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Lufthansa Economy Vienna to Frankfurt

Lufthansa Economy Frankfurt to Edinburgh

Austrian Airways Economy Frankfurt to Vienna

Flight Number: OS132

Departure: Edinburgh Airport

Destination: Frankfurt Airport

Class: Economy

The transfer at Frankfurt airport was relatively short, by the time I went through passport control and security again and transferred between the B & A gates, the flight to Vienna was already boarding so no time to try out an airport lounge this time!

B to A Transfer Tunnel at Frankfurt

However I was able to do a spot of ‘plane spotting’ on my way and was able to capture a Lufthansa A380 and a Lufthansa 747.

Lufthansa A380 in the background

A new Lufthansa 747 (look at the engines)

A SAS plane was our neighbour at Frankfurt

Boarding the Austrian plane was efficient sorry no pics but this was also an Airbus 321.

The crew were younger and friendlier than the Lufthansa crew, the seats were exactly the same as on the earlier Lufthansa flight but with an Austrian logo at the top, again the business class seats were identical to economy except with the middle seat blocked.

Service was efficient, the IFE was again my iPad 😉 and as Lufthansa gave me a sandwich, Austrian kindly provided desert, with a choice between chocolate wafer and a non chocolate biscuit, I went for the chocolate option and diet coke.

Desert 🙂

On both the Lufthansa flight and the Austrian flight, electronics were to be switched off during take off and landing, with Austrian still saying this was due to safety despite the recent official evidence to the contrary, and they enforced this.

The flight was enjoyable and pleasant, better than the Edinburgh to Frankfurt leg with Lufthansa but again nothing outstanding to make me stick with Star Alliance for my European destinations but also nothing to stop me flying with them again in future.

Our neighbour for arrival was a fellow Austrian plane.

A row of Austrian metal and a sister Lufthansa plane as well were awaiting our arrival at Vienna

What are your thoughts? Have you flown Austrian for intra-Europe flights? Would you use them again?

It should be noted that whilst everything was branded Austrian Airways this flight was technically operated by ‘Tryolean Airways’.

Vienna Trip – Lufthansa Economy Edinburgh to Frankfurt

Posted on April 20, 2014 by admin

Lufthansa Economy Vienna to Frankfurt

Lufthansa Economy Frankfurt to Edinburgh

Lufthansa Economy Edinburgh to Frankfurt

Flight Number: LH963

Departure: Edinburgh Airport

Destination: Frankfurt Airport

Class: Economy

This trip exposed ‘German Efficiency’ as a myth, the flight was late boarding (Due to a late inbound flight, although we were not told this until after we had boarded the flight), it wasn’t the delayed flight & boarding that prompted the ‘German Efficiency’ comment, but rather after boarding Elite & Business class they wanted to board the rear of the plane first, whilst they enforced this at the gate, they didn’t clear line of those people that didn’t qualify meaning that there were people ‘in line’ who shouldn’t have been.

This meant people who did qualify were joining the back of the long line, only to come forward when the exasparated gate staff called out the rows numbers they were looking for again.

Line for Lufthansa Flight

The plane that would be flying us to Frankfurt was an Airbus 321 (D-AISK).

Lufthansa Airbus 321

The seats were slimline and the business class seat were identical to economy except that the middle seats were blocked.

Lufthansa Short Haul Economy Class seats

After boarding was completed the pilot informed us about the delay (even the screens in Edinburgh didn’t acknowledge a delay) and that this had been caused by the inbound flight being late. The flight crew were very good and kept us informed at key points throughout the flight.

The seat was comfortable enough and sufficient room or pitch between the seats, I wouldn’t want to be in the seats for too long but for short haul they were absolutely fine.

The IFE consisted of my iPad 😉 and crew were pleasant enough but very business like (some German stereotypes are true) and certainly weren’t ‘hosts’ as Luftansa would like to make out. The food service consisted of a Tomato and Mozzarella sandwich (no alternatives were offered) and a complimentary beverage, I opted for diet coke.

IFE & Meal service

This was served shortly after take off, and the crew gave us ample time to complete eating our ‘meal’ before collecting the rubbish.

Surely Lufthansa could stretch to offering a vegetarian option and a non-vegetatian option in economy?

Overall the flight was pleasant enough, nothing to scream out, always use Lufthansa for my short haul flights but nothing that would stop me using again in future.

What are your thoughts? Have you flown Lufthansa for intra-Europe flights? Would you use them again?

Vienna Trip – Edinburgh Airport & Aspire Lounge

Posted on April 19, 2014 by admin

Lufthansa Economy Vienna to Frankfurt

Lufthansa Economy Frankfurt to Edinburgh

Edinburgh Airport & Aspire Lounge

Parking

I used Secure Airparks to park my car, which is so close to the airport that you can see the plane taxiing from where you park your car. It is then a short bus ride to the terminal, all at the fraction of the price of parking at an airport run car park.

Secure Airparks Car Park & BA Plane Taxiing

The Terminal

Edinburgh airport is no longer run than BAA (the main company that runs airports in the UK) and I believe the new owners do not own or operate any other UK airports so that means they can concentrate on improving Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Airport with the distinctive control tower as the logo

Check-In & Security

No pictures for check-In or Security I am afraid, however as I checked in 2 hours before the flight was due to depart, there were no queues for the Economy bag drop (I had checked in) online.

The line for security was short and I was through in minutes.

Aspire Lounge (Run by Servisair)

As I was flying with Lufthansa (a Star Alliance airline), I could not use my Cathay Pacific status to get access to the British Airways Lounge, which I believe is the best lounge at Edinburgh (but still nothing special compared to most lounges).

The Aspire Lounge is currently being refurbished so it is not fair to judge it based on its current look & feel. However despite this I would say that this is still better than most (if not all) of the US airport lounges that I have been to (come on USA raise your game!).

The lounge is basic, no airside views, no showers, or staffed bar but does have free food & drink.

Aspire seating, it filled up later

Snack Selection

Drink Selection

Basic snack selection

I had a Raspberry yoghurt & Diet coke, whilst I waited

View from the Aspire Lounge

Next post will be about the flight.

Vienna Trip – Introduction

Posted on April 19, 2014 by admin