Dear reader

Welcome to my briefest trip reports yet. I am heading to Luxembourg to attend a meeting with an important customer. My journey is taking me with Lufthansa from Zurich, where I work, to Munich and then from there on to Luxembourg with Luxair.



I shall refrain from bothering you with yet another Lufthansa report. But I figured you might be interested in a report on Luxair, an airline that has not been covered that often so far here in the forum.

Check-in
Check-in for the journey from Zurich to Luxembourg is a royal pain. I have booked online with Lufthansa. But check-in for Lufthansa flights ex Switzerland must be done on the SWISS.COM website. A lot of copy-pasting later I receive a text message from SWISS with my mobile boarding pass for the flight to Munich. I have not however, received anything for my onward connection to Luxembourg. It’s no big deal really but it does make you wonder just what exactly the alleged benefits of being in the same alliance has for the passenger if they cannot even muster something like issuing boarding passes to the final destination?

The flight
Security at Zurich airport was really easy. It’s the first time I do not have to queue at all and just walk straight up to the conveyor belt and the x-ray machine. The lounge on the other hand is rather busy. Perhaps that is also the reason why the internet connection is an absolute shambles today. I’m trying to download a document of 1.5MB and it takes me 32 minutes to complete the download!



Date: 14 May 2012
Airline: Luxair
Aircraft: Dash-8
Class: Economy
Seat: 5F
Departure: 19h40
Arrival: 20h45

Fast forward to Munich. As soon as I arrive inside the terminal, I head upstairs and find a check-in kiosk to issue the missing boarding pass for the Munich to Luxembourg sectors. By this time I’m starving. I didn’t eat in the lounge in Zurich. So I head to the older of the two Senator lounges and spoil myself with a plate of that lovely Lufthansa potato salad with some bread and cheese.





As soon as I finish it’s already time to leave again, my Luxair flight is already showing as ‘boarding’. Luxair only seems to use gate G47 in Munich, which is the remotest gate from just about anywhere else in the terminal. Here are some images from my trek to G47.





I head downstairs to get on to the bus. There’s an A 340 docked at the gate and I stop to take a few pictures. No idea where this bird is going, but I certainly wouldn’t mind swapping…









And now I make a strategic mistake. I thought I’d positioned myself in the bus so as to be the last to get off and be the last one to board. I figured this would give me time for some pictures. But unfortunately the bus stops the other was round and as the doors open, once we reach the aircraft, I find myself at the head of the queue. Not wanting to hold things up I decide to sacrifice a few excellent photo opportunities and head up the stairs to board the Dash-8.

The flight is full. I have yet another fat guy sitting next to me. To make matters worse, he likes a view. So he keeps leaning over to look out the window, taking even more of the limited space available on this bird. So I give him a nasty look, quite a few actually, until he finally gets the point and decides to read the inflight magazine instead.















We take-off from an intersection about half way down the runway. As I’ve noticed a couple of times now in Munich, we start to accelerate while we’re still on the taxiway, before we’re properly lined up with the runway. Our aircraft feels light and nimble as it steeply climbs into the sky. By the time we pass the end of the runway we’ve already reached quite an altitude. The pilot in command sets course for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, then switches off the fasten seatbelt sign to let the flight attendants work their magic.



What I like about Luxair is that they appear to be stuck in some kind of time warp. And please don’t get me wrong, I like that, in fact I’m ever so glad. These days all the airlines in Europe seem to be trying to cut corners where ever they can to reduce their costs. More often than not by cutting down on service, to the over all detriment of the passenger experience. But not Luxair.



The flight attendants are charming, both of them. And they make a point of making passengers feel welcome. The young brunette serving my row asks me if I would prefer a cheese or roast beef sandwich. I nearly feel as though I have to fight back the tears. I have a choice of sandwich on a flight of only 50 minutes duration!

I ask for a cheese sandwich, which is served to me out of pretty brown wicker basket. With that I have a Coke Zero and still water. The flight attendant gives me a concerned look. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like a cup of coffee?” Well okay, if you ask me like that I think I’ll have a cup of coffee as well please.







The sarnie is very tasty I have to say, with nice, creamy cheese. Just as I finish the coffee, the flight attendants appear and clear away the trash. And soon after we begin our descent. The crew pass through the cabin one last time serving caramels and other sweeties.

