Off to Munich for our annual trip to the Christmas Markets. Cheapish fare with lufthansa £52.00 return per person with £62.00 taxes. Im still flummoxed at how the tax figure can be so high, it must the the governments tax on fun and happiness.
LH operate three flights per day to MUC from MAN with A319s. We opted for the lunchtime flight as it was the cheapest of the three on offer. We flew out of the 2 Dec onboard D-AILA. After fighting our way through the army camp style shops to get to departures (just ludicrous MAPLC, sort it out please) we managed to settle down for coffee and breakfast before boarding. Noted from departures were:
Reg/Code Type C/n Airline/Operator/Owner
9V-SVO B.777 212ER 28533 Singapore Airlines
B-HOU B.747 467BCF 24925 Cathay Pacific Airways
D-AILA A.319 114 609 Lufthansa
D-AILH A.319 114 641 Lufthansa
D-AILL A.319 114 689 Lufthansa
D-COKE Learjet 35 A 35A-447 Private Wings Flugcharter Gmb
D-CTEC Citation CJ3 525B 525B-0215 Aero Business Charter GmbH
F-GFKA A.320 111 005 Air France
G-BYAD B.757 204ER 26963 Thomson Airways
G-CELI B.737 330 23526 Jet2
G-ECOW DHC-8 402 4021 flybe.
G-EMBX ERJ-145 EU 145573 flybe.
G-EUXK A.321 231 3235 British Airways
G-FBEI EMB-195 200LR 19000143 flybe.
G-FCLD B.757 25F 28718 Thomas Cook Airlines
G-FCLJ B.757 2Y0 26160 Thomas Cook Airlines
G-GTDL A.320 231 476 Thomas Cook Airlines
G-JECK DHC-8 402 4113 flybe.
G-JECU DHC-8 402 4146 flybe.
G-JEDU DHC-8 402 4089 flybe.
G-OBMP B.737 3Q8 24963 bmi baby
G-OBYE B.767 304ER 28979 Thomson Airways
G-OJMB A.330 243 427 Thomas Cook Airlines
G-OOBM B.767 324ER 27568 Thomson Airways
G-RJXG ERJ-145 EP 145390 bmi regional
G-THON B.737 36N 28596 Thomson Airways
G-VXLG B.747 41R 29406 Virgin Atlantic Airways
HB-IPU A.319 112 713 Swiss International Air Lines
N180DN B.767 332ER 25985 Delta Air Lines
N187DN B.767 332ER 27582 Delta Air Lines
N198WS Baron 58 TH-1839 Private
N270AY A.330 323X 315 US Airways
N41135 B.757 224/W 29284 Continental Airlines
N93M GV 567 3M Co
OH-LVD A.319 112 1352 Finnair
OK-EGO B.737 55S 28475 CSA Czech Airlines
OO-DJQ 146 RJ85 E2289 Brussels Airlines
OY-KHE DC-9 82 49604 Scandinavian Airlines System
OY-KHM DC-9 82 49914 Scandinavian Airlines System
OY-NCN Do328 JET 310 3193 British Airways
PH-BDW B.737 406 24858 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
PH-BXS B.737NG 8K2/W 29602 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
TC-JGV B.737NG 8F2/W 34419 Turkish Airlines
VP-CFT CL601 Challenger 3A5067 Jetclub AG
Plenty of bizjets to watch.
Boarding was through airstairs from the pier3 in Terminal1. The LH crew were all smiling and welcoming onboard, even the driver was at the front doors to say hello as we boarded!
Into the window and middle seat for my wife and I on row 5. This is the first row behind business and there was plenty of legroom. We notices that row 6 had more legroom than the rest. On taking a closer look there was a wheelchair symbol on the bulkhead, so LH dedicate row 6 for disabled pax. As my wife uses a wheelchair we wondered why we were not offered the seats in row 6 and made a pointo to ask for them on return.
Climbout from MAN was sprite with an immediate right turn that took us over Barton Airfield, plenty of Mil fileds and Lincolnshire and onwards to MUC.
By: steve rowell - 20th December 2008 at 01:56
Note to Steve Rowell: “Look Steve…pictures, are you happy?!:D:diablo:”
Why aye man
By: steve wilson - 18th December 2008 at 21:13
Aviation aside there is plenty to see and do in Munich. The two main attractions being the Octoberfest and Christmas Markets-Winter Tolwood. A summer Tollwood runs in July.
Much of the old city still stands, being out of range of most Allied Bombers unlike most other major German cities so the city takes a lot of exploring.
Within easy reach is the beautiful village of Garmisch and the Alps. The Winter Olympicstadium still stands in Garmisch as does the more modern Olympicpark in Muncih City.
The Deutches Museum has preseved a WW2 airfield just outside of the City. Its close to the concentration camp in Dachau I think. Also close by is Eagles Nest. Other main attractions ro consider are Oberammergau and Neuschweinstein Castle; you have a lot to see and do.
Dont forget the Magnificent Beer and nice food. Very heavy on Roasted Meats (Pork, Chicken and Duck) Potato Dumplings and Cabbage (Blue(our red) and Sauerkraut).
By: cloud_9 - 18th December 2008 at 11:34
Nice report there Steve. I like the way you set-out your lists of what you saw.:)
I’ve never been to Munich, what’s it like and what is there to do there?
