Hi, dear readers,

Time to write another report and bring it online here. I lately enjoyed some inner-German flights (a multi-segment report on LH is already online), and now it was time for me to do ‘something new’.

About 2 months before the actual flights, I noticed an interesting aircraft scheduled on a Sunday operation between DUS and MUC. It was saying type 330, AB flight, for the summer period only, it seems. So, I took my shift schedule from work, looked up my rare free Sundays, and checked the fares.

All-in for this flight, EUR 67,00. Not bad, considering a new aircraft type for my log.
After booking this leg, I secured transportation by the Dutch railways from my hometown to Dusseldorf Flughafen (Airport). I noticed an interesting offer for a non-refundable/non-changeable fare in First Class, on the ICE International high-speed train. First part of the journey was on a Dutch domestic intercity service with a change to the ICE at Utrecht Central Station. So, also this fare was purchased   .

Now, I still had to get back home, from MUC…, something different. Trains take long, single fares are high. So I really needed to take advantage of my airline staff benefits, and called my ticketing office to issue a single MUC-AMS, valid on KL or LH. I won’t mention the fare, but it was not much  

Some weeks before my flights, I checked the schedules again, and noticed a downgrade of equipment for my flight to ‘320’ and later to ‘EQV’. I was a bit disappointed by now. Times got better 2 weeks later, when aircraft type mentioned ‘332’ now. We’ll see!

Finally, the day came to travel.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

I took the local train to Schiphol (AMS) Airport, changed to the intercity service towards Utrecht. Nice red leather seats in First Class. Whole carriage for my own   So, travelling was convenient on this early morning. I changed at Utrecht, onto ICE International trainservice # 105. Departure was on schedule. I took my reserved single window seat (window/aisle). These seats have good legroom, recline is reasonable, a TV screen featuring 2 channels, and music (when you use headphones, from the armrest). Bar service take orders from your seat, and deliver also to your seat.
The ride was comfortable, but the train was busy as always. Many travellers, lot of talking etc. I decided not to take pictures, as I didn’t want to disturb others.

1st Class section in Dutch domestic Intercity service

At Duisburg Hbf, I changed to a regional service for DUS airport. All on time, and arrival was about 10 minutes later.

I went to the check-in area first, used the SSCI machine and selected out of many free seats. At least no problem to secure a window seat. My TopBonus number was printed on the boarding pass, although you won’t earn much points anymore nowadays on AB. It’s hard to obtain some status and to get free flights together (I recently already lost my Silver status   ).

After check-in, I took the Skytrain back to the trainstation, where the observation deck is located. I bought a ticket (fee: EUR 2.20), and enjoyed a few hours on the roof, with some interesting traffic as well, and some sunshine!


SkyTrain running between terminal and railway station at Dusseldorf Airport


Time came to fly, I took that same Skytrain back to the terminal, went through security, which was a real breeze at DUS. Terminal seems a bit outdated, not much shops around. Also lots of construction works going on at the various gates. Maybe they will change the building into a more modern/convenient one. Time will tell, I think.

The boarding gate, B55, was still not occupied, so I took my seat. After a while, some staff showed up, and finally the long awaited Airbus A330 showed up, following the ‘follew-me’ car. I was surprised, and also happy, to see that my aircraft was in full ‘new’ LTU colourscheme. I think it’s the only example flying as such, before it will be repainted in the AB colours.


’My’ A330-200 arriving from…. somewhere far away!

I expected boarding soon, and on-time, as the aircraft arrived early enough. The servicing outside seemed ready, but 2 male agents at the gate were having more fun together, then giving information to the passengers. No info at all, and we were passing the scheduled departure time. I was getting a bit upset, as I’m airline staff myself, I know how to treat passengers, but of course, AB is not one of the worlds leading airlines… So, I convinced myself to stay calm and to wait, patiently.

Finally, boarding was starting from 14:25hrs, using a single fingergate for this widebody aircraft.

DUS-MUC
Flight No.: AB6033 Date: 15JUN08
STD: 1410 ATD: 1455
STA: 1525 ATA: 1603
A/C: Airbus A330-200 Reg No.: D-ALPD
Seat: 46A – Economy Class

My 1st ride on an Airbus 330, so also the first on this machine. This made my day  .


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Photo © Carl Hendriks - MST-Aviation


I took my seat. Made of blue fabric material. Legroom: very, very poor!
Also no personal IFE system on this long range Airbus. Only screens fitted throughout the cabin. On the ground, the airmap was showing, once in the air, the system was switched off completely and nothing was shown for the entire remaining of the flight.
Total rows count until 50, basically in a 2-4-2 seating. From row 47~50 it’s in 2-3-2 layout.
The seatpocket offered me; 1 safety card (Air Berlin Group), 1 disposal bag, 1 inflight magazine.


Not much legroom on the Air Berlin A330’s


Cabin view of D-ALPD, full-house!

Load on this flight: near 100%. I was really surprised to see so many people on a standard domestic service to MUC, on a midday Sunday flight. Unbelievable. This flight also didn’t proceed to another longhaul destination, and terminated at MUC.


Boardig finished in 20 minutes. After a call mentioning boarding completed, the crew cross-checked doors, and a safety video started on the screens. It was in German and English language. After this video the cabin was checked and we got pushback.

Taxiing was rather long, as we had to make a longer ride due to construction works going on at the main taxiway. Finally we turned onto runway 23L for our departure;



Once airborne, I noticed a lot of turbulence around the area. Although it seemed sunny and a bright day, higher in the air, the airflow was different. Good views on Dusseldorf City and Rhine River on my left, and some beautiful cloud formations.

