• Flight: EN8817
• Aircraft: E190
• Class: Business
• Seat: 1A and 2A
• Route: Milan Malpensa (MXP)-Frankfurt Main (FRA)
• Distance: 366 miles
• Duration: 58min
• Departure: 6:37 AM
• Arrival: 7:35 AM

The Preflight

After our lovely wedding on Lake Como in Italy, it was time for my wife and I to head home. We were lucky enough to be flying Lufthansa in First Class across the Atlantic but first, we had a short-haul business class flight with Air Dolomiti to Frankfurt. Air Dolomiti is one of the many Lufthansa subsidiaries that is primarily an Italian regional airline with hubs in Florence, Venice, and Verona. Lufthansa operates a whole row of check-in counters at Milan Malpensa with a dedicated lane for first-class passengers on Lufthansa and Swiss.

Thanks to our First-class ticket, we were able to take advantage of the Fast Track lane for security. Security was quick this early in the morning and within five minutes we had arrived at the Lufthansa Lounge. While some outstation lounges (such as BER) have a dedicated first-class section, this lounge did not.

The lounge layout was in a L-shape with long tables upon entering the lounge.

Further into the lounge were a few sofas, lounge chairs, and dining tables.

Next to the buffet and bar, there were a few stools.

Lounge attendants were able to provide freshly made espresso drinks on order. Alcoholic options included two tap beers and various liquors but they were not available this early in the morning.

There was also a variety of Coke products, soda, and water on tap.

Breakfast options included fresh yogurt with toppings, fruit, and juices.

There was an extensive selection of bread.

Hot options included hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, vegetable medley, and breakfast sausages.

There was also a small selection of croissants and sweet pastries.

Boarding for our flight began at 5:50 AM on time.

This E170, registration I-JEND, was a 14-year-old aircraft originally delivered to Lufthansa Cityline in January 2010. It was then transferred to Air Dolomiti in January 2023.

The Flight

Air Dolomiti operates a fleet of seven E170 aircraft with a total of 180 seats arranged in a 2-2 configuration. Business class meant the aisle seat was blocked giving each passenger an entire row. As with most European carriers, the size of the cabin could be sized dynamically with a movable curtain. On this flight, there were two rows of business class with a total of four passengers.

My wife was seated in 1A while I was seated in 2A.

The seat was pretty basic with a literature pocket, storage pouch, and coat hook available. There was no in-seat power.

There was also a simple tray tablet.

We pushed back on time at 6:20 AM and took off from runway 35R 17 minutes later.

Breakfast was served immediately after take-off. The main course was a delicious smoked salmon on two crepes with a side of fruit and a small piece of chocolate. Hot croissants were also provided. There was also fresh illy espresso available. This was a fantastic breakfast.

Our flight path brought us over the beautiful Swiss Alps basking in the morning sun.

We landed 58 minutes after takeoff in Frankfurt at 7:34 AM.

We arrived at a remote stand in Frankfurt and deplaned via air stairs.

For Lufthansa First-class passengers arriving at a remote stand, the airline offers a complimentary private auto transfer. Waiting for my wife and I at the bottom of the air stairs was a private van ready to drive us directly to the main terminal.