Trip Report: Round the World in 139 days (24 flights)

[jetlagger]

Thanks Coyote for the pic posts.. Gee like the look of that FRA JAL lounge.. Wish every other lounge I visited was that quiet!

 

[coyote25]

Thanks Coyote for the pic posts.. Gee like the look of that FRA JAL lounge.. Wish every other lounge I visited was that quiet!

I've been in an out over the last 4 hours, three times I was the only one hear. Staff look happy to see people inside. Currently 8 people who I'm assuming are waiting for BA flight at 2.40 pm. No idea why JAL tun this one haven't seen one of their flights yet just AA, BA and RJ so far.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Thoroughly enjoying reading your TR. Happy adventures, and look forward to the next chapter!

 

[coyote25]

Frankfurt Airport Part 2
15 October 2012

Security clearance warning. At this airport security scans are just before the boarding gate so lounges and shops are after Border Security but before Security scans. They stated you need to have at least 15 minutes extra to get through security.

In my case I got there about 50 minutes early and it was chaos. Eventually more lines were opened and I was moved to the new lane, which turned out to be the slowest. Major problem is they were doing checks one person at a time.

Your bag gets scanned, you go through the scanner and then if nothing is wrong they let the next person start to put their bags, coat, belts though there scanner. I had 12 people in front of me, it took about 50 minutes to clear. Admittedly they stopped 4 of those people for additional checks which stopped everything. Not sure you need 5 staff to check one person however.

As a result I had to run to the gate but I stopped to help a young mother with 2 children who was crying over the experience and didn't think she could make the flight. I helped with her bags so she could carry children both to the tarmac bus and then onto the plane making me the last person on board.

Airport staff offered no help to this mother and at security just didn't seem to care at all. I found this very surprising as previously I had found Germans to be very efficient and helpful.

So be warned ignore the messages about when to go through gate security and go the second they allow you access.


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[coyote25]

Flight 5: Frankfurt to London

Date: 15 October 2012
Flight Number: British Airways - BA 905
Fare type: Club Europe-Business (Paid upgrade 1 week prior)
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A319
Requested Seat: 9C (exit row)
Allocated Seat: 2F (due to paid upgrade)
In-flight Entertainment: NONE

Scheduled Departure: 14.40
Actual Departure: 14.55

Scheduled Arrival: 15.20
Actual Arrival: 15.25
Duration: 1 Hour 30 mins

Meal:
Ham sandwich with salad bowl and a scone with cream and jam. One 250 ml can of coke offered could have selected a larger wine bottle. Tea was also available.

Summary:
Being last onto the plane never pleasant start especially when I was at airport for so long and thought I'd miss this flight. All business class seats had the middle row empty not sure if this is how it is usually done or I was due to light loads.

Window seat gave great views taking off in Frankfurt and even better seeing central London during the day. Recommend window seat for this day flight.

Flight reminded me how good we get it in Australia with most domestic flights having and inflight entertainment system. Seats were par with worst QF Domestic business seat product, obviously better than economy. Meal was very nice, something so British about tea and scones.


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[coyote25]

London (Heathrow) Airport
15 October 2012

Landed I the British Airways Terminal 5. I had to clear Border Security and enter the UK as my bag wasn't checked through to Iceland. Fir duration in UK I put 5 hora and left address while here blank. Official asked what is worth seeing in Iceland - Northern Lights I hope. I guess they just waned to make sure I wasn't lying and I was going to leave that day.

Security lines weren't that bad actually. Last time they had heaps o signs saying you get arrested for abusing staff. This time they had signs promoting UK and the recent Olympics, a must better feel.

My bag made it to London and was one of the first off. The priority tag seemed to work again. Seems Australia is the only hit and miss place for priority baggage. I than caught the Heathrow Express to Terminal Central from which you can walk to either terminal 1 (my destination) or Terminal 3. Express is free for transfers.

At Terminal 1 I found the Icelandair checkin didn't open to 6 pm in another 1.5 hours so I was reduced to sitting on the floor in the line. They did open business checkin a little earlier for status and business PAX been a while since I had no privileges at all

After checkin I cleared border control and security screening (Frankfurt take note, do it at the same time). With no lounge access I just had to walk around the terminal, quite a few shops and some restaurants. No chain fast food places and prices as to be expected where higher than normal. One great thing is they have free device chargers which meant I could change my iPad at the same time as watching TV shows. No free wifi however.

Overall a good experience at Heathrow. They seem to be making any effort to welcome passengers.

At this point it had been 38-40 hours since checking out of my hotel in Bangkok yesterday. Thank goodness for QF5 J sleep seat.


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[coyote25]

Heathrow Terminal 1 picture.

No lounge access meant this was home for a few hours.

 

[Paddy55]

Coyote

Thanks for the report to date, including the photos. V Enjoyable.
Going through FRA myself next June for 1st time in a long while so your observations are timely. Interested in your experience at CX lounge there soon.

Keep enjoying yourself!

 

[moa999]

Flight 5: Frankfurt to London
Date: 15 October 2012
Flight Number: British Airways - BA 905
Fare type: Club Europe-Business (Paid upgrade 1 week prior)

All business class seats had the middle row empty not sure if this is how it is usually done or I was due to light loads.

