I was headed to Boston for the weekend to visit my sister at Harvard University and decided to use some remaining Delta flight credits. The flight cost $345 one way for the earliest option to Boston.
With a departure time of 6:00 AM, I arrived at the airport at the ungodly hour of 4:30 AM, giving myself enough time to park and get through security. I was airside by 5:00 AM. Fortunately, the Delta Sky Club opened at 4:45 AM, so I spent a few minutes in the lounge enjoying a cup of coffee before boarding began promptly at 5:35 AM.
The Embraer E175, registered as N237JQ, was a 16-year-old aircraft operated by Republic Airways, Indianapolis’s hometown airline, on behalf of Delta as part of the Delta Connection network. Originally delivered to Compass Airlines in August 2008, the aircraft was transferred to Republic Airways in March 2021 following Compass’s bankruptcy due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The Flight
Onboard the E175, there were 12 Domestic First Class seats arranged in a 1-2 configuration across four rows. I was seated in 4A, the last row of the First Class cabin, on the solo side.
Each seat measured 20 inches in width and offered a pitch of 36 inches.
Features included a small cocktail tray integrated into the left-hand armrest and a bi-fold tray table stored in the right-hand armrest. Additionally, each seat was equipped with a 110V universal AC outlet and a USB port for charging devices. On the ground, each passenger was provided a water bottle, and pre-departure beverages were offered.
We pushed back at 6:11 AM and took off from runway 5L 13 minutes later.
Since this flight was under 900 miles, no breakfast service was offered. Instead, the crew provided a beverage service followed by a snack basket with a selection of packaged snacks. I had my usual Bloody Mary and grabbed a few snacks for later.
The hour-and-fifty-minute flight passed quickly, with most of the journey spent cruising above the clouds.
As we approached Boston, it was a beautiful morning, and the views of Boston Harbor during our sunrise approach to runway 4R were stunning.
We touched down at 8:16 AM and arrived at gate A11 at 8:27 AM.
Having flown both the American Airlines E175 and the Delta Air Lines E175 on the IND-to-BOS route, I found the service to be largely comparable, with no significant differences between the two products. The seats were similar in comfort, the food and beverage offerings were nearly identical, and the level of service was indistinguishable.
After arriving in Terminal 5 from my Polaris flight from London Heathrow, I had a short four-hour layover. Thanks to Global Entry, I quickly exited the terminal and used the Air Transit System (ATS) tram to get to Terminal 1 where all United flights depart. Within half an hour of deplaning, I was back airside again and making my way to the United Polaris Lounge in the C concourse.
As I was arriving on a Polaris international flight, I still had access to the lounge on arrival. The O’Hare Polaris Lounge remains one of my favorite lounges in the USA. The entrance featured a marble check-in counter and an elegant ceiling display.
Near the entrance to the lounge was a variety of individual sofas with privacy screens.
Along the wall was a beverage station with an assortment of coffee, tea, soda, water, and fruit.
The buffet was in a separate room on the right of the main hallway with the food arranged on one side and a variety of sofas on the other.
The buffet had a decent salad bar.
There was also an assortment of cheese, cured meats, and sandwiches.
Hot options included a roasted chicken dish and a fish and potatoes dish.
There were also beans and a broccoli cheese soup.
Additional food choices included roasted cauliflower, rice, cookies, and a caramel dessert.
Behind the buffet area was a quiet zone with day beds and a few shower suites. The shower was very nice with amenities including slippers, deodorant, facial wipes, and dental kits available.
Going back to the main section of the lounge was an elegant bar with liquor, wine, beer on tap, and an espresso machine.
Behind the bar, there were more sofas along the windows.
The sit-down dining room with made-to-order food was in the deepest part of the lounge. Seating options included dining tables for two and booths.
There was a separate breakfast and lunch/dinner menu.
I enjoyed dinner in the dining room. I started with the shrimp fra diavolo sope which was tasty but the portion was small. For my main, I had the excellent Polaris signature burger with bacon, fried eggs, caramelized onions, and cheese.
This burger was restaurant quality with the patty cooked a perfect medium rare. While the food was fantastic the service was subpar. I had also ordered a crab stuffed shrimp and a chocolate chip cookie skillet which were both forgotten. It seemed the two servers in the dining room appeared overwhelmed with serving food and managing a developing line for the dining room tables. The dining room closes at 8 PM and around 7:30 PM the servers started turning passengers away saying that they would not be able to order food.
Behind the dining room, there was another beverage station with a coffee machine, tea, soda, water, and snacks.
Five minutes before boarding I made my way to gate C24.
Boarding began on time at 8:50 PM.
The Flight
United Airlines has a total of 136 economy seats on their A320s arranged in a standard 3-3 configuration.
