Review of Lufthansa flight Sofia Frankfurt in Business

Airline Lufthansa
Flight LH1431
Class Business
Seat 2A
Aircraft Airbus A320neo
Flight time 03:00
Take-off 29 Aug 18, 18:55
Arrival at 29 Aug 18, 20:15
LH   #64 out of 96 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 1590 reviews
NewYorker
By 1050
Published on 8th July 2019

Welcome to a new series of Flight-Reports! This report is painful to write about, as it's from a great Summer trip I took, but I smashed up my portable hard drive where the pictures and videos of all the other flights are, except for one. I do have a few photos from my iPad which I will add to the end of this report and at the end of the next report. The awesome itinerary looked like this:


Routing

  • LH1431 - Business - Sofia → Frankfurt - Airbus A320neo You are here
  • LH490 - Business - Frankfurt → Seattle - Boeing 747-400 Not available
  • UA214 - Economy Plus - Seattle → San Francisco - Boeing 737-800 Not available
  • UA726 - Economy Plus - San Francisco → Newark - Boeing 777-200 Not available
  • LH413 - Economy - Newark → Munich - Airbus A350-900 Coming soon

I booked this trip as 3 separate itineraries.

- Sofia → Frankfurt → Seattle booked for 70K United Miles.
- Seattle → San Francisco → Newark booked for $190.
- Newark → Munich booked for 30K United Miles.

And now, on to the actual report. I arrived at Sofia Airport Terminal 2 at around 4:45 PM, plenty early for the scheduled 6:55 PM departure time.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-15525-pm

When I went inside the terminal, I learn that my flight, LH1431, would be approximately 35 minutes late. No problem for me, though, as I had lounge access and an overnight in Frankfurt.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-15550-pm

An empty Lufthansa check-in area.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-15611-pm

I got my boarding pass, and within 10 minutes, I found myself airside.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-15629-pm

While Sofia Airport is a very drab place, at least there are very nice views of the tarmac. Here's an Air France A319 (F-GRHL) preparing for it's flight back to Paris-CDG.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-15651-pmphoto screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20011-pm

LOT E170 (SP-LDK) from Warsaw as LO633.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-15712-pm

My flight's info.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-15734-pm

West Atlantic 737-400 (G-JMCH) to Bucharest as NPT4094.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-15753-pm

Swiftair ATR72 (EC-JRP) to Belgrade as WT1275.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-15905-pm

Bulgaria Air E190 (LZ-VAR) to Athens as FB807. Flew this bird in July 2016 from Sofia to Zurich.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-15920-pm

Ryanair 737-800 (EI-EKC) to Eindhoven as FR6013.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-15951-pmphoto screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20027-pm

As I already spotted every aircraft at Sofia Airport at the time, I headed to the Aspire Vitosha lounge.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20045-pm

It's a nice enough lounge waiting room, but doesn't really offer much.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20059-pm-91466

I got a few finger sandwiches and sweets to nibble on.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20113-pm

After I consumed my snacks, I went back out to do some more planespotting. Here's LOT's Embraer heading back to Warsaw.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20130-pm

Alitalia A320 (EI-IKB) arriving from Rome-Fiumucino as AZ520.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20146-pm

Austrian E195 (OE-LWG) arrived from Vienna as OS797. Flew this bird in February 2018 from Sofia to Vienna.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20211-pm

Bulgaria Air A319 (LZ-FBA) off to Brussels as FB407.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20247-pm

In the meantime, my aircraft arrived. Flying me to Frankfurt would be D-AINB, Lufthansa's second A320neo, delivered to the company in March 2016.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20304-pm

Boarding commenced, and I found my seat for the day, 2A.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20327-pm

Great legroom (then again, when you're 5'6, you don't need much legroom to be comfy :-) ).


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20343-pm

Nice view of the gorgeous PW1000G.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20413-pm

The only hard product difference between J and Y.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20428-pm

The contents of the seatback pocket.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20445-pm

Once boarding was completed, Captain Thomas added his welcome on board and explained that the reason of the delay was due to the late arrival of the aircraft. Very descriptive. Shortly after that, the door was closed and the jetbridge was disconnected.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20514-pm

Pushback.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20533-pmphoto screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20548-pm

Cute little Tarom ATR42 (YR-ATG 'Dambovita') to Bucharest as RO298.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20610-pm

A glimpse of the super cool A320 work of art. (See https://twitter.com/lufthansanews/status/1055824715779063810?lang=en for more about it).


