Continue reading this review to see what the City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International Airport was like.

Getting There

If you will be landing late or departing early, then the City Lodge Hotel’s location is hard to beat.

While slightly further from the terminal than the InterContinental (which is approximately three times pricier), the hotel is still just a few-minute, well-signposted walk away from Johannesburg Airport’s terminals. The fact that the entire walk is indoor adds to the hotel’s convenience.

Just make sure you are booking the City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International Airport and not the City Lodge Hotel Johannesburg Airport, Barbara Road, which is away from the terminals.

Check-in & Lobby

We got to the hotel just before 2 p.m. and were checked in in no time.

In addition to the reception desk, there was also some seating in the reception area (and throughout the public spaces).

What I found nice was that in the evening, a table with juice and water dispensers was set up near the reception.

Guest Room

We were assigned room 4215, a standard twin room on the hotel’s… Second floor.

The hotel’s layout was quite confusing with rooms starting with “4” being on all of the hotel’s three floors in addition to the rooms starting with each floor’s number. The lack of signage did not help either but ultimately we found our room and from the second time onward we knew where to look.

As for the room itself, it was more than appropriate for the price I paid. It was large, clean, and equipped with all the basics.

Just past the entrance was a large bathroom equipped with a toilet, a sink, a bathtub, and a separate walk-in shower. Amenities including (solid) body soap/shampoo, hand soap, and hand cream were provided.

Going further into the room, there were two single beds placed next to each other, each with a nightstand.

In the far left corner of the room was a sofa chair with a small coffee table while across from the beds and sofa chair were a work desk and a luggage rack. A TV was mounted above the latter.

Above the desk was a panel with not one but three types of power outlets including two local types and one universal power outlet. The panel was also equipped with a USB-A charging port (there were also ports next to the beds).

Some tea and coffee were prepared on the desk as well.

The room overlooked some of the roads and the train track leading to the airport, as well as a thermal power plant.

Breakfast & Dining

The hotel’s sole restaurant/bar was located near the reception. It was open from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m., with breakfast buffet available until 10 a.m. and dinner buffet between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. A la carte items were available during dinner time as well.

Given the lack of other nearby options with the exception of a limited number of places to eat in the terminal, the restaurant was quite crowded at dinner time. My dad and I had both dinner, from the a la carte menu, on the day of our arrival and the breakfast buffet the next day.

For dinner, I had a steak while my dad had grilled fish, both served with fries.

The breakfast offering was fairly extensive with a buffet with a good variety of dishes, an eggs station where one could get freshly made omelets, scrambled eggs, etc., a number of different juices, and tea and coffee served by the staff on request.

There was even a take-away corner in front of the restaurant in the morning where one could make tea or coffee.

The buffet included a few different types of cereals, plain and strawberry yogurts, cut and whole fruits, and a salad bar.

There were also a pancakes maker, toast bread, a selection of pastries and cup cakes, cold cuts, and a cheese board.

Lastly, there was a selection of warm dishes. Notably, there were both pork and beef sausages and there were even two types of bacon – streaky and back.

Other Facilities

While the hotel has a small gym and a small pool, I did not have a chance to check those out during our stay.

Summary

Overall, if you need a relatively affordable and comfortable place to stay as close to Johannesburg Airport as possible due to an early departure or late arrival, I can only recommend staying at the City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International Airport.

While the InterContinental is slightly closer to the terminal and, presumably, offers better facilities and service, the extra cost is not worth it, in my opinion. That’s especially the case if you do not plan to spend much time at the hotel or if you are not an IHG status holder that could enjoy extra benefits if staying at the InterContinental.

The post Review: City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) appeared first on KN Aviation.

Since I did not venture to any spotting locations away from the terminals, the below should give you a good idea of what you can expect if you want to do some plane spotting at any of the three airports before or after your flight.

Johannesburg Airport Viewing Deck

The first airport in South Africa where I had a chance to do some plane spotting was Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport, the country’s busiest and the continent’s second busiest after Cairo International Airport in Egypt.

I spent about two and a half hours at the “aircraft viewing deck” in the airport’s domestic terminal after visiting the South African Airways Museum. While located behind (not the cleanest) windows, the deck offers good views of a part of the apron, as well as most of the movements, both domestic and international. There seems to be another deck in the international terminal, however, I did not visit that one.

