FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 6607 times:
Introduction
This trip started as I was randomly searching for some flights and noticed a bunch of really cheap flights with Air Berlin ex-HEL. Pretty much all the domestic German destinations were available for around 50-60 EUR, flying via TXL. I decided to book a flight to Saarbücken as that city has been on my “tovisit” list for quite a while and SCN would be a new airport for me. Total cost was a bit under 60 EUR.
Saarbrücken is of course close to Luxembourg. I’ve visited the Grand Duchy before, but never flown to or from LUX, so that sounded like a tempting option for continuing my journey. More so it also gave me an opportunity to fly with Luxair the first time. LG unfortunately is one of those traditional carriers who don’t really offer affordable one-way fares, but after a bit of searching I found a roundtrip ticket to MUC for around 110 EUR, which I booked, deciding to throw away the return segment.
From MUC back to HEL there of course are lots of options, but I really wanted to add a third new airport to my log on this trip so decided to look into Memmingen/Allgäu airport, all “Munich West” like the low costs like to call it, despite it being around 110 km from Munich city. Anyway I found a very cheap Ryanair fare on FMM-NYO for Sunday morning - only 16 EUR all-in including priority boarding so that’s what I ended up booking, deciding to spend the night in Memmingen.
From Skavsta, the initial idea was to take the bus or train up to Stockholm and fly home from there, but somehow all the flights to HEL were very expensive - the only affordable option was the last, midnight flight of the day. Well, Stockholm is a nice city but I didn’t exactly fancy spending 10+ hours there on that particular Sunday, so decided to get creative instead. Wizz was offering a ticket on NYO-GDN for the ridiculously low price of 59 SEK (around 6,50 EUR or a half of what even the bus ticket to Stockholm would cost) which definitely showed up as a large blip in my radar. The time available for the connection was a bit on the tight side, but after a small risk assessment I decided to take my chances anyway - Skavsta is small enough, Swedes are friendly enough and FR’s punctuality (plus the fact that it was the return segment from the plane’s first flight that day which minimized any knock on effects) is good enough for me to be comfortable with it.
From GDN to HEL there were fewer options - too bad the new BT route isn’t yet operating. It boiled down to either the new direct FC flight which I was sort of going to book until I noticed SK offering a connection via CPH for 130 EUR. I still needed a few qualifying SK group flight segments for my EBG card and these would do nicely, so that was a no-brainer actually. Oh, and don’t worry, that FC flight is featured on another upcoming itinerary of mine in May! .
The route ended up looking a bit wicked but fun nevertheless:
Some slight schedule changes (5-15 minutes) occurred but nothing too bad, oh except that the 15 minute one was on the FR flight making the NYO connection even tighter, but still not uncomfortably so.
Finally I fixed up a small a.net meeting a Saarbrücken area local and Luxair expert Johannes, or luxairSP747 here.
Saturday 9.4.2011
Ahh, haven’t taken this early bird flight for quite some time now so I have forgotten what it feels like to get up at five on a Saturday morning.. not exactly fun, let me tell you that! Some quick morning rituals, out to the bus and at T2 five minutes to six. The security queue looks quite bad until I realize that most of the pax are of the charter traveler type and are not actually queuing but just confused the hell out of the new security setup at T2 which means that I can overtake most of them and am through in no time at all.
A quick stop at Stockmann to buy some water and Fazer chocs for Johannes and to the gate 23 - the very same gate where my Norwegian inaugural flight to RVN left a week ago. The plane, of course is already there, having arrived from TXL less than six hours prior:
D-ABFM, an A320 and a new reg for me. Quite a new plane as well, having been delivered to AB around six months ago.
Boarding is called quarter past six, a very orderly queue as usually in Finland has already formed:
HEL - TXL AB8311 A320 D-ABFM Seat 2A 6.39 - 7.18
Quite efficient boarding this morning. The load is around 70% I’d say, with an empty middle seat next to me, yay. The doors are closed five minutes before our departure time, and we are welcomed onboard by “Air Berlin and its codeshare partner Finnair” for a flight taking one and half hours this morning.
Push back is a minute early - blue, blue, everywhere:
Still so ugly:
Well, hello there - not her usual parking position:
AY retro jet:
Interesting livery on this Air Finland 757 - hope to get this bird for my flight with them in May:
Take off is from 04R today, ten minutes after push back. Still some snow around, but a lot less now:
Finland is overcast this morning, so in no time at all we penetrate the low cloudbase and emerge into glorious daylight - how I love the springtime here with every day getting longer and longer...
Service commences soon, this time they announce the usual sandwich choices as “a delicious sandwich, with a choice of either cheese or turkey”. I’m still seeing nightmares about the last time I chose turkey so the cheese one is a safer choice, together with some coffee:
Not a bad one this either, although there is quite a lot more cheese than normally and I can’t say I really like the idea of replacing cucumber with a slice of zucchini - maybe they ran out of the former at the catering place?