The Recaro slimline BL3530 seats had a pitch of 29.8 inches with a width of 17.5 inches. I was seated in the regular economy seat without individual power. Only the Domestic First Class and the Economy Plus seats have in-seat power on this aircraft.
While we were supposed to push back at 9:25 PM our flight was delayed as a massive storm was moving into the O’Hare area.
We sat on board for over an hour until 10:15 PM when we deplaned as a ground stop was announced at O’Hare due to the storms.
Just ten minutes later a tornado warning was issued for the O’Hare region. Airport staff began herding all passengers to the tornado shelter which was the long tunnel connecting Concourse B and C.
After spending a sweltering 30 minutes in the packed underground tunnel, we were finally allowed to leave the shelter once the tornado warning was lifted. I made my way back to gate C24 where the gate attendants announced that our flight was still scheduled to depart but without a definite departure time. After about thirty minutes, we boarded a second time at 11:53 PM.
Once the plane was boarded, the flight attendants and captain were extremely honest with our flight’s prognosis. The captain explained that while some flights were allowed to depart, it was only those flying westward as the storm system was moving east. After an hour of sitting on board at the gate, the gate agent announced that the flight attendants had timed out but they were working on securing another crew.
They did manage to find another set of flight attendants for our flight but then the captain announced more bad news. The storm system was directly over Indianapolis at this point and we still had not been cleared to depart. It was not looking promising.
Two hours after boarding at 1:51 AM, the gate agent came on board to announce that our flight had been canceled. He announced that he would assist passengers in rebooking but that there was already a shortage of seats on the flights departing later in the day. As this was a weather-related cancellation, we were all on our own to find accommodations for the night.
Screenshot
I immediately hoped on the United app to chat with an agent and confirmed a seat on the 3:45 PM UA4194 flight. This was not ideal as I was getting home almost an entire day late. There were two earlier flights to Indianapolis but they were all sold out. The United online agent said the only way for me to have a chance at getting on these flights was to get added to the standby list per an in-person agent. I did manage to speak to a United customer service agent at the airport around 2:30 AM and got onto the standby list for the earliest flight home at 7:22 AM.
With only four hours until boarding for the early flight home, I spent the rest of the night in the terminal. Most of the comfortable chairs for sleeping had been claimed by the hundreds of passengers stranded by the tornados. I ended up napping in a regular seat in the terminal.
At 5:00 AM, I made my way to the United Club in the F concourse of Terminal 2. I remembered reading online that United Club agents were more helpful during IRROPs than the usual customer service agents. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try to confirm a seat with the lounge agents. Luckily, I still had access to the United Club as I will still on my Polaris business class itinerary.
The United Club agent somehow worked her magic and within about thirty minutes of me asking, she called my cellphone to say she confirmed an economy seat on the 7:22 AM flight. Success! I spent another hour in the United Club before making my way back to Terminal 1. For the third time in nine hours, I boarded a flight to Indianapolis.
This E175, registration N730YX, was operated by Republic Airways on behalf of United Express as part of the regional jet fleet.
United Airlines has two configurations for their regional E175s. One configuration has a total of 70 seats while another configuration has 76 seats. The E175 today had 76 seats with 12 Domestic First and 64 Economy seats. The economy seats were arranged in a 2-2 configuration.
I was seated in 11B in the regular economy section. Each seat had 31 inches of pitch and was 18.2 inches wide. Economy seats lack in-seat power.
We thankfully pushed back on time and took off at 7:51 AM bound for Indy. I quickly fell asleep and woke up just as we touched down at 9:27 AM. Home, finally, just 10 hours behind schedule.
All things considered, I felt that United did a great job during this irregular operation from a tornado at O’Hare. The app and customer service agents did everything they could to get me home as soon as possible. Ultimately, the United Club agent was able to secure me a seat on the soonest flight home.
After a great weekend in London visiting my sister, watching the Europ Championship final, and enjoying a Sunday Roast, it was time to head home to Indianapolis. I took the Elizabeth Line from central London and arrived to Terminal 2 two hours before my departure time. United has a massive operation at Terminal 2 with a whole wing of the check-in area. At the end of the check-in counter were counters dedicated to Polaris class passengers and Premier (elite) passengers.
Terminal 2 also has a dedicated Star Alliance Gold Fast Track security line which took about 15 minutes to get through. Once airside, I took the underground walkway to the B gates where most long-haul flights depart from. There are two lounges in Terminal 2B including an Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge and United Club. I decided to use the United Club across from B46.
The lounge was one large rectangular room with a separate room with a buffet and the bar arranged along the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was crowded with only a few isolated seats to spare in the entire lounge.
There was a decent selection of wines, spirits, and beer.
Additional beverage options included soda, tea, and a few self-serve espresso machines throughout the lounge.
The buffet was in a circular room immediately to the left of the lounge entrance. Lunch selections included a variety of sandwiches, wraps, cheese, meat, and salads.
