CHECK-IN This was Lufthansa’s inaugural biofuel-powered passenger flight (click here for our exclusive report) so I was part of a press contingent that was staying in the on-site airport hotel, the Radisson Blu. A mere one-minute walk from the property to the terminal via a covered walkway, I arrived at 0915, with plenty of time to spare before the flight was due to depart at 1115.
At check-in I was issued with a boarding pass by a Lufthansa rep before passing through security, which was fairly slow even though there were only about six people ahead of me. I noticed that a few travellers had been caught with liquids in their hand-luggage, but instead of them being confiscated they were offered the option of purchasing a clear plastic bag from an airside dispenser to put them in. (They all did this.) Once I had taken my laptop and liquids out of my carry-on case, I had to have a quick pat down, and then waited five minutes for my bag to come through the X-ray machine.
I then made the short walk to Gate A17 where a press conference took place at 1000. There were quite a lot of regular passengers booked on to the flight, but they seemed pretty unfazed by the idea of being on a biofuel flight. There were drinks and breakfast snacks laid on for those taking part in the press conference, and a presentation in German on how the biofuel is developed.
BOARDING At 1050, boarding began via an airbridge. It was a bit chaotic, with camera crews jostling past passengers trying to stow their luggage in the overhead bins on the plane, but I got to my seat (18A) by 1105 without too much of a problem.
THE SEAT My window seat was positioned just behind the wing of this A321. Economy was configured 3-3 (A-B-C, D-E-F), while business was across 12 rows (no row 13) in a 2-2 (A-C, D-F) layout with the middle seat kept free. The product in both classes is the airline’s new “Lufthansa European” seat with thinner cushions and narrower armrests to allow more space. It was well designed, smart and comfortable, with smooth two-tone grey leather upholstery, sturdy seat-back tray tables with a magazine slot behind them, and a mesh pocket for personal items below in front of your knees.
The new seat, which has been designed by Recaro, will be available on Lufthansa’s entire fleet of 180 aircraft that serves the region by the end of the year. Austrian, Swiss and Bmi will also feature the new product. Click here for more information.
WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE? Avoid middle seats B and E if you are travelling solo, and the ones near the back of the plane, as if you are disembarking from the front you will have a long wait. For such a short flight, though, it will be more a case of whether you simply prefer to be by a window or aisle.
THE FLIGHT At 1115 the captain welcomed everyone on board “this very special environmental flight”. Adding: “Lufthansa is the first airline to use sustainable fuel on a scheduled flight.” At 1117 there was a safety demonstration, and we were informed that the journey to Frankfurt would take 50 minutes. Once airborne, at 1135, passengers were offered a large Milka chocolate-covered wafer biscuit and, at 1150, a cup of water, tea or coffee.
ARRIVAL The plane landed without a hitch at 1215 – a perfectly normal service. Passengers were efficiently offloaded via an airbridge, but as I was booked on to a connecting flight to Salzburg at 1730, I went straight to the airside Lufthansa/Star Alliance business class lounge instead of leaving the airport.
VERDICT For the 19.6 per cent of our readers (click here to view poll) who would feel less safe knowing their flight was powered by biofuel, rest assured. This service was operated just like any other, and Lufthansa assured all passengers that there was no risk to anyone’s safety. On board, the crew were polite and the new economy class product comfortable for a short journey.
FACT FILE
PLANE TYPE A321
SEAT CONFIGURATION 3-3
PRICE Internet rates for a midweek economy class flight from Hamburg to Frankfurt in October started from €117.
CONTACT lufthansa.com
Jenny Southan