The decks are located landside, i.e., before clearing security and immigration, and so can be used regardless of whether you are flying out of the airport or not.

With this being my first time plane spotting in Africa, essentially every aircraft that passed in front of my eyes was a highlight.

The traffic was dominated by Airlink, which operates a fleet of over 60 Embraers ranging from ERJ-135s and ERJ-140s all the way to E190s and E195s on routes within South Africa and to neighboring countries.

I could also spot a couple of CemAir aircraft during my stay. Similar to Airlink, but smaller, the airline operates domestic and regional flights.

Rather than Embraers, however, it primarily uses Bombardier CRJs of all sizes, including the now-rare CRJ-100s and CRJ-200s. The next time I visit South Africa, I’d love to fly on one of those!

Aircraft operated by other airlines from South Africa were abundant too. Among others, they included Safair, Lift, and, of course, South African Airways.

As far as airlines from other countries are concerned, I was by far the happiest to see a RwandAir 737, which can only be seen in the region. While a bit too small for my liking and lacking full-scale livery, it was also nice to see a FlyNamibia Cessna 425.

Larger aircraft operated by African airlines included an Ethiopian Airlines A350-900 operating a flight from Addis Ababa and a TAAG Angola 777-300ER operating a flight from Luanda.

While far from being unique to Africa, I also spotted a Turkish Airlines 787-9 arriving from Istanbul.

Lastly, there were some aircraft stored in the distance. While taking photos of them was difficult, I at least managed to get a photo of ZS-MFC, a World Cargo preighter A340-600.

Johannesburg Airport from a Bus and a Plane

The day after my “proper” spotting session at Johannesburg Airport, I had a chance to see a few more interesting aircraft at the airport including stored ones from a bus that took my dad and I to the Embraer that we took to Nelspruit and from the aircraft itself after take-off.

Without a doubt the aircraft I was the most excited to see was a Boeing 737-700 wearing a Zambia Airways livery. The aircraft is the airline’s sole aircraft and it wears an Ethiopian registration as it is leased from Ethiopian Airlines.

It was also exciting to see a Lufthansa 747-8 wearing the airline’s new livery up close.

After take-off from runway 21R, it was cool to see four European heavies parked next to each other waiting for their flights back.

What was even more interesting to see, however, were some of the aircraft – A340s in particular – stored at Johannesburg Airport.

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport: A Quiet Airport in a Beautiful Setting

The second airport in South Africa I did some plane spotting at was Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, also referred to as Nelspruit Airport, which is a short drive away from Kruger National Park.

Airlink connects the airport multiple times a day with Johannesburg using Embraer ERJ-135s and ERJ-140s, and with Cape Town using both the smaller Embraers, as well as the E190. Safair offers two weekly flights to Johannesburg and three weekly flights to Cape Town, making its 737-800s the largest aircraft currently serving the airport. Federal Air offers flights to the national park and to private reserves.

The only international airline serving the airport at the time of my visit was Fastjet Zimbabwe. In the past, however, it was briefly even served by the German Eurowings Discover from Frankfurt via Windhoek. In November 2024, Air Botswana plans to launch flights to the airport.

I only took some photos before my dad and I took our flight back to Johannesburg. The first location I used was the airport’s Bidvest Lounge, which can be accessed using Priority Pass and offers good views of the apron and runway from its terrace, albeit through windows. The second was an are to the right of the terminal that mostly offered view of landing aircraft with excellent scenery in the background.

The Highlight: Eswatini Air in Cape Town

Lastly, I took some photos in Cape Town before we boarded our flight to Addis Ababa.

While the conditions were far from ideal with fairly dirty windows and the lack of nice light, I was still more than happy to be able to capture an Eswatini Air Embraer ERJ-145. The airline only operates two airframes and only serves South Africa and Zimbabwe outside its home country.

Summary

The main purpose of my trip to South Africa was to enjoy safari with my dad. That said, I managed to squeeze in a bit of aviation including flying a number of products I haven’t reviewed before, visiting an aviation museum, and even doing a bit of plane spotting.