There was also a small salad bar with various sauces.
Hot options included rice, roast chicken thighs, a Bavarian “hamburger” patty, Thai green curry, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and penne pasta.
Dessert options included two types of cookies, rice crispy, muffins, and fruit.
20 minutes before boarding I headed to the gate area where we had a partial view of the B767-300ER flying us to Chicago. The B767, registration N675UA, was a 24-year-old aircraft delivered to United in August 2000. Despite being over a quarter of a century old, the aircraft looked and felt brand new with the new United livery and updated Polaris interiors.
Boarding began at 2:27 PM through door 1L.
The Flight
United Airlines operates 37 B767-300ERs in their fleet with two different cabin configurations. One cabin configuration of the United B767 has 30 Polaris business class seats while the other has 46 Polaris class seats. This aircraft was the latter with 46 Polaris seats between the first and second set of doors in one massive cabin.
The United Polaris seat is a modified version of the Safran Optima seat which was 20.6″ wide. The 46 seats were spread across 18 rows in a 1-1-1 configuration with seats along the window alternating between closer to the aisle or window. I was seated in 9A, one of the window seats closer to the fuselage.
The seat had a large 16-inch HD touchscreen and a USB port underneath. There was also a small cubby perfect for phones or wallets. Next to the screen, there was a coat hook. While there was an incredible amount of privacy thanks to the staggered configuration of seats, I did find the seat a bit narrow.
Underneath the storage cubby was a well-designed bi-fold tray table with a built-in personal device holder.
Due to the narrow fuselage of the B767, the footwells were narrower than the Polaris seats on the B777.
Along the left side of the seat were the controls. The wheel controlled the recline while there were separate buttons for the lumbar support and legrest. There was also a button to turn on the mood lamp at the seat and the “Do Not Disturb” feature (the seat number outside would turn red).
Although United did not install doors on their seats, I could not make eye contact with other passengers thanks to the staggered seat configuration. There was a mood lamp at each seat along with an elegant white marble countertop space.
Each seat had a small storage cabinet with a mirror and a headphone rack.
Each seat had an additional USB port, 110V outlet, headphone jack, and IFE remote control.
Adjacent to the headrest there was a small read light.
There was an armrest on the right side which could be lowered to create a wider seat. There was also a tiny shallow storage space.
Awaiting each passenger the seat was the enormous amount of Polaris amenities and bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue.
United provided each passenger with a cooling gel pillow and a larger Saks Fifth Avenue branded pillow.
There was also a small Saks branded day blanket with a larger and thicker duvet. On request, United also provided mattress cushions.
The new amenity kit showcased United’s partnership with the Wrexham AFC football club. Contents included Therabody creams, facial mist, face wipes, lip balm, eye mask, socks, ear plugs, dental kit, tissues, and a pen. This was definitely one of the better business-class amenity kits that I have been given.
Unisize slippers were also provided on request.
Additional amenities included a pair of average-quality noise-cancelling headphones and a bottle of water.
The food and beverage menu was also provided.
Predeparture drinks were also provided. Options included sparkling wine or water served in plastic glasses.
We pushed back at 3:24 PM and took off from runway 27L twenty minutes later.
Service began promptly with a warm towel.
Next was a beverage service with a ramekin of cold nuts. I had an excellent glass of Lanson champagne.
The appetizer was served on a tray with a Caesar salad and a bread basket. I went with the smoked salmon with beetroot tartare. This was a delicious dish.
For my main course, I had terrible halibut with lemon butter sauce. It was bland, flavorless, and overcooked. The portion size of the halibut was generous though.
For dessert, I had the signature ice cream sundae. The sundae arrived smothered in hot fudge which was not very appetizing.
A variety of snacks were set up in the forward galley after the meal service.
One area where United excels is their inflight Polaris bedding. I found the entire set including the two pillows, duvet, and day blanket one of the best, if not the best business-class bedding I have experienced.
There were also two lavatories at the front of the cabin. There were Therabody amenities including hand cream and hydrating mist available.
Between the meal services, I enjoyed a few movies while watching us fly over the Atlantic and Northern Canada.
Ninety minutes before landing, flight attendants started the pre-arrival meal service. Warm towels were provided again.
I decided to try the beef Wellington burger which was served with a side of crinkle-cut fries and a chocolate chip cookie. The fries were surprisingly well done and very crispy.
Despite the appearance, the beef Wellington burger was delicious, likely due to the high amount of fat. The breading was incredibly buttery, the cheese gooey, and the beef salty. Incredibly unhealthy but satisfying.
We approached O’Hare from the east into runway 28C with clear views of the Chicago skyline.
