1. Pack smart
Luggage is a key point of concern for every passenger, especially for less experienced travellers. First thing first, check weight limits. Your ticket or your electronic receipt includes information on your free baggage allowance. If unsure, check Lufthansa’s website. A Business Class passenger may check in two bags (32 kg each) and carry one handbag on board. When packing your things, put together your packing list in advance. Try to “box” the items inside your baggage – shirts, toilet-set, books, presents, etc. and fix them tight inside so that they weather transport at the airport. Find a way to lock your luggage and always tag each piece of baggage you check in, indicating your name and mobile phone number on the tag. Your handbag(s) (one for Economy Class passengers, two each for Business and First Class passengers) should comply with the limits of size (55x40x23 cm) and weight (8 kg each). Mind also that you may only carry 100 ml of liquids in total on board. If you buy liquids (perfumes, drinks, etc.) in a duty-free shop at the airport you can carry it in a sealable bag along with the receipt you get in the shop. When packing, do not forget that you will have to remove your laptop, empty your pockets and take off your belt at the security check – be prepared for that.
- 2. Check-in online or on the spot
Online check-in is very easy and practical. If you fly Lufthansa, you can check in via internet and mobile phone as well. To see how this works, go to www.lufthansa-demo.de. Did you know that at Lufthansa’s website you can choose your seat online during the check-in process? This certainly helps you secure a window seat for yourself. You can print your boarding pass at home or at the printers installed at airports. You can also have your boarding pass sent to your smart phone, and hence avoid printing and paper use. However, if you travel with luggage to check in, you will have to go to the drop-off counter by 40 minutes before take-off time at the latest. If you did not check in beforehand, the representative at the desk will do it for you and print your boarding pass.
- 3. Enjoy airports
Airports are often crowded and frantic. Therefore, good lounges come down as shelters in the rush. Lufthansa has its own lounges at the biggest airports around the world. Its Business lounges offer peace and entertainment: lounge seats, TV, computers free to use, free VLAN connection, fax, print and photocopy devices for those who want to work, a variety of international newspapers and magazines, as well as an expertly assorted set of food and beverages. In some lounges, you will find shower facilities as well. At Frankfurt International you can choose from thirteen Lufthansa lounges (six Business lounges, two First Class lounges, four Senator Lounges and a Welcome lounge) in different terminals. In addition, there is a new First Class terminal in a separate building. By far the finest airport lounge in Germany, the First Class terminal has a luxurious yet relaxed ambiance, a top-end bar, quiet rooms and all the other lounge amenities. However, you need a First Class ticket or a HON card to have access to it. Lufthansa’s First Class lounges are quintessential compounds of clean-cut, elegant interior design and top-end amenities. Enjoy first class food, use the special check-in desk (with hand luggage), and the limousine service that takes you right to the aircraft. You may also take your not-travelling companion to the lounge for a moderate fee to be paid at the airport. At Budapest Airport you can use the Platinum Lounge next to gate A12 with your Business Class ticket.
- 4. Have a comfortable flight
Especially on long-haul flights, you should use the experience of long-time travellers and the expertise of the cabin crew to make your flight comfortable. Entertainment on long flights comes down as essential: choose from the hundreds of videos, games and music of the Lufthansa multimedia set displayed right in front of you on the touch-screen. If you bring your own laptop, buy access to FlyNet, Lufthansa’s onboard internet service that allows you to stay online all the time. Lufthansa is the only airliner that allows you to work online, chat, check your emails and keep up with your usual data stream as you fly across continents! After take-off, connect your laptop with VLAN receptor or your smart phone with GSM/GPRS connection to FlyNet’s network! It is fast enough for you to download even large attachments and allows you to phone and exchange text messages during the flight. You can pay for the service upon connection online with your credit card or with Miles&More points. The 1 hour connection fee is €10.95 (or 3,500 miles) while a 24-hour connection costs €19.95 (or 7,000 miles). If you go with the latter, you can use it on all connecting Lufthansa flights and in every Lufthansa lounge within 24 hours.
- 5. Beat jet lag
Jet lag is a slight confusion of your inner biological rhythm that results from the crossing of several time zones between your point of departure and your destination. Jet lag can be very exhausting but here are some tips to beat it. When flying on westbound flights:
- Prepare to the time conditions of your Western destination before your flight by going to bed later than usual for a couple of days.
- Upon boarding, set the time of your destination on your watch.
- On board, try to stay awake! Eat high-protein food, drink much non-alcoholic beverages, and stretch out your legs by walking every now and then to stay awake.
- After you arrive, do not go fall asleep in your hotel before dusk! If you wait for the evening, you will be in a much better shape the next day.
Lufthansa Highlight: Attention, chef on board!
If you are a food connoisseur, you should definitely book a First Class or a Business Class ticket on a Lufthansa long-haul flight. Building on its excellent relationship with five-star hotels around the globe, Lufthansa puts creations from star chefs on its on First Class on-board menu card. The Star Chef concept also includes a rotation of regional haute cuisine. In January-February 2013, First Class and Business Class passengers will be offered signature dishes from rising stars of Belgian cuisine. In First Class, Jean-Baptiste Thomaes of Le Chateau du Mylord in Ellezelles pampers foodie passengers. His creations include filled veal rolls with a green apple sauce as amuse bouche, confit salmon and egg salad with Flemish vinaigrette as hors d’oeuvres and a main course consisting of medium-fried veal fillet served with forest mushrooms, artichokes and mashed potatoes. Gourmets flying in Business Class can enjoy the creations of Lieven Demeestere of Restaurant Arenberg in Leuven. His menu features prawns with potato salad, tomato jelly and avocado crème, Flemish beef stew in a chocolate-beer sauce with celery mousse and caramelised apple wedges as well as chocolate-coffee crème, white wine pear and caramel mousse for dessert.
Lufthansa highlight: Children on board
Lufthansa wants to be the best airliner not only for grownups but also for children. Make sure that you indicate it duly when booking tickets for children: their tariff is different from yours! If you travel with a baby, you will be among those who board first. There will be enough place on board for the pram and you will also find a changing table in the toilet on board. Children under 17 are welcome in the club of JetFriends. Upon registration, children become members of the Miles&More programme with a 2,000-mile welcome credit. Children are invited to have a memorable lunch on board as well. Just order them one of Stefan Marquard’s or Sarah Winer’s special child menus developed exclusively for Lufthansa, by calling Lufthansa Service Centre (+49 (0) 1 805-805 805) at least 24 hours before your take-off. Lufthansa has developed a system that allows children between the age of 5-12 and older to travel alone. Young travellers are accompanied by Lufthansa personnel on the ground and are taken care of by flight attendants on board.
Lufthansa highlight: Private Jets: Fly like never before
Imagine booking your own aircraft to your own timetable. All this on short notice (up to ten hours before departure), to a large range of European, American, Russian and Asian destinations. Lufthansa Private Jet offers this truly exclusive opportunity any time. You can arrange the food and the drinks you would like to have on board according to your own preference, and you can book your own flight attendant. At the airport, use Lufthansa or SWISS First Class lounges and choose the destination that the inclusive limousine service should take you to after landing. Take your fellow passengers with you to enjoy this truly luxurious service – for an attractive fixed charge. You can easily combine Private Jet flights with commercial Lufthansa flights (in First Class) and cash in up to 10,000 extra Miles&More points with every single Private Jet flight. For more information check lufthansa.com/private-jet!
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