While I didn’t spend more than a few hours at any of the airports we visited, I am glad to have been able to see airlines like Air Zambia and Eswatini Air that are more or less impossible to see outside Africa and to have been able to see a lot of Embraer ERJ-135s, ERJ-140s, and ERJ-145s, which are a rare breed nowadays.

The post Airport Terminals of South Africa: Spotting in Johannesburg, Nelspruit, and Cape Town appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading this article to learn more about the museum that is best known for its pair of Boeing 747s but has many other interesting exhibits to see too.

Access, Opening Hours & Entrance Fees

The South African Airways Museum is located on the edge of Rand Airport in Germiston. As with many other places in South Africa, the best way to get there is by car. While in our case, we had our guide take us there, you could also take an Uber or a taxi.

The museum is about a 25-minute drive from Johannesburg Airport.

It’s open between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (last entry at 2:30 p.m.) every day except for Mondays that are not public holidays, December 25 and 26, and January 1.

The entrance fee is just 50 rands (approximately 3 dollars) for adults and 30 rands for children. In addition to cash, credit cards can be used too.

Exhibits

By far the most interesting exhibits were in “Aircraft Park,” a large outdoor area of the museum. That said, there were also some aircraft to be seen in a small hangar in the outdoor area and some memorabilia items in the building where tickets were sold.

Aircraft Park

The main reason of my visit was to see the two Boeing 747s that are displayed in the museum and, in particular, the Boeing 747SP named “Maluti.”

The aircraft was delivered to South African Airways in 1976 and served with the airline until 2003. It was then ferried from Johannesburg to Rand in 2006, celebrating its last flight with an amazing landing on Rand Airport’s 15-meter wide (one fourth of the 747s 60-meter wingspan) runway.

The other Boeing 747 was a 747-200 that flew under the registration ZS-SAN.

It was delivered brand new to South African Airways in 1971 and ferried to the museum in 2004 making it the first 747 to succeed with landing on the airport’s small runway before the SP followed.

While it was great admiring the Jumbo Jet from the outside, it was even better to be able to step onboard and see the interior that was, in many ways, intact from the time when the aircraft used to be in service. In addition to still sporting the original seats, there were also crew uniforms and some other memorabilia on display in the nose of the aircraft.

Perhaps most interestingly, though, there was a third engine hanging under the aircraft’s port side wing showing what it looked like when the 747 was used to transport a spare engine using its extra pylon.

The third and last jet aircraft on display in the museum was a Boeing 737-200. According to the museum’s website, “She was the first Boeing 737 to land at Rand Airport.”

While the aircraft registered ZS-SMD used to wear a couple of different liveries during its nearly 30-year career, unfortunately, it was on display in an all white livery with a couple of small SAA Museum Society decals.

Aside from the three jets, there were also some propeller aircraft on display in the outdoor exhibit.

The largest of those was a Lockheed L-1649 Starliner. There were also a South African Airways Douglas DC-4, a Protea Airways Vickers VC.1 Viking, and a Piper PA-23.

Hangar

Actual aircraft could, in addition to the outdoor area, also be found inside a small hangar.

In particular, I enjoyed seeing a South African Airways de Havilland DH.104 Dove there. The aircraft was beautifully preserved/restored and reminded me slightly of older generation Japanese bullet trains, both shape- and livery-wise.

There were also some smaller items like models on display in the hangar.

Simulator & Radio Room

One more small building located in the outdoor exhibit area, the “Simulator & Radio Room,” contained, as its name suggests, a variety of communication, navigation, and simulation equipment.

Separately, there were also two full-scale cockpit simulators on display outside. Those were used for training Airbus A300 and Boeing 747 Classic crews, respectively.

Display Hall

Located in the same building as the ticket office, the display hall that housed hundreds of memorabilia related to South African aviation was, in fact, the first part of the museum that my dad and I looked around.

Items on display included everything from magazines and safety cards through tableware and aircraft models all the way to instruments.

Museum Shop & Other Facilities

The ticket office also served as a small museum shop with a selection of items related to South African aviation specifically, as well as other aviation items, available.

I got myself a sticker of the Boeing 747SP that is on display in the museum and a South African Airways magnet.