As the Air Berlin airshow shows also the wind speed, I notice that we seem to be having quite some tailwind, up to 170 km/h at places which speeds us up nicely.
Right after I decide to catch up on some sleep and doze all the way until our descent.
It soon becomes apparent that I got lucky with my seat choice and we are indeed landing from the east for one of my favorite approaches anywhere - these views of Berlin basking in the morning sun are simply beautiful:
Alexanderplatz in the distance:
Oh yes, we must be in Germany:
Final approach is quite wobbly and uneven, the heavy winds are apparently at work here as well. Landing is on runway 26R after a flight time of 1h29mins.
Lots of Boeings:
Landing right after us:
BMI to Heathrow:
Berlin Tegel Airport
This time I’m happy that we get a jetway in the main terminal building, even though the flight to SCN will almost certainly leave from the Air Berlin C terminal shack.
Happy - why? Well, the independent lounge here in the main building recently added Diners Club as its partner and I’m more than happy to stop there for a moment. Before disembarking the chocolate hearts are handed out - I’m a bit surprised by this and ask the steward “I thought you are only supposed to hand these out on domestic flights?” but he doesn’t seem to get it...
Yes, the C gates it is - but “gate open” at T minus one and half hours? I don’t think so!
On the way to the lounge I stop at the stationery store to buy a new (and very expensive!) notebook as I foolishly left mine home (together with my logbook, bugger!).
Ok, here we go:
I was in this lounge once before courtesy of airBaltic - it’s quite decent although very small and no free wifi (blasted T-Mobile monopoly):
My new notebook and the AB chocolate heart:
I’m the only one here for about two minutes but then two other guys join me - soon enough they turn out to be Finns as well - well who else would manage to down a litre of beer each in half an hour when it’s not even eight o’clock?!
After a while it is time to start heading to the C terminal. On the way I pass this interesting Airbus:
Looks like they didn’t bother repainting it after taking over from the former owners, Hamburg International.
The C terminal check in hall has a raffle of people:
However the security setup is again a brilliant display of German efficiency with no wait at all - they even have a special lane for transfer pax, but that’s not needed this time. Airside, again lots of people:
Hmm, I haven’t seen this before - looks like AB has introduced a lounge here:
Only accessible with Top Bonus status cards:
Boarding is called around 25 minutes before departure. No bus ride needed, just a short walk across the apron to the waiting plane, D-ABLC, the expected 737-700 model and one that I’ve already flown once before:
One of the ground agents seems to be very happy about the sunshine - he is dancing around the plane .
I picked the last row seat, so up the back stairs:
A very good load again, I’d say over 95%, but again the last row rule worked nicely and I get an empty middle seat next to me.
Izair, nice livery:
Flight time is announced as one hour. Push back is four minutes early, with take off from 26L nine minutes later.
Service consists of a hot, fresh Laugenstangen and drinks:
Very good views on our route - here’s Erfurt:
And its airport (ERF):
Aschaffenburg on the Main river:
Mainhattan in the distance:
...which of course mans that FRA is not far away:
Shipping traffic on the Rhine:
Our long descent starts just after passing Frankfurt, more amazing views follow as we head into Saarland. This is Kaiserslautern, or “K-town” like the US troops stationed nearby refer to it:
The infamous Ramstein AFB - notice the number of heavy lifters on the apron:
Beautiful:
The town of Zweibrücken:
Landing is on runway 27 after 56 minutes in the air, followed by heavy breaking (and spontaneous hand clapping, thanks to some kind of school group in the plane!) - the runway here isn’t that long:
Well, we’d definitely call this summer in Finland - the weather is simply gorgeous, sunny, clear skies and almost twenty degrees:
We stop next to this Sky Airlines 738, departing shortly to AYT:
That looks like a Fokker tail to me!
LG has a secondary hub at SCN, with many flights routed via SCN to their ultimate destinations:
A short walk to the terminal:
Bye:
Hmm, I bet Markus is the only person who actually has transferred here:
Saarbrücken and around
I head into the arrivals hall where Johannes is already waiting. He kindly offered to drive me around and show me some sights - first we head to Völklinger Hütte, an old steel mill and an Unesco world heritage site:
Some kind of heritage thing going on:
Afterwards it is time to head into the city of Saarbrücken to enjoy the gorgeous weather:
...and of course the German favorite malted beverage:
The fire brigade of the area is celebrating their 200 year existence - hence the period costumes on these guys:
Far too soon it is time to head to the train station, also doubling as the bus station:
Getting a ticket from the DB ticket office is a bit frustrating as all the passengers there seem to be taking their sweet time to be served - well, as Johannes points out all the passengers whose business is straightforward would be using the self service machines anyway! In the end I get my ticket and it is time to head to the bus:
I bid farewell and thanks to Johannes and head inside. A very friendly driver points out that my ticket is also good for all public transportation inside Luxembourg today - most appreciated. After I tell him I’m heading to the airport he makes sure I know the right bus and quotes me the timetable from his memory - most impressive and friendly.