We landed at 5:46 PM at O’Hare 36 minutes ahead of schedule. Eight minutes later we pulled into gate M25 and I was off to the Global Entry kiosk. I enjoyed this United Polaris flight from London Heathrow to Chicago. The amenities were top-notch, the beverage menus were above average, and the service was pleasant.
After arriving from Boston on board Lufthansa’s A380 I was driven from the remote stand to the entrance of the Lufthansa First Class Lounge in the Terminal 2 Satellite for gates K and L.
Since I was transiting through the Schengen Zone, I did not have to clear security or the border again. However, before entering the lounge, I had to leave my passport with a customs agent at the entrance to enter. Once inside, a lounge attendant checked me in, updated me on my connecting flight, and welcomed me into the lounge. There was a special theme of the lounge on this visit which was “Strawberry Rhubarb”.
Immediately behind the lounge check-in counters was an outdoor terrace with a view sofas and a lovely view of the apron.
There were a few drinks and wine available in this area. It was over 90F today, so I decided to spend my time inside the lounge.
Going further into the lounge was a long corridor with large floor-to-ceiling windows and sofa sections.
There was a variety of seating options including lounge chairs and sofas.
Within each section of sofas was a different selection of small snacks or drinks.
There were also a few individual workrooms with desks available.
Outside the workrooms was a tea dispenser with tea from BioTeaque.
Further into the lounge were additional sofas leading into the dining room where the bar was also located.
The dining room consisted of a dozen or so dining tables with a buffet as well as a few high-top chairs at the bar.
Next to the bar there was also a small cigar lounge for smoking.
Next to the Cigar Lounge, there was a table with a selection of Gin from across Europe to celebrate the European Championships.
Within the dining room, there was an expansive buffet with a variety of cold and hot foods. Cold options included fresh fruit, cheesecake, chocolate cake, and parfait. There was a separate olive and pickled vegetable selection with a variety of olive oils.
There was a large cold-cut selection with cured meats, seafood, and sushi.
Hot options included a veal spaetzle and a warm bread pudding.
There was also a selection of salads and pickled vegetables.
The buffet also had various breads, pretzels, and a selection of wines on display.
I decided to sit next to the window and start with an Americano. It was served with a shot of banana smoothie and a small piece of dark chocolate.
The main dining option in the lounge is a menu for a la carte food served from a proper kitchen. There was a suggested special Fusion Menu as well as European Championships bar food menu during my visit to the lounge.
Then there was a selection of the regular breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes.
The drinks menu was expansive with a wide variety of wines, liquor, soft drinks, smoothies, tea, coffee, and beer available.
As I was still stuffed from my First class meal onboard, I decided against ordering a full three-course meal. Instead, I opted to try the beef fillet with wasabi potato puree from the fusion menu. It was served with a small tray of artisanal bread.
I asked for the beef to be medium rare and it came out perfect. The beef was seasoned well and melted in my mouth.
While in the lounge, I took the opportunity to shower and change into a fresh set of clothes.
The shower suites were well stocked with individual amenities such as shampoo and conditioner.
At the end of my visit, I asked one of the lounge staff for a rubber duck and was provided this cute swim-themed one.
With a few minutes until boarding was scheduled to begin, I headed to gate L1. The A320neo for this flight, registration D-AINK, was six years old having been delivered to Lufthansa in July 2018.
Before boarding, all passengers were asked to line up for a passport check and then if clear, a sticker was placed on the boarding pass. Once this process had been completed for most passengers, boarding began a few minutes later at 2:24 PM.
The Flight
Lufthansa operates 23 A320neos in their flight which have two different types of slimline seats. All A320neos in the fleet have 180 seats arranged in a 3-3 configuration. Newer A320neos have the Geven Essenza seat with in-seat USB ports while the older A320neos have the Recaro BL3520 “NEK” seats without power. Today, we had an aircraft with the older Recaro seats.
I was seated in 1F on the righthand side of the aircraft at the bulkhead. This was a standard European business class flight with a blocked middle seat. On this particular flight, there were four rows of business class with 16 total passengers.
This was a simple seat without many bells or whistles. Within the armrest, there was a simple bi-fold tray table. A literature pocket was located in the bulkhead. As mentioned earlier, there are not power ports. In addition, these aircraft do not even offer WiFi on board or streaming.
Boarding took over 30 minutes and we finally pushed back at 3:03 PM; 45 minutes after boarding started. We took off at 3:13 PM bound for London.
One thing European carriers do better than American carriers in their premium cabins is the catering for short-haul flights. On this hour and a half-flight, Lufthansa offered business-class passengers a tasty and flavorful meal with warm bread and dessert. I found the curried chicken flavorful. Dessert was a chocolate cake covered with a white cream that was tasty as well.
The cabin crew also provided constant refills on beverages. I had a cup of coffee. Near the end of the flight, the cabin crew also passed out small chocolates.