Summary

Being home to not one but two Boeing 747 Classics, visiting the South African Airways Museum Society aviation museum at Rand Airport near Johannesburg was on my wishlist for quite a long time. As such, I was very excited to have been able to squeeze it into the itinerary of a trip to South Africa that was not specifically about aviation.

The museum did not disappoint. It was great seeing the Jumbos, but also the other aircraft, up close and being able to “board” the 747-200 and enjoy a bit of a bygone era.

The post South African Airways Museum: Not One But Two Boeing 747s & More appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading this review to see what the long-haul business class flight was like.

Transfer, Lounge & Boarding at Zurich Airport

After getting off an Austrian Embraer E195 from Vienna, we made our way to Terminal E, which is a satellite building used for flights to countries outside the Schengen Area.

With immigration being quick and still having a few hours to spare before our 10:40 p.m. flight to Johannesburg would board, we headed to the Swiss Senator Lounge, which I could access and guest my dad into as a Star Alliance Gold member.

I spent most of my time in the lounge being outside, on its excellent observation deck. A great plane spotting location and unlimited drinks and food? Yes, please!

We left the lounge just before 10 p.m. and headed to gate E23, which was at the very end of the terminal.

In front of the gate, one of the ground agents checked our documents and stamped our boarding passes. Outside, HB-JMB, a 21 years old A340-300 delivered to Swiss in 2003, was almost ready for the flight.

Boarding started at 10:04 p.m. with first class passengers being invited first, followed by business class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members.

Swiss A340 Business Class Cabin & Seat

At this point, Swiss only has four A340-300s remaining in its fleet.

All of them have been refurbished with the airline’s current long-haul seats also used on its A330-300s and 777-300ERs and can seat 215 passengers in four classes including eight in first, 42 in business, 21 in premium economy, and 144 in economy class.

The aircraft’s business class is split into two cabins – a small cabin with two rows between the single-row first class cabin and the second pair of doors and a larger cabin with eight rows of seats behind the second pair of doors.

Swiss uses staggered seats on the aircraft in an alternating 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 layout.

Because of the layout, not all seats are equal. The single seats on the left side of the aircraft are “throne seats” with a console table on each side and more personal space than the remaining seats. The window seats on the left side of the aircraft do not offer direct aisle access, which is not ideal if you are traveling on your own.

My dad and I chose a pair of seats in the middle of the cabin to both be able to talk to each other and each have access to the aisle. Since the flight was nowhere near full, I moved to an empty “throne seat” to sleep after dinner and to another window seat to enjoy the scenery during landing.

Zooming in on the seat, the seat back in front was home to a decently sized personal entertainment screen with good resolution.

There were also a coat hook and a compartment holding a variety of printed material including a safety card and a duty free catalog next to the screen and a small storage compartment that could hold glasses, a cell phone, or similar items under the screen.

Most seat controls could be found on the console on the side of the seat.

Additional seat controls (lumbar support, cushion firmness, and massage function), as well as an in-flight entertainment controller with a small screen that could be used to watch the map, for example, could be found in a covered compartment right next to the main seat controls.

A hook, which held headphones and a coat hanger upon boarding, a tray table release button, an audio output, a USB port, a universal power outlet, and a bottle holder could be found on the seat’s privacy partition.

Lastly, on the side of the console between the two seats was a storage compartment that could hold shoes or other similarly sized items.

Swiss Long-Haul Business Class Pre-Flight Service and Departure

When we got on board, a rather thin blanket (certainly below average for business class) and an OK pillow were placed on each seat.

Each seat’s bottle holder already had a bottle of water in it as well.

Lastly, Victorinox-branded amenity kits were placed on the console tables. The amenity kit pouches were designed to expand and be reusable as a rather handy packing cube. The content of the amenity kits was rather underwhelming, though. Each kit only included an eye mask, a toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, earplugs, and socks.

Just a few minutes after we settled in our seats, we were brought breakfast cards, which were later collected with our breakfast order details on them, and menus. More about the food on board later, though.

The menus were followed by pre-departure drinks. We were offered a choice of champagne or a non-alcoholic elderberry drink. Both my dad and I got the latter and enjoyed it.

Hot towels were offered around the same time as well.

The crew closed the doors just after our 10:40 p.m. scheduled departure time and four minutes behind schedule, at 10:44 p.m., we were pushed back and started making our way to the runway.