He is also very confused and curious about my travels today - a Finn flying to Saarbrücken just to take a bus to Luxembourg to fly back to Germany... I try to explain but he really doesn’t get it . Well, we end up talking about his holiday in Sweden and Norway some years ago, but are abruptly interrupted when an African girl with very basic German and not much else shows up and doesn’t have enough money for the bus fare...
That discussion gets rather heated, but finally an Indian guy arrives and offers to give the girl the missing money - it was only 2 EUR - had I known this I could’ve done it as well! By that time it is already time to leave so we head off to the Autobahn. Total load in the bus: 5 pax.
Very pretty views along the route, and an hour and twenty minutes later we arrive at the Gare in Luxembourg. I chat some more with the driver, apparently he has never met a Finn before and is very curious. Finally I tell him I must go and he points out the bus stop for the airport bus 16 for me - thanks pal, you were really friendly!
Luxembourg
I was planning on having a late lunch here, but apparently the Luxembourgians have decided that this is not an appropriate hour to be eating as all the normal restaurants around the station area are closed and fast foo
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Reply 1, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 6638 times:
I was planning on having a late lunch here, but apparently the Luxembourgians have decided that this is not an appropriate hour to be eating as all the normal restaurants around the station area are closed and fast food doesn’t really sound that good to me. Finally I end up at the most curious place - a Russian coffeeshop - I guess it’ll have to do. At least it has a nice terrace (which almost gets me sunburnt - yes the weather was that gorgeous!).
Well, not a bad choice at all, despite the appallingly slow service (but friendly after I use up all my Russian vocabulary by being polite), the pelmeni are delicious:
After getting stuffed I wobble back towards the station - oh, now THIS explains why lots of girls were giving me the eye around these seedy quarters:
Dedicated to airbuseric:
Don’t drink and drive - instead park your car in this parking hall and drink here:
The station seems to be inhabited by all walks of life - very Luxembourgian they don’t look, that’s for sure. Soon enough the next bus pulls up, my bus ticket is accepted just fine I settle for the journey to the airport, which ends up taking quite a bit longer than I anticipated - the bus is packed up to the Kirchberg district where most of the people get off at a stop in front of a huge shopping mall...
Luxembourg Airport
Wow, a very impressive new terminal building:
And empty, as can be expected on a Saturday afternoon:
Still a few flights:
I did OLCI the previous night, so I just head through security, which is of course completely empty. Interestingly the guy screening the boarding passes asks for my ID as well - I don’t think that’s ever happened outside the US for me...
The shopping area feels a bit claustrophobic with the low ceiling:
PGA Fokker 100 bound for OPO:
And Luxair, of course:
Nice tail - this 737 is operating a holiday flight to Hurghada:
I think that’ll be my ride, no other Dashes around:
Having seen enough of the airport facilities I head upstairs to the sole lounge at this airport - and wow, what a nice place it turns out to be:
Sweet things:
And salty things:
Despite stuffing myself silly just an hour earlier I can’t resist and grab some nibbles - have I ever mentioned how I love good cheese?
I really like the name of this wine - being the pro-EU person (and eurotrotter) that I am:
The only negative thing about the lounge is that wifi costs money, but at least it is reasonably priced at 3,90 EUR for two hours.
PGA departing:
Bye:
This Atlas Air 744F must’ve been very heavy as it used pretty much all the available runway, I think the PGA F100 rotated after a third of the amount required by this beast:
Unfortunately I have only a short amount of time to spend in the lounge before the flight status changes to boarding, so it’s back downstairs and to the bus gate.
A very friendly gate agent wishes me a good flight. Another level downstairs to the waiting bus and soon enough the last passengers arrive and we drive the short way to our plane. It indeed is the one I saw earlier - LX-LGF, obviously a new one for my log:
Inside the plane still smells brand new - well, it is a new one, delivered to Luxair only two months ago. The seats are pretty much the same ones that the new BT Dashes have:
Good legroom and comfortable enough. The inflight mag:
Quite a few German businessmen on this flight, the one on the opposite side of the aisle is most curious about the number of shots I take with my camera but I ignore his glaring. The load is around 60%, with an empty seat next to me.
The captain welcomes us onboard and announces a flight time of fifty minutes, with twenty degrees and clear blue skies at Munich. Departure is five minutes early. The terminal building - I think those jetways don’t get that much use given the plane types usually operating here:
Some sort of terminal extension, non-Schengen perhaps?
