Privatair - Wave of the Future?
Written: Mar 31 '04 (Updated Apr 03 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Privacy - one of my best experiences
Cons: You can become very spoiled
The Bottom Line: One of the best travel experiences I have ever had...and I travel A LOT!
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| stuttgart's Full Review: Lufthansa |
Background
I am writing about Lufthansa’s “boutique” flights on Privatair, flown March 2004. I booked myself on Lufthansa from Chicago, O'Hare to St. Petersburg, Russia in business class and was told that the only thing available was on Privatair.
Privatair is a separate airline but flies on behalf of Lufthansa. In otherwords, this was truly a Lufthansa flight, flown by another airline. They fly BBJ’s (Boeing Business Jets) and Airbus A319”LR’s” (for Long Range) between Chicago-Dusseldorf and Newark-Dusseldorf (and return). These flights are configured in all business class with only 30 seats. The flights leave Newark and Chicago in the evening, arriving early morning in Dusseldorf and leave Dusseldorf in the afternoon, arriving in the early afternoon.
I have to give it to Lufthansa for thinking outside the box on this one, because this experience can only be a notch below flying Concorde. It was if I was flying my own private jet.
Chicago-Dusseldorf
Check-in
This is the last flight of the day at O'Hare for Lufthansa. Since only a maximum of thirty passengers were on this flight, the economy and business class desks were closed, only the first class desks were receiving passengers for this flight. I didn't have to wait, I just walked up.
Lufthansa is on the far north side of Terminal One, United’s “hub” terminal. After checking in, I was told I had to walk to Terminal Two, which was a little bit of a pain. Nonetheless, the woman at the counter was very nice and very polite. A man next to me checking in asked if there were any upgrades to first on this particular flight only to be told that this is one class of service (to his surprise).
I did ask the lady if people get curious about this flight and she told me that sometimes people freak out because it is a small plane…which sort of planted a seed in my head too.
Terminal Two is shared with Continental, Air Canada, and United Express. When I asked one of the United personnel a question about my gate – he told me Lufthansa was in Terminal One. He had no idea about this special flight…which actually made me feel like I was a part of this elite group of people.
Dusseldorf-Chicago
In Dusseldorf, check in is in Terminal “A” at the very beginning of the terminal. Again, these two flights (for Chicago and Newark) was in the First Class positions and were clearly marked.
Once you go through security (twice), you pass the gates for domestic departures and then passport control for this flight to Chicago. It seemed so private because at passport control there was a list of passengers he checked off as they went through. This section was completely empty and when I arrived at the gate, I was asked if my name was “X” which I responded yes to – I got on the plane and only 10 passengers were on the flight. I felt like a king.
Boarding
It was quick – the quickest in my life for any flight, let alone a trans-Atlantic flight.
Upon boarding the plane, it was strange – to see a little Airbus with one of the widest aisles I’ve ever seen on any aircraft. Probably the only reason was they couldn’t make the seats any wider (otherwise it would be too uncomfortable). Each row was “bins” – of two seats in a 2-2 configuration. In other words, there is no way you could put your seat back into someone else’s lap.
I found my seat and got very very comfortable. There was a bottle of water in one of the crevasses underneath the armrest.
Also in the seat pocket was a Lufthansa amenity kit. Having flown Lufthansa’s First Class product many times, the only different was maybe a comb and some skin care.
In the kit I found socks, a handy napkin, toothbrush, toothpaste, eye mask, and ear plugs, all in this cute little leatherette blue kit with a silver Lufthansa tag on the zipper.
Pre-take off
The flight attendants wore Privatair uniforms with tags stating their names. There was a plaque on the front stating “Privatair flying on behalf of Lufthansa.” Maybe that is why they were a little nicer and more accommodating…anyone who has flown Lufthansa would know what I mean.
The in-flight entertainment booklets were handed out. However, because the plane was not equipped with IFE’s (In-flight Entertainment Equipment) per seat, they used the First Class format with individual Sony Watchmen.