At the same time, we were welcomed on board by the chief purser, who mentioned that we would be flying for 10 hours and five minutes before reaching Johannesburg. The captain welcomed us onboard at a later point as well, mentioning that we were expecting an on-time arrival. Between the two welcomes, a safety video was played.

We took off at 10:59 p.m. and started climbing in a typical A340-fashion (i.e., slowly but surely) to our cruising altitude.

Swiss Long-Haul Business Class Dinner

Ten minutes after take-off, the cabin crew was released from their seats and started preparing for dinner service. Another four or five minutes later, the seatbelt signs were switched off.

Being in the middle section, my dad and I were served by different flight attendants. It took 20 minutes or so from the point the seatbelt signs were switched off until the flight attendant working my aisle came to take my drink and starter order. I opted for sparkling water and the latter of the two choices below:

• Steamed fjord trout with white wine sauce and herb infused oil Fennel crust with Rochat pepper
• Roasted cauliflower with mint and saffron labneh

Another 20 minutes or so later, the flight attendant came back with a tablecloth and a glass of sparkling water. The starter itself, which I enjoyed, followed another fifteen minutes later, around 12:15 a.m. It was served together with a small salad, a selection of cheese, and bread from bread basket.

The main followed about half an hour later (I was offered another drink before that so got a glass of Coke Zero).

Options available on board included:

• Beef tenderloin with basil sauce; pesto polenta slice and courgette
• Grilled chicken breast with mustard sauce; Gnocchetti di Zita pasta, peas and leek
• Sauteed sea bream with tomato sauce with olives and capers; pan-fried groncchi and spinach
• Casarecce with pesto cream sauce, broccolini and pistachios

That said, both my dad and I opted to use the meal pre-booking service that Swiss offers and that, in the case of our flight, came with four options on top of the four above:

• Gnocchi puttanesca
• Chicken massaman curry
• Fried seabass
• Sliced veal Zurich style

I opted for the veal, which was very tender and came with flavorful sauce. My dad opted for the fried seabass, i.e., the Japanese meal.

To finish off the meal, we both had the sole dessert option – eclair with raspberries and caramelized pistacchios.

The flight attendant serving my aisle was very excited about it, saying “you have to try the eclair,” and he was most certainly right. I enjoyed it alongside a cup of peppermint tea.

For reference, below is the full drink menu:

Swiss A340 In-Flight Entertainment System

As mentioned earlier, the seat was equipped with a decent screen. A pair of noise-cancelling headphones was available at the seat during boarding as well.

While I did not watch anything on this flight, those that wanted to had the option to choose from over 200 movies and dozens of TV shows.

As usual, there were only a few episodes of a random series for each TV show. That said, at least for some of the shows, there were half a dozen or a dozen episodes rather than the two or three that some airlines provide.

Additionally, there was a selection of audio content including music albums, audiobooks, and podcasts. A good portion of the latter two was, understandably, in German. Eight simple games were available as well.

One thing worth noting is that ads and informational videos were played throughout while taxiing for departure and during take-off and so it was not possible to watch content during that time.

The in-flight entertainment system was also equipped by an in-flight map made by Panasonic. It included everything one would expect including a number of different views, the ability to move around the map freely, zoom in and out, and so on.

I loved that in the children’s menu, the map was accessed through an “Are We There Yet?” button.

Swiss A340 Onboard Wi-Fi

All of the Swiss A340s including the one that we were flying on are equipped with onboard wi-fi.

While I didn’t use it, three plans were available: messaging-only (free), four hours (25 CHF), and full flight (35 CHF). The latter two did not appear to have any bandwidth restrictions (other than the inability to watch content on streaming sites such as Netflix).

At about 30 and 40 dollars for the paid plans, they were on the pricier side. On the other hand, the free plan allowed not only text messaging but also photo sharing through messaging apps, something that many airlines block on their messaging plans.

Sleeping on a Swiss A340 in Business Class

Wanting to be as fresh on our first day in Africa as possible, I moved to a “throne seat” across the aisle from my assigned seat and tried to get some shuteye as soon as I finished dinner just after 1 a.m.

