Across the Globe in 4 Continents

[Kiwi Flyer]

Summary to date

• map
• 12,961 flown miles
• 7 flights
• 3 a/c types
  • 737-300
  • 767-300
  • 777-200ER
• 2 airlines
  • NZ
  • QF
• 5 countries
  • New Zealand
  • Tonga
  • Western Samoa
  • United States of America
  • United Kingdom
• 5 airports
  • AKL
  • TBU
  • APW
  • LAX
  • LHR
• personal firsts
  • 2 new routes TBU-APW and APW-LAX

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

LONDON HEATHROW to HAMBURG (LHR-HAM) on LH 737-300

London Heathrow is only second to Los Angeles in my personal record of number of different airlines flown to or from a particular airport, and number of terminals used on arrival or departure at a particular airport. Today I am adding both a new airline at LHR and a new (or rather first time for me) terminal, the one current terminal or part of terminal I have not yet used.

LAX 9 airlines - NZ, QF, LA, AA, UA, SQ, AC, LH, BA
LHR 7 airlines - NZ, BA, BD, QF, IB, EI - and now LH
SIN 6 airlines - NZ, SQ, CX, QF, BA, EK
AKL 6 airlines - NZ, QF, SQ, LA, TG, EK

LAX 6 terminals - T2, TBIT, T4, T6, T7, T8
LHR 4 terminals - T3, T1, T4 - and now T2

Between London and my destination today I had many routing options. I chose to go through Hamburg for several reasons. The connections were not in my view risky ones. I'd arrive at my destination in the evening, but not too late (important consideration after the long trip). By not flying nonstop from London to destination I got considerable extra miles and status miles (thanks to generous minimum mileages). Hamburg isn't too much of a deviation from straight line meaning not wasting too many miles of those alloted in the RTW. I get to visit a new airport.

First though, I had to check in at the FCC. They were slow processing the passengers in front of me. I don't like the setup at FCC very much. Each airline has it's own counter and even though mostly (all?) staffed by contract workers rather than airline staff, no agent idling by in any of the other 20 counters can help you. I've noticed this many times before and I'd be annoyed if having made it through FCC security I ended up missing a flight due to slow check in. I've had a couple of close calls and so now I tend to allow extra transit time if I can, on itineraries where I can't or a good chance I won't be through checked already. I now allow a minimum 3 hours and only start feeling comfortable at around 4 hours.

I get issued boarding passes for my remaining flights today as well as for tomorrow (unprompted). Great it means I do not need to turn up to the airport as early.

Having read on FT that the LH lounges are nothing wonderful, I pondered for a moment whether I could use one of the other T1/2 lounges instead. Being tired I decided against fighting the mighty BA lounge dragons and the SQ lounge is out of the question being in a completely different terminal which I cannot access. So I trudge the corridors to the LH lounge. The terminal looks very tired and dire. There are very few flights at this time of day so it is also quiet.

The pier layout is a bit odd with gates on either side. The odd bit is that in an attempt to separate arriving and departing passengers there is a wall down the middle, but with regular openings to allow pax to cross over to or from the gates on the "wrong side" for arriving or departing pax. An odd micky mouse arrangement.

The LH lounge is upstairs. There are 2 elevators, one is open at departure level and locked open (not sure why) and the other is at the upper level. Of course it will not descend due to the other elevator already being at this level. So I climb the stairs instead. The lounge is functional without being stunning. There is a small (and crowded) SEN/HON/First class side and a larger FTL/*G/Business class side. Other than size and slight differences in food and drink offerings they are identical. There is a view of some gates and the FCC. Newspapers. No shower. No computer terminals (only expensive wifi).

I rearrange my carry-ons, now back into 2 pieces. Rehydrate. Scribble some notes for this trip report. I head to the gate at the appropriate time. Looks like the flight is not very full (it was hard to tell in the lounge due to a few afternoon LH flights leaving within an hour or so).

The short flight offers no IFE. Meal is a very tasty feta and tomato salad, rolls, an apple crumble type small desert, some chocolate. The usual tea, coffee, apple orange tomato or blackcurrant juice, wines and beer.

Our taxi is fast - speeding past several departing longhaul aircraft lumbering along in the adjacent taxiway. As we lift off I see both Air NZ aircraft parked up at opposite ends of the "T" of T3 - one the 777-200ER I flew in on and the other the 747-400. Both will be heading back to Auckland in a few hours, one via Hong Kong and the other via Los Angeles.

We get great views of the many estuaries and waterways lining the North Sea along our route. Still I am reminded by the way the view fades out into a grey-brown murkiness how spoilt I am in the Southern Hemisphere with far less pollution than is evident here in Europe even on the finest of days.

