Hallo van de Nederland! I would say good day, but for most people here that doesn't seem to be the case. Let me start off by saying that I'm not some crazy soccer nut. I've been Tweeting occasionally about the World Cup, and I've gotten a lot of responses along the lines of "since when…
Continue reading: Flying Lufthansa First Class During World Cup!
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Hey, I Am a Portuguese Canadian and was cheering for Portugal (ouch). I have to cheer for Argentina just because of their personality and charisma as a soccer team, (no offence to the German soccer team). But I think there would have been a more interesting game if the Dutch won. My bet is on Germany blowing the argentines away, though not as badly as they beat Brazil.
Maybe this is what you were expecting? http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/07/argentina-fans-plane
On the World Cup front - they were showing live sports (WC wasn't on so it was Wimbledon) on the LH F IFE during my MUC - YYZ flight on an A330.
On the food front - I had excellent food on MUC - YYZ as well. The appetizers were: lobster medallion, medium-rare saddle of veal, lettuce cream with feta cheese, and of course the caviar service. It was quite impressive!
It would be a Klose call but I'd go with Germany based on the current form. As for the lounge atmosphere I think a) most of the German crazy fans would have avoided to book on this flight so has to watch the match at their home/office/ hotel with full concentration unless they are those who fly for a living and b) most first class flyers are the top business executives who are the serious snooty types and do not let their hair down at public places. Chances in coach are more to find like minded cheerful fans!
Where in The Hague are you staying? Des Indes by any chance?
You around in Rotterdam at all over the weekend?
I WAS IN THE LOUNGE WHILE YOU WERE THERE, in the business class section. I seriously thought about "jumping the rope" into the senator section, just because it didn't look like I would be tackled and handcuffed and whatnot. I'd say a pretty "blah" lounge.
With your help last year I booked a YYZ-MUC flight in LH F but without thinking chose the day of the final. I was kind of disappointed I may not get to see whoever was going to play but it seems my connecting flight will arrive in time. Now that Germany has advanced to the final, though I want to see Messi be a champion, I'm hoping Germany actually wins since my flight leaves an hour later.
I was making a ton of trips (revenue) in LH first in '06, including during the world cup - note that Germany hosted the even that year. I managed to pick up a couple of these black and white ducks, although this photo isn't mine, thank you Google images: http://tinyurl.com/psexe6r
I'll also note that one of their signature desserts was served on an edible green "football field," and while it might sound disgusting, it's one of the few times I asked for seconds on dessert, it was that good. Google image search failed on this one.
@ heels05 -- I used Aeroplan miles:
https://onemileatatime.com/ever-booked-flight-wrong-airport/
As a Brazilian with German backgrounf, I was stunned with the result but my backup team won :D. Actually after the 3rd goal started to root for the Mannschaft.
I agree with people who say that real fans would not book flights at this time, you basically was with those who needed to fly or did not care too much.
I believe that Germany will win, but it would be interesting to watch our president giving the world cup to Messi, maybe the trigger for the so needed political needed down there.
I had literally just finished reading this article when I came across yours: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28237622
World Cup + Drinking makes for some fun stories.
But here's a bracket I'm much more interested in that the WC: http://fivethirtyeight.com/burrito/#brackets-view
@ Clifford lau -- Yow! That's exactly what I was expecting (except I feel sorry for Argentina -- all that excitement will be for nothing come Sunday). 😉
This post made me laugh out loud! Agree great pics! I was in Nice last week when France won their match, not the cup, just a match. It made the Chicago Bulls championship celebrations pale in comparisons. Then I was in Barcelona a few days later when Argentina beat Belgium and the respective fans were hilarious. Walking La Rambla, the fans were singing and dancing, even falling on the ground in front of the Belgium fans holding their leg faking injury.Ha! BTW, flew Austrian based on your review and I had the coffee menu!
Out of all the "excuses" needed to fly Lufthansa First Class this has got to be the funniest one Ben. Just out of curiosity, how many times have you flown LH F Class?
Just one question out of the topic for this post,
Flying International United Global First would be allowed to enter Lufthansa lounges in Washington (IAD)? Guest allowed?
Thanks
Unrelated to the post, but can United BusinessFirst passengers flying through London use the AC lounge in the new terminal?
Great illustrative photos 🙂
To confirm, you booked via Aeroplan as a one-way award with fuel surcharges?
I agree with SS. The true German fans wouldn't schedule a flight during the game and I doubt they'd be in Washington DC flying to Germany unless they have to for work. 😉 Were you able to get the Lufthansa 2014 world cup rubber ducky at FCT? I just entered a contest they're having by retweeting a tweet.
By the way, I was surprised you didn't opt to sit on the nose of the gorgeous 747-8i plane!
@ Leon -- Over the past decade I'd say probably at least 50 times, if not more.
Lucky, please plan to be in the LH F Terminal during the entire GER-ARG game on Sunday. We need a review of that.
@ Adrian Wattamaniuk -- Assuming it's in the same terminal then yes, since you can use any Star Alliance business class lounge at your transoceanic gateway.
Lack of anything interesting happening? One of the best Nil-Nil games in quite some time in World Cup history..........a beautiful match shamelessly ended on penalty kicks............you probably should have been in Berlin or Munich to celebrate properly............
"...service was especially good (though with Troy working first class I’m sure it would have been great even with a full load..." I see what you did there. Ha!
May be because all the die-hard german fans would have switched their flights to watch the semifinal
That's kinda sad to know, I have gone through the feeling many times -when you scream and people turn around in unison and stare at you 😀
Anyway, nice dig at me 😉
@andy
I'll be doing that flight in September. (Thanks to help from Lucky's team)
REALLY looking forward to it. First for First for me.
I think you meant to say: There was caviar...caviar...caviar...caviar to start. But hey, since the load in F was so light at least it didn't go to waste! My wife would be in heaven to see that much quality caviar on a plate. Perhaps they could've divided it up into seven equal portions - one for each of Germany's goals!
So does that include the Singapore silver kris lounge? If so which one would you choose, united club, air canada maple leaf lounge or silver kris lounge?
Would if I could, but travelling with three other people and only have a two hour layover 🙁
I miss the IAD Senator lounge! I used to visit every Friday on my way home.
I have never seen them rope off a first class area, and that area was basically where people could sit and eat. Seems kind of odd.
@Lucky:
First things first: Your blog is a great success! I'm reading every post, and due to many work related travel I can absolutely understand your critics and situations when being out there.
But what I wanted to say: I was unfortunately travelling when Germany had a match back then. And I'm German. And the flight was late. And no one could watch the game as planned at home after the flight. The captain for sure made at least 3 excusing announcements during that one hour flight.
Next time you've to get over here and watch the game in Germany! Don't miss that party!