Frequent Business Traveler » Lufthansa

Hungary’s Malév Grounds All Flights After 66 Years

Paul Riegler — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:23:17 +0000

Malév, Hungary’s national airline, is no more. The airline grounded its fleet permanently after its planes were held at overseas airports for unpaid debts. Malév’s departure from the market left a gap that competitors including Air Berlin, Lufthansa, Ryanair, and Wizz Air were quick to exploit.

At Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, Malév had accounted for almost 40% of airport revenue.

“Unfortunately what we feared the most has come to pass, even though we did everything in our power to avoid it,” Malev CEO Lóránt Limburger said in a press statement.

Malév’s English-language Web site carried the following advisory: “Concerning your travel, we suggest that you ask other airlines about their offers or, if possible, you choose an alternative method of transport.”

What’s Doing in Doha, Qatar

Eva Leonard — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 04:11:33 +0000

With a population of approximately 1.5 million, nearly one million of whom live in the capital city of Doha, the nation of Qatar lies on the Persian Gulf’s Western Coast, bordered by Saudi Arabia to the west and south. It is estimated that more than 80% of Qatar’s population are expats who have come from all over the world to work in the oil-and natural gas-rich country.

Long dependent on pearl diving and fishing for economic survival, and a nexus for nomadic Bedouin tribes, things began to change for Doha in 1939, when oil deposits were discovered, although fuel exports wouldn’t commence for another decade. Along with the development of Qatar’s oil and other natural reserves came the need to bring in much of the country’s workforce from abroad, as well as to import the huge volume of commodities that the country is unable to produce for itself.

An average per capita income forecast to reach $109,000 (the world’s highest) in 2012 by Qatar National Bank Capital, and a GDP of $179,000 per capita, according to CIA – The World Factbook, also make Qatar an important market for luxury goods.

Given the diversity and wealth of Doha’s population, it’s not surprising that attractions take many contemporary forms, while also offering insight into the region’s rich history and culture.

ART AND CULTURE

Designed by award-winning architect I.M. Pei, the Museum of Islamic Art houses a stunning collection of 13 centuries of Islamic art. Art and artifacts range from such finds as a 16th-century silk carpet to a 17th-century gold falcon from India, inlaid with precious stones, as well as glassware, manuscripts, paintings, jewelry, statues, sculpture and porcelain.

The artwork’s abundant geometric and floral designs and images reflect taboos in traditional Islam against depicting human forms in art, although anthropomorphic pieces are also included. It’s easy to get lost in the sea of exquisite, ancient items, but don’t forget to look up at the stunning, multi-layered skylight and to take in the extraordinary lines of the building from different vantage points.

SHOPPING

A warren of passageways wend through Souk Waqif, with vendors selling colorful wares, including spices, rugs, pots of many sizes (the largest of which are often used for cooking camel), clothing, jewelry, and food. Souk Waqif also includes a falcon market, which is not to be missed. So popular is falconry among Qataris (some of the birds go for as much as $125,000) that Souk Waqif is also home to a falcon hospital.

In addition to more traditional souks, modern malls with well-known international chain stores are plentiful. Some shopping centers also opt for surreal attractions: Villaggio Mall is replete with indoor canals, gondolas helmed by costumed gondoliers, and faux blue-sky ceilings, while City Centre mall has amusement parks, a skating rink and a bowling alley. High-end big-ticket items and conspicuous consumption are par for the course in Doha (Bentley Mulsanne, Swarovski crystal-bejeweled chador, or Porsche Design Blackberry, anyone?).

HOTELS

Doha’s many modern hotels include W Hotel & Residences Doha, Ritz-Carlton, and the Four Seasons. The new 137-room Grand Heritage Doha Hotel & Spa overlooks the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, which hosts such sporting events as Grand Prix auto races. Hotels scheduled to open in 2012 include the St. Regis Doha, in February, and the Shangri-La Doha, in Q4.

GETTING THERE

Qatar Airways is the country’s flag carrier, and Doha is also served by numerous international airlines, including Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM, and Turkish Airlines. United Airlines is scheduled to launch flights from Washington Dulles to Doha, via Dubai, in May 2012.

With an opening scheduled for 2012, the New Doha International Airport will be Qatar Airways’ new hub. It will be able to accommodate 50 million passengers annually once completed, which is scheduled for 2015. The new airport will also be able to accommodate the Airbus A380.

European Airfares to Increase

Eva Leonard — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:56:38 +0000

Starting this year, airlines that fly to, from, and within Europe will be passing some new expenses on to passengers in the form of higher ticket prices, as recommended by the European Union. One airline, Lufthansa, has already announced its plans to do so.

