Frequent Business Traveler » Airlines

Lufthansa Frankfurt to New York (JFK) First Class Flight 400 – Review

Jonathan Spira — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 21:44:57 +0000

Frankfurt Airport is by far Germany’s busiest transportation hub and reportedly serves more international destinations than any other airport in the world. It is also a major hub for Lufthansa Airlines, which is one of just a few select airlines that fly the double-decker Airbus A380, the world’s largest airliner. While Lufthansa does fly the A380 from Frankfurt to New York, my flight was on an Airbus A340.

Lufthansa is in the midst of installing new first-class seats in its long-haul aircraft. My plane had the older but still very comfortable seating but the in-flight service is the same regardless.

BOARDING

Since I was coming off a connecting flight from Munich with a short connection time, I immediately proceeded to my departure gate where I was the last passenger to arrive. The gate agent greeted me warmly and knew my name before I handed over my boarding pass. “Mr. Spira, come with me please,” she said, leading me down the jetway and escorting me into the first class cabin, which was not very full.

The purser welcomed me on board and told me I could sit virtually anywhere I wanted in the cabin so I chose seat 1A, which is my usual choice on most flights.

I settled in and was offered a pre-departure beverage (I chose mineral water), which was accompanied by macadamia nuts. I was also given a Bogner amenity kit that included a sweater, slippers, eyeshades, a plastic comb and brush, La Mer lip balm and moisturizing cream, and a toothbrush and toothpaste.

SEAT/BED COMFORT

Since this was a daytime flight, I didn’t plan to sleep very much (and given the menu, it was good that I arrived hungry). I did take a brief nap and a few presses of the seat controller resulted in a very comfortable 78” bed. For sitting up and doing work, as well as for dining, the comfort and support were excellent.

Lufthansa Media World, the in-flight entertainment system, includes a wide variety of movies, music, radio programs, and games as well as a flight map showing current position. I had several movies stored on my iPad so I only used the flight map to monitor our progress.

IN-FLIGHT SERVICE

Once we were at our cruising altitude, the friendly cabin crew transformed the cabin into a gourmet restaurant.

An amuse bouche was served first and then my place was set. A red rose (in a glass tube) was placed on the table and it later went into its dedicated holder in the seat.

The wine list included a splendid 2009 “Sempur Vivum” Riesling Spätlese trocken, from the Weingut Mötzenbacker. I enjoyed this wine so much I continued with it for the entire meal.

The menu says “choice” of hors d’oeuvres, but since it’s apparently very difficult to choose between them, each passenger receives four. On the top level of the étagere was mouse of tomatoes and bell pepper with pine nut pesto. In the center, duck foie gras and chicken in aspic (with celery salad and beetroot vinaigrette). On the bottom plate, I found salmon tartare (with lemon confit and fennel salad). A separate plate with caviar was placed in the center of my tray (garnishes were in a separate dish).

One appetizer was better than the next and the warm breads were a superb accompaniment. My only puzzlement was as to how I was going to even take a single bite of the main course.

Then came the next course, a delicious cream of potato soup, which wasn’t even on the menu.

For the entrée, I had ordered the filet of sole and crayfish that came with tarragon sauce accompanied by tagliatelle and spinach. This was the only disappointing part of the meal as the fish had very little flavor. The flight attendant offered to bring me something else but I was at that point so full from the appetizers that I declined. Other choices on the menu included a Mehlknödel (flour dumpling) with black salsify, chicken with rosemary sauce and Rösti, and Sauerbraten (marinated pot roast).

A selection of cheeses was offered but I couldn’t eat anymore. Little did I know that I really wasn’t finished and the best was yet to come.

I settled into my seat to do some work on my ThinkPad and listened to music on my Apple iPad. After two hours of work, I decided it was time for a nap and transformed the seat into a comfortable bed.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Schwarzwald Special, Arrival, Bottom Line, and Virtual Tours

Consumer Satisfaction with Airlines in a Tail Spin – Delta, United, and US Airways “Most Hated”

Ben Rossi — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:15:48 +0000

The numbers are in, and they aren’t pretty. The latest data from the American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) paint a bleak picture for the airline industry, which fell to dead last in consumer satisfaction among 47 ACSI industries. Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways ranked in the bottom three airlines, with Delta bringing up the rear.

