Tag: travel

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Boarding

Sometimes boarding is like a slapstick comedy.

I love the British though. They queue no matter what and are friendly.

Most horrific are flights from Germany. They seem to try to test how many people can pass simultaneously through a single file door.

Currently some airlines have a strikt “board by group ID” policy. If these are called, all English try to get in the queue with the appropriate number. The Germans just go to group 1.

Then you have people who see how long the queue is and try to get on the plane first.

And all of this because the luggage policy has changed. One now needs to pay quiet a lot of money for checked in luggage. Which results in everybody trying to bring on board as much as hand luggage as they possibly can. Which again results in no space in the overhead locker if you board after the 20th passenger.

Besides that a lot of people are very self centred and put small bags and coats which could go under the seat in front of them in the overhead locker. And they have a pretty bad reaction if they are asked to move it. I was once flying and a guy (even though no luggage in the overhead locker) insisted that this is his space and it must remain empty.

Then there are the people once on the plane, they take ages to get into their seat so that no one can move ahead for felt ages. Airlines calculate 30 minutes for boarding, but with Lufthansa from Frankfurt they usually need at least one hour.

Boarding – it is very entertaining if you just watch people and try to stay calm and friendly.

There are people who get very annoyed if someone bumps with their bag into them. The conversations sometimes are hilarious “Why did you bump into me?” – “Because you have to brake lights”.

There are the young consultants which will board with all force even ahead of mothers with their children. (I have rarely seen that anyone is helping them, even though they can board first – but if you have to take a bus from the terminal to the plane …).

Which is another thing, have you noticed that if at Frankfurt the plane is at a field position that it feels like they are driving you to your destination?

And then the tourists which are totally overwhelmed with the whole situation.

Anyhow, my recommendation:

  1. Check in your luggage
  2. Be at the gate early
  3. Try to leave frustrations from work at work. It is already stressful enough.
  4. Try to pack your Hand luggage in a way that you can easy access the thing you will need to take out: toiletries, electronics
  5. Have you passport close at hand
  6. Smile
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The lounge

Every traveler who does not have access wants access.

It is like the golden light at the end.

Once you have access you want the first class access. But unfortunately due to the amount of travellers, this is out of reach nowadays. Already the queues for silver and gold memenbers at the boarding process are longer than the one for “normal” travellers.

The airlines changed the rules that you pretty much need to travel business class for 6 month straight to reach gold status and a year to go further.

My father was an hon at Lufthansa back in the days. I still remember the limousine picking us up at home…. luxury!

I have seen the rare bread at airports in the Far East – why am I not invited?

Anyhow back to reality, today you are on the hunt for the less frequently used lounge at an airport. One of the most horrific ones is the Lufthansa lounge Terminal 1 in Frankfurt. Usually you are not getting a seat. At certain times there are a lot of antsy travellers (non business) which think that they have bought a business class ticket and therefore are entitled to a seat and a good meal … oh well, this lounge will destroy the dream … and the mood of companion travellers.

But the potato salad ….. oh boy, it is good.

The nicest ones are virgin or Air New Zealand (never been into an Emirates one, but other than that have been to a lot of them). The cow shed in London actually made me once arrive 3 hours early for my flight.

As a business traveller you check which membership gives you access to the best lounge, which you are able to book. In the old days you checked for the most miles you could use against flights. But this is so expensive today (fees on a free flight are usually higher than if you buy the ticket). Therefore you use the miles for upgrades. Which again gives you access to THE LOUNGE.

Every lounge has a big plus for them: you can have a free coffee or drink and a seat at non-peak-times.

I love my status at the airline. I would not change it, as I can have a drink at the lounge going home or a breakfast flying out.

Best Breakfast: BA: porridge with honey and cinnamon at their Heathrow lounge.

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Travel entertainment

When travelling you can always watch people. If you spend endless hours in airports, train stations and especially planes, it can be quiet entertaining.

On my last flight I had a blogger sitting beside me. Cute girl, writing frantically, occupying the whole seat between us with all kind of stuff.

She actually got asked by the stewardess repeatedly to put the stuff under the seat in front of her and all she did was looking at her like “I am gods gift to the world, you must worship me”. (By the way this facial expression makes you look stupid)

Interestingly these girls all look a like. Blond messy hair, nerdy glasses, skinny jeans, boots, heavy make up (even though it is supposed to look like none).

Why are people doing this?

Then the young successful consultant. Busy with his computer. I always think that these boys probably just started their jobs and think they are on top of the world. Then they marry, cheat on their wife and loose everything.

Then the fight for the armrest. No matter where you put your arm (I usually try to be nice) they alway, poke you with their elbows. How do they do that? An armrest is an easy concept. Stick to it!

Thank good here comes a G&T

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Starting to travel – ancient history

I started travelling for business almost 3 decades ago (oh boy, am I really that old?).

It was a different time then.The budgets were still available to stay in decent hotels, flights and rental cars. On the other side a lot was more vacation oriented, which made you selecting a Hotel closest to customer and availability of a telephone (yes, normal telephone).

One thing which has transpired over the time was: there is nothing better than the food of your home country. And I do not mean the good stuff – I means the junk food.

For me: Curry Wurst!

What I have traveled around… but the best is still in Cologne.