We land in Luxembourg at 20:45. I’m in the terminal building by 20:55. I take the moving walkway one floor up to arrivals to catch a taxi. On my way I up I can’t but notice that departures is completely deserted and all the shops are closed. And indeed, it would appear there are no more departures for the day. At least no passenger flights. Later on in my hotel in the centre of town I can hear a few planes departing over the city.







This concludes this report. The day after, I return to Basel via Munich. Both flights are operated by a Lufthansa subsidiary. I shan’t bother you with any of that. One day later, on the Wednesday, I decide to make the most of the fact that Thursday is Ascension and head for Genoa on Darwin Airlines. Stay tuned for that report.

As for Luxair, they’re a nice little airline. They have a very positive approach to customer service, which is refreshing these days, when more often than not the passenger is made to feel more like a burden than a customer – at least on short-haul flights.

Thanks for a nice report.

Luxair looks very nice and definitely is on one of my "to fly" airlines in the near future.

It is indeed nice to get a full sized sandwich in Y these days.

Thanks,
Carfield

Thanks for sharing your report on an airline not covered very frequently in this forum!

Luxair looks really nice, and definitely offers a product in Economy Class superior to many other airlines. What a great looking sandwich!

Best,

Matthew (767747)

Hiya, Mr. Maltese,

A very nice little tidbit on Luxair, a most amusing read before starting with work this morning. Reminds me a lot of my Luxair flight a year ago on the exact same route (albeit on the other direction) - LG certainly is a class act. Well Luxembourg being loaded with cash I guess it is only natural that their airline doesn't need to cut back too much...

I hope you checked out the lounge at LUX airport on your way back - I found that to be an amazing lounge with an excellent collection of wines (The Chateau de Schengen or something like that was my favorite, and not just for the name for this pro-EU guy!) and some very high quality snacks as well.

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): . I have booked online with Lufthansa.

What? You weren't forced to use a travel agent? Lucky bastard, most of the corporate travel agents and especially the self service portals I've been forced to use have been quite awful. But luckily I've usually managed to trick them into booking exactly the itineraries I've wanted, well within corporate travel policies of course  

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): It’s no big deal really but it does make you wonder just what exactly the alleged benefits of being in the same alliance has for the passenger if they cannot even muster something like issuing boarding passes to the final destination?

Well Luxair is in no alliance (apart from its close relationship with mama Lufty) so I think your point here is a bit amiss. It doesn't matter whether you were booked on the LH codeshare or the genuine LG flight number. However had the second leg been on LH metal then you'd have a valid case to complain!

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): But unfortunately the bus stops the other was round and as the doors open, once we reach the aircraft, I find myself at the head of the queue. Not wanting to hold things up I decide to sacrifice a few excellent photo opportunities and head up the stairs to board the Dash-8.

Err, couldn't you just sidestep away from in front of the stairs, snap all the photos you wanted and then rejoin the queue? It's not like they are holding you at gunpoint to force you to go straight to the stairs from the bus door.

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): The sarnie is very tasty I have to say, with nice, creamy cheese.

I thought a "sarnie" is the most British abomination, the weird bacon sandwich with nothing but bacon and sandwich in it. And potentially some ketchup or brown sauce, but definitely not anything green or healthy!

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): On my way I up I can’t but notice that departures is completely deserted and all the shops are closed. And indeed, it would appear there are no more departures for the day. At least no passenger flights. Later on in my hotel in the centre of town I can hear a few planes departing over the city.

Yes, they have quite a sizable cargo operation, thanks to Cargolux. And since the airport is not that far away from the city (heck, let's face it, it's more of a "town" than a real "city"!) you can definitely feel and hear the heavily laden 747s taking off!

Luxair used to have a monopoly on the Geneva to Lux route and charged outrageous fares. Now that DARWIN are competing I believe the fares have drastically dropped.

Hello Knightsofmalta

Nice report, thanks for writing it up.

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): I have not however, received anything for my onward connection to Luxembourg. It’s no big deal really but it does make you wonder just what exactly the alleged benefits of being in the same alliance has for the passenger if they cannot even muster something like issuing boarding passes to the final destination?

This should be always possible when the booking is in the same PNR. Not good if it doesn't work.

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): Not wanting to hold things up I decide to sacrifice a few excellent photo opportunities and head up the stairs to board the Dash-8.