The short flight passes quickly and we land slightly behind schedule.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

HAMBURG to WARSAW (HAM-WAW) on LO Embraer 170

I have a short transit time. In fact it was this transit that had me worried about checking bags in. For with my itinerary if my bags failed to make the onward flight who knows when I would catch up with them again.

We arrive at a non-Schengen gate. There are no facilities inside the non-Schengen area of this terminal - just a couple of cafes, 1 small duty free shop and lots of seating. Oh yeah, and that annoyance that is unique to German airports, open air designated smoking areas that makes the whole area stink.

With only 15 minutes or so until boarding is due for my onward flight I decide to not bother with clearing immigration in search of the LH lounge. This also saves me 2 more stamps in my passport.

The inbound aircraft is late as I watch it pull up at a remote stand. They are efficiently unloaded and prepped for our flight. All up, including our own boarding time the aircraft turnaround was 25 minutes which I think is very good for international flights and a remote stand (the bussing process slows things down).

The load was moderate, but I was the only passenger in business. Plenty of room for both my carry-ons and jacket (will be needing that for arrival in Warsaw), and great service as a result.

A pre-departure drink (in plastic tumbler - later drinks of course in glasses) and moist towelette. Food was turkey with lettuce and cranberries, another meat dish, roll, cheeses and small bowl of mini easter eggs. Tea, coffee, water, apple orange or blackcurrant juice, several wines or beer, spirits.

The sun sets and in the low dusk light plus thickening cloud cover the views are hard to make out. Lots of towns and countryside. Seems quite flat. The lights of Warsaw shine brightly as we circle in to land.

We get a bus gate (par for the course in Warsaw) and taken first to the main terminal where only transit passengers are allowed off (since no immigration open here) and then to the secondary terminal for arrivals. There are 2 immigration officers for non-EU and with light load and no other arriving buses I expected to be through quickly. But Murphy's Law strikes and both officers have a problem case to deal with. Once all EU passengers are cleared I wondered if those officers would help, but no. After some 20 minutes finally it is my turn and I'm quickly through.

Still the late arrival of the flight and this delay means my ride has been waiting patiently for quite a while.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

WARSAW

The airport is fairly close to the city and at this time of evening the traffic is almost non-existant so the trip takes about 15 minutes.

I'm staying at the Hilton which only opened a little over a week before. As such, the hotel has very few guests - many more staff than there are guests, and great personal attention. I'm greeted by name by the doorman(!) and by all 3 desk staff before I even utter a word or show any identification.

When I first made a booking it was a flexible paid one. Thanks to maltman1 who posted that cheap opportunity level awards were available and had the option to pre-reserve a King Executive Plus room, I cancelled that booking and switched to an award. A great way for a new hotel to build up some loyalty.

The room was very nice on 21st floor. Reasonable views although the closest couple of blocks not quite so nice (construction works). Nice en suite. Lounge is on 26th floor - has food and drinks all day (I think). I only used it for breakfast the next morning. There was no computer terminal but they had a laptop set up for free guest use in the lounge on their wifi. There were only a couple of people in the lounge when I visited.

The hotel location isn't perfectly central but not too far - about 30 minute walk or go one block to catch the tram in.

With arriving late one night and flying out of Warsaw the next morning I didn't have a lot of time to explore the city this time. More a quick sample while tiring myself out to try and get a decent sleep.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

WARSAW to SAINT PETERSBURG (WAW-LED) on LO Embraer 170

Feeling slightly refreshed and envigorated by the frosty morning I head back to the airport. Since I already have my boarding pass I go straight to immigration, am quickly processed and through. I check the monitors to see which gates are busier to judge which of the 2 lounges available to LOT passengers will be quieter. I headed for the one right outside my gate (by gates 10 & 11).

The lounge is fairly empty with just a handful of passengers. The food on offer doesn't seem to have improved from my previous visit a couple of years ago - mostly junk food plus some mini salads in the fridge. There is a wide selection of drink. There are newspapers and magazines, and 1 computer terminal. I catch up on emails.

The flight is called some 15 minutes later than the time printed on my boarding pass. I'm not surprised - boarding 45 minutes before departure is ludicrous for a remote stand, smallish aircraft and low load. Screening is at the gate area. Liquid rules apply. Belt off but can keep shoes on.

Get handed a coloured tag so they can make sure we hop on the right bus for several bus gates all pile out in the same area and could be easy to get onto the wrong bus. The load is very light, maybe 20 or 25 passengers.

Again, thanks to careful pre-selection based on info gleaned from FT, I've got the best seat, for 2AB have easily the best legroom. This flight is longer than the LO flight I took yesterday, but the service is similar with a couple of exceptions. There is a printed menu and choice of main. However they only catered the 1 special meal request and 1 of each main, so I got to choose between nothing and whatever the 3rd business class pax didn't choose.