On our approach to LHR, we passed over London City with amazing views of the River Thames, Parliament, and Buckingham Palace.
We landed at 3:44 PM on runway 27R. The taxi to gate A17 at Terminal 2 was quick at under four minutes.
We disembarked quickly and had a direct line of sight on customs after deplaning. I was able to use the E-gates with my passport and cleared customs in under a minute.
Lufthansa’s business class was exactly what I expected. It was no different from my previous flights with Lufthansa however there is a lot of room for improvement. Adding inflight entertainment, in-seat power, and more seat padding could how to improve their short-haul product.
On the second leg of my journey to London to visit my sister for the weekend, I was flying Lufthansa in First class on their A380-800 to Munich. This would be my third opportunity to fly Lufthansa up front in First, and my first time on their A380. After arriving in Terminal B from Indy with American Airlines, I walked over to Terminal E where Lufthansa and most other international airlines depart from.
At the check-in area, there was a dedicated First Class check-in desk. There was little more to differentiate the check-in experience from the economy or business class besides a red carpet.
After breezing through TSA thanks to PreCheck I headed up to the second floor to the Lufthansa Lounge.
The main lounge serviced most Star Alliance business class passengers departing from Terminal E including a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt, a Swiss Air flight to Zurich, an Austrian flight to Vienna, and my flight to Munich. It was extremely crowded with nearly every seat taken. However, there was a special dedicated First Class zone within the lounge that I was escorted to reserved for Lufthansa and Swiss First class passengers.
The First class section of the lounge was one large rectangular room with a few dining tables and a long sofa to the right of the entrance.
On the left was a small area of three sofas and three lounge chairs. There were 19 seats in this lounge but during my stay, it got crowded with every single seat being occupied.
Upon taking my seat at the dining table, I was immediately offered a drink and asked if I wanted to order anything off the menu. I was free to grab food from the business class section of the lounge as well (sorry it was too crowded for pictures).
There was a respectful wine list and a few choices for appetizers and entrees. Note the misspelling of “lam chops” and “tripple”.
To start, I ordered the cream of nettle soup but was told they were out. Instead, I had a tasty lobster bisque with creme Fraiche and croutons. For dessert, I enjoyed the chocolate brownie.
I decided to try to lamb chops for the entree. It was OK but not the best as they lacked any flavor.
From the business class section of the lounge, I was able to view our A380 pulling into the gate after its flight from Munich.
The A380-800, registration D-AIML, was named after the German city of Hamburg. It was delivered brand new to Lufthansa in May 2014, and stored during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 until being re-activated in April 2023. Lufthansa is currently operating seven A380s with plans to re-activate one more bringing to a total of eight by 2025.
One special feature of the Lufthansa Lounge was that it could board the aircraft directly from the gate. The lounge had two gates E10 and E11.
Boarding was scheduled to begin at 7:20 PM but due to inbound from Munich being delayed, we boarded twenty minutes late. The lounge staff came into the First class section and escorted us all to the gate, pushing through a line of business class passengers. All passengers on the top level boarded via the first door on the second level while a single door was used for the lower level.
The Flight
Lufthansa has a total of eight first class seats on board their A380-800s at the very front of the upper deck. The eight seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration across two rows. Once on board, the flight attendants greeted us at the door and escorted each passenger to their seat.
I was seated in 1A for tonights flight. There were a total of five passengers on tonights flight and seat 1D across from me remained empty.
The first class seat is incredibly comfortable with a well padded 30.5 inch wide seat.
shades.
The cabin was elegent as well as minimalist which each seat adorned with a red rose.
While the first class seat is not a new nor as private as some of the other competitors, I always find a timeless elegance to the Lufthansa seat.
Each seat had an average sized 17 inch HD touchscreen. There was a coat hook to the top left of the screen.
Directly underneath the screen was a large ottoman that offered a large amount of storage.
Along the fusalage there were two small cocktail trays. The massive tray table was stored at the front of the seat between the rose stand and the cocktail tray. Undeaneath the cocktail tray was a literature pocket.
Further along the windows were two smaller storage compartments, one for the built-in headphones, and a smaller shallow compartment.
There was also a larger storage compartment almost behind the seat which could fit a smaller laptop or tablet as well as a water bottle holder.
Within the left armrest was the IFE remote as well as controls for the seat lighting.
Each seat had two USB-A sockets and two 110V outlets.
The seat controls were located within the right armrest. There were also controls for moving the ottoman forward and backward as well as raising and lowering the privacy shield.
We were all provided a comfortable pair of Van Laack pajamas as well as Cumuli slippers which I still use at home.
The amenity kit was an nice leather clutch and was well stocked with amenities including an eye mask, socks, hair comb, ear plugs, toothbrush, and shoe horn. There was also Augustinus Bader hand cream and lotion.
