Private Barge Cruise in the South of France via Lufthansa First Class
#151
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 75k, A3 Gold, AC 25k, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,044
Sorry to hear that your experience on the flight to LAX was poor. In LH's defense: Harald Wohlfahrt is one of the chefs with the biggest name recognition in Germany, due to him holding three Michelin stars for a very long time. People travel from all over for a dinner in his restaurant in a small town in the Black Forest.
#152
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
Posts: 1,880
Sorry to hear that your experience on the flight to LAX was poor. In LH's defense: Harald Wohlfahrt is one of the chefs with the biggest name recognition in Germany, due to him holding three Michelin stars for a very long time. People travel from all over for a dinner in his restaurant in a small town in the Black Forest.
Last edited by JohnRain; Jul 4, 2015 at 1:39 am
#153
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bargara Australia
Programs: VA, SQ, IHG, HH,ALL, Europcar
Posts: 1,530
Thank you for another amazing TR.
I had a look at the website for Belmond, looks like an awesome way to travel around that area of France, worth every cent.
Shame about the poor service in F on LH
I had a look at the website for Belmond, looks like an awesome way to travel around that area of France, worth every cent.
Shame about the poor service in F on LH
#154
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
I never understood why famous chefs lend their names to airline catering food anyway. They have little to gain (at best) and a lot to lose. It's quite obvious that they don't cook the food themselves and the publicity they get from seeing their name printed on thousands of onboard menu cards can quickly turn negative (like in this case) when the food doesn't live up to the (justifiably) high expectations.
And as for what they have to gain? The easiest money they ever made.
#155
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Tampa, FL, USA
Programs: Former Dividend Miles Chairman's, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 1,122
Had to laugh...my wife and I had the same junk served as the second "meal" barbeque in F last summer. Totally inedible rib, cold unadorned corn, and a foil wrapped potato that was worse than on offer at the Golden Coral buffet.
The FA proactively cleared everything and brought us hot dogs from an economy stash with biz class Gruner Veltliner. Super!
Sorry you had surly FA's. We really love LH F.
The FA proactively cleared everything and brought us hot dogs from an economy stash with biz class Gruner Veltliner. Super!
Sorry you had surly FA's. We really love LH F.
Last edited by TPA us ff; Jul 4, 2015 at 4:13 pm
#156
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
And SFO777, this trip reveals your exquisite taste. I especially love the fact that the barge cruise wasn't much more than a suite aboard a Viking River Cruise would be. So great to see the options that are available if one stretches a bit.
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
Thanks to my wonderful but occasionally travel-clueless better half, we are back at MUC about 2.5 hours before departure. And head for the First Class check in area and security. Not as bad as I anticipated. And then off to the FCL for breakfast.
At around T-50, we bid our adieus and headed out for long perp walk down to the H gates. Priority passport check means nothing when you get in a slow lane behind a non-US citizen with 4 passports and some visa issue. Lovely. And after all that, the long walk back to H17-H18 and a mass of humanity in a way too small space.
With only 8 pax, you'd think that the GA might perhaps call First Class pax. Heaven forbid, what a stupid idea that would be. Just let them scrum and board with Business and every Star Alliance cardholder and their families. How lovely.
At around T-50, we bid our adieus and headed out for long perp walk down to the H gates. Priority passport check means nothing when you get in a slow lane behind a non-US citizen with 4 passports and some visa issue. Lovely. And after all that, the long walk back to H17-H18 and a mass of humanity in a way too small space.
With only 8 pax, you'd think that the GA might perhaps call First Class pax. Heaven forbid, what a stupid idea that would be. Just let them scrum and board with Business and every Star Alliance cardholder and their families. How lovely.
but hopefully mass market never catches on to good value provided by luxury and non-mass-chain options
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jul 4, 2015 at 10:35 pm
#158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
TG is flying to BKK with 744 (still).
The airport can fully handle both types. I am not an expert, but as said before, only A330 and A340 based in MUC so for crew logistical reasons no LH A380 and 747. To be fair, Harald Wohlfahrt is a very well know German chef (as mentioned in LH menue, holding three Michelin Stars for many years). Shame the meals did not come out according to his abilities. Thanks for a wonderful trip report!!!
The airport can fully handle both types. I am not an expert, but as said before, only A330 and A340 based in MUC so for crew logistical reasons no LH A380 and 747. To be fair, Harald Wohlfahrt is a very well know German chef (as mentioned in LH menue, holding three Michelin Stars for many years). Shame the meals did not come out according to his abilities. Thanks for a wonderful trip report!!!
Also, the A300-600 ST (Super Transporter) or "Beluga" as they are known are used to ferry various Airbus parts around the European manufacturing and final assembly lines.
In the video here http://youtu.be/i3_IP4zoW9I you can see it disgorging the fuselage and wings of a Vietnamese A350 at the Tolouse FAL.
They are getting a bit long in the tooth now so will shortly be replaced with some A330 ST
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...opment-406160/
In the video here http://youtu.be/i3_IP4zoW9I you can see it disgorging the fuselage and wings of a Vietnamese A350 at the Tolouse FAL.
They are getting a bit long in the tooth now so will shortly be replaced with some A330 ST
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...opment-406160/
Sorry to hear that your experience on the flight to LAX was poor. In LH's defense: Harald Wohlfahrt is one of the chefs with the biggest name recognition in Germany, due to him holding three Michelin stars for a very long time. People travel from all over for a dinner in his restaurant in a small town in the Black Forest.
