Düsseldorf International

As “Start” had only issued an ETIX and not a printed ticket, I first had to visit the Lufthansa ticket desk to the ETIX for the segment FRA – DUS into a paper ticket, as I wanted to check the luggage on the return flight in PNH straight to DUS. The Lufthansa airport staff handled this without problems and I get my paper ticket for the return flight.

After this was done, I went to the Business Class Counter and checked in. Since I booked the flight DUS – FRA and FRA – DUS later and separately, it was not possible the get the Boarding Pass for the segment FRA – BKK and BKK – PNH, but the luggage was checked straight to PNH attached with a Star Alliance Priority Sticker. For the segment to BKK and further on I was told to contact the LH Transfer desk at FRA.

The security check (Business class) took some minutes, because the passenger in front of me had a pocket knife in his carry on, so that he had to got back and check his carry on. I passed security myself without problems.

I headed to the Lufthansa Business Class Lounge / Frequent Traveller Lounge, which was quite busy, but I had no difficulties to find a seat. I drank some mineral water and took a “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” for the following flight (the format is easier to read in a plane) and the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” to read in the Lounge.

Some minutes after the printed boarding time on my boarding pass, I went to the gate A 81.

12 January 2004
DUS – FRA
[Düsseldorf – Frankfurt]
LH 813 (Lufthansa); Boeing 737 – 300 „Siegen”
17.55 – 18.50
Economy Class
Seat 11 C

Boarding was in time and had just started as I reached the gate. As my ticket was an etix I used the self Boarding machine and passed the queue – I like it to have all the views of the queuing people no knowing about this possibility even if they have an etix themselves. I was only the fifth passenger on board and had no passenger in front of me and took my seat 11 C after I had stored my hand luggage.

The plane was not very full, the seat 11 AB remained empty, so that I moved over to 11 A. I did not count the people in the plane, but I would say the load was about 45% in Economy and Business.

During take off the curtain between Business Class and Economy Class was open as usual, but was closed soon after the seat belt sign switched off. There was no service  in Economy, so that no flight attendant disturbed me reading my newspaper and the board magazine. The flight itself was a bit bumpy – the seat belt sign were switched on after 10 minutes again – but nothing to worry about.

The flight was uneventful and we landed in time at Frankfurt Airport. As we had a parking position in the middle of nowhere, we had a long bus ride to Terminal 1 A.

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