While Swiss does not provide much in terms of bedding (other than the OK pillow and mediocre blanket I mentioned earlier), I was able to partly rectify that by using one blanket instead of a sheet/mattress pad and having an extra pillow. Add to that the fact that I am not picky in terms of surfaces I can sleep on and I slept well for quite a few hours.

That said, I briefly woke up in the middle of the night at around 4 a.m. At that time, we were flying over the middle of Africa, an area I haven’t flown above once in the over 600 flights I took before this one.

I paid a quick visit to the lavatory, which was kept clean and had a number of other amenities in addition to the standard soap including Soeder herbal lotion, face cream, and face spray. I also used the opportunity to check the galley. There, a basket with a fairly decent selection of packaged snacks was available.

Swiss Long-Haul Business Class Breakfast

I truly woke up around 7 a.m. At that time, we were flying somewhere between Angola and Namibia and had about two more hours left to go.

Shortly after that, I was served breakfast. Given that my dad woke up earlier, he was finished with his breakfast by the time my table cloth was set and breakfast served just after 7:30 a.m.

The breakfast card, which I filled out at the beginning of the flight, offered two choices of mains:

• Swiss breakfast (selection of cold cuts and cheese)
• English breakfast (sun-dried tomato quiche with tomato sauce)

I opted for the former with a number of sides including a croissant, fresh fruits, and bircher muesli. For drink, I checked the boxes next to smoothie and water.

The breakfast was quite light but sufficient given the late dinner time. I enjoyed the bircher muesli in particular.

The flight attendant serving my aisle came to pick up the tray just before 8 a.m. and offered me a hot drink. I got peppermint tea, which was brought just a couple of minutes later.

The meal service finished with a Swiss chocolate.

Arrival at Johannesburg Airport

About 40 minutes before landing, the first officer made an announcement mentioning that the weather in Johannesburg was nice, with a temperature of 11 degrees Celsius. Around the same time, a lady that was sitting behind me asked the crew where she could get the cream that was available in the lavatory, which the crew kindly explained.

At 8:30 a.m., hot towels were provided and a couple of minutes after that, the crew was asked to prepare for landing.

While descending, amazing views of Johannesburg, as well as of Rand Airport where a museum with two Boeing 747s is located, could be had.

We landed at 8:56 a.m. and reached our arrival gate 10 minutes ahead of schedule, at 9:00 a.m.

With business class passengers being eligible to use priority immigration and Japanese passport holders not needing visas to enter South Africa, immigration was a breeze and in no time we were meeting with our guide in the arrival lobby to see a bit of Johannesburg before continuing to Sabi Sands the next day.

Swiss A340 Business Class Summary

Overall, I enjoyed the flight – the food was sufficient and, unlike on my Lufthansa flight a few years ago, tasty, the seat was comfortable for both relaxing in and sleeping in, and the crew was professional but friendly.

Especially so since I was able to move to a “throne seat” after dinner.

The post Review: Swiss A340 Business Class from Zurich to Johannesburg appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading this review to see what the short hop to Zurich in business class on Austrian Embraer E195 was like.

Check-in, Lounge & Boarding at Vienna Airport

After driving to Vienna Airport from my parents’ home in Slovakia and dropping the car off at a parking lot near the airport, we found ourselves inside Terminal 3 around 1:45 p.m. We headed straight to Austrian’s relatively spacious and – at the time of our visit – underutilized Senator and Business check-in area, which consisted of a row of check-in counters closest to the security checkpoint and offered access to a dedicated lane.

With no one else in the area, it was our turn right away. Once the kind staff confirmed that we did not need visas to visit South Africa as Japanese passport holders, he tagged our bags through to the final destination and handed us boarding passes for both flights.

With the boarding passes in our hands, we went to the deserted priority security check lane.

While there was no queue and my dad was through security in no time, it took a while for me to get through due to having to undergo a more thorough check (my camera kit triggered that before several of the flights I took on the trip).

Since we still had over two hours until our flight’s scheduled 4:45 p.m. departure time when we got through security, we visited the nothing-to-write-home-about (although I did enjoy the cevapcici offered!) but fine Austrian Senator Lounge.

We left the lounge just before 4 p.m. and headed to gate F08, which was just a couple of minutes away.