Across the board, passengers complained about poor service and greater costs due to high fuel prices and fees for baggage and other services, making airlines some of the most-hated corporations in the U.S. Baggage fees, in particular, rankled consumers: those who had to pay the fees reported an average ACSI score of 58, compared to 68 for those who did not pay fees. A particular concern for airlines: business passengers, their most profitable market segment, are least satisfied with an ACSI score of 61.

As usual, Southwest Airlines was head and shoulders above other airlines in terms of customer satisfaction. Passengers praised the airline’s efficient cabin service and zero baggage fees policy. Whether Southwest can remain dominant following its merger with Air Tran in May, however, remains an open question.

Delta Airlines fared the worst this year, with a precipitous 10% drop from 2010 putting it in last place behind US Airways and United Airlines. Since acquiring Northwest Airlines in 2008, Delta’s score has plunged steadily. Passengers surveyed cited additional fees for luggage, beverages, and food as the reason for their dissatisfaction.

The other bottom-ranked airlines, United Airlines and US Airways, are also struggling with organizational issues in the wake of recent mergers. United Airlines’ score actually improved slightly from last year, but its 2010 merger with Continental Airlines seems to have hit the latter hard: though ranked second in customer satisfaction among major airlines, Continental’s score plunged 10% from last year. US Airways is still struggling after its score fell to an industry low following a merger with American West in 2005.

Lufthansa FlyNet Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Jonathan Spira — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:08:44 +0000

Updated last on 28 November 2011

Lufthansa’s FlyNet in-flight Internet service, which was the world’s first in-flight Internet service when it launched back in 2004, is back on line.

In conjunction with Panasonic Avionics and Deutsche Telekom, Lufthansa launched the second generation of FlyNet in late 2010 on the Airbus A330 aircraft. At the present time, 25% of the Lufthansa fleet has FlyNet on board. Eventually all 99 aircraft in Lufthansa’s long-haul fleet will be outfitted with the FlyNet service. Deutsche Telekom, using its familiar T-Mobile brand, is Panasonic’s partner and serves as the Internet service provider while also handling billing and customer support.

1.)        How does FlyNet work?
Passengers access FlyNet in the aircraft, similar to the way they would access Wi-Fi at a public hotspot anywhere in the world.

FlyNet uses Ku band radio to provide satellite-based Internet communications using Panasonic’s eXConnect system. Eventually, the service will also offer Panasonic’s AeroMobile-based eXPhone system to support data services for GSM/GPRS mobile devices.

2.)        What can I do on FlyNet?
You can access the Internet the same way you do at home, at the office, or when on the road. This includes Web browsing, e-mail, instant messaging, social networking, and access to corporate applications such as content management systems and CRM systems.

3.)        How fast is FlyNet?
The service is advertised to support downloads at speeds of about 6 Mbps with upload speeds of about 1 Mbps but this is a shared resource and the speed at an individual seat will depend on how many passengers are using it and the kinds of applications that passengers are running, as some are more bandwidth intensive than others.

4.)        Does it support access to corporate networks?
Passengers can use VPN (virtual private network) software to connect to corporate networks via FlyNet.

5.)        What does FlyNet cost?
There is a charge, regardless of which cabin a passenger is flying in. Two options are available. One hour of the FlyNet service costs €10.95 (or 3500 miles from a passenger’s Miles & More account). Up to 24 hours of the FlyNet service (which can also be used on a FlyNet-equipped connecting long-haul flight within the 24 hour timeframe) costs €19.95 (or 7000 miles).

Passengers can pay by credit card or charge the service to their T-Mobile account if they are a customer of T-Mobile or an affiliated roaming partner.

6.)        Is there a free service?
While FlyNet itself is not free, all passengers are able to connect at no additional charge to the Lufthansa FlyNet portal, which provides regularly updated business, political, sports and entertainment news.

7.)        When will FlyNet support GSM/GPRS data? What about 3G?
Lufthansa has said it expects to offer GSM/GPRS service in the second half of this year. Support for 3G has not yet been announced.

8.)       Can I use Skype or other Voice-over-IP services with FlyNet?
While Lufthansa does not block VoIP, it does request that passengers refrain from using these services out of consideration for other passengers. Skype instant messaging, as well as other instant messaging and collaboration services, can be used freely.

