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Sadly, another disappointing Lufthansa flight as this airline continues its slide to the ranks of mediocre.
Although Lufthansa has joined the group of airines participating in PreCheck, your self-printed OLCI or mobile boarding pass doesn't say TSA PRECHECK. LH requires you to stop at check-in to get a boarding pass that says TSA PRECHECK. So we did, where our stop was a little bizarre with the First Class agent acting like he was doing us a favor. Perhaps it was the award ticket but that has never mattered before. We declined counter to lounge escort but I did request lounge to gate escort, mostly to test the service, since last month the escort was a no show. We indicated our desire to board first and the PA confirmed our desire when she visited us in the lounge about 30 minutes before boarding. At T039, boarding was announced and she was AWOL, like last month. As we gathered our things to head to the gate, she arrived claiming that they were about to board. Uh huh, first to board my butt... https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_6914-L.jpg ... especially since our gate was far away Gate 157. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_6915-L.jpg Naturally, by the time we arrived, boarding had been underway for 10 minutes. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_6916-L.jpg Lufthansa 453 LAX-Munich A340-600 5:15p-1:40p (sked) 5:25p-1:35p (actual) December 28, 2016 Departed 4/8 Seats 2DG Despite the attractive and comfy cabin, there were tell tale signs that this was not going to be good flight. The senior seasoned cabin crew ignored service protocols and was simply mailing it in tonight. No idea whether 1DG were friends or family, but they was part of the problem, with lots of loud chatter in German and laughter with them and between the crew from the galley. The crew yapping continued during taxi and take-off. Definitely Bose moments. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0420-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0421-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0422-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0425-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0428-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0429-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0430-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0431-L.jpg Back to the Romena amenity kit tonight... https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0432-L.jpg ... with the same old, same old meh. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0433-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0465-L.jpg Once at cruising altitude, the crew finally finished their gossiping and started service. Yo, how about closing the curtain to the galley?? https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0466-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0468-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0469-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0470-L.jpg One of the battle-ax attendants finally came around and asked if I wanted something to drink. I asked to see the wine list to which she responded "oh, did I not give you the menu? Sorry." Today's menu, same as last month as LH runs two month cycles. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/....42%20AM-L.png https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/....51%20AM-L.png And wine list... https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0517-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0518-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0519-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0520-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0521-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0522-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0523-L.jpg I went with another glass of the always excellent Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0471-L.jpg The disgusting amuse-bouche which I forgot to warn Mrs. SFO777 about. Flight attendant seems surprised when I declined. Not Mrs. SFO777 when 1 bite was more than enough for her. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0472-L.jpg Showtime, LH style. Very nice, but it was all downhill from here. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0474-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0475-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0478-L.jpg I passed on the caviar again tonight. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0480-L.jpg Serving 1DG. And still no use of the curtain to block light from galley. Obviously, that would involve too much work opening and closing each time. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0481-L.jpg Mrs. SFO777 accepted the starter trio and the salad, despite my warning. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0482-L.jpg I took 2 of the 3 starters and the salad. I use the word "took" as our lazy attendant reached over Mrs. SFO777 and handed them to me. I think she got the message when I hesitated to take them and rolled my eyes. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0483-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0485-L.jpg Still no galley curtains. Seriously? https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0489-L.jpg We both had the beef as it was delicious last month. Tonight was terrible. Tough cut, undercooked and the au gratin potatoes had no au gratin. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0493-L.jpg Not even close to the same dish I had last month... https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_6078-L.jpg Perfectly prepared. And the potatoes were amazing! https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_6080-L.jpg And still no curtain. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0494-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0495-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0498-L.jpg And still no curtain, prompting me to finally ask "are you ever going to close the galley curtains?" I obviously caught her off guard, as in busted as she muttered "oh, uh, we usually do it after service." Maybe you do it that way, but that is not the way any other crew does it or the manual says. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0500-L.jpg With only 4 passengers, we each had our own "seat and a bed" as I moved over to 2A and Mrs. SFO777 to 2K. Ambien was again my friend tonight and I slept for nearly 6 hours. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0509-L.jpg I didn't want to eat much as I was planning on waiting for the Weiner Schnitzel in the MUC Lounge, so just a little scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0512-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0514-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0515-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0524-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0531-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0525-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0537-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_0536-L.jpg We arrived on time which was one of the few bright spots about this flight. Mrs. SFO777 declined Ambien and didn't sleep well as the bed/mattress was not that comfy. Add in the mediocre service and we decided that we've both pretty much had it with Lufthansa. You were once great, but you've regressed and the world has passed you by. |
I've been waiting for this one!! Headed to Rome soon and no doubt will take some leads from your report !!
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At least you avoided BA on the outbound, LHR has been plagued by fog with the usual impact on flights.....
I think there is a very different level of service on LH Frankfurt services. |
Originally Posted by glasman19
(Post 27688314)
I've been waiting for this one!! Headed to Rome soon and no doubt will take some leads from your report !!
Originally Posted by Skipcool3
(Post 27688610)
At least you avoided BA on the outbound, LHR has been plagued by fog with the usual impact on flights.....
I think there is a very different level of service on LH Frankfurt services. |
OK, not this time. There will hopefully be better flights on LH in the future;)
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Wow - disappointing ground services out of LAX. It's hard to take them seriously having had your past experiences.
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Originally Posted by offerendum
(Post 27689318)
OK, not this time. There will hopefully be better flights on LH in the future;)
Originally Posted by worldtraveller73
(Post 27690039)
Wow - disappointing ground services out of LAX. It's hard to take them seriously having had your past experiences.
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Damn, I bribed the LH crew to make sure you would have a fantastic flight and rave about LH again, but it seems I was too stingy. (My bribing experience is limited to a single occasion at the Polo Lounge in LA where I gave the maître d' a ten dollar bill to get a good table and ended up sitting next to the kitchen door). Hmmm.
Here's to hoping LH won't be overtaken by BA on your F ranking! |
Originally Posted by JohnRain
(Post 27691064)
Here's to hoping LH won't be overtaken by BA on your F ranking!
Very much looking forward to the BA installment. Popcorn is on order. In fairness, if you get a great crew (and they do exist) they can often gloss over the failings. The Champagne is also the same so you're on safe ground there. I also strongly recommend the beef ;) |
Originally Posted by SFO777
(Post 27688271)
Sadly, another disappointing Lufthansa flight as this airline continues its slide to the ranks of mediocre.
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Great trip report.
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Originally Posted by FlightNurse
(Post 27691248)
Could it just be the flights to MUC aren't as good as to FRA?
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1. If I am correct Lufthansa have a lot of problems employee wise. They are not happy and often on strike.
Even in economy they started serving "lettuce" as a starter to cut costs like the US airlines do and Swiss. 2. LOL I also love Wienerschnitzel (veal not pork) with cucumber / gurken salat. With apfel strudel and apfel saft probably my favorite dishes and drink. 3. Thanks for the Rome tip. I went 40 years ago in July and it was awful; unbearably hot. That's why I want to go back. |
[QUOTE=SFO777;27688640]Thanks very much glasman19. The holiday crowds here are insane. Our guide said that if you come between mid-January and the end of February, all the touristy sites will be empty.
We found the crowds incredible in June too - we took one look at the crowd at the Uffizi and said not this trip. Apparently many people have stayed away from France this year after the incidents - and gone to Italy instead |
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