Lufthansa Economy Class Airbus A321 LH1276

Route

LH1276,  Frankfurt to Malta Luqa, 24 August 2012.

Duration

2 hours 25 min.

On time departure and arrival

Departed 5 minutes late.
Arrived 11 minutes late.

Ground crew and check-in

We were able to check in online 23 hours before the flight.
We arrived by long distance train and dropped our luggage off at the AlRail Terminal at Frankfurt airport
Our printed online boarding passes served as boarding tickets.
Check-in and luggage drop off at the counters was handled by Lufthansa staff.
Ground staff was friendly and very helpful.

Boarding procedure

Priority boarding for business class passengers, families with small children and assisted passengers.
This flight was fully booked and the crew asked passengers to board by row number, but most passengers ignored it.
The electronic boarding gates were in use, where you scan the barcode on your ticket to open the gate.
We boarded via a mobile bridge.

Luggage allowance

Hand luggage - One carry on bag 8kg max
Checked luggage - 23kg

Seating

Number of seats - 200 in total, economy has limited recline seats. Lufthansa refitted most of their regional aircraft with new seats. These new seats are very comfortable and allow for generous leg room.
The seating configuration depends on how many business class seats are allocated.
Most seating websites, (even Lufthansa ) shows Economy starting in row 9, on our flight it started in row 6.
The configuration from row 9 - 11 is of particular interest as it is over the emergency exit. 
Row 9 A- C are normal seats.  9 D and E, is a two seat row and there is a crew seat behind 9D
Row 10 only have two seats - E and F - these seats have extra legroom.
Row 11 A- C and 11 D have extra legroom.
Emergency exit row seats cannot be book online, they are allocated when checking in at the counters.
View more information at  Lufthansa A321 seatmap or Seatguru A321 Economy seat information

There were limited locker space available in row 9 A-C because pillows were stored in the overhead locker.

Amenities

None.

Entertainment

Newspapers were available at the boarding gate waiting area. In-flight magazine available in seat pocket.

In-flight communication

None

Meals and refreshments

Breakfast
We were served a blueberry muffin.
Any special meals must be pre-ordered when you make your reservation.
Coffee, tea, beer, wine and other beverages were served after our meal.

Toilets

The toilets were kept clean, economy class can only use the toilets at the back of the aircraft.
Basin to wash hands and brush teeth.

In-flight shopping

Available.

Travelling with Children

Toys were handed out to children.
Milk and baby food can be warmed up by the cabin crew.
Read more on Lufthansa - Travelling with children.

Crew

I found the crew competent and friendly. Instructions were given in German and English.

Disembarking

Business class disembarked first. We took a short bus ride to the terminal building.

Overall opinion

What I liked
The new seats are very comfortable and the muffin tasty.
The plane was quiet with not too many rattles and noise.

Not so good
There are only toilets at the back of the plane, this can be a problem when food is being served or in flight shopping trolleys are blocking the aisle.



Economy Seats



Legroom

Breakfast

Breakfast



Basin in toilet









Lufthansa Economy Class Airbus A321 - LH1277

Route

LH1277,  Malta Luqa to Frankfurt, 22 August 2012.

Duration

2 hours 45 min

On time departure and arrival

Departed 20 minutes late but arrived almost on time.

Ground crew and check-in

We were able to check in online 23 hours before the flight.
We dropped off our luggage at the Lufthansa check-in counters.
Our printed online boarding passes served as boarding tickets.
Check-in, and luggage drop off at the Lufthansa counters was handled by Malta airport staff.
Ground staff was friendly and very helpful.

Boarding procedure

Priority boarding for business class passengers, families with small children and assisted passengers. Boarding cards were manually scanned by the ground crew. I noticed some passengers using mobile boarding passes.
We boarded a bus to the aircraft.

Luggage allowance

Hand luggage - One carry on bag 8kg max
Checked luggage - 23kg

Seating

Number of seats - 200 in total, economy has limited recline seats. Lufthansa refitted most of their regional aircraft with new seats. These new seats are very comfortable and allow for generous leg room
The seating configuration depends on how many business class seats are allocated
Most seating websites, (even Lufthansa ) shows Economy starting in row 9, on our flight it started in row 6.
The configuration from row 9 - 11 is of particular interest as it is over the emergency exit. 
Row 9 A- C are normal seats.  9 D and E, is a two seat row and there is a crew seat behind 9D
Row 10 only have two seats - E and F - these seats have extra legroom.
Row 11 A- C and 11 D have extra legroom.
Emergency exit row seats cannot be book online, they are allocated when checking in at the counters.

View more information at  Lufthansa A321 seatmap or Seatguru A321 Economy seat information

 The overhead locker space was adequate.

Amenities

None.

Entertainment

German and Maltese newspapers were available upon boarding. In-flight magazine available in seat pocket.

In-flight communication

None

Meals and refreshments

Lunch
No tray -  We were served a traditional Bavarian breakfast. Weisswurst  and a pretzel roll (Laugensemmel)
Any special meals must be pre-ordered when you make your reservation.
Coffee, tea, beer, wine and other beverages were served before our meal as well as afterwards.