I never understood why famous chefs lend their names to airline catering food anyway. They have little to gain (at best) and a lot to lose. It's quite obvious that they don't cook the food themselves and the publicity they get from seeing their name printed on thousands of onboard menu cards can quickly turn negative (like in this case) when the food doesn't live up to the (justifiably) high expectations. Harald Wohlfahrt is indeed a fantastic chef who can easily compete with the best 3 Michelin star chefs in Paris, but if the actual execution is badly handled by LH catering it creates double negative feedback: foreign LH F guests who had to eat this will probably never go to Mr. Wohlfahrt's restaurant Schwarzwaldstube (a must-go destination for a foodie) and they might even have a bad impression of German food as a whole, which is really unjustified as Germany is in the top 5 list of coutries with the most Michelin stars in the world (and second in Europe behind France). Contrary to many other German products, German food is hardly exported (except of course for sausages, pretzels, sauerkraut and beer) but it is definitely a lot better and more varied than its reputation.
Had to laugh...my wife and I had the same junk served as the second "meal" barbeque in F last summer. Totally inedible rib, cold unadorned corn, and a foil wrapped potato that was worse than on offer at the Golden Coral buffet. The FA proactively cleared everything and brought us hot dogs from an economy stash with biz class Gruner Veltliner. Super!
Sorry you had surly FA's. We really love LH F.
Sorry you had surly FA's. We really love LH F.
So funny how much of a role culture plays! It's as if they have a blind spot when it's a "traditional American meal."
And SFO777, this trip reveals your exquisite taste. I especially love the fact that the barge cruise wasn't much more than a suite aboard a Viking River Cruise would be. So great to see the options that are available if one stretches a bit.
And SFO777, this trip reveals your exquisite taste. I especially love the fact that the barge cruise wasn't much more than a suite aboard a Viking River Cruise would be. So great to see the options that are available if one stretches a bit.
http://www.munich-airport.de/en/cons..._new/index.jsp
good to inform some FlyerTalk readers here
but hopefully mass market never catches on to good value provided by luxury and non-mass-chain options
good to inform some FlyerTalk readers here
but hopefully mass market never catches on to good value provided by luxury and non-mass-chain options
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
#160
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,181
You bid your "Adieus."
I notice that you are now speaking "Franglais."
LH should hire a "food taster." Same with UA.
I also noticed that UA require a lot more miles in LH F than UA F.
Miles and More also charge very high taxes like BA.
If I fly on LH I will avoid Munich though the airport looks nicer than Frankfurt.
Very interesting report as usual.
Thanks for posting.
I notice that you are now speaking "Franglais."
LH should hire a "food taster." Same with UA.
I also noticed that UA require a lot more miles in LH F than UA F.
Miles and More also charge very high taxes like BA.
If I fly on LH I will avoid Munich though the airport looks nicer than Frankfurt.
Very interesting report as usual.
Thanks for posting.
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,928
Another superb report, though I was so sad to read the last installment.
I have yet to have a bad experience in LH F, but only have two LH MUC experiences (versus more than a dozen from FRA).
Do you think the FA's nastiness over the seat belt sign immediately ruined the flight? It would have for me and then I would have found everything to nit pick, as you did!
But the pre-arrival meal looks nasty and the F ground experience in MUC is just pathetic compared FRA.
I have yet to have a bad experience in LH F, but only have two LH MUC experiences (versus more than a dozen from FRA).
Do you think the FA's nastiness over the seat belt sign immediately ruined the flight? It would have for me and then I would have found everything to nit pick, as you did!
But the pre-arrival meal looks nasty and the F ground experience in MUC is just pathetic compared FRA.
#162
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, BA, QR
Posts: 362
Interesting TR, thanks SFO777.... I also enjoyed your pics and humour. Maybe you should consider staging a rebellion and putting your foot down with your wife and her route choices.... Apparently some women like that.
#164
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
You bid your "Adieus."
I notice that you are now speaking "Franglais."
LH should hire a "food taster." Same with UA.
I also noticed that UA require a lot more miles in LH F than UA F.
Miles and More also charge very high taxes like BA.
If I fly on LH I will avoid Munich though the airport looks nicer than Frankfurt.
Very interesting report as usual.
Thanks for posting.
I notice that you are now speaking "Franglais."
LH should hire a "food taster." Same with UA.
I also noticed that UA require a lot more miles in LH F than UA F.
Miles and More also charge very high taxes like BA.
If I fly on LH I will avoid Munich though the airport looks nicer than Frankfurt.
Very interesting report as usual.
Thanks for posting.
Another superb report, though I was so sad to read the last installment.
I have yet to have a bad experience in LH F, but only have two LH MUC experiences (versus more than a dozen from FRA).
Do you think the FA's nastiness over the seat belt sign immediately ruined the flight? It would have for me and then I would have found everything to nit pick, as you did!
But the pre-arrival meal looks nasty and the F ground experience in MUC is just pathetic compared FRA.
I have yet to have a bad experience in LH F, but only have two LH MUC experiences (versus more than a dozen from FRA).
Do you think the FA's nastiness over the seat belt sign immediately ruined the flight? It would have for me and then I would have found everything to nit pick, as you did!
But the pre-arrival meal looks nasty and the F ground experience in MUC is just pathetic compared FRA.
Thanks SAtraveller.
Thanks very much jacobac00 for your kind comments.
#165
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Tokyo
Programs: SPG LT Plat ANA Plat
Posts: 596
SPO777 thanks again for an enjoyable read, it seems like you have a habit of an extra night in Europe, ever thought of just planning it in advance !!
The LH food was a horror showm but still the way they recover frim IROPS is worth the odd glitch ! can you imagine if it was BA ? probably a seat on the next Air Norweigen !!
The LH food was a horror showm but still the way they recover frim IROPS is worth the odd glitch ! can you imagine if it was BA ? probably a seat on the next Air Norweigen !!