Review of LAN Airlines flight Frankfurt Madrid in Business

Airline LAN Airlines
Flight LA705
Class Business
Seat 5A
Aircraft Boeing 787-9
Flight time 02:35
Take-off 05 Jul 15, 19:35
Arrival at 05 Jul 15, 22:10
LA 65 reviews
momolemomo
By GOLD 3200
Published on 2nd October 2015
Hi everyone !

LAN has a daily flight from Santiago de Chile to Frankfurt via Madrid operated by a 787-8. However, during the summer, some flights were done by their brand new B787-9. It was not possible to know while booking the flight if it was going to be a -9, I've just been lucky.

The main difference between LAN's 787-8 and -9 is that the -9 are equipped with the new cabin of the LATAM Group.

Even though LAN and TAM are part of OneWorld they operate from the Terminal 1, next to all Star Alliance carriers and some exceptions like Condor, or El Al.
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Check in is done by TAM employees. I take this flight quite regularly and they've always been adorable. All of them speak English, Spanish, Portuguese and German which is probably a requirement.
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TAM and LAN flights leave from the B gates, next to Thai, Asiana or Air Canada. They send their business passengers to the Air Canada lounge which is, in my opinion, the best one in the area. Especially since the last Air Canada flight leaves when LAN passengers are arriving and when TAM passengers are arriving, LAN's flight is leaving. It is therefore a very confortable and intimate space.
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The entrance displays a huge model of Air Canada's 787.
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The lounge is pretty big but cosy at the same time. There is a huge window view on the tarmac and on some gates.
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There is a decent choice of snacks and meals


The press offer is limited to some Canadian and German newspapers.
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There is also a large selection of beverages
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The center of the lounge is a rest area with a sculpture
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On the side, you'll find some diner tables
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In the back are some rest areas
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The restrooms are clean
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My little selection while I wait for the beauty to arrive
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The last Air Canada flight, to Toronto, is pushing back
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While LAN is landing
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The CC-BGA, first 787-9 received by LAN is taking the spot of the Air Canada. Right in front of us. This plane, with this livery, is just gorgeous. Everyone in the lounge is taking picture of it.
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Boarding starts on time and I'm amongst the first to board the plane
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We are greeted by smiles from FAs and directed to our seats.
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And here I am ! Discovering this cabin I've been waiting to see for long ! I have to say that, even if they didn't choose a 1-2-1 configuration, this cabin looks beautiful. The colour combination is much more pleasant than on the 787-8.
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I take my seat, the 5A, last row of business.
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The TV is big and the quality is excellent.
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We can find a blanket and a pillow under the footrests. Those are given on short flights, long-haul passengers receive a bigger pillow and a real duvet.
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My friend found on his seat an amenity kit. Thinking that it was a mistake from the cleaning team or the crew we kept it in a bag until the end of the flight. While disembarking, the purser asked us if we had found it during the flight. It was actually a gift from them to my friend who is OneWorld Emerald.
The kit comes from Salvatore Ferragamo. It contains an eye-mask, a basket for your shoes, socks, a shoehorn, ear plugs, a comb, tissues, a pen, a toothbrush with toothpaste, a face cream, a hand cream, and a lip balm.
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Headphones are already available. They are not the best on the market but they are definitely confortable and good quality.
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Seat controls
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Reading lights
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The tv remote and a plug are located under the armrest.
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There is also a little button
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That allows passenger to raise the armrest. It is completely useless when you're seating but when the seat is in the bed position, it becomes practical to separate yourself from your neighbor.
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There is a lot of space for the legs.
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The middle table looks like the rest of the cabin. Nice and new.
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The content of the front pocket.
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The purser comes directly to us to welcome us onboard and propose a pre-departure drink with a little bowl of mixed nuts. There is a choice between water, champagne, and juice. Usually there is also the possibility to have a Pisco Sour and it has become a habit for me to drink Pisco onboard LAN's business.
Since today is going to be without my Pisco, I'll have champagne to make up for it.
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FAs are then offering newspapers and this is one of LAN's only flaw on those flights. They are only offering Chilean, Spanish and German newspapers. They really should add, at least one, english newspaper.
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I also found in a storage the wine list and the menu passengers from Santiago to Madrid had. Everything is divided in the 3 languages : English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
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This sounds pretty good.
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There is a large choice of beverages. The beverages with an asterisk might not be available during the flight and Pisco Sour is one of them, sadly.
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The Champagne is a Louis Roederer, a pretty good one !
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Wine are either Argentine, Chilean or Spanish, apart from the Port.


