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**Dent@SUB** · 5 October 2009, 11:59 AM

After passed the security check, there was a very long airy airside hall with a spectacular apron view.

Here some picture of that area:

Some apron views:

And this is what we called our "right" with european carrier:

**Dent@SUB** · 5 October 2009, 12:12 PM

Spanair used SALA VIP lounge for their premium pax.
This lounge located 1 floor under the departure floor.
It was a nice lounge. Quite well stocked for a domestic lounge.

The views from the lounge share the same view from departure hall which were magnificent.

Here some shoot of them:

My ride to BCN has arrived:

That's my bag on the belt... yippy... :

**Dent@SUB** · 5 October 2009, 07:11 PM

I headed back to the departure hall. It was almost boarding time.

I just realized when I looked at my BP, JK business class was coded with Y, not J. And the economy was coded with M.

Time to board now...
Like other European airlines, JK J class literally exactly like the whY seat, only the middle seats are blocked.

Some view of the cabin:

And the famous SQFG TM shoot:

There were 2 JK staffs flying in the J cabin. I guessed they were JK pilots who were on vacation. And they were sit at the first row, the best row in house.

Soon after took off, I move to 3F, so no one would hit my knee with the back rest.

On the first round, FA served me with drink and some snack.

And then followed by lunch. The look was not appealing, but in fact it was quite tasty. Really enjoyed the taste, so rich in flavor.

View from the flight, the African coast line. I think it was Morocco's coast line.

We were approaching Gibraltar strait, but from my side I only can saw the African side of this famous strait.

Ceuta, the Spanish territory in the northern Africa, the southern border of Gibraltar strait:

We arrived at BCN on time. But no gate for us. So my plane parked on the remote area, an pax get bussed to the terminal. JK use the new T1 for all of their flights.
Being parked at the remote area, it gave me opportunity to take some shoot of the plane:

The new T1 really a nice terminal. Looks great with "sword" shape.

I waited not more that 5 minutes before my bag appeared on the belt, among the first one.

The problem was with my hotel shuttle van.
I was book with BW Hotel Alfa Aeroporto, and I couldn't found their shuttle van on the bus area.
I called the hotel, and the told me their van was located at parking G area, and the next departure time was 6:45. It was still 6:25. I asked the security about this location, and was told that area was at the other side oh the building, must go through the huge parking building. So I rushed walk there. And luckily got there around around 6:40.
But no van from BW Hotel Alfa, just van from other airport hotel.
I waited for another 20 minutes,then called the hotel again, just to be told than the van will be there at 7:30. OK... I wait...
An it was almost 8pm before I lost my patient. I called them again, and told them "how long you want to keep me waiting, I've been waiting for 1 and half hours!"
They said there was a problem with the van, so the substitute van would pick me up at 8:30
There also some people waited for the same van me.
At last, the van came around 8:45
We arrived at the hotel around 9pm
I showed them my BWR plat card, but they said they need my booking print out. What on earth this was???
They should have my name on their system without the need I show them the print out.
So I gave them the print out and my BWR plat card, but my card was return to me without even they gave a sight on it. And told me to use that card for check out to collect point. What???
So what the use of Plat status in this hotel?????
Not in the mood to argue, I went straight to my my room.
The room was nice, modern decor, newly renovated. But the bed was awful. Just like the cheap springbed. Hard and you can felt the coil beneath you.

What a hotel!!!!

**Dent@SUB** · 6 October 2009, 10:20 AM

Couldn't sleep well, I woke up quite early, and repacked my bag.
Felt hungry, I went to the hotel restaurant to have some breakfast. Surprisingly, the breakfast in this hotel was good. Worth every penny they charged me. But sorry no picture of it, because I left my camera in my room.

There was another incident on the check out process.
The receptionist asked me how would I like to pay my bill. I told him that I wanted to pay by CASH, and I pulled out some euros from my wallet. But he just pres his keyboard button, and charge my preregister Amex card on their system. I didn't want this. I still wanted to pay in cash. He just crossed the invoice manually, and accepted my euros. I could not accept this. I insisted him to canceled it right away on their system, and issued me the right invoiced for me, including my BWR number on it. He looked like neglected, but at last he did it properly.
What an experience with this hotel.

I left the hotel to the airport early, 'cause I wanted to enjoy the new BCN T1 longer.
This time the hotel shuttle van departed on time.

LH4477
BCN-MUC
Class: J
Seat: 1A
Load: 5/16
ETD: 1420
ETA: 1620
ATD: ontime
ATA: ontime
Aircraft: A320

The BCN new T1's look were awesome from the distance with its "sword" shape.

Here some shoots of the check in area.

SQ business class check in counter, but unmanned...

**Dent@SUB** · 6 October 2009, 10:45 AM

After passed the security check, I went down stair to the departure area. At BCN T1, departure and arrival area were on the same floor like Changi.

Here some views after I passed the security check:

LH in BCN used Spanair lounge for their premium pax.
Spanair lounge located 1 floor up. We can use escalator or an elevator that provided.

There were two lounges at that floor. Sala VIP ont the left and the Spanair Lounge on the right.

The Spanair Lounge was quite big, spacious, bright and airy. Quite a nice lay out.

**Dent@SUB** · 6 October 2009, 10:55 AM

The lounge had view of the departure/arrival area.
Here some views from the lounge:

The drink that offered in this lounge were quite decent, but the food were minimal.

**Dent@SUB** · 6 October 2009, 11:03 AM

Not much to do in the lounge, I decided to explore this nice airport.
And here some shoots of it.

The airport diagram, look at the "sword" shape of it.