All airlines flying to and from Europe are now required to purchase C02 certificates for emission rights, since airlines are now included in the EU Emissions Trading plan. The percentage of certificates the airlines need to buy is based on carriers’ average emissions from 2004 through 2006.

Lufthansa forecasts that purchasing the emission rights will result in additional expenses of €130 million for the airline in 2012.

Your Favorite Frequent Business Traveler Articles in 2011

Eva Leonard — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:19:29 +0000

As the year draws to a close, we present our year-end recap of the Frequent Business Traveler articles that resonated most strongly with you in 2011.

The pieces range from reviews of flights aboard some of the most-talked-about new commercial aircraft, to test drives of luxury cars, to your takes on what hotels aren’t doing right.

1.) Exclusive Interview: American Airlines Officials Discuss Boeing, Airbus Deal
Jonathan Spira gets the scoop from then CEO Gerard Arpey

2.) The Complete Guide to European Delivery Programs
Go to Europe, pick up your new car, drive on the Autobahn, and save big money

3.) Land Rover LR4 Review and Road Test – Off-Road Winter Driving in Vermont
Was that a sleigh – or a Land Rover – that just zoomed through the forest?

4.) Lufthansa Airbus A380 Flight 400 Frankfurt to New York Review
Launch carrier Lufthansa now flies the biggest bird in the skies

5.) ANA Boeing 787 Dreamliner Tokyo Haneda to Okayama – My First Flight and Review
Jonathan Spira goes for a ride in the year’s most highly anticipated new aircraft

6.) 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4Matic and ML350 BlueTec Review and Test Drive
The Mercedes-Benz SUV experience is now more refined then ever

7.) Lufthansa FlyNet In-Flight Internet Review and Test Drive
Lufthansa is the first (again) to deploy trans-Atlantic Wi-Fi

8.) Dinner for One: Review
The low down on one of Central Europe’s most popular New Year’s Eve traditions

9.) BMW 335d Review
Get behind the wheel of the BMW 335d, The Diesel Driver magazine’s 2011 Diesel Car of the Year

10.) Pet Peeve Survey: Many Hotels Fail to Deliver Quiet Rooms and Working Internet
Not getting what you need at hotels? You’re not alone.

Munich Airport VIP Wing – Review

Jonathan Spira — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:01:52 +0000

Air travel – and airports – once were indeed glamorous, but today, long security lines, crowded airline lounges, and indifferent staff make that image seem like another world.

It is possible, however, to recapture some of that glamour – for a small fee. Airports in cities from London (Heathrow) to Singapore (Changi) to Munich offer a very different arrival and/or departure experience for those willing to foot the bill.

This past June, Munich Airport opened up the VIP Wing. Designed by Erich Gassman and Tina Aßmann, the expansive building is located next to Terminal 1 and is a 1,200 m²(13,000 sq. feet) oasis, identified by a discrete sign at the end of the terminal.

CHECK-IN

The rainy night of my Lufthansa flight from Munich to Brussels on the first day of Oktoberfest, my driver, Rolf Raffelsieper, approached the front entrance. A VIP Wing staff member, dressed in a Dirndl (a traditional dress worn in Bavaria and Austria), met my car with an umbrella, taking my luggage from Rolf and escorting me inside.

The first step was to go through security. After all, this is an airport. But here, I had three members of the airport security team all to myself. My large suitcase had already been whisked away (and presumably checked) so all that I had with me was my Tumi backpack . I was through the metal detector in seconds and this all happened so quickly I almost didn’t notice it.

THE VIP WING

Once inside and since it was my first visit to the VIP Wing, my escort showed me around, pointing out the bar area and the adjacent dining area, the various lounge spaces with ultramodern (and rather comfortable) chairs, and the suites (including the Schloß Schleißheim conference room and three private suites, also named after nearby castles). There were quiet places to work, free Wi-Fi, a smoking lounge, an interdenominational prayer room, and a genuine feeling of tranquility.

Did I have any value-added tax (VAT) forms that required a customs stamp, I was asked. No, but I had a few that had already been stamped for which refunds had not yet been obtained. About 20 minutes later, I was discretely given an envelope with my refund, roughly €75. I sometimes end up forfeiting my VAT refunds when lines are long, which is usually the case at London-Heathrow.

That evening, I was one of perhaps half a dozen passengers at the VIP Wing. Since I was giving a speech in Brussels, I shifted to one of the semi-private alcoves and got to work. The Wi-Fi was fast (and free) and the workspace was comfortable.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Pre-Flight Dining, Boarding, and Virtual Tours of the VIP Wing

Marriott Rewards Announces New Promotions, Virgin America Partnership

Eva Leonard — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:45:46 +0000

Marriott Rewards is offering new promotions for earning miles and nights, and has also partnered with Virgin America’s Elevate frequent-flyer program.