9.)       What routes currently have FlyNet available?
FlyNet’s coverage area includes Europe, the Continental United States, most of Canada, and the Atlantic Ocean. Today the service is available on all routes from Germany (FRA, MUC, DUS) to North America, including Canada.   The service will be available on almost the entire intercontinental Lufthansa network by the end of 2011.

10.)     What aircraft have FlyNet?
As of late November 2011, 43% of Lufthansa’s long-haul fleet (45 aircraft) have FlyNet installed. Lufthansa launched the service with Airbus A330-300 aircraft and has since added Airbus A340-300/600 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft to the FlyNet fleet. For the Airbus A380, Lufthansa is currently evaluating possible retrofit options.

Lufthansa Airbus A380 Flight 400 Frankfurt to New York Review

Jonathan Spira — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 16:51:12 +0000

Frankfurt Airport is by far Germany’s busiest airport and reportedly serves more international destinations than any other airport in the world. It is also a major hub for Lufthansa Airlines, which is one of just a few select airlines that fly the double-decker Airbus A380, the world’s largest airliner.

One month ago, Lufthansa started its scheduled A380 flights to the U.S., flying the aircraft from Frankfurt to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK),, Lufthansa’s fourth destination for the super jumbo after Beijing, Tokyo, and Johannesburg. Miami and San Francisco will be added shortly to the list. My flight was on Lufthansa’s “Frankfurt am Main” A380, which was one of the first placed in service.

Arriving at the airport shortly before 9 a.m., since I had to check a bag, I was directed to the business class check-in counter even though I already had my mobile boarding pass. I only waited a few minutes and my bag was quickly checked and given a priority sticker for faster off-loading. The agent suggested I go directly to the gate as it was a 30-minute walk, although she didn’t explain that there was a lounge at the gate (more on this later).

BOARDING

Main cabin passengers board the aircraft through gates on the main departure level while business and first class passengers board via the Business Gates that lead directly to the aircraft’s upper level. The priority boarding area was bright and airy and was additionally a complete lounge in its own right, with a tremendous variety of food and drink available to passengers.

Boarding itself, despite the fact that the flight was oversold, was accomplished fairly quickly. It’s almost as if the airline were boarding two separate aircraft which just happen to be flying on top of one another.

On the upper deck, there are 98 business class seats and 8 first class seats. The main cabin, on the level below, has 420 seats, for a total of 526. Despite the fact that my flight was completely full, boarding was accomplished in under 25 minutes.

I was one of the first passengers to board and was immediately offered a beverage. Another flight attendant came by shortly thereafter to hang up my coat. An amenity kit and a bottle of water were in the center compartment of each seat.

SEAT/BED COMFORT

First introduced in 2003, Lufthansa’s time-tested PrivateBed business class seat is quite comfortable for sitting, doing work, and dining. It’s 2 meters (6 ½’) long and includes a massage option, which I found to be relaxing. The tray table is large enough for one’s iPad, laptop, and even a small snack.

The seat has an integrated reading light, and the electrical outlet does not require a special adaptor. Although I was seated in the bulkhead row there was more than sufficient room to store my things, including in a generously-sized cutout in the wall.

Press the appropriate icon on the remote control, and the seat goes into bed mode. When flat, the PrivateBed is not horizontal to the floor but at a 9° angle, and some passengers may find themselves sliding downwards while asleep. My experience in the PrivateBed over the years has been mixed (sometimes I slide, sometimes I don’t) and I have been able to sleep quite comfortably on some flights while on others I couldn’t find a comfortable position.

In the main cabin below, Lufthansa has installed a more ergonomic seat that effectively adds extra legroom because the seat bottom slides out when reclining. There are two staircases, one in the very front, leading to the first class cabin, and a curved staircase in the rear of the aircraft. A locked gate ensured that no one wandered from one deck to the other. AC outlets are also provided in economy class, a nice touch.