Each passenger was also provided a water bottle at the seat. In the past, Lufthansa had Bose headphones at the seat but they recently changed the headphones to AKG N700s. While they were comfortable and the noise cancellation worked fine, it like a downgrade from the previous Bose ones.
First class passengers were also provided with a complimentary one-time use WiFi code.
At each seat was a small day pillow along with a larger pillow.
There was also a cozy throw blanket different than the comforter used for the bed later on.
Upon boarding, I was immediately offered a predeparture beverage. I decided with a glass of the excellent 2007 Laurent Perrier Rose Alexandra which was served with a ramekin of macadamia nuts.
The food and beverage menus were distributed upon taking our seats. Main course meal orders were taken on the ground and the flight attendants also asked if I would like to be waken up for breakfast.
We pushed back at 8:34 PM and took off at 8:50 PM from runway 15R. Lufthansa A380s have three separate cameras on board including a tail camera, forward camera, and underneath camera. It was a treat to watch the take-off from the tail camera.
Service began promptly once we reach cruising altitude with a beverage service and warm towels.
An amuse buche of tomato and mozarella was also served.
Dinner began with a warmed bread basket as well as the caviar and appetizer course. I decided to have all three appetizers along with the full cavari service.
The appetizers consisted of delicious seared peppered tuna, smoked duck breast, and a pea flan. Both the tuna and duck were phenomenal.
The caviar was served with a generous portion of chopped egg whites, egg yolk, creme fraiche, and red onions. Rather than the classic blinis, Lufthansa offers toasted white bread with the crust removed.
For my main course, I had the orange and sesame crusted Halibut with potatoe puree and cauliflower with Enoki mushrooms. This was another exceptional dish with a perfect crunchy crust on the halibut with a sweet and savory orange-sesame sauce.
By this point I was stuffed and could not handle an entire cheese plate by myself. Instead, I had a decadent opera cake with creme anglaise. This was if not the best opera cake I have ever had.
The flight attendants were efficient in the meal service and it finished within an hour and half from take-off. I headed to one of two foward lavatories for first class passengers while they prepared 1D for bed. With the cabin being half full, I was able to use two first class seats, one for sleeping, and the other for lounging and enjoying the IFE.
The privacy divider in the middle and the privacy screen on the aisle raised to create and partially enclosed suite around the seat. At 81 inches long, the bed was more than long enough for my 71 inch height. The turn down service included a mattress topper as well as thick comforter with the two pillows provided earlier at boarding. While the bedding was comfortable, it was very warm. Coupled with the lack of air vents and a warm cabin temperature, I did wake up sweating in my pajamas.
At the very front of the upper deck were two dedicated First class lavatories. Within each lavatory was a large bench across from the sink.
A unique feature of the Lufthansa A380 is that there is a urinal. To my knowledge, there are no other commerical aircraft with a urinal.
The lavatory was well stocked with amenities include mouthwash, make-up remover, hand cream, and facial spray.
Despite the overly warm cabin, I was able to get a four hour nap in and woke-up with 100 minutes until arrival. Upon noting that I was awake, the flight attendants offered me breakfast. Despite having just eaten a four course meal a few hours ago, I wanted to try the famous freshly scrambled eggs that Lufthansa offers. I had a small pretzel roll along with my scrambled eggs served with two strips of crispy bacon and chives. Delicious.
The cabin was prepped for landing 30 minutes prior to landing.
It was a clear sunny day in Munich with the temperature at a hot 95F.
We landed on runway 26R at 9:23 AM.
While most international flights arrive at gates, today we actually pulled into a remote stand. This was great news for First class passengers as we were all provided private Porsche transfers to the terminal. Normally, Lufthansa does not offer private transfer for flights arriving at the terminal, making this ride a nice treat.
While we pulled into the remote stand at 9:30 AM, there were no ground crew to operate the air stairs for until 15 minutes after our arrival.
I was not complaining however, as we had amazing views of the massive A380.
Each individual driver had a small placard of the First class passenger they were assigned. I was guided to the Porsche and whisked away.
It was a four minute ride from the remote stand to the Satellite Terminal First Class lounge entrance.
This was a phenomenal first class experience with Lufthansa onboard their A380. The entire experience from the lounge in Boston to the arrival at the First Class Lounge in Munich in a Porsche was flawless with fantastic crew, delicious food, and pure luxury. While the seats are no longer industry leading, I would love to fly Lufthansa First class again.
On this trip, I was flying to London to visit my sister for the weekend. I was able to book Lufthansa First-class on board their A380 from Boston with a connection in Munich with a separate ticket on American Airlines from Indianapolis to Boston. My complete routing would be from Indianapolis to Boston to Munich and finally London Heathrow.