I do it the same way as FlyingFinn. I'll just wait outside the bus until everybody else rushed to the plane and then do whatever I need to do with my camera.

Best regards, LXM83

HI W.

Great report - short and sweet.

That looked indeed like a fantastic service for such a hop. Quite a delicious looking sarnie... though I think I would have gone for the roast beef!

Luke!

Hello all

First of all thanks for taking the time to comment. It's much appreciated

Hi Carfield, Hi Matthew, Hi Luke

Quoting Carfield (Reply 1): It is indeed nice to get a full sized sandwich in Y these days.

Quoting 767747 (Reply 2): Luxair looks really nice, and definitely offers a product in Economy Class superior to many other airlines. What a great looking sandwich!

Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 6): That looked indeed like a fantastic service for such a hop. Quite a delicious looking sarnie

Yes and quite unusual. I think what surprised me most is that it tasted rather nice!

Hi FlyingFinn

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3): Well Luxembourg being loaded with cash I guess it is only natural that their airline doesn't need to cut back too much...

I see your point. Although from what I've heard the airline isn't doing too well financially. Let's see what will happen now that Easyjet has announced it will fly to Luxembourg...

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3): I hope you checked out the lounge at LUX airport on your way back - I found that to be an amazing lounge with an excellent collection of wines (The Chateau de Schengen or something like that was my favorite, and not just for the name for this pro-EU guy!) and some very high quality snacks as well.

Oh yes, the lounge is definitely a classy set up. I especially like the pasta salad they have, it's got so much garlic you stink out the whole plane if you have a plate of that!

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3): Well Luxair is in no alliance (apart from its close relationship with mama Lufty) so I think your point here is a bit amiss.

Well yes and no. After all, they are a Miles & More member.

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3): I thought a "sarnie" is the most British abomination, the weird bacon sandwich with nothing but bacon and sandwich in it. And potentially some ketchup or brown sauce, but definitely not anything green or healthy!

Interesting question. I thought a sarnie was a general term used for a sandwich.

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3): Yes, they have quite a sizable cargo operation, thanks to Cargolux. And since the airport is not that far away from the city (heck, let's face it, it's more of a "town" than a real "city"!) you can definitely feel and hear the heavily laden 747s taking off!

Yeah that really is cool. No matter where you are in the village - I mean town - you're bound to see a Cargolux 747 sooner or later!

Hi Lychemsa

Quoting lychemsa (Reply 4): Luxair used to have a monopoly on the Geneva to Lux route and charged outrageous fares. Now that DARWIN are competing I believe the fares have drastically dropped.

It will be interesting to see how that one develops. It's the same for Zurich, the fares to LUX are something nasty, no matter when you book or if you have a minimum stay!

Hi LXM83

Quoting LXM83 (Reply 5): This should be always possible when the booking is in the same PNR. Not good if it doesn't work.

The really interesting part came when I had to check-in for the return. I went on the Lufthansa website, where I was told that for flights from Luxembourg I would need to check-in with SWISS. There was a link to use. I figured this is never going to work. But quite surprisingly, when I clicked on the link and the SWISS check-in application opened, my data had already been transmitted and I was able to check-in for both flights!

Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 6): Quite a delicious looking sarnie... though I think I would have gone for the roast beef!

The beef ones were definitely more popular.

Cheers,
William

Hi William

Thanks for sharing!
Suprised to see you got a choice of free sandwiches on a hop so short as that one.
LG seems to be pretty awesome.

Greetings
Marc

Hi William,
Nice little report here on Luxair!

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): Date: 14 May 2012

Was actually in MUC that same day, in the morning though!

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): But unfortunately the bus stops the other was round and as the doors open, once we reach the aircraft, I find myself at the head of the queue. Not wanting to hold things up I decide to sacrifice a few excellent photo opportunities and head up the stairs to board the Dash-8.

That's too bad

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): The young brunette serving my row asks me if I would prefer a cheese or roast beef sandwich

Nice service!

cheers,
adamspotter // Brendan

Hi Marc

Quoting MSS658 (Reply 8): Thanks for sharing!

My pleasure.

Quoting MSS658 (Reply 8): Suprised to see you got a choice of free sandwiches on a hop so short as that one.

So was I. with most airlines nowadays it's usually just a drink on such a short sector.

Quoting MSS658 (Reply 8): LG seems to be pretty awesome.

