Ride with the Valkries - Lufthansa Airlines
Written: Aug 04 '09 (Updated Aug 11 '09)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Comfortable seats, good service and decent food.
Cons: Hannah Montana for the In Flight movie?
The Bottom Line: I would recommend Lufthansa
|
|
|
| shopaholic_man's Full Review: Lufthansa |
When my girlfriend and I booked a trip to Florence, Italy, we went on Germanys premier airline, Lufthansa. We had two trips with the airlines, one on a huge 747 from Bostons Logan International Airport to Frankfurt AM Main Airport in Frankfurt Germany, the second a smaller jet from Franfurt, Germany to our destination, Florence Italy.
Booking the Flight
The flight was booked on line as part of an auction bid on Skyauction.com. I received confirmation of our flights shortly after our successful bid, and I was able to confirm a week prior to our departure.
Stereotype vs. Reality
Yes, I know it is wrong to stereotype, but when I think of Germans I think of very efficient highly organized people. We were both surprised that when this huge plane was boarded, it was done so in only two stages, First Class, then everybody else. In the past, even on local flights on much smaller planes, weve always been boarded by rows. In any event, the huge plane was eventually boarded and we all found our seats and stowed our carry on baggage. We then stayed parked on the runway for an hour while airline maintenance unclogged a toilet. Yes, I wish I was making that up, but thats what the announcement said! However, an hour later that familiar feeling of excitement and giddiness took hold as the plane taxied down the runway faster and faster until liftoff and that feeling of weightlessness. Next thing I knew, we were 70,000 feet in the air flying over the Atlantic.
*note - this review has no apostrophes. I am typing on an Italian keyboard at our hotel computer, and the keyboard layout is slightly different than my own. I dont know where the apostrophe is!
Comfort - Overseas
We flew coach, and I had the window seat. I found it very comfortable. I was able to relax and read a whole book on the flight (Rise of the Horde by Christie Golden review link below). I even slept for a few hours. The seats provided leg room and were wide enough to be quite comfortable despite being in them for the 8 hour flight. There was little turbulence on the flight and the landing was well done.
Comfort- Intercontinental
We were on a smaller jet for the hour and fifteen minute jaunt from Frankfurt to Florence, but I found my seat on that flight to be comfortable as well. This time boarding was just get on a bus, go to the plane, and board the plane. My seat was smaller than on the 747, but for a short flight was quite nice. I also enjoyed looking out the airplane window, especially as the plane began to descend to the Florence airport. My first views of Tuscany were everything I had expected, beautiful poplar trees, green vineyards, and white stucco houses with red tile roofs. Again, we had little turbulence and the landing was just fine.
In Flight Movies
For our entertainment, several monitors along the center showed a small screen for the in flight movie. I did see that first class had individual screens for each seat. Headphones were provided to listen. I would say more on the in-flight movie, except that it was Hannah Montana. If you have read any of my music reviews, you will know why I have nothing more to say about the in flight movie. If you really want to know my thoughts, the link to the review is below.
Food
Everyone says airline food is bad, but I was quite satisfied. We got a dinner and breakfast on this flight. Dinner for me was pasta, a small salad with 2 shrimp and 1000 island dressing and a chocolate pudding dessert. It was quite satisfying and better than a TV dinner. I also had a glass of wine (no extra charge for the wine either)
Breakfast served just before landing in Frankfurt at 6 30 am was a breakfast bar, coffee, orange juice bread and jam and a fruit cup.
On the shorter flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Florence, Italy we also had sandwiches, chicken or cheese and wine.
Service
Announcements were all read in German, then in English and our flight crew was efficient and polite. This included my experience on both the overseas flight and the shorter inter European flight.
Summary
I found Lufthansa fairly organized, quite comfortable and pleasant. I would book another flight on Lufthansa. I will let you know if anything changes, our return flights are set for next week. I gave them four stars!
Look here for upcoming reviews of Florence, the Uffizi and other Italian places! This is Shopaholic_man typing from the Alba Palace Hotel in Florence, Italy.
Other reviews
Rise of the Horde a World of Warcraft novel read on the flight
Hannah Montana - The Movie - the inflight movie, I watched on the way back.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.