Note to Steve Rowell: “Look Steve…pictures, are you happy?!:D:diablo:”
By: steve wilson - 17th December 2008 at 17:35
Checkin and security at MUC were smooth and quick, seats in row 6 secured 🙂
It was at the gate that the problems started. We were remote parked and when we arrived at the aircraft there was no ambilift for the wheelchair. It was cold and wet, with a wind blowing. So with no offer of help from the groundcrew I had to carry my wife up 19 very slippy steps to the A319. Poor show all round. The sympathetic crew helped as best they could once onboard and brought me a cold glass of water to help me cool down.
The return flight again departed and arrived on time, the same great service but bad food. Please lufthansa do away with the sky-snacks and lower my ticket price a bit.
We returned on D-AILC, which smelled of sick. MAN was quiet when we returned on the night-stopper.
Looking forward now to a spot of winder sun in Faro at the end of Feb. I hope you enjoyed.
Steve
By: steve wilson - 17th December 2008 at 07:05
After a few very pleasant days in MUC we set off for the airport, a few hours too early as a Christmas Market is set up in the central square. MUC must be one of the most enthusiast friendly airports in Europe. In T2 there is an old style rooftop viewing balcony. Here you can see the Lufthansa / Star Alliance ramp up close and both runways. It costs just 2 euro (no passout, free to wheelchair users) to enter and is open 8am till 10pm. Its partially covered and has a glass front. The glass front did give me some problems with the camers as the sun was low and setting behind me so some pictures had glare on them. There are two refreshment shops on the deck but they were both closed. No matter though as on the way up to the balcony you pass several bars and restraunts, including the Airport Hofbrauhaus. In the terminal is a supermarket so you can stock up on supplies if you want to send a full day on the deck. This would be a very pleasant place to spend a long summer weekend.
Other attractions for the entusiast at the airport include the Airbrau micro-brewery. The airport also offers a full ramp-tour (take photo ID to the information desk in T2 to book). It aslo runs, through the winter a lights tour of an evening. It gives you a chance to go on a driving tour of the taxiways and runwasy with the lights turned up to max. Booking as per the apron tour.
Noted during the day were the following. I have removed all Lufthansa and Augusbers. Aside from the occasional 737 MUC, for Lufthans is strictly Airbus territory:
9A-CTG A.319 112 767 Croatia Airlines
9H-AEP A.320 214 3056 Air Malta
9H-AFJ Learjet 60 60-030 Eurojet Malta
D-ABDC A.320 214 2654 Air Berlin
D-AHFE B.737NG 8K5/W 27979 TUIfly
D-ALPA A.330 223 403 Air Berlin
D-BUSY CL600 Challenger S 1070 Jet Executive International C
EC-HQG A.320 214 1379 Iberia
HB-IIQ B.737NG 7CN/W BBJ 30752 PrivatAir
HB-IUX Falcon 900EX 54 TAG Aviation SA
HS-TGT B.747 4D7 26616 Thai Airways International
I-ADJH 146 300 E3129 Air Dolomiti
I-ADLJ ATR 72 212A 686 Air Dolomiti
I-ADLL ATR 42 512 518 Air Dolomiti
I-ADLN ATR 72 212A 557 Air Dolomiti
I-ADLQ ATR 42 500 606 Air Dolomiti
LX-LGP B.737 5C9 26439 Luxair
OE-LNM B.737NG 6Z9 30138 Austrian
OY-KHE DC-9 82 49604 Scandinavian Airlines System
P4-MIV ERJ-135 Legacy 14501031 Rus Jet
S5-AAL CRJ 900 15129 Adria Airways
SP-LGH ERJ-145 MP 145329 LOT Polish Airlines
SX-BGV B.737 4Q8 26308 Aegean Airlines
YR-SBE 2000 041 Carpatair
ZS-SXB A.340 313E 582 South African Airways
If you want a breakdown of LH traffic then send me an in forum message.
By: steve wilson - 17th December 2008 at 07:04
Onboard service was pleasant. Two drinks services but the ‘sandwich’ was damm awful. Smoked turkey with a 2 x1 inch piece of lettiuce. I only managed to eat half before leaving it, my wife just smelled hers and said no. I wish I had said no too as by god it gave me wind something rotten a few hours later. Arriving in MUC the A319 was put down with a real whack. Being located inbetween two paralell runways the taxi time was just 3 or 4 minutes to Gate 212. Our wheelchair was waiting for us at the doors of the aircraft and we were escorted through the airport and in just 10 minutes we were on the S-Bahn platform waiting for the half hour train into the City.
Attached picture as we transitted overheal Cologne.
The downside of being expressed with our own escort through the airport meant that we didnt have a chance to look around before we left. Noted on arrival were:
Reg/Code Type C/n Airline/Operator/Owner
CS-TNN A.320 214 1816 TAP Portugal
D-ABIF B.737 530 24820 Lufthansa
D-AIHT A.340 642 846 Lufthansa
D-AILB A.319 114 610 Lufthansa
D-AILK A.319 114 679 Lufthansa
D-AILW A.319 114 853 Lufthansa
D-AIPK A.320 211 093 Lufthansa
D-AIPL A.320 211 094 Lufthansa
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December 17, 2008 at 6:53 am