Another Dash inside the maintenance hangar:
We take off from runway 06 right at our scheduled departure time, well done.
Bye, LUX:
The Mosel river, which means we are already back in German airspace:
I drove over that bridge in the bus just a few hours ago:
More great views of Germany follow on this flight - here’s the Saarbrücken area with some heavy industry still remaining:
SCN airport - maybe I should fly there someday?
Zweibrücken airport (ZQW) - the former Zweibrücken Air Force Base:
Service is a choice of either a cheese or ham sandwich - I decide to brave the ham one:
This is a very nice sandwich - tasty, fresh, soft and large. Love it. Drinks round follows - after asking for white wine I’m proactively also offered water - nice touch:
Crossing the Rhine again:
STR airport in the distance:
Around 40 minutes into the flight the seat belt is switched on again and the city of Munich comes into view:
Allianz Arena visible:
MUC - at this point it becomes apparent we are doing a downwind leg and then turning around for a landing on the 26s.
Candies are handed out just before the FAs strap themselves in:
Hey - finally I managed to catch a “smoky tires” moment:
Landing is on runway 26R after a flight time of 54 minutes.
It definitely is Lufthansa territory:
LOT E-jet with a special “Malopolska” tail:
A couple of minutes later we park at the commuter apron. A shot of my seat:
Bye, it was a great flight:
A bus ride into the terminal and I’m surprised by being one of the three other pax from our flight heading into arrivals - all the others seem to be connecting.
München and Around
I head to the S-bahn station, thans to our early arrival it looks like I can take an earlier train connection to Memmingen than I originally planned. Luckily the DB website was smart enough to sell me a “Bayern Ticket” which gives me unlimited travel for the whole day on all the regional trains and buses so I’m free to pick my own connections.
By S1 to Hauptbahnhof - I don’t like this connection as it stops too many times and as a consequence is slow. I think they should introduce an express service to ease the travel to and from the airport.
At Hbf it looks like there’s a huge party going on, lots of people swagging beer and generally being happy. I spot a guy with a T-shirt from the Finnish band “Eläkeläiset” (for some reason hugely popular in Germany) so I teach him a couple of Finnish swearwords...
I have a bit of time before the next train so I head out to a traditional Bavarian beer hall for a pint of Weiss:
Nice interior:
Then it’s back to the station - hmm, not sure what this is supposed to symbolize:
Sun setting towards the west:
My train is completely packed - most of the passengers are drinking beer and more or less drunk. Quite a few people are wearing traditional Bavarian Lederhosen...
An hour later I get off with half the rowdy people at the nondescript town of Buchloe and board another local train for the last 40 minute ride into Memmingen. The people are even more rowdier in this train - quite funny actually.
See, Lederhosen:
Memmingen - finally I have arrived:
It was quite a journey - but loved every minute of it!
Memmingen
From the station it’s a short walk through the dark and deserted (although the beer halls and other watering holes seem to be completely packed with noisy people - too bad I’m far too tired to partake) streets to my hotel, the Drexie’s Park Hotel.
A bit old fashioned property - but not a bad one at all and they even have free wifi. After using it for a while I decide to call it a day and drift off to dreamland...
Conclusions
This first part ends here. I will cover the return journey in the second part, online after I’ve completed some more travel . It will also feature the real conclusion part.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): Our long descent starts just after passing Frankfurt, more amazing views follow as we head into Saarland. This is Kaiserslautern, or “K-town” like the US troops stationed nearby refer to it:
I drove past Kaiserslautern en route from London to Austria in November.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter):
I bid farewell and thanks to Johannes and head inside. A very friendly driver points out that my ticket is also good for all public transportation inside Luxembourg today - most appreciated. After I tell him I’m heading to the airport he makes sure I know the right bus and quotes me the timetable from his memory - most impressive and friendly.
FLIEGER67 From Turkey, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 3, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 6456 times:
Hi, P.,
great stuff, you know I´am looking around for you´re southern german experiences.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter):
Ahh, haven’t taken this early bird flight for quite some time now so I have forgotten what it feels like to get up at five on a Saturday morning.. not exactly fun, let me tell you that!
Three for me, next Thursday
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): A very good load again, I’d say over 95%, but again the last row rule worked nicely and I get an empty middle seat next to me.
Checked in for two more last rows and I hope it finally works also for me.