For an early Saturday morning, IND was packed with families on summer vacation. The shuttle from the parking lot to the terminal which usually takes 10 minutes took over 30 minutes. As I was traveling with just carry-ons, I was able to skip the large lines at the American check-in area. TSA PreCheck took another 10 minutes as there was a larger than-normal line.
The E175 flying us to Boston, registration N418YX, was delivered to Republic Airways in 2013. Republic Airways, one of the regional airlines with a hub in Indianapolis, operates a total of 91 E175s on behalf of American Airlines as part of American Eagle.
Departure was at 9:00 AM exactly and boarding began on time at 8:35 AM from gate B6.
The Flight
American Airlines has a total of 12 Domestic First class seats on board their E175s arranged in a 1-2 configuration. I was seated in 1F.
Each seat was 20″ wide with a generous amount of legroom in the bulkhead. In between the two seats were an 110V outlet and USB port.
There was a small cocktail tray in the center armrest while the tray table was stored in the right hand armrest.
We pushed back on time at 9AM and took off twelve minutes later from runway 23R. Once at cruising altitude, the flight attendant serving the first class cabin came through taking drink orders. I went with my usual Bloody Mary. Unfortunately, on flights less than 900 miles, American Airlines no longer offer a meal. Instead, there is a “premium” snack basket offered. Snack options included plain Ruffles, Haribo gummy bears, chocolate chip cookies, nuts, and popcorn.
The rest of the flight was uneventful with the flight attendant making two more passes for drink refills.
We landed in a cloudy rainy Boston at 10:58 AM twenty minutes ahead of schedule. Eight minutes later we pulled into gate B4 for an early arrival.
This was a simple no frills standard Domestic First class flight with American Airlines. There is really no differentiator between American and Delta who both fly this route non-stop on E175s and I would pick between the two soley on price.
After spending an amazing four days in Boulder for my sister-in-law’s wedding, it was time to head home to Indianapolis. There were a few non-stop options from Denver, with United, Frontier, and Southwest. I took a morning flight home while my wife stayed for several more bridesmaids’ activities. I arrived at 7:30 AM, two hours before my scheduled departure, to find Denver International incredibly busy on a Saturday in June with the check-in lines backing out into the terminal entrance for Southwest. Luckily, I was carry-on only and went straight to the TSA Precheck line.
I arrived just before the morning rush into the AMEX Centurion Lounge in Concourse C where most Southwest flights are located. After enjoying a quick breakfast omelet, I was headed to gate C46 and lined up for boarding. I did take advantage of an in-app upgrade to A-list boarding for $55 and got A14 (a significant upgrade from my original C group).
Our aircraft was a seven-year-old B737-800, registration N8527Q, delivered to Southwest in 2017. Boarding began 10 minutes later at 9:10 AM.
The Flight
Southwest offers a total of 175 economy seats onboard their B737-800s. Each of the Collins slimline seats is 17.6″ wide with a pitch of 32″.
I was able to get a window seat in the second row on the left side of the aircraft.
The seats were all fairly basic with a simple tray tablet at each seat. Southwest does not have any in-seat power on their B737-800s. THey are currently in the process of installing USB ports on their B737 MAXs. While there are no in-seat streaming services, Southwest does have an inflight streaming option to persoal devices with the onboard Wi-Fi.
We pushed back on time and took off at 9:44 AM.
Once in the air, the flight attendants came through with a beverage and snack service. I went with a Coke Zero served in a small cup with a lid.
The rest of the flight passed quickly as we cruised over the Midwest.
It was a beautiful day in Indy with great views of downtown on our approach.
We pulled into gate B20 13 minutes ahead of schedule at 1:37 PM.
Southwest offered an unremarkable but on-time flight between Denver and Indianapolis. For this day and departure time, Southwest offered a more affordable option than United (basic economy). I would gladly fly with Southwest again if they are the most economical option with the ability to have a carry-on as well as two checked bags included in the ticket unlike the two direct competitors United and Frontier on this route.
For this trip, my wife and I were headed to Denver for my sister-in-law’s wedding in Boulder, Colorado. We had originally booked a Southwest ticket but after tracking prices for a few weeks, I noticed that Frontier was having a fare sale from Indianapolis. We each paid $107 for the new “Business Bundle” on Frontier Airlines, including UpFront Plus seating, a carry-on, two checked bags, Zone 1 boarding, free flight changes, and cancellations. This was a phenomenal deal compared to United and Southwest, the direct competitors on this route.
We arrived at IND two hours before the scheduled departure time of 12:04 PM to drop off our checked luggage. A large line of a dozen passengers was also waiting to drop off their self-tagged bags at the counter. Check-in was completed entirely online as Frontier charges $20 per person for printed tickets and agent assistance at the airport. We had both boarding passes already saved to Apple Wallet.
The A321 flying us to Denver today, registration N716FR, was a 7.4-year-old aircraft delivered to Frontier in January 2017. Frontier names all of their aircraft for wildlife and this particular aircraft was named Seymour the Walrus.