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20642-pm

Taxiing to Runway 27 for takeoff.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20658-pm

Rolling.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20714-pm

Rotate.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20738-pm

Last views of Sofia Airport.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20757-pmphoto screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20813-pm

Mt. Vitosha (7,150 ft).


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20834-pm

Right turn and a nice view of Sofia city.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20849-pmphoto screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20906-pm

Dobroslavtsi Air Base (LBSD).


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20925-pm

Pretty sunset?


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20946-pm

Damn… #thingsiloveaboutflying.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-20959-pm

Leveling off over Serbia.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-21016-pm

Dinner is served!


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-21048-pm

Chicken Parmesan, Soba Noodles with Tuna and Wasabi, and Liptauer.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-21158-pmphoto screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-21220-pm

Some kind of delicious dessert, as well as some cookies.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-21235-pm

Water.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-21250-pm

Fresh and tasty. Home run, Lufthansa, home run.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-21306-pm

Close up of the engine and the sharklet.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-21320-pmphoto screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-21359-pm

The European skies, gradually getting darker.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-21418-pmphoto screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22117-pm

The Business Class cabin.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22052-pm-88104

A couple of lakes in Austria's Salzkammergut region.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22133-pm

Austrian E195 (OE-LWE) flying Salzburg - Frankfurt as OS269.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22200-pm

Ingolstadt Manching Airport (IGS/ETSI).


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22216-pm

Ingolstadt, Germany.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22231-pm

Left turn over Ansbach, Germany.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22249-pm

Descending through some clouds.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22320-pm

Aschaffenburg, Germany.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22332-pm

Our destination, Frankfurt Rhein-Main Airport (FRA/EDDF).


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22352-pm

Lufthansa A320 (D-AIQA) flying Oslo - Frankfurt as LH867.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22411-pm

On long final.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22430-pm

Gotta love the sheer size of this airport!


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22446-pmphoto screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22506-pm

Over the runway.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22525-pm

Smooth landing on Runway 25R at 8:48 PM local.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22553-pm

Taxiing off the runway.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22610-pm

Very humid in Frankfurt.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22633-pm

One final look at seat 2A, my very comfy home for the past 2ish hours.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22649-pm

Thanks for the ride, D-AINB!


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22709-pm

Following the signs to the exit.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-22728-pm

Shortly after we docked at the gate, I checked-in to the Sheraton and called it a night before my upcoming flight to Seattle (see the bonus section for that flight's mini-review). Before we get there, though, this was the routing of LH1431.


photo screen-shot-2019-07-08-at-14856-pm

Click on the bonus to keep reading!


Bonus : Click here display
See more

Verdict

Lufthansa

7.5/10
Cabin7.0
Cabin crew7.0
Entertainment/wifi7.0
Meal/catering9.0

Sofia - SOF

6.6/10
Efficiency6.0
Access8.0
Services6.0
Cleanliness6.5

Frankfurt - FRA

7.8/10
Efficiency7.0
Access8.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness8.0

Conclusion

Lufthansa keeps on proving that it's a great way to fly in and to/from Europe!

LH1431
+ New A320neo
+ Fresh, Comfy Cabin
+ Delicious Food
- Delay
- Subpar Lounge in Sofia
LH491
+ Nice Senator Lounge in FRA
+ Quiet Upper Deck
+ Delicious Food
+ Superb Service
+ Great IFE
- Uncompetitive Business Class Product

I look forward to my next Lufthansa Business Class experience. They are solid, consistant, and never dissapoint.

Information on the route Sofia (SOF) Frankfurt (FRA)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 7 avis concernant 1 compagnies sur la ligne Sofia (SOF) → Frankfurt (FRA).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est Lufthansa avec 7.3/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 2 heures et 29 minutes.

  More information

0 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !

Login to post a comment.