Round The World and other travels

Flight Log 4 : LH4723

London Heathrow (LHR) - Frankfurt (FRA)

By 0815, the screens were showing 'Delayed 0920'. Once we got to the holding pen at the gate, it was explained that this was due to ATC delays at Frankfurt affecting the inbound flight. Boarding was a bit of a scrum, even though the announcement was for Business Class and Star Golds only, but with no checking taking place at the top of the ramp, it was all but inevitable that people would just barge ahead. As I settled into 4A, I noted that there were 8 rows of Business Class, comprising the entire forward cabin. This was my first time in LH's short-haul Business Class since my regular runs to Frankfurt four or five years previously, and I liked the new fold-down tables blocking the B and E seats. I checked carefully and verified that the armrests also swivel into the middle seat, giving that extra couple of inches of width in the seats that are in use. While all seemed well from the point of view of lateral spacing, I wasn't so sure about seat pitch. I suspect that it might be tight if the person in front were to recline; thankfully 3A chose not to. Other than that, I thought that cabin presentation was excellent, no doubt helped at least to some extent by the extreme youth of the aircraft.

Magazines were distributed prior to departure and it was pleasing to note that these were wrapped and in pristine condition. We eventually pushed back at 0933 and had a relatively easy taxi to 09R, taking off at 0947. As we did so, I got a good view of a Singapore Airlines A380 super-jumbo parked at T3. We made a very bumpy initial climb through thick cloud and the cabin crew were kept in their seats until we reached clearer air.

The trays were handed out and I enjoyed what I thought was a very nice light meal, consisting of smoked salmon, prawns and dill, lettuce, cherry tomato, cheese cubes, cold and warm rolls and some yoghurt with added fruits of the forest. I drank apple juice with ice, which was topped up, and a cup of coffee. The Captain announced that ten minutes of holding would be required to the north-west of FRA and yet, despite this and our very late departure, we managed an exactly on-schedule arrival, helped by a short three-minute taxi to our stand. Disembarkation was by Door 2, but the cabin crew left no-one in any possible doubt that Business Class passengers must be allowed to go first!

All in all, a very acceptable and pleasant European Business Class experience.

Date: Fri 18 Apr 2008
Aircraft : Airbus A321
Scheduled dep : 0905
Actual departure : 0933
Scheduled arrival : 1135
Actual arrival : 1135
Cabin : Business
Seat : 4A



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