Boarding was scheduled to begin at 11:19 AM but was delayed for a few minutes. Passengers needing wheelchair assistance, families with children, and active duty military were invited to pre-board followed by Zone 1.
The Flight
Frontier Airlines has a total of 230 seats on board their A321s arranged in a 3-3 configuration. The first two rows of the cabin were designated as UpFront Plus seats which had a small placard blocking the middle seat. This was identical to the setup with a majority of European airlines in their business class cabins. We were seated in 1A and 1C.
The Acro Series 3 slimline seats did not have recline and were thin with minimal padding. Each seat was 17.7″ wide with a pitch of around 33″.
Despite being at the bulkhead, I found the legroom comfortable for this two-and-a-half-hour flight. I was able to cross my legs without difficulty.
Each seat also had a simple bi-fold tray stowed in the armrest. Unfortunately, Frontier does not offer in-seat power or WiFi onboard.
Pushback was delayed by five minutes until 12:10 PM as a passenger left her iPhone in the boarding area. The taxi to runway 23R was quick and we took off at 12:19 PM.
Service began within twenty minutes of take-off with flight attendants coming through the cabin with buy-on-board options for snacks and drinks. While I did not purchase anything, I found the prices comparable to other airlines. The rest of the flight was entirely uneventful with the crew making multiple passes through the cabin collecting trash.
We landed in Denver ahead of schedule at 12:39 PM. Too early in fact, as another aircraft was still at our gate waiting to push back. We finally pulled into gate A38 at 12:54 PM.
I found the Frontier “Business Bundle” an incredible offer compared to Southwest or United on this route from Indianapolis to Denver. A blocked middle seat, multiple checked bags, carry-on, and Zone 1 boarding all for less than the price of a Wanna Get Away fare on Southwest or Basic Economy on United made this choice easy.
After arriving in Houston on the Lufthansa B747-8I, my wife and I had a six-hour layover. We could breeze through customs thanks to Global Entry and quickly re-cleared security with our TSA PreCheck. We were back airside within 30 minutes of deplaning.
Thanks to our AMEX Platinum Cards, we both had access to the Centurion Lounge in Terminal D. We briefly spent some time there but it was overcrowded with no tables or seating for two together. I had hoped to take a quick shower but the shower room was not in service during our visit. The Centurion Lounge was a big disappointment, so we went to one of the many United Clubs at IAH.
We ended up at the United Club in Terminal E. There was a decent amount of sofas and tables available compared to the packed Centurion Lounge. While the food was not as good as the AMEX Lounge, it was passable.
Fifteen minutes before boarding was scheduled to begin, my wife and I left the United Club and made our way to gate C4. Boarding began on the dot at 7:15 PM.
Our B737-900, registration N35407, was a 21-year-old aircraft that originally flew for Continental Airlines before merging with United. While it had been updated with the newest livery and a fresh coat of paint, the interior was the same old seats from over a decade ago. United continues to operate a fleet of 12 B737-900 aircraft (not the B737-900ER variant) which we all delivered in 2001.
The Flight
United Airlines has a total of 20 Domestic First class seats on board their B737-900s arranged in a 2-2 configuration across five rows. We picked seats 3E and 3F on this flight halfway through the cabin.
These Koito-manufactured seats were ancient and showed their age with worn leather and deflated seat padding. The pitch was 36.7 inches with a width of 20 inches. Originally installed in 2001, these Koito seats were withdrawn from the market in 2010 due to safety concerns and decertified. Funnily enough, United continues to fly this seat 14 years later.
There was a small cocktail tray in the armrest between the seats along with the IFE control panel.
Each seat also had a smaller retractable cocktail tray within the center console. Each passenger also had a 110V outlet. There were no USB ports.
Underneath the center console was a small storage space. The cabin was filthy with leftover nuts in this space. It clearly had not been cleaned since the last flight.
The decently sized bi-fold tray table was stowed inside the left-hand armrest.
We each also had a small personal entertainment screen with a map and DirectTV.
No pre-departure beverages were offered on this flight today. We both didn’t mind as we were exhausted from a full day of traveling. My wife and I promptly fell asleep before pushing back only to briefly wake up as we took off at 8:16 PM.
There was a beverage service offered on this flight in addition to a snack basket. Before January 1, 2024, United offered a full meal service on this flight (flights above 800 miles). However, after January 1, 2024, that is no longer the case. Since the advertised distance is 844 miles, it is under the new meal service cut-off of 900 miles.
We landed in Indy at 11:08 PM and had a quick taxi to the gate A23.
This was a disappointing Domestic First flight with United from Houston to Indianapolis. The seat was ancient, dirty, and lacked any meaningful service besides a beverage service. I would not pay a premium to fly this route over economy.
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.