The weather is unfortunately cloudy the entire way so no views for me. The cloud base is fairly low so no views of St Petersburg on arrival either. We have a short taxi past a lot of Pulkovo Aviation and other domestic (I assume) planes and helicopters. We manage to get one of the 3 airbridges so that saves a walk in the cold.

The reasonably small international terminal is fairly old looking and not well laid out, with a number of corners to pass to get to immigration. Immigration is very fast and efficient and no hassle at customs either so I get to my ride into the city in next to no time.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Warsaw to Saint Petersburg menu

Appetizer

Ham with Podlaski cheese and pickled pumpkin

Hot entree

Omelette with green peas in bechamel sauce with sausage and brocolli

or

Pancake stuffed with apple served with cream and peach


Fruit salad

Prince Polo chocolate wafer bar

(not printed in menu but also bowl of mini easter eggs)

Red Wine

Beau Rivage AOC Bordeaux
Jenard Cabernet Sauvignon
Louis Montellier Merlot

Sparkling Wine

Codomiu Original (cava)

White Wine

Beau Rivage AOC Bordeaux
Jenard Chardonnay
Louis Montellier Sauvignon Blanc

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Summary to date

• map
• 14,533 flown miles
• 10 flights
• 4 a/c types
  • 737-300
  • 767-300
  • 777-200ER
  • Embraer 170
• 4 airlines
  • NZ
  • QF
  • LH
  • LO
• 8 countries
  • New Zealand
  • Tonga
  • Western Samoa
  • United States of America
  • United Kingdom
  • Germany
  • Poland
  • Russia
• 8 airports
  • AKL
  • TBU
  • APW
  • LAX
  • LHR
  • HAM
  • WAW
  • LED
• personal firsts
  • 2 new routes on Air NZ TBU-APW and APW-LAX
  • 1 new country - Russia
  • 2 new airports - HAM and LED

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I forgot to mention was the flight to Saint Petersburg was parked at a remote stand way down by one end of the runway, and of course we taxiied the entire length to start the take off roll from the other end. Plenty of empty stands passed along the way.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

SAINT PETERSBURG

The seasons are changing. While the hope of spring is in the air and seen by the lack of snow on the ground and first buds in sheltered gardens, winter has not yet relented it's grip as seen by the stark barren trees in the many parks throughout the centre of the city.

As for the seasons, also for the weather. Snow falling one minute and fine, if not particularly warm, the next.

Indeed this sums up my feelings of the city as well. Signs of the hard Soviet years are everywhere, and yet there is life and vibrancy in the historic centre.

I wont bore you, dear readers, with trivial details of places I visited and activities done in the few days I had here. I will, however, leave a few tidbits. The city is kind of walkable, although I was lucky in that the heaviest snow fell at night. The metro is very cheap and easy to use, once you have the hang of the cryllic alphabet (and you could get by even without that). Metro stations can be quite a distance apart. The metro stations have some amazing decorations - chandaliers, mosaics, stained glass picture windows, etc - each station different.

There are plenty of tourist signposts to sights and attractions, however I did not find them particularly useful in that they tended to be on the corner next to or 1 block away from the sight.

Some of the best places, in my view, were off the main roads.

I stayed at Best Western Neptun. This is located near the city centre but not easily walkable. It is a 5 minute walk across a park from the metro. Rooms were okay without being stunning. When searching for accommodation I found St Petersburg to be more expensive than I had expected.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

SAINT PETERSBURG to WARSAW (LED-WAW) on LO Embraer 175

Sadly my time in Saint Petersburg was limited and I had to head off at least a few days earlier than I'd have liked. This is the first of several consecutive flights, carefully chosen to maximise mileage earning whilst not running too many risks for misconnections (ie there were backup flights, on different routings, I could take instead for most circumstances if needed).

The set-up at Pulkovo's international terminal is a little unusual so let me explain how it works. At the entrance there is a, fairly cursory, security check. Anyone can go through. Inside there are a few shops, cafes, money exchange, and a modest amount of seating. At 2 hours before departure, when check in for your flight opens, you are allowed to go to immigration. So there is no point in arriving at the airport too early.

Immigration was painless. Then check in. I had a disagreement with the contract check in agent. I wanted to take my 2 carry-ons onboard (without the hassle of collapsing them into one) as allowed in business class on LOT Polish Airlines. The agent wanted me to check on and carry on the other. When her colleague interceded on my behalf she then weighed the carry ons. 10.5kgs total between the 2 bags. Hardly going to cause a problem on a very lightly loaded flight (less than a quarter full). Finally she relented and made out she was doing a big favour to me. This is annoying, but at least I didn't need to check anything which would have been risky given a couple of short connections coming up.

I head upstairs to the contract Pulokovo lounge. There are other contract lounges in the terminal, but this is the one used by LO. The lounge is moderate sized. There is a reasonable selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, but very limited food options (all junk food). The designated smoking section is open plan thus the whole lounge gets smokey. No bathroom in the lounge. No computers. A handful of newspapers.

