Prolog

As usually I did a real-time trip-report about all my travels during the winter season 2019/2020 using the German language www.vielfliegertreff.de.

Basically until now we visited
- Armenia
- Nagorny Karabach
- Thailand
- Germany (for the Christmas markets)
- Brazil
- Argentina (including Iguazu)
- Uruguay
- Chile (including the southernmost city of the world)

Whoever is interested in this trip until today can at least check out the photos, since the text is in German
https://www.vielfliegertreff.de/reis...2019-20-a.html

Now I decided to switch to FlyerTalk and start here with the last trip of the winter season 2019/2020, a trip to SEA, particularly Thailand, India and Singapore.

Friday, February 21, 2020

Since we were in South America for 6 weeks, where I had a stupid accident on Dec. 23rd, and only a month at home, we had quite a stressful time. First of all I had to visit doctors to know about my healing process, then some business, Valentine's Day and of course my 50th birthday with too much party (Ukraine is the best party-location you can imagine).

Luckily it hasn't been too cold in Ukraine, nearly no snow, temperatures well above the freezing point, sometimes even sun - which helped our roads to maintain in good conditions. Nevertheless, after a month at home, where, due to the accident, I couldn't perform my usual routine with gym in the morning, it was time to move on, for warmer climate.

Half a year ago I already booked my flights since Lufthansa had a special offer from KBP to SIN, FIRST Class at approx. US$ 2'500, including more than half of the status milage for the SENATOR renewal. Unfortunately my girlfriend wasn't able to come with me, since she had to join a concourse on March, 1st.

Since a Swiss friend of mine stays most of the winter in Asia, I decided to book an onward flight to Bangkok, to visit him for 10 days. Since I had to book the flight SIN - BKK on a separate ticket I planned a buffer of some hours, just in case. Accidentally I booked a Saver-Ticket, thinking it was a Business-Saver. When I saw the confirmation I understood I booked an Economy Saver. Maybe it's the age... So I contacted Thai Airways to ask for the price of the upgrade to Business Class, but didn't receive any answer. After three Emails two three different Email addresses I gave up, decided to fix this when at the counter in at SIN airport.

So let's start with the trip:

02:15 am the alarm rang me out of my warm bed. I went to the bathroom to get ready, said Goodbye to my girlfriend and my princess, ordered a Taxi to Borispol airport using the UKLON Taxi App (30 minutes drive; US$ 17).

At 03:45 I arrived in the departure hall, went to the empty Business Class/*G counter where I was checked in within minutes, my luggage checked through directly to Bangkok.


Since the airport has been quite empty I was through Security- and Passport control within seconds, went upstairs to the Lounge.


I haven't been really hungry - but at Lufthansa you never know what you're getting. So I decided better to drink a Cappuccino and eat a Croissant.


Boarding started 5 am, luckily the Business Class has been quite empty so I could have my own row. As usual with Lufthansa there wasn't any blanket or pillow waiting. That's something the 5* Airline (Lufthansa, what a joke!) could learn from the 2* Airline Ukrainian International, where in Business Class each seat is prepared for its passenger. Welcome drink at Lufthansa ? Of course, NOT!

Perfectly in time we took off in the nightly sky above the Ukrainian capital. Why the hell I booked the flight on a Friday - don't ask me... due to this mistake I'll miss Kiev weekend clubbing.

When we reached cruising altitude the breakfast was served. While in the past there were always two warm dishes to chose from, now Lufthansa economized. First they said it's because of a problem with the caterer - but this problem continues since more than 3 months. So, instead of a warm breakfast, we just got a tray with some cold cuts and a dessert, even not nicely presented.


Luckily I was able to sleep for the rest of the flight, just woke up some minutes before we reached MUC.


I personally don't like MUC airport too much... several flights of stairs up, walking through long and empty corridors, some stairs down and through Security-Control until you reach the FIRST Class Lounge


where I first off all changed my flight to Frankfurt for an earlier one.

Then I went to the restaurant area


where I ordered my breakfast favorite, Munich 'White Sausage' with sweet mustard and Brezel. These sausages are only served at the FCL at MUC airport, not at FRA. And therefore the reason to fly KBP - MUC - FRA instead of just KBP - FRA.


I planend to buy book at the airport, additionally the iPhone cable I forgot at home. But both electronic shops, at the domestic and the international section, were sold out for Lightning - USB-C cables, also the the selection of books wasn't good.

So, by 10:30 am I moved on to Gate G-16 where I was able to board the plane to FRA first.

Also here I have been Lucky, had a row on my own, Fell to sleep Even before take-off. When I awoke there was a trat with a snack standing next to me:


But I didn't want to eat, because I knew what was coming.