You know, that´s the technical homebase for this ever punctual, never delayed or cancelled airline!.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter):
Hmm, I bet Markus is the only person who actually has transferred here:
Sure, TXL to DUS via SCN, one of these shaking head examples.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): . He kindly offered to drive me around and show me some sights - first we head to Völklinger Hütte, an old steel mill and an Unesco world heritage site:
Superb, scheduled in less than two weeks for me and my son, but by car this time.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): On the way to the lounge I stop at the stationery store to buy a new (and very expensive!) notebook as I foolishly left mine home (together with my logbook, bugger!).
Terrible, travels without notebook, no way, also for me.
I remember that suspicious view from a seat neighbour while paging through my example while checking for a new reg. or not
Palmjet From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 1051 posts, RR: 16 Reply 4, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 6425 times:
FF - hi there. What? No quick travels through our fair Kingdom last weekend? I was most disappointed to see you had decided to spend your time in Germany and Luxembourg. We had just as nice weather in the UK as you seem to have had!!! Glad you enjoyed your flights - a nice schedule for you.
Nice to get the Dash 8 - 400 too, which as you know, I am a fan of. Looks like Luxair provide a nice standard of service. I really dont like their colour scheme however - I get the idea, but the lines of the colours on the tail just looks wrong and out of alignment.
I also dont like AY's new colours either - managed to see a 333 and EM190 in HEL a few weeks back - made me almost cry. What were they thinking?
You got me thinking about Dash 8s in Norway. I am planning something that is pure Dash 8 crazy the last weekend of May. Interested in a 5 stop flight from Batsfjord to Oslo???
Exactly 2000 meters, I remember SCN airport quite well from the days of my flight training back in the 90s, have done quite a few flights there in the little Cessnas, for them the runway of course was more than sufficient. It was funny because they always deployed a Follow-Me-Car for me. Quite a bit overkill given the very small apron there. But I guess the driver was happy to have something to do with just the handful of flights there.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): the weather is simply gorgeous, sunny, clear skies and almost twenty degrees:
Yes, the weather was just awesome last weekend here in Germany, definitely too warm for april, but I didn't complain. But since then it has deteriorated again.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 1): oh, now THIS explains why lots of girls were giving me the eye around these seedy quarters:
Luxemburg is very nice city, but the area around the main station is quite rundown. You should have gone more towards the old town.
I have never flown with Luxair but it seems to be a nice airline. Great you got a new airplane.
Ahh, the port and the western parts of Karlsruhe, great to see a pic of my home town, maybe 20 seconds later you flew over my home.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 1): Hey - finally I managed to catch a “smoky tires” moment:
Well done, that's what I like about the Dash 8, it is always good for a nice photo with the extended gear.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 1): I spot a guy with a T-shirt from the Finnish band “Eläkeläiset” (for some reason hugely popular in Germany)
Hey, I have just been on their concert last friday in Karlsruhe, great show. Humppa They are indeed quite popular here, probably because the music is quite different and a little crazy, but makes for a good party.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 1): I have a bit of time before the next train so I head out to a traditional Bavarian beer hall for a pint of Weiss:
I bet you know that a real traditional Bavarian beer is a "mass", means a whole litre of beer. These small glasses like you had are just for tourists
Well, thanks again for this report, was a very nice read. Looking forward to part 2.
deltamartin From Sweden, joined Dec 2010, 1059 posts, RR: 9 Reply 6, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 6334 times:
Hey FlyingFinn!
Great tripreport, interesting read as usual!
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): first we head to Völklinger Hütte, an old steel mill and an Unesco world heritage site:
Seems like a place i'd visit!
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter):
I really like the name of this wine - being the pro-EU person (and eurotrotter) that I am:
I'm actually a part of a project at my school, where we are discussing EU, their work, and the pro's and con's about a membership. And the Schengen-Agreement are ofcourse one of the best pro's! The best part of the project will be a trip to Strasbourg in may, to visit the EU-Parliament!
airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 8, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 5906 times:
Hi P.,
fantastic report, Luxair, hard to fly for us. Actually have been looking to get a flight on them already as well, but AMS-LUX is a bit pricy, and train connection is bad (takes too much time, so far). I am somehow very surprised with the candy you got on Luxair: " Hopjes " . That's actually a "Haagse Hopje", a typical Dutch candy. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopje.
Regards
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
Not only on a saturday...never been there, when it was really busy.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): Having seen enough of the airport facilities I head upstairs to the sole lounge at this airport - and wow, what a nice place it turns out to be:
Very nice place, indeed, what card did you use to get inside?
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): I have a bit of time before the next train so I head out to a traditional Bavarian beer hall for a pint of Weiss:
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6082 posts, RR: 56 Reply 10, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 5759 times:
Hi FlyingFinn!
Very nice report of this mulit-leg intinery. Nice for you to try some new carriers like LG. The Dash 8 looks nice! Nice scenery from Germany and Luxembourg. LUX looks nice but underused......
