After arriving at the Tom Bradley International Terminal in Los Angeles, we went to the First Class counter to check in. The look the German Lufthansa employee gave us after seeing our Economy Class (mileage) ticket and Aegean Star Alliance Gold card was incredibly dismissive. When he didn't give us a priority label for our luggage, I felt like jumping over the barrier. But you don't want to ruin the last day of your vacation.
At Los Angeles International Airport, there's only one priority lane for first and business class passengers at security. However, we didn't have to wait in line for too long and were able to take the elevator to the new Star Alliance lounge without much of a wait.
Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles
The Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles offers travelers departing from the Tom Bradley International Terminal a unique, luxurious experience. It is located on Level 6 of the International Terminal and is accessible by elevator from the atrium of the main building.
When we arrived, the lounge was extremely crowded. Flights to Taipei, Istanbul, Zurich, and Munich, among others, also depart in the evening. We first sat on the outdoor terrace. From there, you have a beautiful view of the north runway and the Hollywood Hills. What was a bit annoying were the dirty and dusty chairs and armchairs on the terrace.
With a cool Corona, I watched our Boeing 747-8 approaching Frankfurt. A bit late today, I wonder?
To be well prepared for the long transatlantic flight, we took a shower in the lounge. The eight shower suites with toilets were very clean and spacious.
After a quick refreshment, we found a spot in the bar area of the lounge and grabbed a few snacks from the buffet. The food selection was good and delicious. There are self-service areas for drinks, including beer, wine, spirits, and soft drinks, located in various corners of the lounge. We also had the option of having a drink mixed for us at one of the two bars.
Flight LH 451 to Frankfurt
Boarding for our flight LH 451 to Frankfurt was scheduled for 6:25 p.m. However, things didn't really get going until after 1:30 p.m. So we went down to the main level and walked to Gate 148. We quickly boarded the Boeing 747-8 via the First, Business, and Star Alliance Gold lanes. We took our reserved seats 29A-B and hoped that seat C would remain free… unfortunately, to no avail. The plane seemed to be filling up to the last seat in Economy.
Shortly after takeoff toward the Pacific Ocean, we had a quick drink. Unfortunately, Christin wasn't feeling well on board. And although we repeatedly alerted the flight attendant to the problem and asked for a bottle of water, we were disappointed. A small cup is simply not enough to stabilize your circulation. It's a shame that a bottle of water is only a feature of the new Premium Economy on Lufthansa's night flights. Their subsidiary, SWISS, can clearly do a better job.
The dinner served was okay. There was a choice of pasta or chicken. We were still quite full from dinner in the lounge, but decided to have the pasta instead.
After dinner, the plane settled down, and we tried to get some sleep while watching a movie. A little anecdote: How do you know you're sitting in economy? The passenger behind you thinks it's better to use a capacitive touchscreen with all your might. Then the sluggish entertainment software works much better... So, many thanks to the gentleman on 30A who kept interrupting my attempts to fall asleep.
Eventually, the 11-hour flight was over, and we arrived safely in Frankfurt. At the gate, we quickly took a photo of "our" Boeing 747-8. It was still painted as a Fanhansa in honor of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Are you still looking for a flight to Los Angeles?
Los Angeles International Airport is accessible year-round from many German cities. You can find cheap flights through online travel agencies such as Flugladen.de, Bravofly, ebookers.com, Expedia, lastminute.com or skyscanner.
After a quick visit to the newly redesigned Senator Lounge, including an invigorating shower, we prepared for our onward flight to Leipzig. This, too, was over after 30 minutes, and we drove back to our hometown of Halle. Two weeks of vacation had passed so quickly.
