Review of Lufthansa flight Frankfurt → Vienna in Business

Meine Damen und Herren begrüßen Sie meinen Flug Bericht aug LH 1234 von FRA nach VIE! This is the sixth report in this series of my first ever round-the-world trip done over my birthday in 2013.

So far you can check out previous portions of this trip from the following links:

For those who are joining us today and have not checked out my other reports of this trip, feel free to check among the following:

Flight 1 - UA 007 IAH - NRT
Flight 2 - TG 661 HND - BKK
Flight 3 - TG 471 BKK - SYD
Flight 4 - TG 472 SYD - BKK
Flight 5 - LH 783 BKK - FRA


From the previous report, we had landed at the C gates and I would make my way through the interesting maze of Terminal 1 to get to the Schengen A gates. I had built in a nice layover so I could handle whatever craziness of transiting at FRA as well as determine which lounge I could visit.

After going through Passport Control, I made my way to the Terminal 1 Check-In Halls and checking out which airline counters would be open or set up.

FRA


I love these old-school flipping flight display boards especially the sounds of them flipping and almost in constant motion.


Ticketing area C


SQ's check-in counters open for the FRA-JFK flight.


NH's check-in area for the FRA-NRT 788 flight.


A3 check-in counters set up but still closed.


Up close of NH counters as well as AC's


AC and OZ counters with NH adverts hanging above.


Is my VIE flight on this board?


There it is! I see my flight to VIE at the top. Sorry for the blurriness.


LH Self-check in counters with self-tagging baggage drop.


My flight moving on up

After perusing around the check-in halls and deciding not to buy the various flavors of Ritter Sport landside, I make my way to Schengen airside A-gates and see which LH lounge I could get in. The warm weather could be felt inside the terminal and I started to feel like a soggy mess. Once through security, I found the entrance to the LH F lounge and asked to see if I could utilize this lounge after having flown on F from BKK. The cheerful F lounge agent asked for asked to scan my boarding pass and I guess my VIE boarding pass allowed me access to this lounge. I know it is not the special F terminal lounge where I could obtain a special LH rubber duck, but it had a nice relaxing atmosphere to it. The agent even advised me that I should report to A28 early as the flight would depart via a bus gate. So far, all of my intra-European flights from FRA had departed and arrived via a bus gate. I always enjoy boarding and deplaning from a bus gate.


Entrance to LH F Lounge

After the lounge agent welcomed me into the F Lounge around 07:15, I asked if I could request a shower. She directed me to a small desk around the corner where I could sign up for one. A male Asian attendant had been preparing the shower rooms and I guess thought I was Thai and first started talking to me in Thai, and then German, and then in English. While not as fancy as the NH showers at HND, this served it’s purpose and made me feel human and ready for nonstop roaming once I land at VIE.


Shower area in F lounge


My collection of stuff!


Amenities at the shower facility


No Japanese bidet here.

After the shower, I felt human again. I had changed into something more comfortable as I wanted to have dropped my bags off at the hotel room and maximized my time on a whirlwind tour of Vienna.

Once I finished, I made my way to the lounge area and found a spot to relax while waiting for my flight. This lounge remained surprisingly quiet for a connecting lounge for F passengers. The lounge felt spacious and modern. I first found a curvy lounge chair to place my stuff as a couple of lounge guests had occupied most of the sofa areas.

I decided to check out the food options available in this lounge. On hand they had a massive spread that one would find at a popular European hotel with all the cold cuts, eggs, yogurts, fruits. breads, and spreads. I had developed a bit of an appetite and wanted to sample as much as I could.


Dining area in F lounge


My comfy couch at the F lounge


Milch und saft


Western breakfast


Cold cuts


Bread and cereal station


Mango smoothie, orange juice, and blueberry yogurt with breakfast


Candy collection

I ate, and ate, and ate until I could eat no more. Europeans make the best yogurt and tasted delicious with the fresh fruit. I enjoyed the mango smoothie despite I wish it had a bit more mango in it with a bit of small chunks.

I ended up moving to a sofa section right by the window to watch the various LH planes especially over at the new A++. I should have made my way to check it out, but I wanted to enjoy the peace and solitude away from the FRA crowds. While waiting in the lounge, I did notice that an agent holding a clipboard approach the sizeable group of Middle Easterners from JFK waiting in the lounge. They all gathered their stuff and headed towards a door to the side of the dining area where I assumed they had a car service waiting for them to take them to their next flight. I wish I could have gotten a car service, but I would have felt it ridiculous to drive me around the corner if they had offered.

By 08:20, I thanked the staff at the lounge and made my way to A28 for my flight. I had never been to this part of the concourse, thus it felt like discovering something new. I got to the gate and they had started to board the flight. Contrary to what the lounge agent had informed me, we would be boarding via a jetbridge onto possibly my second A321 flight. Premium passengers had already boarded and general boarding had commenced. They had mentioned this would be a full flight and may need to check-in baggage.

FRA-VIE
13 August 2013
LH 1234
A321
ETD: 08:45
ATD: 08:51
ETA: 10:05
ATA: 10:06


Interesting blue hair while waiting to board flight to VIE

Upon this announcement, an agent spotted my small gray carry-on and asked to check my bag in. I did not mind. She asked for my boarding pass, and I handed her my boarding pass still in the LH F ticket jacket. She scanned my information and then printed a baggage tag and affixed it to my carry on along with a priority tag to it. She then affixed my baggage receipt to the back of the jacket and then rescanned my boarding pass and allowed me to go ahead and join the queue inside the jetbridge.