Outside, an E195 registered OE-LWH and wearing the Star Alliance livery was being prepared for the flight to Zurich. The 12 years old aircraft was delivered to Lufthansa Cityline in 2011 before being transferred to Austrian in 2016.

Around 4:15 p.m., an announcement was made saying boarding would be delayed by ten to fifteen minutes due to the late arrival of our aircraft. Ten minutes later, an announcement was made delaying that by another ten minutes. Ultimately, boarding started at 4:41 p.m. but we had to wait another five minutes in the boarding bridge until we were let into the aircraft.

In the meantime, the gate agent approached a random passenger asking him to come with her to gate check his bag. When he politely suggested she also ask someone else, she said “Sir, could you come? Otherwise, I have to call my supervisor and offload you.” Given that he was the first person approached and she has not asked if there were any volunteers, I thought that was an unnecessary escalation.

She asked a couple more people who refused/ignored her before someone volunteered.

Austrian E195 Business Class Cabin & Seat

Austrian’s Embraer E195s are equipped with 120 economy class seats in a 2-2 layout. Like on most other European airlines, the first few rows (the exact number being dependent on demand and set using a movable curtain) are used as business class. In the case of our flight, the first four rows were designated as business class.

Unlike some airlines that do not do so anymore, Austrian continues to block the seats next to business class passengers even on the E-Jet (i.e., each business class passenger gets a pair of seats).

While the standard regional jet economy class seats, advertised as having a 29-inch seat pitch, were not the most comfortable seats you can fly in as a business class passenger, they did the job for the one-hour flight.

Each seatback was equipped with a document compartment at the top and a small seat pocket at the bottom with a single-piece tray table between the two.

The passenger service units were equipped with individual air vents.

Austrian Flight 553 Departure

Boarding was completed just before 5 p.m., and soon after, one of the pilots welcomed us on board, mentioning that we would be ready to go in a few minutes. The purser then welcomed us saying “Good Afternoon and Servus,” and mentioned that our flight time would be one hour and five minutes.

We were pushed back nearly 20 minutes behind schedule, at 5:03 p.m., and a couple of minutes later, the flight attendant in charge of the business class cabin handed us packaged wet tissues.

The push back was followed by a short taxi to runway 29, from which we took off at 5:11 p.m.

Austrian Short-Haul Business Class Light Meal

Seven minutes after take-off, the seatbelt signs were switched off and the light meal service started.

Another few minutes later, both my dad and I were served drinks – sparkling water and Coke Zero, respectively. A full can of the latter was provided.

About ten minutes later, just after 5:30 p.m., I was served the meal with the words “Enjoy your snack, sir.” It came on a tray, which included a Greek salad that wasn’t overly voluminous but was more than sufficient for the short flight and a cake. I enjoyed both.

Soon after serving the tray, the friendly but professional flight attendant came back with a bread basket.

Five minutes into the meal, Austrian’s signature “Servus” chocolates were distributed.

Then, just before the seatbelt signs were switched back on, hot drinks were served. I decided to have a cup of peppermint tea.

I had that along with the cake, which the flight attendant mistakenly took to the galley before bringing it back when I asked for it. “Sorry, you told me to take the tray away,” she said when bringing the cake back. Fair enough.

Separately, I also had one more cup of sparkling water.

Austrian E195 In-Flight Entertainment System and Onboard Wi-Fi

The Austrian E195 was not equipped with in-flight entertainment of any form. It was not equipped with onboard wi-fi either.

Arrival at Zurich Airport

The seatbelt signs were switched back on at 5:45 p.m., when I was still enjoying my peppermint tea and cake.

Ten minutes later, the first officer announced that we would be arriving about 10 minutes late, and that it was 23 degrees Celsius with a bit of wind and clouds in Zurich.

At 6:09 p.m., the landing gear was lowered, and two minutes later we landed at Zurich Airport.

We reached our parking spot at 6:18 p.m., 18 minutes behind schedule.

Austrian E195 Business Class Summary

Aside from the slight delay, the Austrian flight from Vienna to Zurich in business class was perfectly fine.

While the seats were regular economy class seats, at least Austrian continues to block seats next to business class passengers on its E-Jets. Similarly, while the meal was nothing to write home about, the salad was perfectly fine for the short, one-hour flight.