With the Marriott Rewards MegaMiles promotion, members can earn 2,000 bonus frequent-flyer miles per stay, starting with the second stay, up to 50,000 bonus miles. The more than 25 airlines participating include Air Canada, Air China, Avianca-TACA, Asiana, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta, Emirates, JAL, Jet Airways, KLM/Air France, Lufthansa, United, and Virgin Atlantic. The offer is for stays between January 1 and April 30, 2012 and requires members to register by April 30.

Marriott Rewards members with two stays between February 1 and April 30 can earn a free night, and those with four stays can get two free nights. Members can use free night awards until September 30, 2012 and must register by March 31, 2012.

Marriott Rewards also announced a new partnership with Virgin America. Members of Virgin’s Elevate program can now earn Elevate points at participating Marriott Rewards hotels, and Marriott Rewards members can convert Marriott Rewards points into Elevate points.

Finally, Marriott is offering the chance to win one million Marriott Rewards points to those who enter its sweepstakes by clicking the program’s “Like” button on its Facebook page, facebook.com/marriott. The sweepstakes ends December 31, 2011.

Air France A380 New York JFK to Paris Affaires Business Class Review

Jonathan Spira — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:00:04 +0000

Four airlines occupy Terminal 1 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, including Air France, which currently operates four flights to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris daily. A fifth flight is operated by Delta Air Lines as a code share with Air France.

One of the flights is AF007, which is an Airbus A380 route. Air France was a launch customer for this particular aircraft, which debuted in November 2009 on the JFK-CDG route. Air France was the first European airline to operate the A380, and the airline currently operates six A380 aircraft from Paris to Johannesburg, Montreal, Washington, D.C., and Dubai in addition to JFK. Starting in the summer of 2012, the airline will operate eight A380 aircraft, adding Los Angeles and Tokyo but discontinuing Dubai.

I arrived at Terminal 1 two hours ahead of departure time and found dedicated lines for first- and business-class passengers, as well as for elite members of SkyTeam frequent traveler programs. I had already decided that this Air France flight would be an excellent opportunity for me to brush up on my French, and I tried it out with the check-in agent, , who miraculously understood me. The wait time for the agent was roughly five minutes.

Check-in took just a few minutes, and I was invited to the Air France lounge, which is past security.

BOARDING

The line to get through security, even for business and first-class passengers, was quite long, with a wait time of roughly 25 minutes. The line is used by passengers of the four airlines that operate in the terminal; Air France, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, and Lufthansa. Terminal 1 is one of only two terminals at JFK that can handle the A380. (The other one is Terminal 4.)

The Air France lounge at JFK has a very open and modern design, with light refreshments and a variety of seating options ranging from comfortable chairs to bistro-style tables and chairs. Amenities include showers, Wi-Fi (although it refused to work with my Apple iPad LINK), computers, television, and photocopy and fax machines.

First- and business-class passengers were invited to board first, and I was one of the first to enter the aircraft.

SEAT COMFORT

My seat, 60F (pictured), was in the first row on the aircraft’s upper deck, which had 80 business- class (“Affaires”) seats, 38 economy plus (Premium Voyageur) seats, and 46 economy (“Voyageur”) seats. On the main deck, there were nine first-class (la Première) seats and 343 Voyageur seats.

Business-class seats, which were not fully flat, were in a 2-2-2 configuration, and they extended to 78” and reclined to 180°. Pitch was 61” and each seat 21” wide. The overhead bins were very spacious.

Air France’s approach to the interior of the A380 is to give each passenger the feeling of a small cabin. It clearly sees the flight as an experience, versus simply transporting the passenger from point A to point B. Lighting is a key element of the design. Mood lighting reproducing afternoon light in the afternoon and evening light as twilight approaches helps passengers adjust to the time change.

Air France has divided the business-class section, which takes up much of the upper deck of the aircraft, into several cabins that give each passenger a far more intimate feeling than if it were configured as one long cabin. In addition, Air France uses the forward right section of the upper deck for the mezzanine, a mini lounge for first- and business-class passengers. Several 15” monitors in this high-tech in-flight gallery display images of artwork from museums such as the Louvre in Paris and New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Unfortunately, it was inoperative on my flight to Paris, as well as my return, as was the in-flight entertainment system on the outbound flight.

I found the seat quite comfortable in both the sitting and reclining position,s but once in the sleeping position, in part because these are not fully lie-flat seats, I found myself sliding down a bit. By using extra pillows to make the seat more comfortable, I was able to sleep for several hours.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – In-flight Service, Arrival, and a Virtual Tour of the Airbus A380

Lufthansa Updates FlyNet In-Flight Internet

Jonathan Spira — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:41:05 +0000

We last looked at Lufthansa’s FlyNet in-flight Internet offering in the spring and Germany’s flagship carrier has been busy equipping more long-haul aircraft with FlyNet and improving the service.

