Transfer in Frankfurt

I’ve just arrived back from Larnaca. My flight ends at a stand on the B pier. My onward connection to Basel is from B 13. The only problem is that there’s only one way I can go after immigration, and that takes me landside. Which means I’m going to have to go through security again to return airside.

There are so many people wanting to travel that there’s even a queue to join the queue for security. And it’s endless. There’s also nobody there trying to bring some order into the chaos, so basically it’s just one big mess.

Once I manage to get through the checkpoint, there actually is a separate fast track for Business Class passengers, but it’s moving at a snail’s pace – mainly because there’s only the one line open. Eventually, it takes me 45 minutes to make it through security.

Sadly, once I’m through things don’t really improve. There are people everywhere and it’s standing room only. I ask a Lufthansa ground agent if there’s a lounge close by, and he tells me that I’ll have to go through passport control to get to a lounge and then go through security again to come back. Eh… no. Okay, so no lounge. Instead, I stand there propping up the wall, hoping that boarding will start soon.

Boarding

We’re being shuttled to the aircraft today. While we wait for the last remaining passengers to join the bus, another one passes us. There is an advert for Fraport, who operates Frankfurt airport, on the back of the bus. The slogan is, “Schöne Reise, wir sorgen dafür”, which loosely translates as “Have a nice trip, we’ll make sure of it”. I mean, I get that this is just marketing, but have these people actually noticed that nothing could be farther from the truth? Frankfurt is a shithole of an airport. It’s ugly and inconvenient, as though it only occurred to them as an afterthought that people would actually have to use the facilities. Most of their staff are either unhelpful, rude, incompetent, or simply don’t care.

The journey to our aircraft on the remote stand takes us 10 minutes.

The Cabin

I’m seated on the bulkhead on row 2. The seat pitch is good. But the Bombardier is just a small, cramped little airplane, ao there’s really only so much you can do for space.

Of course, it also doesn’t help that the tray table is mounted in the arm rest, which therefore cannot be raised for some extra space.

The Crew & Service

There are two cabin crew and they’re quite chirpy and very polite. The flight time is thirty minutes.

The Meal

The meal consists of a plate with two sliced of bread with some kind of egg spread on once slice. There’s also a small meat ball tucked under the veg.

Dessert is a kind of chocolate mousse on a chocolate biscuit base. It’s very good, but way too rich and sweet.

Arrival

The journey from Frankfurt is literally just a short hop. We land on time and pull up to our stand, where the crew have us disembarking soon after. It’s just a short wait for my suitcase, and then I’m on my way home.

Closing Remarks

I must say, I rather enjoyed these two flights with Lufthansa. They’ve clearly upped their game where the catering is concerned. Granted, you may not share the Germans’ love for meat, but the offering is generous. The crews also seem to have improved.

The only downside of this trip was the transfer in Frankfurt, which really is a big dump. It’s a shame for Lufthansa that this is what they have to work with as their primary hub. At least there’s always Munich, which is a much, much nicer experience.