Fuhlsbüttel

I made it! After running from my connection through Warsaw airport I made the Hamburg flight. I’d made an $80 bid to upgrade to business for this leg, so didn’t have to do the walk of shame as everyone was waiting onboard for me to arrive. I slipped into seat 2D and was offered a water or juice. Still puffing from the run, water it was.

I’m on the Embraer 175 this time (a smaller version of the last plane). The euro business layout is 2-2, with the aisle seat blocked. Row 2 is also a front row and plenty of legroom for my short legs. I see a cart of bags loaded just after I board and hope mine is among them but don’t see it.

We push back only 10mins behind schedule so I wave goodbye to that compensation payment but will make it to the Airbus tour after all. The sun has set as I take off and track across Poland towards Germany.

What is it with European airlines and fish being served? It’s gross! I get served a plate of raw salmon. I don’t eat fish generally and although I decided to grow up and try it, once that fishy smell got near my face I quickly abort that mission. So instead my business class meal is a 50c piece sized square of some type of meatloaf and a couple of bread rolls with butter.

I get a white wine to go with the meal, a Chardonnay from Australia. It’s not bad but a little warm. Peacock’s heritage is the brand which I can’t say I’ve ever heard of. The bottle tells me it’s from South East Australia, so my first thought is that is a Woolies brand or something. Given the meal was a flop, I do wonder how many of these little bottles I need to drink to recoup my $80.

There were thunderstorms over Hamburg earlier this evening and we expect to encounter them on our approach. When the crew member comes back from serving economy I ask for another wine. The crew offer snacks (salty or sweet) and I opt for the salted cashews (which turn out to be lacking salty but still a good mix with the wine).

I’d put a bid in to upgrade this sector because a) it’s a slightly longer flight, 2) it was from LOT’s home port so probably better catered and III) because I wanted to try the lounge in Warsaw. Obviously only a) was worthwhile in the end given the fishy meal and the run between gates. Still I love being a business class snob (gotta own it) and enjoyed the space and wine (even if it was some generic brand).

This flight feels like it went faster than the last, even though it was longer. Soon I’m on decent into Hamburg, fortunately missing the earlier thunderstorm. Instead there are clouds about and a red sky in the distance. I do love how European airlines turn off all the lights for approach as you get such a better view. Unfortunately the guy behind me (now those curtains have been opened) has his overhead light on which makes the window reflective. Fortunately he turns it off before we land.

I land in Hamburg and must say the LOT Embraer pilots today have buttered the landings perfectly today. It’s raining lightly on arrival and a follow me car directs us to a remote stand. I almost slip on the wet steps down to the bus, but manage to recover without making a fool of myself. I watch them unload the bags but don’t see mine. They also don’t use a loading ramp and instead just unload from head height to the waiting baggage cart.

Onboard the bus the baggage from our flight zooms past us. Hopefully my bag is also there. I get to the baggage claim and the bags arrived immediately. Alas, mine does not 😔. I join the queue for baggage tracking to see where my bag has ended up. I wait half an hour to get to the front of the queue only to be told that LOT don’t have any staff or any handling agent here tonight, so I should email this random email address my details and wait to hear back.

I do as I’m told, and also google and find an online report form on LOT’s website. I do all this on the train to my hotel. I get a reference number and arrive at my hotel with the clothes on my back and my small bag of electronics, medications and my passport. The receptionist gives me a toothbrush kit and I call it a night googling what my travel insurance and the Montreal Convention cover. Thanks a lot LOT.Read more