| Lufthansa | Frankfurt (FRA) → Moscow (DME) | A321neo | Business Class | 27/12/2021 | |
| Lufthansa | Moscow (DME) → Frankfurt (FRA) | A321neo | Business Class | 09/01/2022 | Current review |
| Lufthansa | Frankfurt (FRA) → Moscow (DME) | A321neo | Business Class | 27/12/2021 | |
| Lufthansa | Moscow (DME) → Frankfurt (FRA) | A321neo | Business Class | 09/01/2022 | Current review |
Hello everyone!
After 10 days spent in Russia, it is time to fly back home, to France. So, it is from the second Muscovite Airport: Moscow-Domodedovo Airport that I will board the Lufthansa LH1445 flight to Frankfurt, Germany.
We are January 9th, 2022 and I came by train from Petrozavodsk, a city located 900 km north of the Kremlin. I spent a wonderful day in Moscow and took after lunch the “AeroExpress” train that connects the city center of Moscow to the airport of Domodedovo in 40 minutes. It is much easier and more practical than the bus or the car (3 hours to drive 30 km…).
We arrived at the airport at 2 o'clock P.M., 2 hours 15 minutes before take-off. The airport is very modern and clean compared to the other Russian airports!
We headed to the check-in desks where we found the slowest airport agent in the whole airport. After 30 minutes of waiting, to check 5 suitcases, we finally headed to the security check. To do that, simply climb to the first floor and follow the “Business class security check” panel. Your way will be completely different in Business class than in Economy class.
First, you will walk in a special corridor, different from the other passengers, with its own security check and customs. Then, you will walk through your own duty-free area. Finally, after this long separate walk, you will reach the gates.
The airport is, in my opinion, very slow. All is going in slow motion.
Came the time to go to the Business Lounge. With my boarding pass, I had access to two lounges. The first one is the SWISS Lounge (old Austrian Airlines). The second one is the airport's lounge. A third one, the Navigator Club Lounge, was also available, but it is exclusively reserved for British Airways passengers. Sadly, the Lufthansa Group Lounge was closed, and we went to the lounge of the Airport.
The lounge was spacious and well-decorated. But there were some negative points. First, the food was completely cold. Then the tables and the chairs were dirty and the indications to find the lounge were inexistent. However, from the lounge, you have a great view of the airside.
After one hour spent in the Lounge, it is time to board. Due to a high number of passengers in Business Class, some passengers traveling in Economy Class have been moved to another seat which has led to some dissatisfaction on their part.
Well. After a 15-minute delay on schedule, the boarding finally started. We board on a beautiful brand-new Airbus A321neo registered D-AIEF. It is part of the A321neo of the German fleet which are equipped with the Airbus black mask around the windshield.
The cabin is very modern, clean, and as always in this emblematic grey of the small- and medium-carrier of Lufthansa. My seat will be 5F for this flight. A window seat of course.
During boarding, the crew gave us disinfectant wipes.
While the boarding continues, I invite you to do a small tour of the seat. As you know for sure, the European Business Class has nothing to do with the American ‘Domestic First'. The seats are exactly the same as in Economy Class, with a bit more legroom and the free middle seat. Of course, there is a tray table, a seat pocket, storage for the safety card and the waste bag, as well as a USB port between each front seat. Of course, you will find personal reading lights and ventilation. The legroom is quite nice on the biggest plane of the A320 Family. I could fully extend my legs (it is true that I am not so tall - 1m70 - but it is long enough for taller people).
Little surprise for us, an Egyptair parked just next to us.
Half an hour after the schedule, we started to push back heading to runway 14R here in Domodedovo.
With a very (very) low temperature and a humidity level close to 100%, I was ready to get some more delay with the de-icing. But as it was my first de-icing, I didn't pay attention to the delay.
De-icing is completed, flaps in T/O position, before take-off checklist completed and we are ready for take-off. Except for some turbulences, the take-off went perfectly well.
We reached our cruise level of 36000 feet. The drink service started, and the crew gave us the Düsseldorf Menu for this flight. This evening:
Starter: Beef Pastrami with Sauce Remoulade, Artichokes, dry-aged Carrots, and puffed Capers
Main course:
- Rhenish Sauerbraten Braised Beef with Hasselback Potatoes, Broccoli, and Onions
or
- Potato Strudel with Wild Garlic, Swiss Chards, and Mushroom Cream Sauce
Dessert: Yogurt and Lime Mousse with Apple, Pear, and Apricot Compote, and toasted Sunflower Seed
For the main course, I choose the first option.
Two types of bread were also available: Rye Bread Rolls and Wheat-Soy Flour Bread.
To say true, the dinner was very tasty, a bit dietetic for a German airline, but good.
Concerning drinks, a large panel of “Getränke” is offered.
The end of the flight went very well. An apple was given to passengers who wanted one but sadly, the Lufthansa chocolate wasn't given.
We started our approach to Frankfurt-am-Main International Airport. We saw very quickly the lights on the ground, and we are heading to runway 25R of Frankfurt.
During our approach, we could admire the buildings of the third economic place in Europe (after London and Paris), nicknamed by locals “Main-hattan”.
“Herzlich Willkommen auf den Flughafen Rhein-Main, liebe Gäste”. The landing went very well, and we finally touch the German ground.
As usual in Frankfurt obviously, our deboarding will be performed by bus. While deboarding the aircraft, the German border police asked about our final destination. We said France, and they didn't check any passport or entry formalities.
I went a bit away from this beautiful plane which is the Airbus A321neo. I should say that these big Pratt & Whitney PW1100 fitting much better the A321 more than the CFM-56 or the IAE V2500
We are now on board the bus that took us to Terminal 1, the terminal of the Lufthansa Group and partners.
Once in the Terminal, we needed to pass through customs. As the line for the “original” customs is very long, we choose the automatic gates. It is very easy and fast. In less than 1 minute, you are in Germany.
We went then to the luggage claim area and exited the Terminal.
We are now in Frankfurt Airport, Germany.
My flight to Frankfurt went very well. The service on board was excellent, even if we didn't receive the chocolate and if I expected more cheese and meat for Lufthansa. We departed a bit late, but the pilots managed to arrive on time in Germany. Also, the cabin of the A321neo was very nice. What I could expect more would be the Wi-Fi, even for purchase.
The Muscovite airport of Domodedovo was quite nice, even if there were some negative points. The airport is very slow. The lounge was not as good as expected. I expected much more service and cleanliness. A large panel of drinks and food was available, but the food was cold.
As always, my stay in Frankfurt was very nice. All is perfect. The airport is very efficient and clean. Buses are comfortable and customs very fast.
This is now the end of this Flight review. I hope that you enjoyed it and that you will enjoy reading my next reviews on Flightreviews.net!
