Konstantinkoll From Germany, joined Aug 2006, 59 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 months 3 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 1746 times:
Hi everyone,
and welcome to my second trip report, covering a weekend-trip from DUS to NTE in March 2008. I had to visit NTE for a conference on a Saturday, with Friday and Sunday reserved as travelling days. Being a quite loyal LH customer, I found it very hard to get to NTE on *alliance, so I opted for some "homemade interlining" between LH and AF, using the dreaded CDG as transfer point:
So, I have bought one of those 99€ Lufthansa "betterfly" tickets for DUS-CDG-DUS. The outbound flight would leave DUS around 11:00 on Friday, and the inbound flight would depart CDG on Sunday around 17:00. The second part was on a standard Air France ticket, departing CDG on Friday around 17:00, with inbound leg leaving NTE around 09:00 on Sunday. This would provide me with ample time for checkin at CDG, and also provide my very first A318 flight!
The flight from DUS to CDG was on a CRJ200, with boarding on the apron. Giving the short duration, a sandwhich and two drinks (I asked for a second since I was thirsty) was more than enough. Overall, the flight was very nice. As the flight was on time, I knew I had plenty of time to take another picture of the plane.
Multiple *allicance carriers lined up in DUS:
The CRJ200 that would take me to CDG:
Airborne somewhere over the border between Germany and France:
Arrival at CDG:
Now, LH and AF use entirely different terminals at CDG, so I had to collect my luggage and take it to the Air France checkin myself (just one of the things you do to earn some precious miles on your favorite frequent flyer program ). However, Air France was in for a nasty surprise: with more than 4 hours before departure, there was no checkin for my flight! So I literally had to sit on my bag for 2 hours instead of exploring CDG with just my backpack - bummer. Obviously, many other passengers had the same problem, as they were blocking half of the terminal space with their own luggage. Air France, you need to get better here! After finally checking my own luggage hand having my boarding pass, I grabbed some late lunch, and hopped onto my A318.
My A318 arriving at CDG:
Descent into NTE:
After a very successful conference talk, I travelled home to DUS the next day. I arrived early at NTE by cab, without any Air France checkin counter opened. You've guessed it - I had to sit on my bag for an hour! However, with little to do at NTE and already expecting this, I had a fully charged laptop to while away the time. The flight itself (on an A319) was rather pleasant, with a nice orange jouice and a delicious lemon tart for breakfast.
NTE:
Climbing out of NTE:
Parallel approach at CDG:
On the runway at CDG:
After landing in CDG and taxiing past the Concorde on display there, I quickly collected my bag and made my way to the other terminal. As a very pleasant surprise, Lufthansa has a checkin counter in the basement which seems to be staffed at all times. With more than 5 hours to go, I was able to check in and get rid of my bag !
Is this politically correct?
The last leg of this trip was on a B737. Unfortunately, the flight was through some heavy turbulence, with service being abandoned. My seat row was the last one to receive a sandwhich, but too far at the rear for a drink. Oh well, I was more than happy that the aircraft landed in one piece, and the weather gave me the main ingredient for some nice pictures:
Sunset over France:
Before descent into the night:
I hope you like my trip report. As always, comments are welcome!
-Konstantin
SandroZRH From Switzerland, joined Feb 2007, 2589 posts, RR: 23 Reply 1, posted (2 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 1650 times:
Hey there, nice report, great pics and an interesting routing. I especially like the tails-closeup at DUS. Doesn't LH use T1 at CDG? That must be one of the worst terminals around, I just hope LX won't move in there aswell.
FLIEGER67 From Morocco, joined Sep 2003, 1528 posts, RR: 22 Reply 2, posted (2 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1094 times:
Hello, Konstantin,
interesting story.
Indeed its not that easy to collect some french airports with Star Alliance.
The Nantes area sounds also interesting from my point of view.
TheCommodore From Australia, joined Dec 2007, 38 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 931 times:
I travelled through CDG a few years back on my way to Moscow. I have to say its has to be one of the worst airports that I have ever had anything to do with, lack of seating was the biggest problem as well as VERY rude and unhelpful AF staff. From memory there was also no aircon in the middle of summer.
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From Germany, joined Aug 2006, 59 posts, 
). However, Air France was in for a nasty surprise: with more than 4 hours before departure, there was no checkin for my flight! So I literally had to sit on my bag for 2 hours instead of exploring CDG with just my backpack - bummer. Obviously, many other passengers had the same problem, as they were blocking half of the terminal space with their own luggage. Air France, you need to get better here! After finally checking my own luggage hand having my boarding pass, I grabbed some late lunch, and hopped onto my A318.
!
From Switzerland, joined Feb 2007, 2589 posts, 
From Morocco, joined Sep 2003, 1528 posts, 
From Sweden, joined Jul 2007, 530 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Feb 2007, 891 posts, 
From Australia, joined Dec 2007, 38 posts, 
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