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
Oh dear Markus, oh dear. Have you thought about getting a new airport built in Tübingen just for you?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 3): That looks like a Fokker tail to me!
You know, that´s the technical homebase for this ever punctual, never delayed or cancelled airline!.
Yeah, that's what Johannes told me. So probably a familiar tail for you!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 3): Hmm, I bet Markus is the only person who actually has transferred here:
Sure, TXL to DUS via SCN, one of these shaking head examples.
I remember that report just fine. It actually inspired me to try to catch a flight with LGW and the DO-228 on the same route, but unfortunately those flights were cancelled and the type withdrawn from service before I got around doing it
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 3): He kindly offered to drive me around and show me some sights - first we head to Völklinger Hütte, an old steel mill and an Unesco world heritage site:
Superb, scheduled in less than two weeks for me and my son, but by car this time.
Oh, that's a nice coincidence. Hope the weather will be as nice then!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 3): STR airport in the distance:
Should I count this place to my route map?.
Not as a new departure airport, no way.
Quoting Palmjet (Reply 4):
FF - hi there. What? No quick travels through our fair Kingdom last weekend? I was most disappointed to see you had decided to spend your time in Germany and Luxembourg.
Sorry, but I think it is time to give some other countries a chance every now and then.
Quoting Palmjet (Reply 4): I really dont like their colour scheme however - I get the idea, but the lines of the colours on the tail just looks wrong and out of alignment.
I guess it is supposed to represent a waving flag - I like the livery. It's not that different from the BA tail, is it really?
Quoting Palmjet (Reply 4): I also dont like AY's new colours either - managed to see a 333 and EM190 in HEL a few weeks back - made me almost cry. What were they thinking?
Well, you are not alone with that opinion! Actually I've never heard anybody liking it! The tail logo is ok, but the font used on the company logo is just horrible. AY themselves said that it was designed to "be as attractive as possible for the Asian passengers"...
Quoting Palmjet (Reply 4): You got me thinking about Dash 8s in Norway. I am planning something that is pure Dash 8 crazy the last weekend of May. Interested in a 5 stop flight from Batsfjord to Oslo???
Hey PJ, sorry I forgot to send you a PM about this earlier. I'll do one later. But that's bad timing for me, though.
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 5): lovely picture with the engine so nicely illuminated by the sun
One of my favorite photo angles from a plane!
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 5): Luxemburg is very nice city, but the area around the main station is quite rundown. You should have gone more towards the old town.
Yeah, but I didn't have too much time and wasn't sure of the route the bus took so I wanted to catch it at the Gare. In retrospective I could've gone to the old town and then catch it there. I've been there before, though, but the weather back then was not so good, not by a long shot...
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 5): Ahh, the port and the western parts of Karlsruhe, great to see a pic of my home town, maybe 20 seconds later you flew over my home.
So your prophecy turned out to be true!
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 5): Hey, I have just been on their concert last friday in Karlsruhe, great show. Humppa They are indeed quite popular here, probably because the music is quite different and a little crazy, but makes for a good party.
Yeah, I've been to some gigs of them as well. I just can't figure out how you Germans can like them without understanding anything of the Finnish lyrics - as those are very good and tongue in cheek...
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 5): I bet you know that a real traditional Bavarian beer is a "mass", means a whole litre of beer. These small glasses like you had are just for tourists
I know, but I didn't have that much time and besides didn't want to spend the train ride(s) in the loo (which BTW got clogged on the second train, now that was disgusting with the Lederhosen guys swagging beer like it's going out of fashion...).
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 6): I'm actually a part of a project at my school, where we are discussing EU, their work, and the pro's and con's about a membership. And the Schengen-Agreement are ofcourse one of the best pro's! The best part of the project will be a trip to Strasbourg in may, to visit the EU-Parliament!
That's cool. Although strictly speaking EU and Schengen are two distinct things, but of course one wouldn't exist without the other. Just look how the Norwegians and Swiss people are reaping all the benefits of Schengen with none of the burden of the EU!
Quoting jrfspa320 (Reply 7): Was the Q400 the new NG version? Notice much difference?
Yeah, it is a Next Generation one. No, not really. I've flown quite a few NGs with BT before, I think the interior is a bit more modern than the prior generation, but otherwise the changes are not really that evident for the pax.
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 8): I am somehow very surprised with the candy you got on Luxair: " Hopjes " . That's actually a "Haagse Hopje", a typical Dutch candy.
Yes, I know. That's why I included a picture of it - funny indeed.
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 8): Actually have been looking to get a flight on them already as well, but AMS-LUX is a bit pricy, and train connection is bad
How about LUX-LCY? There's competition between CityJet and Luxair (plus BA on LHR) so that should bring fares down? I don't think the train connection is that bad, two hours to Brussels and two hours from there to Amsterdam (I guess).