I've been to Luxembourg a couple of times now. In a way to me Luxair is very much like the rest of the country. It's in a class of its own and therefore difficult to compare.

Hi Brendan

Quoting adamspotter (Reply 9): Nice little report here on Luxair!

Thank you!

Quoting adamspotter (Reply 9): Was actually in MUC that same day, in the morning though!

Interesting. I've often wondered how often or not I've already walked past a fellow anetter at some airport or other without knowing.

Marc, Brendan, thanks for commenting.

Cheers,
William

Hello William,

Very nice report of a niche, boutique airline of Luxair.

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): A lot of copy-pasting later I receive a text message from SWISS with my mobile boarding pass for the flight to Munich

How cumbersome!

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): I’m trying to download a document of 1.5MB and it takes me 32 minutes to complete the download!

  

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): No idea where this bird is going, but I certainly wouldn’t mind swapping…

It’s like a dream indeed. A short intra-European wide body flight!

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): So I give him a nasty look, quite a few actually, until he finally gets the point and decides to read the inflight magazine instead.

Well, if you get a seatmate like that again, how about asking him that you do not feel comfortable by his behavior? Just a suggestion instead of a nasty look.  

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): I have a choice of sandwich on a flight of only 50 minutes duration!

  

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): Are you sure you wouldn’t like a cup of coffee?” Well okay, if you ask me like that I think I’ll have a cup of coffee as well please.

I would have melt just like you as well.

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): Later on in my hotel in the centre of town I can hear a few planes departing over the city.

Freighters, I assume.


Thank you for sharing.

Warm regards,
Suryo  

Hi Suryo

Quoting akhmad (Reply 11): Very nice report of a niche, boutique airline of Luxair.

Thanks!

Quoting akhmad (Reply 11): It’s like a dream indeed. A short intra-European wide body flight!

Well, there's still the Korean Air flight form Vienna to Zurich. That's about the same duration.

Quoting akhmad (Reply 11): Well, if you get a seatmate like that again, how about asking him that you do not feel comfortable by his behavior? Just a suggestion instead of a nasty look.

Yeah, I have done that before. It's a questions of weighing one's options.

Quoting akhmad (Reply 11): I would have melt just like you as well.

Yeah, they were so genuine. I found them quite refreshing.

Quoting akhmad (Reply 11): Freighters, I assume.

Yes, only!

Quoting akhmad (Reply 11): Thank you for sharing.

My pleasure, suryao. Thanks for posting.

Cheers,
William

Hi William,

Thanks for this short and interesting story on Luxair. A nice little airline indeed, one could say they almost have this ‘retro feel’ about them. A shame they don’t operate on a larger scale, but maybe that is their strong point? I wouldn’t mind a ride on on of those nice looking Dashes for sure!

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): I’m trying to download a document of 1.5MB and it takes me 32 minutes to complete the download!

The marvels of fast wireless internet for you.

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): And now I make a strategic mistake. I thought I’d positioned myself in the bus so as to be the last to get off and be the last one to board. I figured this would give me time for some pictures. But unfortunately the bus stops the other was round and as the doors open, once we reach the aircraft, I find myself at the head of the queue. Not wanting to hold things up I decide to sacrifice a few excellent photo opportunities and head up the stairs to board the Dash-8.

And you didn’t put yourself strategically aside to shoot your shots and then rejoin the boarding line at the end? That’s what I would do 

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): I nearly feel as though I have to fight back the tears

Sweet  

Sultanils

Hi Nils

Quoting Sultanils (Reply 13): Thanks for this short and interesting story on Luxair.

My pleasure!

Quoting Sultanils (Reply 13): A nice little airline indeed, one could say they almost have this ‘retro feel’ about them.

That pretty much sums it up. There is something very old school about the entire operation, which certainly has a charm of its own.

From what I understand, Easyjet is about to start flights to Luxembourg. It will be interesting to see what the impact on Luxair will be. I suspect it will be minimal!

Quoting Sultanils (Reply 13): And you didn’t put yourself strategically aside to shoot your shots and then rejoin the boarding line at the end? That’s what I would do

Oh okay, then. I'll try that next time!

Thanks for commenting Nils!

Cheers,
William

Hello!

Thanks for another nice report. Luxair looks really good and you can get some good fares too which is really good for there service-level.