The flight is called. There is screening at the gate. Liquids are allowed but no sprays. Belt & shoes off. The gate lounge is tiny - don't head here any earlier than you must. Boarding is a rush, but with so few passengers it doesn't take long to get to my seat, a bulkhead again.

The door remains open for an unusually long time. Someone in a uniform boards the a/c and heads back some rows (not sure how far) for a couple of minutes before leaving. The door is then closed and the safety announcements are made. Then I hear a knocking on the door, and it is opened. Several burly uniformed people and several plainclothes but clearly some people with authority enter the aircraft and head behind me. A couple of minutes later a young couple are hauled off the aircraft and escorted goodness knows where.

More shortly.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Now I'm rehydrated I'll continue.

This incident has delayed us by over half an hour. Fortunately my onward connection is the only one today that can easily take such a delay. While I waited I noticed an medium sized jet aircraft on the tarmac undergoing some kind of repairs. It was supported by plenty of scaffolding as they tested the front wheel being raised and lowered repeatedly.

Finally we taxi past the various aircraft and helicopters, wait for several aircraft ahead of us to take off in between landings on the runway and then it is our turn. We take off heading away from the city, which is a pity, but get views of the outer suburbs as we make a couple of turns.

Soon the landscape is blotted out by cloud so no views until very close to Warsaw when we descend below the cloud cover. Again we get a remote gate at a far corner of the airport. This time immigration is open at the same terminal as is used for international transits so everyone gets out at the same spot.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Saint Petersburg to Warsaw menu

Apologies - the FA handed out the menu for the flight to Saint Petersburg by mistake so there is less detail here than there should be.


Appetizer

Turkey, cranberry and lettuce

Hot entree

Turkey (!) in creamy sauce

or

Pork

Fruit salad

(not printed in menu but also bowl of mini easter eggs)

Red Wine

Beau Rivage AOC Bordeaux
Jenard Cabernet Sauvignon
Louis Montellier Merlot

Sparkling Wine

Codomiu Original (cava)

White Wine

Beau Rivage AOC Bordeaux
Jenard Chardonnay
Louis Montellier Sauvignon Blanc

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Before I forget, I do have to comment on the food for the flight to Warsaw. My previous several LO flights (all in business class) I found the food to be reasonable for short duration flight and making up for the lack of good food in the lounges. However on this flight the food was inedible. The roll was stale, the turkey appetizer looked off and the turkey main was a couple of lumps of unidentifiable meat/gristle smothered in a tasteless sauce.



WARSAW to BERLIN TEGEL (WAW-TXL) on LO ATR 42-500

Up the stairs to transit desk to check in for the next few flights, which somehow Saint Petersburg were unable to check me in for. As a bonus they gave me the boarding pass for a flight the following day as well. One less thing to remember to do later on. Last time I used transit at Warsaw they screened bags before being allowed to enter the terminal, despite each gate area having screening stations. This time no need for screening at transit.

The agent at transit gave me the onward gate and advised the lounge was next to that gate. Once through, however, I checked the monitors and decided most upcoming flights use nearby gates and I'd be better off heading to the other lounge, which I do so. Sure enough that lounge is empty so no problems for me to hog the computer for the 45 minutes or so until my next flight is called. While there, the transit agent bursts in having tracked me down to check whether or not there was a mistake. For he had noticed one of my boarding passes was first class and yet the ticket coupons were all in business class. I assured him there was no mistake (as if someone would complain they had been incorrectly put in first class!) and he left.

The flight is called so off to the gate down the other end of the terminal (a 2 minute walk away) and through security. Again liquids rules apply, belt off but shoes stay on. At the gate lounge I can see the load is extremely light.

When I booked this flight it was scheduled to be on an Embraer 175 aircraft, so I was naturally puzzled by the relatively high row number of my assigned seat. Surely there can't be that many business passengers on this secondary route? Maybe it is a balance issue?

At the gate I get given a tag for my rollaboard to be checked at the aircraft, which I remove once around the corner in the jetway. I know my rollaboard fits almost all overhead bins, and as the load seems to be extremely light (10 passengers total) there should be plenty of room onboard.

We take a bus tour of the, by now quite familiar, airport aprons. Ahh, the equipment has been changed to an ATR. And not just any ATR but the smaller ATR 42-500. This is like the reverse of a flight I took a few months ago that got upgauged from a Beech 1900D to an ATR 72-500, a proportionately massive change in capacity.

As we board the passenger in front of me argues with the FA about not wanting to put his rollaboard in the hold. While they argue I waltz up the stairs with my two carryons and promptly stow them before she has a chance to notice Of course they easily fit in the overhead bins. It was fortunate that I did so, for my next connection is much shorter and the bags that were checked at the aircraft were not delivered on the tarmac but instead delivered at baggage claim - I nicely avoided that delay.