From there, the menu’s were given out as well. A full five course meal was to be served and I was ready for it…bring it on!
We were offered pre-flight drinks of orange juice, coke, water, alcohol.
Boarding time was that of a typical trans-Atlantic flight but everyone was on the plane thirty minutes before the aircraft backed out of the gate.
In-flight
The first thing I thought was “this isn’t business class, this is first class” – the only thing that maybe was different was that it was a 2-2 configuration and most of Lufthansa’s first class configurations are a 1-2-1.
Right after take-off, the flight attendants handed out the watchmen as well as putting the cassettes of the selection into the machine.
Shortly thereafter the meals began and didn’t seem to end. There was a choice of appetizers from Salmon to just a salad – dinner had the duck, filet mignon, chicken and pasta choices. Looking around the other passengers I just kept thinking that I wouldn’t mind that…and that….and maybe that too!
Dessert followed, which consisted of fresh fruit (I said yes) and an assortment of cheese (I said yes to that too). THEN more dessert came in the form of chocolate cake…which I couldn’t resist. I was stuffed like a bird and ready for sleep.
The entire time eating I saw my movie.
The seats themselves were opulent. It fit my 6ft4inch frame perfectly with leg room to spare. For the first time in my life the foot rest had like a “dough roller” at the bottom to rub your feet for an incredible massage….it became addicting.
Each seat had TWO pillows as well as a thick blanket. The computer on the armrest allowed you to manipulate the seat using six positions. There was also a built-in back lumbar you could make go in and out.
There was also a partition between seats, so no one next to me could really see me drooling while asleep.
The seats completely went to a flat 180 degree bed…you can’t beat that. The only thing, and this is an only small thing is the bed itself has a tiny incline so you have to get used to that, so you won’t slip down. This is something I had issues with on Singapore Airlines Raffles Class as well.
One hour before landing, they served a light meal which consisted of either chicken salad (the chicken was warm) or a breakfast plate with assorted cheeses and bread.
The restrooms were constantly cleaned by the crew. There were two in the back of the plane and onr in the front of the aircraft. Inside, it was spacious, enough to change clothing if you wanted. There were also bars of soap (the old ones before liquid soaps were invented) as well as liquid soap, lotion and mouthwash with little paper cups. All presented with flowers.
One note: This is a small airplane - and being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean there were times this little airplane was being thrown around like nothing I have ever experienced before.
Baggage Handling, etc
I changed flights in Dusseldorf and Frankfurt before getting on my flight to St. Petersburg. Luthansa’s Business Class in Europe is an overglorified Coach but the flights they offered between Dusseldorf and Frankfurt were many, all using large aircraft. The one hour flight and the short wait in Dusseldorf made the time go by quickly.
My luggage arrived in St. Petersburg's Pulkovo’s airport within five minutes of me getting to the carousel.
However, the best was the return flight. The customs agent at Chicago's O'Hare looked at me and said, “your flight just arrived...what did you do, run?” and I responded with “actually, I was the last one off.”
It was so effortless AND so private I don’t know how I could go back to traveling with 300 other passengers! If all my flights were like this, I would be a happy camper.
Overall
I have to give it to Lufthansa and the Germans for thinking outside the box on this one. Is this the wave of the future?
One of my best traveling experiences – I would put this a notch below Concorde only because, well, Concorde. I would put this a notch ABOVE Concorde because you are allowed to carry two luggage on board, there was ample room for the carry-ons and there was way more head and leg space.
You know you are on a flight that everyone had to have paid a full-fare “D” or “C” class fare. There were no employees or upgrades on this flight…one of the downsides is that you wouldn’t get upgraded from coach and you couldn’t upgrade to first.
Price – Chicago-St. Petersburg, return USD6,500
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
stuttgart
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Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 1 member
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Love reading and rating Epinions
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