In conjunction with Panasonic Avionics and Deutsche Telekom, FlyNet was relaunched in 2010; the original FlyNet was available from 2004-2006.

Our Lufthansa FlyNet FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) has been updated with the latest information from Lufthansa on where and when FlyNet is available.

Updates include more aircraft (now 45%) providing the service and an increase in download and upload speed.

Visit the FlyNet FAQ.

Frankfurt Airport Offers New International Connections, A380, and Dreamliner Service

Eva Leonard — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:29:37 +0000

Frankfurt Airport’s new 2011/2012 Winter Timetable, which goes into effect on October 30, in tandem with the time change in Germany, features expanded flight services from the airlines who are using the extra capacity available following the recent inauguration of Frankfurt Airport’s new Runway Northwest.

In intercontinental traffic, Lufthansa will return to Rio de Janeiro, with five flights per week. Lufthansa last served this route from Frankfurt in 2005. Effective January 21, ANA All Nippon Airways will fly to the new destination of Haneda Airport in the heart of Tokyo. ANA, the launch carrier of Boeing’s new B787 Dreamliner, has chosen Frankfurt-Haneda as the first intercontinental route for this new generation jet. Travelers will be able to choose from four flights daily from Frankfurt to Tokyo (Narita and Haneda airports) this winter.

New destinations in Frankfurt’s 2011/12 Winter Timetable will include San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Ras al Khaimah in the U.A.E. San Juan will be served twice weekly by Frankfurt-based Condor, while RAK Airways will fly once a week from Frankfurt to Ras al Khaimah. As of December 1, Emirates will offer seven flights per week to Dubai. Frankfurt passengers will then have a choice of three daily connections to Dubai. From January 3, United Airlines will fly twice daily from Frankfurt to New York-Newark, raising connections from Frankfurt to the New York region to eight flights per day.

Replacing its B747-400 service, Singapore Airlines will deploy the Airbus A380 daily on the Singapore to Frankfurt to New York JFK route beginning January 15. Lufthansa will also offer A380 superjumbo service to its passengers on the Frankfurt to Singapore route as of October 30.

Various new routes will be introduced from Frankfurt to the United Kingdom. Lufthansa will depart thrice daily to the oil and engineering center of Aberdeen on the North Sea coast of Scotland. London-Gatwick Airport will be served twice daily by Lufthansa this winter as well. British Midland Airways will serve as a new carrier at Frankfurt to the destination of Nottingham/East Midlands
with 16 connections per week.

Photo: Fraport AG

Lufthansa Unveils Thinner, Lighter Seats With More Legroom – Review

Jonathan Spira — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:51:16 +0000

Two weeks ago, I traveled on a Lufthansa flight from Munich to Brussels and something looked different. At first glance, it seemed as if all of the seats had been pushed closer together and indeed they had, but that was only part of the story. In fact, the Airbus A319’s entire interior had been completely redone.

The Neue Europa Kabine (New European Cabin) was first announced in 2010 and features an airplane seat that is so thin that it allows for the addition of roughly 8% more seats (one or more rows of seats depending on the aircraft) without reducing the living space allocated to each passenger.

The seats are closer together, 30” using the standard industry pitch measure, but that doesn’t really tell the whole story. The seats have less padding and the manufacturer substituted a strong mesh that is similar to what is used in many higher-end office chairs today. The seat designers moved the magazine pocket to the top of the seatback to provide for additional knee room and the seats themselves are more comfortable.

As a result, passengers end up with more useable room than they had in the old configuration with a 32” pitch.

The airline, in this case Lufthansa, benefits as well as it has more seats to sell per flight and therefore more potential revenue.

I was assigned seat 3J but the Business Class cabin was almost completely empty so I moved to the first row. I did spend a few minutes seated in row three, however, and the amount of legroom was not objectionable for the short flight to Brussels.

The seat itself was very comfortable with excellent thigh and back support.

In Business Class, while the middle seat is still blocked, it no longer has a fold-down table that I found to be convenient for drinks. Despite the short duration of the flight, a complete light meal was served. In keeping with the start of Oktoberfest the day before, the meal included a pretzel and a piece of decorated chocolate with the words “Wiesn 2011.”

The A319 is not the only aircraft to benefit from the Neue Europa Kabine. The design has been implemented on all of the aircraft that service the airline’s European flights including the Boeing 737-500, the Boeing 737-30, and the Airbus A320. Indeed, adding seats to aircraft is an inexpensive alternative for airlines where an additional six or twelve passengers can actually make or break a particular flight’s profitability.

VIRTUAL TOUR: NEUE EUROPA KABINE