Here the skies are still cloudy and so only (very nice) views of Warsaw on departure and Berlin on arrival.

For the second flight in a row, the meal was a disgrace. I am not sure if they missed loading hot food (and other meal components) in business or it is planned this way, but again nothing edible and very little actual food. Indeed the snack box in economy looked to have more and better food :td:

With the substitution of prop aircraft for much faster jet scheduled, we arrive rather later than I'd planned and so the onward connection is very short.

Being a prop aircraft we naturally have a bus gate at Tegel airport. I have a small delay at immigration while the agent leisurely browses my passport out of boredom, after already having stamped it and before handing back to me.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

BERLIN TEGEL to FRANKFURT (TXL-FRA) on LH 737-500

Despite having a very short connection I decide I have enough time for a fast visit to the LH lounge here, to sample their wares and in the interests of reporting the results here of course. The lounge is upstairs and as expected has a FTL/Business class side and a SEN/HON/First class/*G side (which I used).

The lounge is very nice. It really only lacks showers and computers. Plenty of good food and drink, newspapers and magazines. Lots of space, although I guess would be crowded at peak times. I just have enough time for a quick sample and it is off to the gate, which happens to be the far side of the "O". This is my first time to Berlin Tegel airport and I'm struck by the unusual terminal layout (reminds me a bit of San Francisco) - an "O" shape. Anyway at the gate there is screening (of course). Liquids out but belt and shoes can stay on - get the idea how inconsistent the security rules and implementation is?

The flight is about half full. We depart slightly late but make up time en route. I watch the sun set and the cloud and land below descend into darkness.

The meal is typical Lufthansa intra-europe business meal. So typical I forget all the details Rolls. Salad. Cheese. Some meat (fish?). A sweet desert thing. Drinks. Again, being Easter there are chocolates.

We arrive on time despite a long taxi.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Summary to date

• map
• 15,767 flown miles
• 13 flights
• 7 a/c types
  • 737-300
  • 767-300
  • 777-200ER
  • Embraer 170
  • Embraer 175
  • ATR 42-500
  • 737-500
• 4 airlines
  • NZ
  • QF
  • LH
  • LO
• 8 countries
  • New Zealand
  • Tonga
  • Western Samoa
  • United States of America
  • United Kingdom
  • Germany
  • Poland
  • Russia
• 10 airports
  • AKL
  • TBU
  • APW
  • LAX
  • LHR
  • HAM
  • WAW
  • LED
  • TXL
  • FRA
• personal firsts
  • 2 new routes on Air NZ TBU-APW and APW-LAX
  • 1 new country - Russia
  • 3 new airports - HAM, LED and TXL

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

FRANKFURT transit

A few weeks ago, upset at the changes being made by Singapore Airlines to the PPS program, I switched my onward flight to Lufthansa and upgraded to first by use of some upgrade vouchers, which was confirmed immediately.

Fortunately the flight timings on Lufthansa are similar to Singapore, but it had the effect of making a 23 hour connection almost an illegal stopover, and also shortened my transit in Frankfurt. This means I won't have long enough to properly enjoy the first class terminal. Indeed I was unsure whether I'd even have time to visit the first class lounge.

As luck would have it we arrived at the very end gate on A pier. So a long, long walk for me. Decisions, decisions. I could walk at a leisurely pace to immigration into non-schengen zone and our gate in B part of the terminal, probably arriving just about as boarding starts. Or I could walk fast to the first class lounge along A pier, have a very fast shower, and proceed to B part of the terminal and immigration to non-schengen zone with boarding nearly complete by the time I arrive, probably sweaty despite having just showered. Or I could sprint to the first class terminal (considerably further distance), grab a quick shower and make use of the extra time provided due to being driven to the gate at the end of boarding.

Naturally, after already a long day (and a couple of hours gained by time zones) of exploring Saint Petersburg and travelling, I chose the latter. I ran from the end of the pier outside and along to the first class terminal.

Hand over passport and boarding pass. Through security. Liquids out. Belt off. Shoes on. Get alarmed by the WTMD and again by the hand wand. Even my pocket sets off the alarm despite only having a handkerchief in it So get the usual FRA massage.