Again in time we arrived at FRA, a surprise with 'Latehansa'. I went landside, bought the required cable and some book, stepped outside and walked within 5 minutes and blue sky to the FIRST Class Terminal, the only area where Lufthansa deserves its 5 stars.


The big advantage of the FCT is the security check. While at FRA it presently can take hours to clear security check, at the FCT you're through within a minute. I took my favorite seat near the window where, before they have built terminal Z, you had a fantastic view towards the airfield.


What's the Highlight at the FCT in FRA ? Yes, the 'Schnitzel', prepared as it should be, served with cabbage-, potato- and creamy cucumber salad.


Would be nice if Lufthansa would be as good as their First Class Lounges and -Terminal. In that case I even would be prepared to pay higher ticket prices, or at least the actual First-Class-Prices for a Business-Class-Ticket. But after my last experience in Business Class in the new Lufthansa Airbus A350 I'll try everything to skip Lufthansa long-distance Business-Class.

At 4 pm my ex-girlfriend showed up and we were sitting in the lobby of the FCT chatting about 'old times' and new relationships.

Coming back to the Lounge I took a piece of 'Frankfurter Kranz', which cached my eye already during lunch time.


Okay, the one I do at home is better, especially the butter-creme - but it's nice to eat things from your childhood, especially when you can't buy them at home.

Slowly it became a long wait. So I took some magazines to catch up with the actual situation in Germany, my birthplace, which makes me just sad. Just some years ago everything seemed to be in order - but the last years became chaotic, especially with the new fascist-party called AfD. The funny thing: things are changing... 5 years back Ukraine has been a mess, Germany was in total order. Now it's starting to get the other way round.

And then waiting has been over. At 9:15 pm the lounge attendant arrived and guided me down to Gate 1 where I was expected to be transferred to LH 778 together with another passenger.

Since we were only two passengers we luckily didn't have to use the Volkswagen Mini-Bus. Instead a (fake Porsche) Cayenne brought us to Gate Z66, where our Airbus A380 was waiting.

I confess, I prefer the A380 over all other aircrafts. No other aircraft flies as smooth, no other aircraft is as silent in the cabin. Even the take-off you barely feel. Even turbulences aren't a big issue, I guess it's due to the size of the aircraft. What a petty they stopped production. I hope the remaining aircrafts will fly forever !

The elevator brought us upstairs, through the jetway we reached the aircraft where we turned left to reach the FIRST Class section in the front of the upper deck.


My favorite seat, 2A, was waiting for me.

I'm still undecided if I prefer the airy 'lounge-design' of Lufthansa or the chicken coops (Suites) of SQ. I personally think that with less seats in a spacious area the open design is perfect, while in high-density Business-Class with more noise the Suite-design is better. But let*s call this 'first-world-problems'.

My seat wasn't in perfect condition, the leather at the armrest already showed wear-and-tear, would need require some minor overhaul.

To my surprise FIRST-Class was completely full. Would have been interesting to know the ratio of F/A/O-tickets. As far as I understood out of 8 passengers 5 others where on a holiday, just 2 were traveling for business - by the way 100% Germans.

For me there're, in addition to the FCT, three advantages of FIRST Class over Business Class:
- More silence in the cabin
- 2 washrooms for 8 passengers
- wider seat for a better sleep
Another thing I recognize is, that F-Passengers normally are more relaxed than Business-Class passengers, which starts with clothing. F-Passengers attache more importance to comfort, I don't stand out in a tracksuit and sneakers. Also it's seldom I meet a 'Mr. Important' in First Class while I often do in Business-Class.

Pre-flight a drink (in my case Coke Zero with ice but without lemon) and cold nuts were served. But even here Lufthansa economized: instead of the super-yummy Macadamia nuts now a nut-mix was served, with three mini-Macadamia-nuts...

Before take-off I still had time to visit one of the huge washrooms, to change for flight-clothes.


By the way, the slippers of Lufthansa are the softest you can get.


I browsed through the movie section, chose 'Joker'.

Again in time we took-off, turned to south-east and climbed softly to cruise altitude where the Amuse-Gueule has been served, goat cheese with halved grapes and a sweetish sauce with mustard seeds.

I was asking for an express dinner, selected some cold-cut (fish) as starter, white fish with overcooked Risotto as main and a stapled chocolate Creme-Brûlée for dessert. While starter and main were 'eatable', the dessert reminded me of what I often see when I'm walking with my dog - and a bit it tasted like that...

(Description: imagine a cheap chocolate-pudding from the supermarket, topped with a 'sausage' from light chocolate and a bit of crumble)

Please, dear Lufthansa, serve food which you're able to prepare ! It doesn't make sense to put high-cuisine on the menu - when then you can't deliver in reality !

Therefore the express-dinner became a mega-express-dinner. The really friendly crew made my bed and I decided to better sleep than to watch the movie till the end.