Now we were on the base of the sword:

**Dent@SUB** · 6 October 2009, 11:40 AM

And now we were at the "body of the sword":

At the tip of the sword, there were immigration counter, but its were unmanned at that time, may be no international arrival at that time.

Some shoots along the "sword body":

BCN T2 in the distance:

**Dent@SUB** · 6 October 2009, 12:45 PM

Here my ride to MUC:

Soon boarding was commenced in usual sequence. Business and *gold, and then economy according to sequence number.

Another famous SQFG TM shoot:

We pushed back ontime. And here some shoots from my window.

A long line waited for their turn to Tango...

BCN T2 on the ground:

Barcelona seaport:

hmmm... N_Architect must be familiar with this ship...:

Soon after we reached cruising altitude, lunch was served.
Something new for me from LH first row was the table. The table didn't come out from the arm chair, but from the wall in front. We just pulled it up, then folded it to became a table.
Nice design!

Approaching Munich, we've got accompany :

It was SAS bird...
And she was going to accompany us to make a simultaneous landing! Great! This was the first time for me.

We arrived at MUC T2 on schedule.
I waited about 5 minutes before my bag appeared on the belt. Once again it was among the first batch.

This time I booked at Sheraton Munich Airport Hotel. And they had clearly informed their guests how to find their shuttle van at MUC on their website. So I went directly to the bus stop no 11, and waited for about 10 minutes before the van came. The shuttle was not free, its cost 8 euros per ride. But it still a nice facility to offered.

Check in was a breeze, just showed them my SPG card, then everything ran accordingly.

**Dent@SUB** · 7 October 2009, 11:58 AM

Never been to Munich before, and it was still 5:30, I decided to go to the city.
The best way to go to the city were either by taxi which cost you 60-70 euros one way or by train from airport. So I booked with the receptionist for 6:00 shuttle van to airport again.
After took a quick shower, I waited the van at the lobby. The van came on time with German efficiency.
From airport station to Munich city center, there was a special ticket called transit ticket. I just cost you 10 euros for six hours validity time to go anywhere to the city and return, no limits for how many time you took the train in that 6 hours window time. It's a bargain compare to taxi, even if I included the 2x van ride to hotel.
It about 45-60 minutes ride from Munich airport to city center, depend on which train did you take.
I went to Marienplatz to take some dinner there.

Some shoots around Marienplatz:

The last van from airport back to hotel was 10:45. Knowing this was German with their efficiency, I didn't want to be left stranded in the airport if I were late. So after finished with my dinner, and a little bit strolling around, I headed back to the station around 9:30 to catch train to airport.
I arrived back at the airport around 10:30. So I was safe, no need to took a taxi.

Back to my room, I felt to asleep quickly.

Woke up a little bit late, I quickly took a shower, and repacked my bag to put the 2 big Sangria bottles I bought at BCN airport inside.
And then I checked out. The check out process with this Starwood property was a breeze like usual.
Just waited about 5 minutes before the shuttle van arrived. The van was a join service with NH Airport service.

Wanted to enjoy the LH FCL longer, I arrived at the airport 4.5 hours before the schedule departure time.

Lufthansa has special counter for their First Class pax and top tier members, completed with special security check line only for their first class pax and top tier members.

And here's the regular security check line:

For First class pax and HON member, no need to go up stair to clear the immigration. We could go through special line through a business lounge in the Schengen area, and went out to the Schengen area.
There was a door for First Class Lounge on this floor, which would direct you to the second floor where the Lounge was.

The FCL Entrance on the Shcengen floor area:

Entering the room, I was greeted by a nice reception lady. She checked my BP, and took my passport. She explained me about this lounge.
There were some different rules compare to FRA FCL / FCT.
Yes they had their own immigration counter.
Yes they kept your passport when you entered the lounge, but not the BP.
But no, they would not call you when it was time for boarding, you were on your own.
And no, they didn't provide you escort service to walk or drive you to the gate, you just collected your passport at the dedicated immigration counter, and freely walked to the gate on your own.

Next: full review of MUC LH FCL facilities......

**leo** · 7 October 2009, 01:59 PM

Marienplatz brings back a lot of memories during my maiden Oktoberfest trip!

Thanks for sharing!

**Dent@SUB** · 7 October 2009, 07:46 PM

The lady then showed me the elevator, and told me to go to second floor.
Exited from the elevator, another receptionist lady greeted me, and showed me around. And she also told me that no boarding announcement. So I must remembered my flight boarding time.

Lufthansa First Class Lounge at Munich Airport

The lay out of this lounge very similar with LH FCL/FCT in FRA, so I was quite familiar with them.

Having no breakfast this morning, I felt so hungry.
But before heading to dining area, I went to the shower area to book a big bathroom for another one hour.

After that, I went straight to the dining area.

Here some shoots of the dining area:

And here some pictures of the buffet area:

Except from the buffet menu, there was also a la carte menu.

Here some shoots of the breakfast menu (don't mix up with the extensive bar's menu):

**Dent@SUB** · 7 October 2009, 07:58 PM

To compliment the menu from the buffet area, I ordered Onion Soup Munich Style and Bayerischer Leberkas.

The onion soup:

The Bayerischer Leberkas (meat loaf):

My desert, Wheat Beer Tiramisu:

And now the famous LH FCL/FCT drink list from the bar's menu.
You can see how extensive they were, it came in 18 pages of drink list!!

**Dent@SUB** · 7 October 2009, 08:03 PM

And here the view of the bar:

Announcement

Part 2 of Another "Hari Raya" trip: Quest for home from TFN via BCN, MUC, NRT and SIN

Part 2 of Another "Hari Raya" trip: Quest for home from TFN via BCN, MUC, NRT and SIN

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