Quoting luxair747SP (Reply 9): Fazer chocs for Johannes
Thank you so much again, I am already addicted to it.
Glad you liked them! And since you are addicted, now you have no excuse not to visit Finland!
Quoting luxair747SP (Reply 9): Very nice place, indeed, what card did you use to get inside?
Good old Diners Club. LUX is a recent addition to the list.
Quoting luxair747SP (Reply 9): LX-LGF, obviously a new one for my log
Thats the only Dash, i havent been on so far, but im sure somewhen I will be.
Hey, I call it beginner's luck.
Quoting The777Man (Reply 10): Nice for you to try some new carriers like LG.
Oh yes, those are getting harder and harder to log with the low hanging fruits already picked up a long time ago. One more new carrier coming up in May and more plans in the pipeline...!
DALCE From Netherlands, joined Feb 2007, 1581 posts, RR: 7 Reply 12, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 5635 times:
Time for me to get back leaving my comments to the brilliant TR's you are dropping here!
You really managed to secure a very uncommon itinerary for this trip, and hell I like it
Luxair is not too well covered here ( if covered at all ) and their new Dash really looks smart.
Your pictures also show me again, what I like about Germany, with all their beautiful buildings and architectures.
The railwaystation guy is really looking a bit doubtful......hmmm, One must think not too much, but it sure is coincidence and not ment to look this familiar....
So all in all, a nice read and get the second part online quick
Cheers,
Joost (DALCE)
flown on : F50,F70,CR1,CR2,CR9,E75,143,AR8,AR1,733,735,736,73G,738,753,744,319,320,321,AB6. Next flights AMS-ZRH-AMS on
Palmjet From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 1051 posts, RR: 16 Reply 14, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 5552 times:
FF - thanks for that
Quote: Hey PJ, sorry I forgot to send you a PM about this earlier. I'll do one later. But that's bad timing for me, though.
No problem. Ah I see. I've managed to do a bit of digging and whilst not cheap, there are some amazingly long flights to be had in Northern Norway !!!! The last week of May works for me because the last Monday in May is a UK Bank Holiday so I don't have to take any holiday time from work. I was looking at some dates in August however as well.
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2332 posts, RR: 53 Reply 16, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 5149 times:
Hi P.,
You have mapped out an amazing route. The pattern reminds me somehow of the Milky Way.
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience with LG. It seems a nice airline to fly with.
Nice to know you had a great time with Johannes and thanks for sharing the city view, especially the distinctive neighborhood around the Russian restaurant. By the way, Johannes did not have to worry after seeing you off to be taken care of the charming bus driver.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): but after a bit of searching I found a roundtrip ticket to MUC for around 110 EUR, which I booked, deciding to throw away the return segment.
Don't you want to use the return segment later on?
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): which means that I can overtake most of them and am through in no time at all.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): On the way to the lounge I stop at the stationery store to buy a new (and very expensive!) notebook as I foolishly left mine home (together with my logbook, bugger!).
Ouch, not the worst nightmare of a trip reporter, but still!
sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1181 posts, RR: 29 Reply 17, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 4955 times:
Hi P,
Nice story again! 'Always take the weather with you', you know, some very nice pictures of the lush green German countryside. LUX indeed seems a nice airport and a new Dash is always a treat!
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6190 posts, RR: 79 Reply 18, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 4944 times:
HI FlyingFinn,
interesting report with nice pictures, I liked the LG part in particular.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): LG unfortunately is one of those traditional carriers who don’t really offer affordable one-way fares, but after a bit of searching I found a roundtrip ticket to MUC for around 110 EUR, which I booked, deciding to throw away the return segment.
It's indeed a quite expensive carrier, the high fares have always discouraged me.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): I think they should introduce an express service to ease the travel to and from the airport.
Planned for a long time...but whenever you try to build ANYTHING in Germany, you face massive opposition...
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 5): I bet you know that a real traditional Bavarian beer is a "mass", means a whole litre of beer. These small glasses like you had are just for tourists
Traditional Bavarian Weißbier MUST be served in these 0.5 liter glasses.
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Reply 19, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 4881 times:
Hi guys, thanks for all the encouraging comments! Always appreciated and keep 'em coming!
Quoting DALCE (Reply 12): You really managed to secure a very uncommon itinerary for this trip, and hell I like it
Well, I'm known to have some weird itineraries every now and then..
Quoting DALCE (Reply 12): Luxair is not too well covered here ( if covered at all ) and their new Dash really looks smart.
There have been a few reports about them, at least Johannes has written one or two. But yes, a very nice small carrier and the Dash definitely is a great plane.
I think they should introduce an express service to ease the travel to and from the airport.
Planned for a long time...but whenever you try to build ANYTHING in Germany, you face massive opposition...