That is Club Europe BA style, if you had looked down the plane you would have noticed those economy seats were identical to your own!
The food is better though...

 

[jetlagger]

Thanks for consistent work Coyote.. Ongoing enjoyment of your posts from this side..

 

[krisflyer]

Great TR! Well done!

 

[coyote25]

That is Club Europe BA style, if you had looked down the plane you would have noticed those economy seats were identical to your own!
The food is better though...

Yeah I was thinking that as well. The jam and scone however went a long way to making it worth the upgrade plus the 'economy' seat next to you is blocked to make it a business seat so it was probably worth the extra 60 euro (plus extra status credits)


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[coyote25]

Flight 6: London to Keflavik

Date: 15 October 2012
Flight Number: Icelandair - FI 455
Fare type: Economy (Paid)
Aircraft: Boeing 757-300 Winglets
Requested Seat: None
Allocated Seat: 15D (via online checkin selection)
In-flight Entertainment: AVOD (back on seat)

Scheduled Departure: 21.10
Actual Departure: 21.25

Scheduled Arrival: 23.10
Actual Arrival: 23.10
Duration: 2 Hours 45 minutes

Meal:
Can be purchased on board, large selection for short flight. Preference of credit card for payments but cash allowed assuming pounds and kronurs. No meal for me, way too tired.

Summary:
This was my first economy flight of the trip and I had no status or lounge access so a wake up call! Had to wait until 3 hours before to drop bags. Only myself and one other person had checked in online and therefore we had the very short line, recommend you do online checkin.

Icelandair allow 20 kg checked bag and up to 10 kg for carryon. Boarding is by class first (business) and then row. They mean it was well, a lot of people were rejected at the gate since their row hadn't been called yet. As I was in row 15 I was one if the last to board however lots of overhead locker space as flight attendants seemed to enforce loading above your seat.

After the BA flight I was surprised to find Icelandair does have an AVOD system in the back of every seat. BA does even have it for Club Europe seats. I did not watch anything has too tired after long day and a half. Semi slept entire flight.

Landed in Iceland on time making up for delay leaving. Border control was very easy, bags came out quickly. I used the Flybus service to get to hotel. Very efficient plus they have 'in bus' free wifi for the 35 minute ride - recommend service.



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[turtlemichael]

Enjoying your travel with you!

 

[mella2007]

More please!

 

[coyote25]

Keflavík International Airport
19 October 2012

Arrived at the airport around 5.40 am (thanks flybus) for a 7.40 am flight. Having noticed with my first flight with Icelandair from Heathrow that most people don't seem to check in online I did and as a result I just dropped my bags and I has in.

All the airport shops appeared to be open when I got past security. No fast food chains but enough restaurants, caves and alone bar (yes open and serving at 6 am). No lounge access once again. Airport doesn't have free wifi either. International flights to Canada, UK and USA have additional border control you must get past. Other flights, for example to Berlin you just go to the gate like its a domestic flight.

Gates 25 and onwards have the additional security. Once past them there are additional food outlets. I think they all take Euros but not Pounds or USD or at least it didn't appear that they do.

You could find power outlets to charge devices near some seats not that this appears to be a service. My iPhone got charged as I saved the galaxy via a good little game I'm becoming addicted to


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[Joshua]

Looks great so far!

We were also in the SIN QF lounge on the 15th heading to LHR and PER... yes the Internet was complete rubbish yet it was fine a few days earlier (?) The lounge wasn't even that busy, I have seen it much worse in recent times. I only glanced at your TR earlier otherwise would of tried to say hi!

The FRA JL lounge often is quiet, haven't got to try the CX lounge yet as it is always closed or closing Some of the OW carrier use a coughpy 3rd party at the end of that walkway.

With the gate security at FRA, did they not have a priority queue for business class pax? It is frustratingly slow but the priority line IME makes it significantly better. However airlines I've flown like to bundle all the Y pax on the plane first before letting J pax onboard so it becomes a moot point.

 

[ellen10]

Really enjoying your trip report

I flew BA from LHR to FRA in economy and fortunately the plane was light loaded. Mostly only window and aisle seats occupied, leaving the middle seat free. Suited my aisle mate as he was very tall and could spread his legs towards the middle.

I was at Frankfurt airport 1 week ago for my QF 006 flight to Sydney and agree about the security check process. The terminal was soo quiet!. I had a snack opposite the security gates and could see the slow process. I decided to line up and go through security. My shoes had buckles at LHR I was asked to take them off, no problems going through security. So I offered to take them off at FRA, no they insisted and of course the beeps went off when I went through. Was asked to step to a small booth. Had to wait a few minutes for a female security person to arrive. She proceeded to pat me down etc for ages. I indicated I thought it was my shoes, was ignored, more intense checking all over. Finally told me take my shoes off and of course walked back through the gates, no beeps! surprise.

The process took an extra 20 minutes, in a rather unfriendly manner and the whole time my screened bags, hand bag etc sat pushed aside quite way from where I was enclosed.

At least I had a little more time than you to catch my plane.

I will look forward to your next instalment

 

[coyote25]

Photos from Keflavik International Airport.

Lots to do in your spare time including last minute purchase from the Blue Lagoon

 

[Simo]

Awesome TR,

Look forward to the next episode