Decline the tour of the terminal - I've been here before and my priority is first to shower. A quick shower (with cold water running afterwards to avoid sweating up again) and change of clothes and I feel much better and start to relax. I have fun sampling several of the wines while I wait for boarding.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

FRA first class terminal menu

BUFFET

Antipasti

Mediterranean shrimp salad
Veal with tuna sauce
Grilled vegetables
Feta cheese with olive oil
White eggplant puree
Arugula with cherry tomatoes
Shallots with aged balsamic vinegar
Buffalo mozzarella
Parmesan / Manchego
Prosciutto di Parma
Jamon iberico / pata negra
Grilled green asparagus
Minced beef salad
Stuffed eggplant

Tapas

Fried baby calamari
Fried artichokes
Meatballs in tomato sauce
Fried prawns

Smoked Salmon

Scottish smoked salmon - Loch Fyne
Horseradish cream / toast or cream cheese / bagel

Cheese

Selection of cheese

Desserts

Do & Co's Mousse au chocolat
Creme brulee
Tiramisu
Pannacotta
Do & Co's French kiss
Fresh fruit salad
Viennese apple strudel
Selection of sorbets
Austrian style chocolate souffle
Vanilla ice cream with warm chocolate sauce


BUFFET AND SPECIALS

Soups

Consomme with vegetables
Cappucino di rucola with tomatocrostini
Tom ka gai - Thai chicken soup with coconut milk / fresh cilantro and chili

Local Special

Bavarian leberkase - creamy potato salad / brezel / mustard

Steak and Salad

Seared fillet of beef - eggplant salad / crispy rosemary chips

Wok

Green prawn curry - giant prawns in green coconut curry / Thai basil, lemongrass / steamed rice

Asia

Crispy duck Wan Tans - pomegranate chutney

Pasta

Spinach ricotta ravioli - handmade pasta / fresh truffle

Special

Chicken Kiev - chicken breast stuffed with truffle butter / pommes allumettes


BAR

Water

Voslauer still
Voslauer sparkling
Evian still
Perrier sparkling
Apollinaris still
Apollinaris sparkling
San Pellegrino sparkling
Blue Keld still
Ramlosa sparkling

Fruit Juices

Pineapple
Apple
Pear
Strawberry
Blackcurrant
Cherry
Mango-passionfruit
Tropical fruit
Peach
Tomato

Soft Drinks

Coca Cola
Coca Cola light
Coca Cola zero
Fanta
Sprite
Bitter lemon
Ginger ale
Tonic water
Kombucha
Red Bull
Red Bull sugar free

Coffee

Espresso
Doppelter espresso
Kleiner Brauner
Grosser Brauner
Verlangerter
Melange
Cappuccino
Latte Macchiato
Cafe Creme
Espresso Macchiato
Doppelter Espresso Macchiato
Einspanner
Irish Coffee

Tea

Assam Bukhial second flush
Ceylon orange pekoe
China Yunnan golden downy pekoe
Darjeeling Lingia first flush
Earl Grey imperior
English breakfast
Uva Blairlomond highgrown
Formose oolong II
China Lung Ching green tea
China Wujuan jasmine
Fruchtemischung / tropical fruit
Camomile
Peppermint
Rotbusch Sahne Karamell
Krautermischung

Beer

Draft beer
Beck's
Radeberger
Konig Pilsener

Bottled beer
Budweiser
Carlsberg
Corona
Diebels Altbier
Foster's
Heineken
Jever Pilsener
Kronebourg 1664
Ottakringer
Maisel Diat
Miller
Warsteiner
Franziskaner Hefe

Non alcoholic beer
Clausthaler

Cider
Strongbow

Prosecco and Champagner

Prosecco Brusole
Champagner Taittinger
Champagner Taittinger Rose
Ruinart
Bollinger

White Wines

2006 Gelber Muskateller
2005 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Achleiten
2004 Sancerre
2006 Riesling Robert Weil
2004 Weisser Burgunder
2005 Chardonnay Jermann
2005 Sauvignon Blanc Babich

Dessert Wine

2004 Beerenauslese Cuvee

Red Wines

2004 Dornfelder
2001 Chianti Classico Riserva
2004 Rosso Di Montepulciano
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Hans Igler
2004 Pinotage Shiraz Leopard's Leap
2001 Rioja Rserva
2002 Chateau Fonpiquery

Rose Wine

2004 Syrah Rose Chibet

Before Dinner coughtails

Bellini coughtail
Veneziano
Kir royale
Cosmopolitan
Martini coughtail
Manhattan

After Dinner coughtails

White russian
Brandy Alexander
Rusty nail

Anytime coughtails

Mojito
Caipirinha
Daiquiri
Strawberry Margarita
Sex on the Beach
Cuba Libre
Pina Colada
Mai Tai
Whiskey Sour
Amaretto Sour
Aperol Sour

Whisky

Blended scotch
Ballantine's finest
Ballantine's 12 years
Chivas Regal 12 years
Clan Campbell 12 years
Cutty Sark emerald 12 years
Dewar's white label
Dimple 12 years
The Famous Grouse finest
The Famous Grouse 12 years
Glob Kitty
J & B
Johnnie Walker red label
Johnnie Walker black label 12 years
Johnnie Walker gold label 18 years
Johnnie Walker blue label
Vat 69 finest