Cabin is getting ready to leave
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Pushed back on time
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The window of the Air Canada lounge
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An A330 of Air China
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A B747-8 of Air China
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Safety video
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Some Lufthansa on the way to the south runway
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Take off
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I really like the cabin, I find it very elegant.
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The pillow is a bit small but enough for a two hours flight.
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However the blanket is huge and very soft. I had to fold it in two and it was still covering my body.
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The IFE has a large choice of movies, tv shows, music and games. There's no way one could get bored on this 2h flight.
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There is also a wifi access but I completely forgot to ask how one access it.
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Shortly after take off, oshiboris were handed.
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A British Airways
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The map is very detailed and easy to use.
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Outside we are trying to avoid some storms.
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Service starts after passing over Geneva. FAs are giving trays from their trolleys. Except for us where one FA + the pursuer brought us our trays without allowing us to see the trolleys.
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Lyon Airport
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On flights of less than 3h, LAN doesn't give a hot meal. It is usually a salad with cheese and a dessert. The pictures are a bit blurred because we were in the middle of turbulences.
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The main plate contains turkey, and a salad with walnuts, candied fruits, smoked ham and tomatoes.
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Salt, pepper, butter, vinaigrette and black chocolate. It is possible to change the chocolate to have milk-chocolate or an after-eight.
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Cheese
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And fruits for the dessert
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The bread isn't warm but is good.
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Overall it is a good meal but quite disappointing when I compare it with my previous experiences on this route. I had foie gras, Jamon Iberico, clafoutis, apple cake, blue cheese etc. A whole different level.

With this, I had red wine. A recommendation from our FA.
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This one
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We're slowly getting closer to Spain as we pass the Pyrenees.
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The seat can become a full-flat bed of almost two meters. It is not too soft, nor too hard, just confortable.
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I had a bit more champagne before we started the descent.
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The cabin was very peaceful on this flight. Only half of the seats were occupied.
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Approaching Madrid


We landed earlier than planned
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One of the problems of taking this flight is that LAN is operating from the T4S, the international non-schengen terminal. This means that we have to pass an ID control before taking the train back to the T4 where you can collect your luggage and leave the airport. It takes more time to leave the airport than if you fly with Iberia, Air Europa or Lufthansa.
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Thank you for reading.
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Verdict

LAN Airlines

9.3/10
Cabin10.0
Cabin crew10.0
Entertainment/wifi9.0
Meal/catering8.0

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

8.0/10
Comfort8.0
Meal/catering8.0
Entertainment/wifi8.0
Services8.0

Frankfurt - FRA

8.5/10
Efficiency8.5
Access8.5
Services8.5
Cleanliness8.5

Madrid - MAD

9.0/10
Efficiency9.0
Access9.0
Services9.0
Cleanliness9.0

Conclusion

I've become a huge fan of LAN in the past months. I go regularly to Frankfurt from Madrid and they are probably operating the most confortable flight inside Europe. Whether it's in business or in economy class.
- I find this new cabin stunning, I really like the colors and the seats are confortable. The 2-2-2 configuration is not the best but it is not unpleasant, especially since I'm travelling with someone and I like having the window seat. The 787-9 seems to be a very quite plane, even less noisy than the 787-8 and the A380.
- The crew was very nice. They were discreet but always here when they were needed. We had 4 FA for the 18 passengers at the beginning of the flight but quickly a 5th arrived. All of them were smiling and pleasant.
- The catering was a bit disappointing from what I've been used to on previous flights. Yet, it was still a good quality meal that was well presented. Too bad I haven't had my Pisco Sour, now I have to wait for my next flight to have it.
- The In-Flight Entertainment is perfect for this flight. You'll easily find your happiness amongst the numerous movies, tv shows or CDs available. The quality is very impressive and the size of the screen is slightly bigger than the one on their 787-8. If they could offer the New York Times or another english newspaper, it would be perfect.
- We left on time and arrived early, nothing to complain about.

For Intra-European flights, there's no better way to fly.

Information on the route Frankfurt (FRA) Madrid (MAD)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 41 avis concernant 8 compagnies sur la ligne Frankfurt (FRA) → Madrid (MAD).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est LAN Airlines avec 7.9/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 2 heures et 34 minutes.

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6 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 147804 by
    KévinDC TEAM SILVER 6656 Comments
    Awesome Report Moritz! It's too funny that you just posted this report on LAN 789 Business on a 5th freedom flight, because I am looking for flights between AKL and SYD right now and am considering the LAN 789 in Business. What a coincidence! It's making my decision really difficult between EK A380 or LA 789. LA is a bit cheaper, but only by like $30. EK has that awesome lounge in AKL and of course the on-board bar. But I'm also intrigued to try the LAN 789. The cabin looks beautiful and those seats are great. Yes, there's no direct aisle access from the window, but I'm travelling as a couple so this kind of seating configuration actually works better for us. What a wonderful option for flights between MAD and FRA! A real international Business class with quite an impressive meal for a cold meal on such a short flight! And Roederer champagne is a very pleasant surprise. And to top it all off, what a beautiful bird! I love the LAN livery and it is particularly beautiful on the 789. Thanks for sharing this beautiful report!
    • Comment 326211 by
      momolemomo GOLD AUTHOR 9402 Comments
      I think their business is worth it for a long-haul flight. Apart from the hard product, the soft product is also good.
      Same for me, I preferer this configuration since we're usually two.
      Thanks for the comment.
  • Comment 147818 by
    SebastianRDCD 23 Comments
    Very good and Full Flight Report! I liked it a-lot! I did not know that in nonperuvian flights they sevred Pisco Sour in J. I flew on a 787-9 from Lima to Los Angeles and the cabin was beautiful ans very spacious, and as always food wasnt a big WOW, but it was acceptable. I hope you enjoyed your flight Cheers!
  • Comment 147846 by
    eminere™ 271 Comments
    What a lovely gesture of offering the long haul amenity kit to status passengers !

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