Toilets

The toilets were kept clean, economy class can only use the toilets at the back of the aircraft.
Basin to wash hands and brush teeth.

In-flight shopping

Available.

Travelling with Children

Toys were handed out to children
Milk and baby food can be warmed up by the cabin crew
Read more on Lufthansa - Travelling with children

Crew

I found the crew competent and friendly. Instructions were given in German and English.

Disembarking

Business class disembarked first. We had an aircraft bridge to the terminal building. at Frankfurt airport.

Overall opinion

What I liked
The new seats are very comfortable and the food tasty.
The plane was quiet with not too many rattles and noise.

Not so good
There are only toilets at the back of the plane, this can be a problem when food is being served or in flight shopping trolleys are blocking the aisle.



Economy Seats



Legroom



Lunch




Lunch




Drinks




Basin in toilet









LAG's (Liquids, Aerosols and Gels)

I have a friend who travelled from Johannesburg to Stuttgart via Frankfurt. He went through airport security at OR Tambo International, and  bought some chilli sauces at the duty free shop before going to the departure gate.
He was allowed to carry it in his hand luggage when boarding his flight to Frankfurt.
At Frankfurt airport he got a connecting flight to Stuttgart, and had to go through security again.
The sauces he bought was more than the allowed 100ml per container and he was told that he cannot take it through security and had to throw it in the dustbin.
The bottles were in a sealed duty free bag, this made no difference, the 100ml rule still applied.

The general rules concerning LAG's in your hand luggage are: 

• You are allowed to carry liquids, Aerosols and Gels in your hand luggage, in containers that have a maximum volume of 100ml (3.4 fluid ounces) each, but total capacity may not exceed one litre.
• The container size may not be over 100ml, even if it is only partially filled
• These containers must be packed in a re-sealable transparent plastic bag.
• Each passenger may carry only one of these bags
• These bags must be removed from your hand luggage and presented when going through airport security
• Any containers over 100ml should be placed in checked luggage

Baby food

Baby food and formula do not count as LAG's when you are travelling with a baby or small child (0-24 months), but must be presented when going through airport security


Medication

You are allowed to carry medication in your hand luggage but it must comply to the LAG rules.  It is advisable to have the prescription for your medication with you. You may be asked to taste your medicine in the presence of security personnel


Duty-free purchases
If you need to go through security at your connecting airport, it is better not to buy duty free LAG items (perfume, wine etc.) when departing on the first leg of your journey, but rather at the connecting airport on the final leg of your journey. LAG's purchased at duty free shops must be kept in the special sealed plastic bag.
Duty free shops usually supply these bags when you make a purchase. They may also ask to view your flight ticket and advise you on what you may take with you, but not always.
Some airports do allow you to bring in duty free LAG  items from certain counties on your connecting flight, confirm with your airline or travel agent. Certain rules might apply to these e.g. it must be in tamper free sealed bags

An example taken from the European regions airline association :
Passengers are currently allowed to buy LAGs in duty free shops at EU airports and on board EU airlines.
LAGs purchased at duty free shops at international airports in Croatia (6), Canada (all international airports), Malaysia (1), Singapore and the US (all international airports) can currently also be carried in connection through EU airports."

From IATA website - "Passengers should ask and make sure the liquid products they are buying will not be confiscated later on in their trip. Different countries have different requirements and determine if duty free purchased in another country is allowed or not. In certain countries, it will be placed in a sealed tamper-evident bag, with the proof of purchase. This is meant to allow the passenger’s purchases to go through other airports without being confiscated, although this needs an agreement between the countries concerned"

In-flight shopping

The rules for in-flight shopping differ from airport and airline. Some allow inflight duty free purchases onboard for transiting/transferring/connecting passengers if they are packed in transparent, sealed plastic bags with the receipt attached.  Make sure of what rules apply to you before making a purchase

Take note of the following:

LAG rules do not apply to checked luggage. Keep in mind that liquids add a lot of weight to luggage, so only take what you need.
If you need to take any LAG's with you in hand luggage (e.g toiletries or medicine) try to get sample sizes or fill small bottles (100ml each).

Examples of LAG's

Beverages e.g. water, juice, soup or wine
Liquid food e.g. soup, yogurt, jam
Gels e.g. toothpaste, hair and shower gel
Contents of aerosol cans e.g. shaving foam and deodorants
Cream, lotions and oils
Perfume

Explanation of terms used

Hand luggage
Also known as cabin baggage or carry-on luggage. It is the luggage that passengers are allowed to with them when boarding the plane. Airlines put restrictions on the maximum seize and weight of hand luggage. These restrictions is usually printed on your e-ticket or booking confirmation, if not contact your airline to find out more.

Checked luggage
The luggage you hand to the airline at the check in counters (or drop-off counters when checked in online).

