You know you’re an airline junkie when you fly from Los Angeles to Rome deliberately via Munich, Zurich, AND Frankfurt.
I’m traveling through Italy later this week and next on business. This is no vacation–I’ll be spending most days in the car driving from client to client.
I could have flown Norwegian direct to Rome. I could have flown LA to Rome via Munich or via Zurich or via Frankfurt. But no, I’m stopping at all three airports.
Why?
Because there are three lounges I wish to check out. I have not yet reviewed the new Lufthansa First Class lounges in Munich or the recently-opened SWISS “A” First Class Lounge in Zurich.
Although I’ve reviewed the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt before and don’t really need to make an extra stop, that ended up being a necessity: there was no award space from Zurich to Rome nonstop without staying overnight in Zurich.
Yes, this required booking a first class ticket. I’ll discuss how I booked this in a follow-up post (it was a complex process).
My routing:
- Los Angeles to Munich – Lufthansa – First Class – A380
- Munich to Zurich – Lufthansa (operated by Helvetic Airways) – Business Class – Fokker 100
- Zurich to Frankfurt – Lufthansa – Business Class – A319
- Frankfurt to Rome – Lufthansa – Business Class – A320
Images courtesy of Great Circle Mapper
In case you are wondering, fuel surcharges were $578 on this ticket.
Stay tuned for updates! I’m not exactly looking forward to the week ahead, but I sure am looking forward to these flights.
Are you sure you booked this with Asiana miles? There is a maximum of two transits for Star Alliance awards between origin and destination, so your ticket breaks this rule. I’m very confused, particularly as Asiana is quite strict.
It was a complex process and ZRH-FCO was originally booked nonstop. More in a follow-up post.
Why did you edit your blog post and your comment to remove all references to you booking this through Asiana? Are you not going to give us the guide to booking this through Asiana? 🙁
And I assume your comment is a typo because your blog post clearly states you originally booked this ZRH-FRA-FCO because there was no award space.
I won’t be discussing it further on the blog: clearly an agent broke a rule for me and I won’t bring further attention to it. Send me an email if you want details. Originally booked ZRH-FCO the FOLLOWING MORNING then moved to ZRH-FRA-FCO to avoid overnight. Ended up being moved to that original flight. Had to start with three segment limit, then add in extra one…
Could you take, and later post, extra pictures of the Fokker 100. Those birds are becoming increasingly hard to find/fly.
Sure, will do my best. Did you see my previous F100 trip report?
I had not seen it. But I just searched for it and found it.
I’ve only ever flown a KLM Fokker 100 and have wished to fly another airlines’ sometime before they’re all gone. Thanks. Safe travels.
What’s your return routing?
No return booked. Not sure how long I’ll be gone.
What about Air France La Premier? You suggested you want to try that one sometime, and now that you’re already in Europe you might be able to get to do that for your way home, now is as good a time as any assuming you can afford it with your miles or a deal.
Too expensive to justify right now.
Don’t risk your life Walla. Flying is dangerous and too risky!
For the sake of me!
Walla I told you not to risk your life! Why don’t you ever listen to me walla? Have your meetings on Skypie.
Just a few weeks ago I was denied entry into the Swiss First lounge because I was COMING OFF a Lufthansa First class flight (LAX-FRA-ZRH-BRU), they said if I was going to be flying Lufthansa first I would be eligible. Basically in reverse (BRU-ZRH-FRA-LAX)
I don’t like Lufthansa, not even one little bit. Sneaky, sly, devious, deceitful and creepy. Life’s too short to bother with that pack of wolves.
But I like Munich Airport and most of the LH lunges.
I flew through Zurich a few weeks ago, and loved the Senator Lounge in the E Terminal. But I will never again fly SWISS long haul in economy. From the way they show their availability and seat maps on expertflyer to the onboard product — I’d prefer even Norwegian Long Haul over it.
Why fly direct when you can connect?