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): To make matters worse, he likes a view

Oh, the same happend to me on a packed LH Regional CR2. It was even tricky for me to take pictures since you have to lain forward to look out and the guys head was in the way, hahaha get a window seat next time 

Greetings
Robert

Hi William,

another interesting report about a rather rare airline. I have wanted to try LG for a long time, but fares have always been horribly high. Well, I keep trying...

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): The flight is full. I have yet another fat guy sitting next to me. To make matters worse, he likes a view. So he keeps leaning over to look out the window, taking even more of the limited space available on this bird. So I give him a nasty look, quite a few actually, until he finally gets the point and decides to read the inflight magazine instead.

To be honest, that sounds a bit harsh. I'm not amused either about "big" seat neighbors, but well, people are different. Sometimes illnesses can cause overweight. I agree it's disturbing when somebody keeps leaning over, probably he hadn't flown very often before. I'm not sure what I would have done.

Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): The flight attendants are charming, both of them. And they make a point of making passengers feel welcome. The young brunette serving my row asks me if I would prefer a cheese or roast beef sandwich. I nearly feel as though I have to fight back the tears. I have a choice of sandwich on a flight of only 50 minutes duration! I ask for a cheese sandwich, which is served to me out of pretty brown wicker basket. With that I have a Coke Zero and still water. The flight attendant gives me a concerned look. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like a cup of coffee?” Well okay, if you ask me like that I think I’ll have a cup of coffee as well please.

That is definitely impressive!


PH

Hi PlaneHunter

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 21): I have wanted to try LG for a long time, but fares have always been horribly high. Well, I keep trying...

I think your best bet is probably to book the flight as a connection with Lufthansa via MUC or FRA. They have a code-share in place. I booked the ticket on Lufthansa.com and it wasn't that expensive. But then when I went on the Luxair website and started doing some research, I was also surprised by how expensive their own flights are.

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 21): To be honest, that sounds a bit harsh. I'm not amused either about "big" seat neighbors, but well, people are different. Sometimes illnesses can cause overweight. I agree it's disturbing when somebody keeps leaning over, probably he hadn't flown very often before. I'm not sure what I would have done.

Good heavens, thanks for pointing that out. It was certainly not my intention to be harsh. Thing is, I'm quite a big guy myself, so things were rather tight anyway, even before he started leering over to my side!

Thanks for commenting and for your feedback, PlaneHunter!

Cheers,
William

Hello William!

A nice little report!
Good to see that Luxair was treating you and the other passengers nice. They do indeed seem like a good little airline. That sandwich does indeed look quite nice.

Martin

Hi William!

The flight on Luxair looks good, although not quite up to the standard of my Sun Air flight! Nice to see a choice of snacks on a shorthual flight.

Hi Martin

Quoting deltamartin (Reply 23): A nice little report!

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

Quoting deltamartin (Reply 23): Good to see that Luxair was treating you and the other passengers nice. They do indeed seem like a good little airline. That sandwich does indeed look quite nice.

Yeah, so much nicer to have a proper sandwich with filling, rather than one of those pathetic little affairs with a single slice of carelessly added slice of cheese. In a way it's tragic really that catering and service levels on European flights in general have reached such a sad state that a slice of tomato and a leaf of lettuce are enough to make a passenger's heart skip a beat!

Hi Gabriel

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 24): The flight on Luxair looks good, although not quite up to the standard of my Sun Air flight! Nice to see a choice of snacks on a shorthual flight.

You're quite right there, I have to hand it to you. I mean, you even got a whole tray! Still, it was tasty.

Thanks for your comments, gents!

Cheers,
William

Thanks for the report. I have flown Luxair quite a few times over the last few months and my experience has been consistent with yours - efficient and nice with some incredibly good complimentary sandwiches. But, then again, their fares have been rather high too - especially as they don't do one-way pricing.

Thanks again for taking the time.

Saludos,
A.

Hi again A.

Quoting abrelosojos (Reply 26): Thanks for the report.

My pleasure! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

Quoting abrelosojos (Reply 26): efficient and nice with some incredibly good complimentary sandwiches. But, then again, their fares have been rather high too - especially as they don't do one-way pricing.

Their fares are rather on the high side, although it is possible to get cheaper tickets with them if booked as the code-share on the LH flight number. From what I understand Easyjet has now started flights to Luxembourg. I'm rather curious to see what impact this will have on Luxair. Although I suspect that in such a niche market, the impact might very well be minimal.

Cheers,
William