Overhead bins in both business and coach seemed far more capacious than on other aircraft. There were two bins (one full-sized and a smaller one) above my seat for my exclusive use.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – IN-FLIGHT SERVICE AND ENTERTAINMENT

Lufthansa FlyNet In-Flight Internet Review and Test Drive

Jonathan Spira — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:56:40 +0000

The aircraft cabin, until recently, was considered a kind of sanctum, where one could escape the bombardment of e-mail, instant messages, tweets, Facebook notifications, and text messages.

This report, however, was filed today from seat 3C on board a scheduled Lufthansa flight from New York (EWR) to Frankfurt (FRA). Flight 485 took off today shortly after 10 p.m. and once we reached 10,000 feet, I took out my laptop and logged in. ,

Although Lufthansa offered an Internet service starting in 2004, that service ended roughly two years later when Boeing pulled the plug on the Connexion by Boeing service.   In 2008, American Airlines became the first domestic airline to offer in-flight Internet access on select routes and other U.S. airlines quickly followed suit.

At the end of 2010, Lufthansa relaunched FlyNet on select North Atlantic routes in Airbus 330 aircraft. Lufthansa has already started to outfit its A340 fleet (I am on an A340 today) and this will be followed by the Boeing 747s. When Lufthansa takes delivery of the new Boeing 747-800 aircraft, it will come with FlyNet already installed. Planning for the Airbus 380 (of which Lufthansa already has several in service) is underway but has not finalized at the time this article went to press. [Editor's note: for up-to-date information on FlyNet, see our FlyNet FAQ.]

Just like the original Connexion-based service, the new FlyNet service also uses the K_uradio band. The service is offered in conjunction with Panasonic Avionics and the technology supports virtually all online activities including access to a VPN (virtual private network), e-mail, social networking, instant messaging, and Web browsing.

Deutsche Telekom, using its familiar T-Mobile brand, is Panasonic’s partner and serves as the Internet service provider while also handling billing and customer support. The service is advertised to support downloads at speeds of up to 5 Mbps with upload speeds as fast as 1 Mbps.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Once I fired up my IBM ThinkPad, it immediately saw the FlyNet hotspot. Setting up an account and logging in took just a few minutes and soon I was on line, the first time I have been able to do this over the Atlantic Ocean in six years.

My first speed test showed a download speed of 1.07 Mbps and an upload speed of 0.12 Mbps. My second test, just a few minutes later, showed the download speed was 2.85 Mbps with upload at 0.24 Mbps. The speed stayed consistently in the 2.x range throughout the flight.
Click here to continue to Page 2 – CAN YOU RENT A MOVIE OR WATCH TV?

American Airlines Flight 15, New York-JFK to San Francisco

Jonathan Spira — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:29:20 +0000

Even though it’s been open for several years now, it never ceases to amaze me how walking into the American Airlines terminal at JFK places the business traveler in an oasis of calm.

The design of the terminal, with its towering 65-foot roofline, reduces the stress of air travel and makes each departure seem exciting. The new terminal replaces American’s two terminals (8 and 9) at JFK. Terminal 8, which served international traffic, had been built in the early 1960s and sported what was once the world’s longest stained glass installation, designed by the artist Robert Sower on its facade.

Having printed my ticket at home, I proceeded to the priority security lane and was airside in a matter of minutes.

BOARDING

American offers PriorityAAccess, which includes a priority boarding lane at the gate. First- and business-class passengers (as well as full-fare passengers and top-level AAdvantage program members) can board at any time, bypassing what could be a long queue. The flight was quite full but boarding was completed very efficiently. As I settled in, a flight attendant offered to hang up my jacket and provided me with a choice of pre-departure drinks.

FLIGHT

We pushed back slightly ahead of schedule and there were only a few aircraft ahead of us for takeoff. Our scheduled flight time was six hours and 20 minutes, plenty of time to catch up on reading, relax, and test out the Gogo in-flight Internet access service that is offered on all of American’s 767-200 aircraft.

Once we hit our cruising altitude of 32,000 feet, flight attendants were offering wine and cocktails accompanied by warm mixed nuts. By then I had already logged into the Gogo system and was reading news live on the Web with my beverage.

Next came mixed greens, warm breads, and my entrée, the herbed shrimp with couscous, which was quite good.

Throughout the flight, the cabin crew provided very attentive, personalized service, checking in with passengers without being overly intrusive. Towards the end of the flight we were served fresh-baked chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies with milk. Prior to landing, we were offered a refreshing glass of chilled sparkling water.