If you are unsure about any of the LAG rules, or need more information, please contact your airline or travel agent

Some helpful websites

TSA - Transportation Security Administration

Airports Company South Africa

European regions airline association

IATA - Air Transport Association

Transit, connecting flights and final destination

It doesn't matter if I go on a business trip or on holiday, the moment I leave for the airport, I always feel a sense of adventure and excitement. In most cases the process of checking in, boarding and departing from your home country is a smooth one.  The process that tends to make people nervous is the unknown environment that awaits you at your destination, even more so when flying to a different part of the world or when your journey consists of multi segment flights.
The arrival process and rules are similar at most airports. Modern airports are very well sign posted and have friendly staff at information desks to assist you.
It is a good idea to keep a pen with you to complete any forms required
Know the address where you will be staying.
Keep your passport safe and easy accessible.

Arriving at the airport

 

Connecting flights
When your journey includes connecting flights , you must disembark at the connecting airport, and again at your final destination.

1. After the plane has come to a complete standstill, and the seat belt signs are turned off, you can get your hand luggage from the overhead compartment. During this time the aircraft bridge or mobile staircase will be connected to the plane.
2. As soon as the doors are opened, you can start to disembark the plane.
3. Once inside the terminal building, follow the "Connecting Flights" or  "Transit" signs
4. The process that you need to follow will depend on the airport and border control rules, some of the possible scenario's are:
• Go straight to connecting gate
• Go through security, then to the connecting gate 
• Collect your luggage, go through security and then to the connecting gate. Your luggage will be handled by the airport after security check and you don't need to check it in again.
• Go through Passport control, collect your luggage, go tho check in counters to check in your luggage, go through security, and then go to the connecting gate
5. Board the plane for the next leg of your journey at the relevant gate.

If you have some lay over time at the airport, you can walk around in the terminal building, do duty free shopping, relax in a lounge ( if you have access) or order refreshments at a restaurant. Always keep the boarding time for you next flight in mind as well as how long it will take you to get back to the boarding gate. Some airports offer a variety of shops and services, while others only have basic services.

Arriving at final destination
When you have a direct or non-stop flight you will only disembark the plane at your final destination.

1. After the plane has come to a complete standstill, and the seat belt signs are turned off, you can get your hand luggage from the overhead compartment. During this time the aircraft bridge or mobile staircase will be connected to the plane.
2. As soon as the doors are opened, you can start to disembark the plane.
3. Once inside the terminal building, you need follow the "Baggage claim" or "Exit" signs
4. This will lead you to passport control if you travelled outside your home country or area. If you arrived via an internal/local flights you can go directly to baggage claim or Exit.
5. At passport control you need to present your passport and any relevant visas. You might need to answer questions relating to your visit e.g. the purpose of your visit, how long and where you will be staying. 
6. If everything is in order, your passport will be stamped and you can proceed to collect you checked luggage.
7. You need to declare any relevant items inside your luggage - Find out more about customs limits and prohibited items from your airline, travel agent, airport websites. You can also find information on IATA's website
8. If you have nothing to declare you can go through the Nothing to declare (usually green) door. If you need to declare items, go to the Goods to declare (usually red) door.
9. Collect your luggage at the relevant carousel. The carousel number for you flight will be either displayed on monitors or announced.
10. Exit to the arrivals hall.

Explanation of terms used

Direct Flights
Flight between two designated airports without change in Aircraft or Flight numbers, but may include a stop over. 
Example: Taking a flight from Dubai to Malta via Larnaca. The plane will land in Larnaca and there might be passengers leaving/boarding the plane.  If your final destination is Malta, you stay on board the aircraft until it arrives in Malta.
You only disembark the plane at your final destination

Non-stop Flights
A non-stop flight is made in a single leg and without intermediate stops between the departure and destination airport.
Example: Taking a flight from Frankfurt to Atlanta. The plane will fly directly from Frankfurt to Atlanta without making any stop overs.

Connecting Flights
Flights with intermediate stops and change of aircraft and possibly airline.
Example 1: Taking a flight from Johannesburg to Munich via Dubai. The first leg is from Johannesburg to Dubai Airport on EK764 (Emirates). Disembark the plane in Dubai. Once inside the terminal building, go through security and wait for the boarding gate to open for your next flight. No need to collect luggage. Board flight EK049 (Emirates)  to Munich.
Example 2: Taking a flight from Frankfurt to Cape Town via Johannesburg on Multiple Airlines. The first leg is from Frankfurt to Johannesburg on LH572 (Lufthansa). Disembark the plane in Johannesburg. Once inside the terminal building, go through passport control, and collect your luggage  Check in for your flight and wait for the gate to open. Board code share flight  LH347/SA327 (South African Airways)  to Cape Town

The time you spend at the connecting airport is called layover time.
Your travels status is "in transit"

Disembark (to get off) the plane
Disembarking the aircraft can be done in two ways
- Via aircraft bridge: You will go from the plane directly into the terminal building
- via mobile staircase: You will climb down stairs and be transported to the terminal building via a bus service. At smaller airports you can sometimes walk from the plane to the terminal building. Watch a Video of Mobile stairs being attached to an aircraft after landing.

Passport Control
The area inside the airport where passports are checked and stamped by Immigration control.
Your passport gets stamped when you leave or enter a country.
When you are a foreigner, you need to adhere to immigration control rules, and have the relevant visa to enter the country.

Transit
Passengers who stay at the airport for a short period, with the intention of proceeding to their final destination