CHECK-IN I arrived via the Underground at 1810 for my 2000 business class flight to Frankfurt. The Piccadilly line at this time of day really is terrible for travellers as there is nowhere to stow baggage and the trains were full. I walked towards Terminal 1, passed up two flights of stairs and was immediately in the Star Alliance and Lufthansa check in area, zone A.
This compact area was very busy, with snaking queues blocking the route through to security. It appeared that several of the electronic kiosks were out of order and there were no staff attempting to organise the crowd.
I had checked in earlier that day and only had hand luggage so I manoeuvred my way through the crowd and joined the queue for security, which wasn’t so imposing, and I was through (laptops out, shoes on) by 1825.
The first shopping and seating area in departures was very busy but the second area, on turning right, was much more relaxed. I made straight for the Star Alliance lounge at the far end of the terminal, nearest to gates 16-21.
THE LOUNGE As expected the Star Alliance business lounge was very busy, with all seating areas well populated and staff working hard to keep the food counter well stocked. I finally found a nice large seat, tucked away around the corner from the bar, near to the children’s play area, which was empty. I grabbed a bite to eat, the options included salad and sandwiches with the hot option being chicken tikka masala and rice, although I struggled to see any actual chicken.
Despite being busy the lounge was quiet as most people were keeping themselves to themselves. I poured myself a draft Grolsch blond and read a copy of the Economist picked up from the fairly sparse magazine collection. There was also a wide range of newspapers on offer and some televisions showing news. There are plenty of plugs located around the walls so I plugged in my laptop and signed in to the free wifi.
There were a few staff milling around clearing plates and glasses and the lounge started to empty at around 1915. I left once my gate showed up on the board at 1930. The gate was number 17, which is a short walk from the lounge.
BOARDING Passengers were already waiting to board when I arrived at 1735 so I joined the group standing near the front as I assumed I would get priority boarding. Instead staff simply ushered the first passenger forward without announcing that boarding had started to the rest of the waiting passengers, and without showing any intention of granting priority boarding. This caused an immediate crush and once one of the two staff members had some trouble checking one passenger through the queue became something of a melee. I finally managed to get through and was in my seat, 3A, by 1940.
THE SEAT 3A is a window seat located in the business section of this A321-100/200, which was only four rows deep on this occasion (to see a seat plan, click here). The seat is the new style ultra-thin Recaro design, upholstered in leather (for more information see online news December 2010). The middle seat is blocked off with a table for added space and my travelling partner in 3C moved forward to 2A once he realised that it was free.
I found the new seat very uncomfortable, as the ultra thin design means there is very little cushioning and I could feel the metal frame of the seat on my back. The person behind me was working on a laptop and I could feel something dig into the back of my seat every ten minutes or so, forcing me to move to 3C for the duration of the flight. However the cabin does look very clean and fresh following the refit and there is a good amount of legroom.
WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE? My preference would be for the first row, simply for quicker disembarkation and the added space afforded by the wall in front instead of another seat.
THE FLIGHT Boarding was complete at 1955 and we took off at 2010. There were six passengers in business class in total so people moved around as they pleased, apart from a bongo drum which had been strapped in to seat 4F.
Drinks were served at 2020, I ordered a beer and was presented with a large bottle of Warsteiner and a glass. A small cold dinner was then served. This was an odd selection including a piece of lightly cooked fish with a mousse, gazpacho and a mille-feuille like dessert. I ate the dessert and a piece of bread but was glad I had decided to eat in the lounge.
ARRIVAL I got my laptop down at 2035 and barely had time to watch half an episode of a TV show before we began our descent at 2105. We landed at 2115, a flight time of one hour and five minutes, and after a lengthy taxi to the airbridge were allowed to disembark at 2130. I passed up an escalator, through the empty passport control area and after a brisk walk through the terminal was at the adjoining Sheraton hotel at Terminal 1, where I was staying for the night, by 2240.
VERDICT On such a quick service the discomfort of the seat and the strange food choices can be abided but not enjoyed.
CONTACT lufthansa.com
PRICE Internet rates for a return business class flight in June start at £601.
Scott Carey
