The World According to Pat

Flight yesterday to CDG was a quick 50 minutes. Received full cold meal (cold pancakes, meats, bread, and fruit) and very good orange juice. Was fresh (same with meal on flight to FRA - but not before take off). Sometimes I judge an airline by their orange juice. United serves minute maid from the carton which is good while Delta only serves minute maid from the carton in the morning. The rest of the day it is from the can and that tastes like.... well not very good. But I was very pleased with Lufthansa as much as I dislike Orange juice from a can I also dislike Orange juice from a carton in Europe. As you can tell I like orange juice and it is the only thing I drink on planes before take off. Anyway - I think they even served quick meal in economy to CDG Arrival in CDG did not as smoothly. We cleared passport in FRA so flying from FRA to CDG is like flying from ORD to LAX you get off the plane and go. So that was easy. But we had arranged pick up from Interservice Prestige. Nor...

The Singapore A380 is just passing by. It is becoming a more common sight. I read where there are only 787 in service with none delivered last month. I would say the FRA 1st class lounge is nicer than the Singapore 1st Class lounge. For further travel reviews and travel information please visit http://patstravelreviews.com

In Lufthansa 1st Class lounge at Frankfurt airport in Terminal A. Very very nice. In fact, one of the best lounges I have ever been in.They don't have massage or beauty treatments like Swiss, BA, or Virgin have in this lounge- but very pleasant environment. I am typing this while I sit and look at runway. There is actually a tub in shower room so I drew a nice bath :) Had tasty smoothie and many more food options (including lots of candy) Unfortunately, I ate so much on the plane that I am too full to eat. It is much nicer than the Senator's lounges . The only problem it is still Frankfurt airport which is never easy to negotiate. I have been here at least 20 times and am always confused as to where to go. There are no signs telling you for passport or Schengen connections. This is only airport in the world I have this issue with. The United 1st class lounge in ORD was also very nice and a big step up from the regular United lounges. Many more food options and also a ver...

Staying at LAX Hilton to catch morning flight to ORD then to FRA. I tried to check-in online with Lufthansa, but internet connection went away. Just have to do the old fashion way. Actually, I find when traveling internationally it is better to check-in with a live person than online or from Kiosk. Never seems to work. When I was leaving Seattle Thursday a man traveling to Thailand was having all sorts of problems and was told he was not allowed to take flight because he didn't have the proper documents. But once agent started over from the beginning. No problem! I can still hear planes taking off (it is 1:45am) but can not see them because it is dark and runway is not well lit (it is for planes to land - but not to see from across the street). I guess I will have to wait for break off day. We have early flight, but we can still visit lounge where there is a great view of the runway. I just looked at weather for Chicago and got a little scare. I looked at today's fo...

http://747-8.lufthansa.com/#/b747/experience/first-seat The 747-800 starts to fly from FRA to IAD June 1st. My Wife (Polina) and I are flying to Paris thru FRA on a 747-400 in 1st this Saturday and I hope to change flight (is on award ticket so possible to do) on return from Brussels on June 2nd. We have a single connection thru IAD now on UAL, but maybe we can change fly thru FRA and IAD on the new 747-800. Hopefully she is not reading this because  somehow she doesn't see the enjoyment of adding another airport and a few more hours for the sake of flying in a new plane :) For further travel reviews and travel information please visit http://patstravelreviews.com

Very windy in San Francisco today. Had layover in SFO from SEA to SAN. Was so windy that plane shook while we were parked at gate waiting for jet way (and of course it took over 10 min. for someone to bring jet way to plane). Pilot said winds were gusting to 35 mph. The amazing thing is there were no delays at the airport (in fact, flight was early) At any other big airport that kind of wind would create big delays and this at an airport where even the daily occurrence of low clouds creates delays. So pleasant surprise. Lots of action at that time of the day. Lufthansa 380 (my 1st sighting) was parked in Int'l terminal and from United lounge I saw SQ Triple bird taking off as well as an Air Berlin A330 landing (flights were taking off to North so you could see lot's of action from the lounge). Plus there was a Turkish A330 and Qatar plane at East side of Airport. I do not think either airline fly's to SFO (unless cargo). As I walked thru Terminal 3 I stopped ...

Visiting Seattle took my nephew to the Flight Museum and saw two 787's parked at Boeing Field and saw 747-800 flying overhead.  What a day.  Leave tomorrow back for San Diego.  On a 737-800 from SFO to SAN.  First time flying a Continental Plane on a United Route.  Off to Paris on Saturday.  Breaking News !!!  Breaking News !!! Russia has ok'd December Vacations and Olga (sister-in-law) is coming to San Diego on December 22nd.  For further travel reviews and travel information please visit http://patstravelreviews.com