Quoting DALCE (Reply 12): Your pictures also show me again, what I like about Germany, with all their beautiful buildings and architectures.
Also some of the not so nice architecture from the post war area...
Quoting DALCE (Reply 12): So all in all, a nice read and get the second part online quick
Well. it'll take a few days as I haven't even started yet and I'm in the lounge at PSA airport right now .
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 13): Its amazing how much you accomplished in a single day, and what a beautiful day it was. Really nice sun over there in Germany and Luxembourg!
Yeah, come to think of it it was quite an exhaustive and long day...!
Quoting akhmad (Reply 16): Don't you want to use the return segment later on?
Well the cheapest fare I found had the return segment I think eight days later which just didn't suit my plans at all, so no chance to use it.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 16): Whose livery is the one right next to AY A321?
That's the new Air Finland livery - it's a Finnish holiday/charter carrier. I'll be trying them out the first time in May with AGP-HEL booked.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 16): SCN airport - maybe I should fly there someday?
Did you just fly there or am I confused here?
Yes I did. It's called humor. Mine is often hard to understand for most people .
Quoting sultanils (Reply 17): deciding to throw away the return segment.
Oh my, you could've given it to me
Well, you are free to have it, I think it's for next Monday. But somehow I doubt your name is the same as mine. But in the highly unlikely event it is, drop me a private message .
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 18): interesting report with nice pictures, I liked the LG part in particular.
Yeah, AB has been covered a lot here. Not that they are not a nice carrier, but they are so consistent (and that's good!) that any report about them is representative of the whole operation...
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 18): This is a very nice sandwich - tasty, fresh, soft and large.
That looks really tasty!
Yep, it was something I would be happy to buy from a sandwich shop for my lunch!
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 18): I think they should introduce an express service to ease the travel to and from the airport.
Planned for a long time...but whenever you try to build ANYTHING in Germany, you face massive opposition...
Well, it's the same about Finland - don't even get me started about the HEL airport train connection or the expansion of the Helsinki metro network...
But I don't think they would need any construction, just introduce some trains that use the existing tracks but skip most of the stops. Hbf, Marienplatz and Obf should be the stops - that would cut at least 10 minutes out of the journey time.
reifel From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 1135 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 4668 times:
Great report! It's funny since I was in SCN one day later in order to fly my first time from SCN and fly with LG (to TXL). I found them quite good, especially the "big one" (that's the way they call the Dash, since they also use the "small" Embraer 145). They use the Dashs to fly down as far as BCN (and sometimes use two planes if the loads are big).
I think that the lounge in TXL is lousy... They don't even have Coke or any other soft drink! But the pictures of the lounge in LUX look great.
I'm looking forward to read the rest of your trip. I will for sure write a report about my SCN/LG trip as well
Av8rDAL From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 456 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 1 day ago) and read 4522 times:
Great report and great photos!
I flew on the old Haapag-Lloyd Express out of TXL about six years ago. We used the main terminal for check in, so I don't remember the shed/warehouse/chicken house that Air Berlin is using now. Looks crowded like Stansted.
My impression of Luxembourg also left a bit to be desired. Central Station & vicinity was a bit seedy, but that's normal in many cities. The general lack of weekend nightlife was attributed to most of the EU workers having left for the weekend to go back home to neighboring countries, according to the friend I visited there.
And it appears that you have wandered into the Bavarian "Starkbierzeit", the traditional Lenten "strong beer" season. You don't need much of it to get rather lit up! My friends in Munich call it their Fifth Season.
Maintain thine airspeed, lest the Earth rise up and smite thee.
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6190 posts, RR: 79 Reply 22, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 4330 times:
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Well, it's the same about Finland - don't even get me started about the HEL airport train connection or the expansion of the Helsinki metro network...
Well, it cannot be the same considering that even new nuclear power plants are being built in your country! Which is not not bad at all, IMO...
It looks like Ireland ! There are two Lidls in my town lol...
Id love to get on Luxair sometime always wanted to try them . I always wanted to get on that B747SP ! Sadly never did.
Happy flying .
Philip
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
25 BNE: And other Top Tier Oneworld Frequent Flyers when Air Berlin join oneworld. Which airline in Star Alliance uses the Fokker. It wouldn't be a trip repo
26 FlyingFinn76: Hi guys, Thanks for the comments - always appreciated. That's quite a novel idea actually! The second flight must use some special flight number... Yo
27 infodesk: Hi P, It seems you've been busy....and I have some catching up to do. You really did have a packed weekend, with some nice sightseeing. Glad you got t
28 FlyingFinn76: Hi Hannah, Thanks for your comments! Anda very nice airline it turned out to be! Yeah, sorry, that must've been a Freudian slip - I was thinking of Fo
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