Views on the city of Dusseldorf and river Rhine


Clouds everywhere around…

Once the seatbelt sign switched off, crew started the distribution of a single drink service. I got a coke (no can, just a plastic cup), and a small complimentary bag of crisps. The other option where cookies with strawberry flavour. As my female neighbour was reading a book, I decided to do my ‘thing’ as well, and enjoyed the flight by looking out of my window, and enjoying the impressive ‘LTU’ branded winglet  .


’Meal service’ on this domestic flight

Not long the service, a moment for the captain. Little information from the flightdeck. Cruising altitude was at 31,000 ft. and he came back on the departure delay, which was likely be caused by routine maintenance work after the previous (longhaul) flight. He apologized for it, and wished us a nice day.


Inflight View

Meanwhile the rubbish was collected again, and the mightly A330 approached Munich closer. It was more cloudy in this Southern part of Germany. Visible was good, but views outside not the best around. Landing was done on runway 26R, and I’ve to mention that it was a very smooth touchdown!


Blockin was roughly 40 minutes behind schedule now. I did not get the arrival gate number, since I decided to hurry for my connection flight trial. I had to go to the other terminal…, which was a new experience for me as well at MUC.

Since I travelled on a sublo ticket, I wouldn’t take the risk to rely on the later flights only. Therefore I was happy to see stairs to groundlevel which directed to a terminal shuttle bus, running on airside. When I arrived in the empty area (gate A31), I read the sign and saw (only) 4 runs per hour. Not much, but good to see my bus arrival in 2 minutes after I got there  . I was the only passenger now using this bus, and the driver took me on airside without further questioning or boarding card check. I enjoyed this short ride at MUC, until I was dropped again at a bus arrival gate at the other terminal.


Information at MUC gate A31 (transfer bus between terminals)

I checked the earliest departure (LH) for AMS, and saw a 16:55hrs flight at gate G23. I quickly went there, wearing my airline ID, and greeted the very friendly male LH ground agent. I handing my ticket, he looked up my listing, and he informed me about the low load on this flight. Good for me. I was able to choose either row 19, or row 4, both with window, since I requested a window seat.
I decided to take seat 4A. I was issued my boarding pass, and he wished me a good flight. I got myself a free coffee from the LH coffeecorner. Good service!
Then, also boarding was announced soon. I couldn’t finish my coffee completely this time, no problem.


I took this flight when I confirmed my seats on LH4700 MUC-AMS

Bus service from gate to aircraft. Interesting tour airside, passing a lot of parked A319/320’s and regional jets (mainly Augsburg Airways). We arrived at the sole Bombardier CRJ-700 parked on this apron. ( all other machines were CRJ200/Dash 8-300/400 and ATR 42). This CRJ-700 would mean another new entry to my log. First time on this aircraft type, and of course also a new registration 

MUC-AMS
Flight No.: LH4700 Date: 15JUN08
STD: 1655 ATD: 1708
STA: 1825 ATA: 1835
A/C: Bombardier CRJ-700 Reg No.: D-ACPM
Seat: 04A – Economy Class

My 1st ride on a CRJ-700, of course also the first on this machine.


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Photo © Andreas Hoppe



Boarding finished soon. I waited almost till the end until I entered the cabin. Greeted by a male, and friendly, crew member. He was the purser on this flight. Row 4 was immediately after the seperation curtain between Business Class and Economy. All other seats at row 4 remained empty, so I had my own ‘private’ space.
Load on this flight, 46 passengers, including 1 in Business, and 1 non-rev (that was me), when I counted correctly.


D-ACPM during boarding

We got some info from the flightdeck, mentioning about a slot time due to bad weather enroute to AMS. Doors remained open for another 10 minutes or so. When they closed, start-up was done also.

Cabin was fitted with the usual grey leather LH seats. Legroom very good, in my opinion. Windows were clean as well.


Seats on a LH CRJ-700 aircraft

We taxied towards runway 26R for takeoff, following 2 larger CRJ-900 examples. And were were followed by an A320. After a few minutes waiting it was our turn to choose the skies;


Bigger sister next to us awaiting her ‘cleared for takeoff’



I found the CRJ-700 very powerful in takeoff. And at row 4, engine noise was low, and pretty comfortable to experience this aircraft. Also during the flight itself, cabin environment was very nice, in my opinion.


Simultaneous take-off at MUC, LH Airbus 319 visible in the background

The crew, being 2 members (the male purser, and a female attendant) started the service not long after takeoff. Choice was a sandwich (salami or cheese), which came together with the usual muesli-bar. My drink was a 0,2l glass bottle of Warsteiner beer, nicely chilled when served  .
I was offered another drink, but I declined.


Mealservice on LH4700 MUC-AMS

During the rest of the calm flight, I watched outside, or played on my PSP. So, time went fast, and we got a nice approach from the North-East part of The Netherlands into AMS. I passed my place of birth and other nice sceneries.


Calm flight, beautiful views!


Approaching over The Netherlands (Province of Flevoland)


Getting closer to AMS…, and last picture in this report  

Landing was performed on runway 36R, touchdown at 18:30hrs. Nice runway for a change (at least for me). Short ride to the terminal building, parking at B11. Disembarking by the aircraft stairs. Short walk on airside, upstairs into the fingergate, and further inside the terminal building.


So, a fun day of flying came to an end. I had a comfortable train experience again, good spotting opportunities at DUS, first time catch on the Airbus A330 (my highlight for the day), but I wasn’t happy with the AB performance on several points (ground staff / delay / lack of information / seatpitch).
My standby adventure on LH turned out well. Another new type for my logbook, the CR7. Helpful and good staff at MUC, as well in the cabin (LH Regional). I can’t complain of course but maybe the sandwich is a bit small for a MUC-AMS sector. Good seats, comfortable aircraft.

Thank you for reading and your interest. I would be happy to reply on your feedback (please do not refrain from leaving a message behind)  

Cheers,
Eric