Single Malt

Speyside
Aberlour 10 years
Balvenie 10 years
Balvenie double wood 12 years
Cragganmore 12 years
Ferintosh 10 years
Glenfarclas 10 years
Glenfarclas 12 years
Glenfarclas 21 years
Glenfiddich cuban rum finish 21 years
Glenfiddich solera reserve 15 years
Glenlivet 12 years
Glenlivet 15 years
Glenluig 10 years
Knockando vintage 1986/1991
Macallan 12 years
Macallan 18 years
Mortlach 15 years

Central Highlands
Dalwhinne 15 years

Northern Highlands
Glenmorangie 10 years
Glenmorangie 18 years
Glenmorangie burgundy wood finish 12 years
Glenmorangie madiera wood finish 12 years
Glenmorangie port wood finish 12 years
Glenmorangie sherry wood finish 12 years

Eastern Highlands
Glen Garioch 12 years

Western Highlands
Oban 14 years

Lowlands
Glenkinchie 10 years
Kincaple 10 years

Isle of Islay
Ardbeg 10 years
Ardbeg uigedail cask strength 1992
Druichan 10 years
Lagavulin 16 years
Laphroaig 10 years
Laphroaig 15 years

Isle of Mull
The Craignure 12 years

Isle of Orkney
Highland Park 12 years
The Macphail's collection 8 years

Isle of Skye
Talisker 10 years

Scotch Blended Malt Whisky
Glen Grant
Johnnie Walker green label 15 years

Irish Blended Whiskey
Jameson 12 years
Kilbeggan
Paddy
Tullamore Dew

Irish Malt Whiskey
Bushmills 10 years
Connemara
Locke's 8 years
Tyrconnell

Bourbon
Four Roses
Jim Beam
Jim Beam black label 8 years
Maker's Mark
Wild Turkey 8 years
Woodford Reserve

Tennessee Whiskey
Jack Daniel's old no 7
Jack Daniel's gentleman jack
Jack Daniel's single barrel

Canadian Whisky
Canadian Club
Crown Royal
Old Canada

Exotics Whisky
Suntory Yamazaki 12 years
Milford 10 years
Reisetbauer 7 years
Robert Fleischmann schwarzer pirat 13 years

Aperitif and Bitters

Aperol
Averna
Campari
Cynar
Fernet - branca
Jagermeister
Martini Bitter
Nonino Amaro
Ouzo no 12
Pernod
Ramazzotti
Ricard

Calvados

Daron XO 18 years
Papidoux 15 years

Cognac

Camus grand VSOP
Hennessy fine de cognac
Hennessy XO
Martell cognac cordon bleu
Otard XO gold
Otard VSOP

Armagnac

Chateau De Laubade XO

Brandy

Carlos I
Conde De Osborne
Osborne Veterano

Grappa

Antinori
Altesino
Nonino grappa di moscato
Nonino vuisinar

Schnaps

Apple
Raspberry
Elderflower
Cherry
Apricot
Yellow Plum
Quince
Rowanberry
Pear golles
Pear reisetbauer
Plum

Rum

Bacardi carta blanca
Bacardi carta d'oro
Bacardi carta negra
Bacardi 8 anos
Havana Club anejo 3 anos
Havana Club anejo 7 anos
Havana Club anejo especial
Myers's dark
Pitu cachaca
Pyrat XO planters gold
Zacapa centenario 23 years

Vodka

Absolut
Absolut citron
Absolut mandarin
Finlandia
Grey Goose
Stolichnaya

Gin

Beefeater
Bombay Sapphire
Gordon's
Tanqueray

Tequila

Jose Cuervo classico
Jose Cuervo especial gold

Liqueur

Amaretto disaronno
Baileys
Batida de coco
Benedictine DOM
Cointreau
Creme de cacao
Creme de cassis
Drambuie
Grand Marnier
Kahlua
Malibu
Pepino peach
Peter Heering cherry liquer
Sambuca
Southern Comfort
Tia Maria

Sherry

Sandeman don fino
Sandeman dry seco
Sandeman medium dry
Sandeman rich golden

Vermouth

Martini extra dry
Martini bianco
Martini d'oro
Martini rosso
Noilly Prat dry

Port Wine

Delaforce fine ruby port
Delaforce white port

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

FRANKFURT to SINGAPORE (FRA-SIN) on LH 747-400

I didn't have long to wait until the personal assistant found me and informed the flight is ready for me to board. Downstairs I noted they had reissued the boarding pass on LH stock. I and one other were asked if we minded sharing the Porsche Cayenne out to the aircraft. Of course not.

We are the last to board. Upstairs to first class, which is very empty (maybe 6 passengers). I settle in with a pre-departure drink or three, but decline the nuts.