SEAT COMFORT

American’s domestic business class seating is comfortable and provides plenty of legroom but it won’t be confused with the lie-flat seats found on international flights. Passengers receive Bose QuietComfort 3 noise cancelling headphones, a media player, and a duvet. Each seat has its own DC power cigarette lighter-style outlet.

ARRIVAL

We arrived on time and quickly taxied to the gate. Soon I was curbside, having not checked any baggage.

VERDICT

Service both from the ground staff and the flight crew was excellent. Our cabin crew made each passenger feel like a valued passenger. The transcon market is a very competitive one, especially for business travel, and American has a solid offering here.

In-flight Internet Access: The Return Flight

Jonathan Spira — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:36:26 +0000

After a pleasant (and very fast) drive in a BMW M3 from the Bay Area to Los Angeles and a few days of meetings there, I returned to New York via American Airlines Flight 22. Similar to the outbound flight to San Francisco, once we hit 10,000 feet, I was able to turn on my Lenovo ThinkPad X300 and find several Gogo hotspots.

For most of the flight, I was able to surf the Web, watch videos, read news, send and receive e-mail, and even check the flight’s exact position. I was also able to use my BlackBerry Bold smartphone, including the BlackBerry Instant Messenger (BBM) feature. Everything worked until 75 minutes prior to landing. At that moment, the Internet became inaccessible. The Gogo hotspots were replaced by locked access points labeled “Unknown.” The purser on the flight said that the service goes down from time to time but it usually comes back on its own. This time it didn’t. Aircell, which runs the Gogo network, was unable as of the time of publication to advise what had gone wrong.

American was the first airline to install Aircell’s Gogo in-flight access on its aircraft and it reportedly costs $100,000 per plane to deploy the system. The airlines clearly see this as an investment in both attracting and maintaining business customers and garnering incremental revenue. Other airlines offering the service include Alaska Air, Delta, Southwest, and Virgin America. The rollout is in its early stages so, with the exception of cases such as American’s 767-200 fleet, where all of this type aircraft have the service installed and the routes (e.g. JFK-SFO and JFK-LAX) are predictable, it is difficult to predict on which flights the service will be available.

Despite the hiccup, in-flight Net access is useful to business and leisure traveler alike. If only a tech support plane could have flown over to help us out….

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

The Last Frontier: In-flight Internet Access, Take 2

Jonathan Spira — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:21:16 +0000

ON BOARD AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 15, 11:45 A.M. EDT

American Airlines was the first U.S. airline to announce in-flight Internet service for domestic flights. The first (test) phase of the American Airlines Gogo Internet service started in the middle of last year on the company’s fleet of 15 767-200 aircraft, which fly its transcontinental routes.

Recently, the company announced it will expand the service to over 300 domestic aircraft (the service doesn’t work over the Atlantic or Pacific oceans).

I am writing this from American Airlines Flight 15, New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO). Until today, I hadn’t had to take a transcon flight since Gogo was launched so I was excited to try out the new service (most of my flying in the past nine months was transatlantic).

The last flight I took with Internet service was back in 2005, when Lufthansa and several other airlines still offered the Boeing Connexion service.

Once we hit 10,000 feet (we’re now at our cruising altitude of 32,000 feet), I turned on my trusty Lenovo ThinkPad X300 and it immediately found several Gogo hotspots. It took just a few minutes to log in and and purchase service for today’s flight (a Gogo representative was handing out 25% discount coupons during boarding, I should mention) and I chatted with customer service about how to use my BlackBerry Bold smartphone on the same account (all I have to do is log off from the laptop and then log in from the Bold). Gogo really goes Gogo really goes.

So far I’ve done a speedtest, which showed a download speed of 1.55 Mbps (double what the Boeing Connexion service was able to offer) and checked e-mail, and read news from several Web sites including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. The flight attendant has already served warm nuts and drinks so I’m going to relax and enjoy the flight for a little bit and then report again.

ON BOARD AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 15, 1:32 P.M. EDT

We’re still at 32,000 feet, just crossing over Minneapolis.