I can see my bag with Priority tag on it


LH A321, wish this was our plane to VIE

We waited at least five minutes on the jetbridge without moving from the same spot. I wondered if the first bus had filled up and awaiting the next bus. Then the line started to move and I noticed people turning left rather than going down some stairs; that would mean boarding via a jetbridge!


Long line to board the plane. Was surprised not a bus gate


We are almost there!


Oh we are gonna take an A321 to VIE!


Looking towards A++ gates


I can almost touch the door!

I do my requisite touch the plane with my right hand and then I am welcomed on board by a cheery female purser Paulette and an equally cheery male FA Ivan working the front galley. I smile and give them a “Guten Tag!”

I seemed to be the last person to board in F as all the seats in the partitioned area appeared full. I had just enough space to put my bag in the overhead while I took my bulkhead window seat. My neighbor had already been seated. From the looks of his stuff, he had a AC Aeroplan Gold baggage tag and had just gotten off from an AC flight, possibly YYZ along with a guy that was sitting across the aisle.


Leg room and my sexy red shorts to match my Austrian holiday!

While enjoying the surroundings of being on a narrowbody, the First Captain welcomed everyone on the flight and gave us the details for the flight, first in German, and then in English. He hoped everyone enjoy their flight.


Neighboring A319

Just a few minutes after I had boarded, the check-in staff closed the doors to get us on our way to VIE. I had strapped myself in to enjoy one of the shortest flight I would take on this trip. Also, I was looking forward to my very first time to visit Vienna!


Heavies over at A++

As we pushed back from the gate, the FAs did their security demonstration. It seemed like this flight would have 4 cheerful FAs and one happy purser.


Looks like a scorcher inside that 748.


LH A340


LH B744


TG A380 on hardstand waiting to head back to BKK later in the evening. I wanted to have taken this flight, but when using miles, they only had Y class open. Either way I am glad I chose that LH flight in one of the most graceful planes still flying today!

I am used to short taxi times to 25C or 25L when connecting through FRA. For this flight, we headed out to runway 18 for our morning southeastern flight to VIE.


Airborne just outside FRA


German landscape gives way to clouds.

A few minutes once we were airborne, the captain released the FAs with the first chime. Paulette gave their welcome. I could hear Ivan rustling around in the front galley. When Paulette finished she started asking customers in the J cabin if they would like to enjoy some breakfast. I figured I would take see what would be on offer and to be as comprehensive as I can on my trip reports.


Hearty breakfast to VIE

I did not taste the müsli because I was not sure if it had any nuts because of a nut allergy. I did enjoy the rest of my tray, including the cute little bottle of milk, the first time I had seen it packaged this way. When I finished, Paulette asked if I was still hungry and sounded concerned why I did not eat the müsli. I told her I had eaten a bit in the lounge and I was not sure if it contained any nuts. She confirmed it did and offered if she could get me the snack they offered to Y customers.


Sleepy Canadians on their way to VIE.

I enjoyed the view from the window. All of a sudden you could notice our descent into VIE. The last J customers had finished their breakfasts and both Paulette and Ivan asked those of us awake if we would like anything else to drink prior to landing. I declined because I wanted to get into Vienna onto a running start to see as much as I could.


VIE from above


Making our approach to VIE


Austrian countryside


Slowly touching down at VIE

I watched our approach into VIE and before I knew it, we landed with a textbook landing onto Runway 16. I had finally arrived into VIE, an airport I had wanted to visit especially before and after the new terminal. Also it made me excited to ride OS soon.


Hardstand at VIE


OS A321


LO, LX, and OS


OS 772


OS 763 w/ winglets


Nice line-up of OS, LO, and LX with our LH plane joining the *A lineup.


CI arriving from TPE-BKK

We deplaned either at F03 or F05. From there it was a short walk to baggage claim. I would discover my only hiccup on this whole trip. The carry-on made it onto the belt as among the first on the belt. However, I waited until the conveyor belt stopped and wondered the location of my checked insuitcase. This was not the first time my check-in did not make it with me internationally.


Bags arriving at carousel 9 … only 1 shows up

I asked a wondering OS agent where LH baggage services would be and escorted me to the OS office. All three agents were busy, especially the one for premium passengers. My escort saw I had priority baggage and directed me to wait as the agent finished up. However she yelled I should wait outside before she called me in. At this point I had the second shock of the day and backed away. Luckily a fourth agent logged on and waved me over with a smile. I handed her all my information while she typed away. Basically my bag did not make it to my BKK-FRA flight because of the rain and would not make it till the next day on the same flight. However, I would be leaving VIE on my way home. The agent said she would send a message to BKK dispatch to send my bag on the OS BKK-VIE flight because it would land early which I could claim in time for my flight. She apologized for the delay and she handed me a Star Alliance amenity kit along with a Star Alliance t-shirt. She told me that to report in the morning and where I could enter in the morning. I thanked her for her help and made my way through.


Post customs into arrival hall. VIE is rather cool! Should I head to the OBB station?

Now let's check out the new arrivals area of VIE!


Meeting point


I really dig this Arrival FIDS


I decide to take the CAT into Wien.


Flight information for LH 1234 FRA-VIE from FlightTracker.


Flight routing for LH 1234.

A quickie in Vienna:


The cutest elephant in front of Naturhistoriches Wien.


Parlamentsgebäude, Austrian Parliament building


Tram stop in front of Parlamentsgebäude.


Yummy Wienerschnitzel and a cold local bier from Reinthaler's Biesl.


Schönbrunn Palace

Vielen dank für das Lesen dieser Reisebericht! Stay tuned! Only two more trips left before I start on my next series!