was pretty empty. They had a Lufthansa Airbus to Beirut, kind of cool.

To my surprise was the Red Carpet Club which was being renovated last time I was there in Nov. What they renovated I can't imagine, looked the same to me when I was there a few years ago, the time of the nasty ELAL incident.

I flashed my Untied P/E card and got in. He said they were closing in 5 minutes, so I grabbed a Hessia, a wonderful German sparkling water that has a sweet taste to it. If they had it in the store I would have bought some. Selters is also wonderful.

5 minutes were up and I was out., so made my way to the B area.

I like this since they have redesigned it. They have good Duty Free and shops. I headed past all the US bound x-ray machines, I get mine later, and went to one of the Lufthansa
Business Lounges. I wasn'f flying Star Alliance and as my beloved card was expiring the last day of Feb 2004, I wanted to get in. I flashed the card and they waved me in. I had had problems earlier in Nov. Kind of funny.

This is the lounge, used to be a Senator lounge(First class and more food), that we enjoyed when we went to South Africa. So many good memories here. They had the usual drinks, snacks, and newspapers. I grabbed a table by the window and watched planes take off. Hey I was happy to have gotten in. Air Mauritius A340, Croatia A320, SAA A340, the list goes on. I love this airport and I felt bad, almost disloyal for spending so little time there, but if you can't get a hotel, was konnen sie machen? (what can ya do? hope that is right)

I waved a thanks to the lounge warden and made my way down. Bought some more chocolates, they had some good Swiss ones which went to good use. I decided to pass on the Europe City Club, where I had spent much time the last time I was here, and to the Skytrain and to Terminal 2. I didn't want to miss my flight.

Found a cart and made my way to the Delta lounge. They had CNN and a few drinks and some more baloney. It was really good.

My cart was still there, now the fun.

After 9/11 they instituted a special checkpoint for certain flights, mostly the flights to the USA and for British Airways, turns out Qantas and Qatar Air as well.

There were long lines for this and I kind of freaked, but then also realized they would call us up as flighttime came, which they did. It really is a form of hell, nothing in regard to German efficiency or order, which is too bad.

For now I was allowed to keep the trolley, Gott dank. This bag was heavy.

They called up the Qatar Airways people and they moved forward. Then they called us up, BA to Heathrow, but he said the trolley stays there.

You go up to the security machine for your carry ons, but they do a very manual and personal frisk and check. If the cute fraulein wants to do it fine, alles gut, but this really is over the top. It is intrusive. I went in, wasn't as bad as last time, the last guy was nasty,and then grabbed my stuff, sans trolley, and had to lug the bag.

I got to the gate, asked them to gate check it, which they did, but I did a faux pas.
I assumed she would think London is where I wanted it to go. More on that later. UGH

The gate area was crowded so I am like let them fight it out. but it was too close to departure to run down to the lounge, via LIFT, and they have a wonderful hot chocolate. It is a stupid security check and really fowls everything up. I figure eventually FRA will just submit everyone to another security check who is in transit, I even said that to the BA staff, who just looked away. I am sure they have heard it all.

Finally it cleared and after kicking back in one of the seats, I went up to get the aircraft reg.
Then boarded. BA 767 to Heathrow, info later.