Purchasing Internet access for one’s laptop entitles you to log into the Gogo system from your smartphone at no additional charge. Smartphone support was recently introduced by Aircell, the company that runs the Gogo network and it only took a few moments to point the BlackBerry Bold to the Gogo hotspot and log in. I was surprised – but pleased – to find out that I was able to use BlackBerry Messenger from the Bold although I could not place or receive phone calls or send text messages. BlackBerry mail worked as well as did multiple applications I use regularly on the device.

By the time I had interupted multiple people via BlackBerry messenger, the flight attendants were handing out hot towels and tablecloths and starting to serve lunch (I had the herbed shrimp with couscous). During lunch, I reconnected to the Net via the ThinkPad and, using Slingbox, watched CNN and channel surfed. The picture quality was surprising good and audio quality was perfect.

After lunch, I checked in with a few colleagues via Lotus Sametime and read a few e-mail messages.

This is a working flight so I need to prepare a talk I’m giving tomorrow but I will continue this post later.

ON BOARD AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 15, 16:38 P.M. EDT/13:38 P.M. PDT

We just crossed the border from Nevada to California and I have been able to spend most of my time working, although connectivity was really only “required” sporadically. I did get to finish an important document and e-mail it to where it was needed. Absent Gogo, I could not have done that until we landed. I know the recipient was waiting for it so having connectivity proved very beneficial.

In sum: is it an absolute requirement? Of course not, we’ve gotten along without in-flight Internet access since the Wright brothers. It was fun, however.

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

Austrian Airlines 452, London-LHR to Vienna

Jonathan Spira — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:42:46 +0000

Arriving at London Heathrow’s Terminal 2, I found myself on the business class line with only one passenger ahead of me. After waiting all of two minutes, I was quickly checked in by the agent, who offered to switch me to a window seat and block the aisle seat so I would have an entire row to myself. He also invited me to wait in the Senator Lounge near my gate.

BOARDING

Approximately 20 minutes before departure, I arrived at the gate as boarding was just starting. I was told that business-class passengers could board at any time. At the end of the jetbridge, Austrian provided a selection of Austrian and English magazines and newspapers for all passengers, a nice touch. The flight was only half full so the boarding process went very quickly and we pushed back on schedule.

FLIGHT

I was seated in the front row in the front cabin; as promised, the seat next to me was empty. A flight attendant quickly offered to hang up my coat. No pre-departure beverages were served although a crew member quickly brought me a glass of bottled water when I asked for it.

After takeoff, the “gourmet entertainment” (a deservedly trademarked phrase) began. The flight attendant asked me what beverage I would like and I didn’t expect what would come next: a tray resplendent with Viennese delicacies.

An equally tasty meal was served on the return flight to London

The lunch for the two-hour flight included Tafelspitz Carpaccio made with veal and a truffled crème fraiche; pan-fried pike-perch from the Neusiedlersee, served with potato thyme puree and grilled vegetables. The breads were warm and delicious and I had a glass of Grüner Veltliner to accompany the meal.

For dessert, the tray included an apricot-topfen tart (the apricots hailed from the Wachau region of Austria, one of the best wine-producing and apricot-growing regions in Europe).

SEAT COMFORT

The Airbus A320 business-class seats are no different (except for the color of the headrest cover) than those in the main cabin except that the middle seat (it’s a 3-3 configuration) is always left vacant (the headrest states “Reserved for your comfort”). Nonetheless, they were comfortable and more than sufficient for a trip that would last less than two hours.

ARRIVAL

We arrived on time and I was one of the first off the plane. My luggage was on the carousel within minutes of my arrival in the baggage area. The only delay (slight) was going through customs. As I headed through the “green” (nothing to declare) door, a customs official approached me saying “Zollkontrolle.” After examining my passport, she asked what brought me to Vienna. As soon as I told her I had tickets for the Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Day concert, her face brightened, she congratulated me (60 thousand people vie for 3000 tickets), wished me a happy new year and escorted me out the door without any further questions or examination.

VERDICT

The service was very friendly, the food put every other airline to shame, and I was able to relax and work unimpeded – stopping for the meal, of course. What more could a business traveler ask for?

