Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.
Last month, I enjoyed a terrific holiday on the Greek islands of Santorini, Mykonos, and Ios (Cyclades). You can read my trip reports here:
- Review: Lufthansa A320neo Business Class from Frankfurt to Mykonos (today)
- Review: Aeonic Suites & Spa, Mykonos
- Review: Myconian Imperial, Mykonos
- Review: Cavo Tagoo Santorini
- Review: Andronis Arcadia, Santorini
- Review: Calilo, Ios (PHENOMENAL hotel)
Today: Review – Lufthansa A320neo Business Class from Frankfurt to Mykonos
Last month, I enjoyed a wonderful trip in Greece. Getting there was a bit of a challenge since prices for plane tickets to Greece’s Cycladic islands were (and still are) skyrocketing this COVID19 summer (a combination of increased demand and limited availability of plane seats). Most Economy Class flights from Belgium (my home country) to Mykonos or Santorini were priced above 400 euros (one way), which is insane. The same was true for flights departing from Amsterdam, Paris, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt. Remarkably, flights in Business Class with Lufthansa were remarkably cheaper than Economy Class on some dates, hence why I decided to book a Business Class flight departing from Frankfurt.
The flight was operated by an Airbus A320neo, the newest member of the A320 aircraft family. The addition of “neo” stands for “New Engine Option”. What makes the A320neo stand out are the new engines and improved aerodynamics. The aircraft is 15 percent more fuel efficient than today’s comparable models. It also shows impressive figures in terms of noise reduction: the 85 decibel maximum noise-level contour of a starting A320neo is around 50 per cent lower than that of the current A320. From a passenger’s perspective, there’s not much difference though between flying in an A320 versus A320neo (except for the lower noise levels).
Have you ever flown with Lufthansa? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.
- Trip: Frankfurt (FRA) to Mykonos (JMK)
- Airline: Lufthansa
- Aircraft type: Airbus A320neo
- Aircraft registration number: D-AINJ
- On time departure: No (2pm; + 1 hour)
- On time arrival: No (6 pm; + 1 hour)
- Miles: 1200 miles
- Flight time: 3 hours
- Seat: 6F
- Class: Business Class
In this review (there is more information & photos below my YouTube video):
- Price of my ticket
- Lounge access at Frankfurt Airport
- Lufthansa Airbus A320neo: cabin + seat
- Onboard service
- Views
PRICE OF MY TICKET
I paid 275 euros for my one-way Business Class ticket from Frankfurt to Mykonos. Remarkably, this was 100 euros cheaper compared to the cheapest Economy Class seat available on the same flight (hence why I booked Business Class, something I would otherwise never do for a flight within Europe).
LOUNGE ACCESS AT FRANKFURT AIRPORT
Lufthansa operates several lounges past the security point at its hub airport in Frankfurt. Unfortunately, the first lounge I tried to access was at full capacity (no one was allowed in anymore at the time of my visit). I tried my luck with another lounge nearby, but there was a long waiting line to get into the lounge because of COVID19 related security checks. Access to the lounge was only possible when downloading a German app or completing a document for contact tracing. In addition, passengers had to present one of the following: a negative Corona test (max. 24h old), proof of vaccination against Covid-19 or proof of recovery. Since I did not have a lot of time, I decided to skip my visit to the lounge and when straight to the gate instead.
LUFTHANSA AIRBUS A320NEO: CABIN + SEAT
Lufthansa’s Airbus A320neo features 180 seats arranged in a 3-3 layout in a single cabin. All seats are 17.8 inches (45 cm) wide and have a pitch of 30 inches (76 cm), with the exception of the seats in the exit row which feature some extra legroom. The first 7 rows of the aircraft are reserved for Business Class passengers (and separated from Economy Class by a curtain); the Business Class bacin is comprised of Economy Class seats with blocked middle seats (similar to what is offered by most other European airlines on shorthaul flights).
For a seat map of Lufthansa’s A320neo, click here.
ONBOARD SERVICE
A hand sanitizer wipe was provided upon boarding (I guess it will take some time before hot towels return to Business Class). Lunch was offered shortly after takeoff, with the meal served on a single tray: smoked ham, roasted vegetables, dried apricots, and mango compot, with passionfruit panna cotta as well as a bar of milk chocolate as dessert. The meal was a bit disappointing compared to my other intra-European Business Class flights with Lufthansa.
VIEWS
After takeoff, there were some impressive cloud formations to be observed within the vicinity of the aircraft, while the clear skies over Greece allowed for some great views during landing.
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