|
| |
Day1: Wednesday, July 19.
San Francisco – Frankfurt am Main.
|
|
|
Lufthansa flight LH455, San Francisco (SFO) – Frankfurt am Main
(FRA) |
15:50
PDT |
This is very cool! I'm sitting in a Lufthansa 747 on my way to Frankfurt
and they are showing in-flight information on the video screens. No, not the usual
"the life jackets are under your seat" and "oxygen masks will fall down
automatically;" they've already been through that. What we see now are data like our
ground speed (990 km/h), the outside temperature (28 °C), and... the plane's
flight path and current position plotted on a global map! It's updating continuously as we
progress across the United States. Right now, we're over Carson City (highlighted below
the map) and are continuing towards Boise and Canada. We've also increased our speed to
1010 km/h and had the outside temperature drop to 38 °C. Very cool, indeed
[sic]. This is the first time I fly with Lufthansa, but I have to say that I really like
it! Sure, I wish the ticket would have been cheaper ($1400 return, ugh), but to be honest,
I found the about the same price everywhere else. Instead, consider this:
 | Very helpful phone agents |
| Speedy ticket delivery by mail |
| Elegant and efficiently designed material |
| Automatic credit to my UA frequent flyer account |
| Extremely fast check-in (no line, no 20 questions) |
| Comparatively spacious economy seats (yes!) |
| Quality headsets made by Sony |
| Peppermint scented wash cloths |
OK, considering that I've only been an hour into the flight, I'll shut up now. More
later.
|
16:56
PDT |
OK, so the food doesn't look so great, but what do you expect —
they're an airline after all. At least it comes with genuine Roggen-Vollkornsbrot).
|
17:27
PDT |
Actually, I take it back again. The food was quite tasty and the coffee
black and strong. Ah, I feel like I'm back in Europe already! Deutschland,
Deutschland... (And yes, the German bier was quite acceptable too.)
|
20:17
PDT |
The in-flight movie Muriel's Wedding have just ended. It was cute
in a non-sweetening kind of way and not without merit (3+). However, I've decided that
German service is indeed without a merit. A little while ago, I went over to the pantry
with the intention of acquiring a small gin & tonic. Do you think that the crew paid
any attention to me? Yes?! Think again. OK, so I actually did get it in the end, but
without ice and only after an — at least with American standards — inordinate
amount of waiting. Bah, those Europeans... (Wait, I'm still one of them! I think...)
|
20:20
PDT |
Damn! I missed Greenland. The in-flight information panel just came back
up with our position: Just off the east coast of Greenland. Stupid movie. (Wow, it's really
cold outside: 52 °C).
|
00:18
PDT
(08:18) |
A fluffy white blanket of clouds is shrouding the United Kingdom as
usual. I'm feeling right at home. :-)
|
01:07
PDT
(10:07) |
There is a seminude picture of Denise Brown in one of the German sleaze
magazine. Apparently, it cost Hugh Grant DM 280 ($210) for a ten minute blow job.
"You have very sensual lips," he's credited to have said. The title of the story
is something like "Weak Men: Are Women the Stronger Sex?" I say, quality smut. |
| |
|