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

Austrian Airlines Flights 87 and 88, New York-JFK Vienna and Return

Jonathan Spira — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:25:16 +0000

A coffeehouse at 35,000 feet

Terminal 1 is the busy home to 16 airlines. I found Austrian’s check-in area quite easily and checked in without any waiting. The agent invited me to visit Alitalia’s lounge, where I watched a Euro 2008 match with a glass of wine and a salad.

BOARDING

Austrian allowed early boarding for business class passengers and within minutes I was comfortably ensconced in my business class seat. The crew was very welcoming and I was offered newspapers and a beverage as well as an amenity kit that contained a very comfortable eyeshade (I find most are too tight) in addition to the usual toothbrush/toothpaste, socks, lip gloss, and moisturizer.

SEAT COMFORT

The new business class seats offer 60” of legroom and 180° angled lie-flat seats with 10.4” displays with 12 movie and 12 audio channels entertainment options, noise cancelling headset, and laptop power points. On the 767, seats are in a 2-2-2 configuration and include a massage function and a mid-level relaxation setting, comfortable for reading. Despite the angle of incline (X°), narrowness (width is only 18.2”), and no privacy screen, I managed to sleep comfortably with the help of a thick duvet and fluffy pillows.    I was seated in 1G and the purser, noticing that I was being disturbed by passengers crossing in front of me to go to the lavatory, put the empty seat next to me in bed mode and barricaded me in.

FLIGHT

Once onboard, as we waited close to two hours in queue for takeoff, the Austrian crew did something I’ve never seen on another flight; they started meal service while we were on the ground. Just as I was getting hungry, the chef and crew started placing table cloths onto our tray tables and served an amuse bouche. They were going to continue with another course but by then we were cleared for takeoff.

Once aloft, something else unusual occurred. Instead of going to sleep, everyone opted for the full meal service.

I started with the seared beef salad with goat cheese, tomato carpaccio, and balsamic dressing (other options were smoked salmon tartare, grilled green asparagus, and potato rösti) followed by a Viennese pea soup. Warm baked breads[BA1] and rolls were served throughout the meal.

Austrian’s wine list is unparalleled. I started with the Grüner Veltliner Am Berg from the Weingut Ott in Wagram, which was very crisp with a dry finish.

My main course was a rack of spring lamb, tender and perfectly cooked, accompanied by creamy pumpkin (grown in Styria) and pappardelle,   Other choices were a swordfish brochette or linguini with buffalo mozzarella.   I wisely chose the wonderful Zweigelt Red Soil from the Weingut Fritsch.

I skipped the fruit and cheese course but indulged in the apple strudel.

Austrian is the only airline I know of with a special coffee menu, in the Viennese Kaffeehaus tradition. The coffee selection included everything I could find in my Stammcafe (regular café) in Vienna, including a Wiener Melange (black coffee with hot milk and foamed milk), a Fiaker (coffee with cognac and schlag), and an imposing Wiener Eiskaffee (double espresso with ice cream and schlag in a tall glass).

ARRIVAL

Despite the late departure, we made up some time in the air and, with a freshly prepared breakfast from our chef (including freshly prepared eggs, the only bland menu item I came across), everyone was in good spirits upon arrival. Clearing immigration took minutes and baggage was on the carousel very quickly.

RETURN FLIGHT

Arriving at Vienna Airport, I was pleased to find a curbside check-in for business class passengers. I was warmly welcomed and given information on the procedure for taking my checked luggage to customs to get my VAT refund form stamped. The business class lounge near my departure area, which, although a bit small, had comfortable chairs and tables, WLAN at no charge, showers, toiletries (including toothbrush and toothpaste), and food and beverages provided by DO & CO.

Once on board, for lunch, I started with goose liver paté (although I could have had Styrian-style duck breast, Austrian sheep cheese, or volcano ham), a Tirolean wine soup, and filet of beef (other choices included Marchfeld asparagus with volcano ham and chicken Kiew). That was followed by dessert; I had a wonderful Viennese Eiskaffee.

The light supper, served before we landed at JFK, included a choice of prawns on leaf salad or a tasty linguini with artichokes, olives, and tomatoes (which was my choice).

VERDICT

Austria is famous for offering gemütlichkeit, a kind of hospitality that defies translation although it could be a mixture of cozy and comfortable and peaceful. The crews on both flights were the epitome of gemütlich but what else would you have expected from Austrian?

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.