With the seat beside me empty I do my usual thing and show flightpath on that personal tv while watching a movie on my own. My personal tv proves not to work properly so they reboot it, which does fix it. If it hadn't I could easily have moved.

I watch movies, eat, drink and sleep a little. They forgot to hand me pajamas or amenity kit. When I asked about it the FA said she thought the other FA had given them to me. What I think happened is they handed out the gear before I boarded and simply forgot to do mine.

We get a reasonably close gate to the Singapore lounge, but have a long taxi around the terminal complex to get there.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Frankfurt to Singapore menu

DINNER

Hors d'eouvre from the Appetizer Cart

Caviar with the traditional garnishes

Sesame crusted tuna, papaya salad and soy sauce

Duo of pan-seared filet of venison and air-dried venison ham accompanied by marinated Chinese mushrooms

Chestnut stuffed breast of guinea hen and vegetable strips with ginger

Nashi pear with honey mustard sauce, goat cheese and caramelized walnuts

Pan-fried prawns with wasabi, mango and shredded nori seaweed

Bread, rolls, toast and butter

Entrees

Pan-seared pike-perch, oyster sauce, ginger puree and scallions

Eggplant filled with jasmine rice served with broccoli, ginko nuts and lotus root

We recommend asian rice, potato pearls or egg noodles to accompany these entrees

As an alternative to our Star Chef compositions you may request: fillet of beef with herb butter, green beans and potatoes au gratin

Cheese and Dessert

International cheese
Emmental, fourme d'Ambert, Morbier, Fougery and Parmesan served with grapes and cherry tomatoes

Jasmine pralines with chocolate dip and tea cookie sticks

Green tea creme and glazed nashi pears

Specialty dessert wines


Champagne

1997 Comtes de Champagne Taittinger

Rare Champagne Piper Hiedsieck

Monthly Proposal

2002 Colchagua Valley Apalta Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Montes Alpha, Chile

White Wine

2005 Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen Riesling trocken Schloss Reinhartshausen, Germany

2005 Mersault Roux Pere & Fils, France

2005 Chardonnay Chateau Changyu-Castel, China

Red Wine

2001 Chateau Pedesclaux Cru Classe Pauillac, France

2003 Syrah Wine of Origin Paarl Glen Carlou, South Africa

Dessert Wine

2005 Thungersheimer Ravensburg Kerner Auslese Winzergenossenschaft Thungersheim, Germany

Spirits

Grey Goose Vodka

Campari

Sherry La Guita

Lufthansa coughtail

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey Old No 7

Johhnie Walker Blue Label

Talisker 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bombay Sapphire Distilled London Dry Gin

Cognac Lheraud Cuvee 30

Calvados Pays d'Auge AC Daron

Fernet Branca

Tequila

Walcher Williams Exclusiv

Etter Zuger Kirsch 42 Vol % Jahrgang 2005

Baileys Irish Cream

Niepoort Portwein LBV 2000

Mineral Water (sparkling and still)

Fruit Juices (apple, tomato and orange)

Soft Drinks (Coca-cola, Coca-cola light, sprite, kinley tonic water, kinley bitter lemon, kinley ginger ale)

German Beers (Warsteiner Pils, Clausthaler non-alcoholic)

Coffee Specialties

Cappuccino

Ristretto

Espresso

Caffe Lungo

Caffe Decaffeinato

Cafe Vinalla

Cafe-brulot

Cafe Borgia

Latte Macchiato

Cafe Baileys

Hot Beverages

Jacobs Coffee
Espresso, decaf espresso
Cappuccino

Darjeeling Royal First Flush Blatt
Assam Special Broken
Gruntee Asia Superior Blatt
Earl Grey Premium Blatt
Vita Orange
Yogi Tee Rotbusch Bio


BREAKFAST

Buffet

Freshly squeezed orange juice

Fresh fruit
Mango, kiwi [unripe :td: ], strawberry, grapefruit and grapes

Yoghurt with fresh fruit, cereal with nuts, yoghurt and fresh milk

Bread, rolls, toast, croissants, danish pastry, butter, preserves, honey and nutella

Cold Specialties

Salmon strudel and smoked salmon

Parma ham, smoked breast of turkey and german salami

Cream cheese with chives, yoghurt cheese and allgau cheese

Entree

Scrambled eggs freshly prepared upon your request with your choice of bacon or chives

Last Minute Breakfast

Coffee or tea

Freshly squeezed orange juice

Croissants

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Singapore transit

I caught up with a few FTers in the SQ first class lounge that evening. CGK, jjpb3 and SQ421. Some satay and dom were consumed while we chatted.

I also caught up with my email backlog and managed a few hours sleep before my flight the next day. Thus I managed to keep busy during the 23+ hour transit.

Stay tuned for my next update.