The post Review: Austrian E195 Business Class from Vienna to Zurich appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading this review to see what the lounge was like.

Location & Opening Hours

The Austrian Senator Lounge serving passengers traveling within the Schengen area is located airside in Vienna Airport’s Terminal 3.

To get there, once you are past security, instead of heading toward gates B, C, D, and F, follow the signs for gates G. Doing so will lead you to an escalator that will take you up a floor. From there, the lounge is down a long hallway and well signposted. The lounge is right next to Sky Lounge, which can be used by Priority Pass members.

Schengen area’s Senator Lounge opens every day at 5:30 a.m. It closes at 10:30 p.m., 30 minutes earlier than the non-Schengen Austrian Senator Lounge.

The lounge shares entrance, reception, and some facilities, such as restrooms, with Austrian’s business and HON Circle lounges.

Entry Requirements

Austrian Airlines’ Senator Lounges, like Lufthansa’s and Swiss’s, are available for use exclusively by Miles & More Senator and other Star Alliance Gold-equivalent status holders.

Star Alliance Gold members can use the lounge when departing Vienna on a Star Alliance airline flight on the same day. They can also bring in one guest traveling on the same flight. In the case of Miles & More Senators, those younger than 18 years, rather generously, do not count as guests.

If you do not have a Star Alliance Gold status but are traveling on a Star Alliance flight in business class or are willing to pay for access, you can use the Austrian Business Lounge.

Layout, Seating & Other Facilities

The Austrian Senator Lounge in the Schengen area was very similar to the Austrian Business Lounge next door. That said, it was considerably smaller.

Right after entrance and around the corner to the right side, there were a couple of counter-height tables with stools.

The right side of the more or less rectangular lounge was also home to a number of red benches lined with small tables, some sofas and lounge chairs, as well as a counter under some of the lounge’s windows. The lounge offered limited views of a part of the ramp and of aircraft landing on Vienna Airport’s runway 16.

Separated from the main lounging area was an area with a large TV showing CNN and a sofa across from it.

Most of the seats in this side of the lounge, as opposed to the left side, which I will talk about next, offered access to power.

There were both European-style power outlets, as well as both USB-A and USB-C charging ports.

The vast majority of the space on the (when looking from the reception) left side of the lounge was taken up by a dining area.

That consisted of a buffet spanning a couple of counters, a staffed hot food station, and seating in the form of dining tables (mainly for two), a communal table, and a counter along the wall.

Additionally, there was a walled-off sleeping room that was kept slightly darker than the rest of the lounge and consisted of three daybeds separated by wooden partitions.

Each of the daybeds had a small coffee table next to it.

In addition to the above, as mentioned earlier, there were also a few facilities shared among the Senator and Business lounges.

Those were located in the reception area and included a few phone booths that guests could use to do meetings and calls without disturbing other passengers (I am glad similar facilities are starting to appear in more and more lounges), showers, and restrooms.

Drinks

All drinks in the lounge were self-serve and could be found on the counters in the buffet area and in a large refrigerator next to it.

Cold soft drinks included, among others, still and sparkling water, Coke, flavored ice tea, and Almdudler (a carbonated Austrian herbal lemonade) in glass bottles. There were also a dispenser with infused water and large bottles of orange and apple juice.

Hot drinks included a variety of coffee-based drinks from an espresso machine and half a dozen or so different types of Julius Meinl tae bags.

The refrigerator with soft drinks was also home to a couple of different brands of bottled beer including Heineken. Separately, there was red, white, and sparkling wine.

Lastly, there were about half a dozen different types of liquor.

Food

With the exception of whole fruits, which could be found on a rack just past the lounge’s entrance and included apples, bananas, and pears, all of the food in the Austrian Senator Lounge could be found in the dining area.

At the staffed hot meals station, two mains and two sides were offered alongside risotto.

The mains included cevapcici and smoked neck of pork. The sides included potatoes and glazed carrots. I had some cevapcici for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The only warm item in the self-service area was pumpkin ginger cream soup.

Separately, there were a couple of different salads, a variety of half a dozen different types of bread and pastries, and cold cuts including ham, salami, and cheese.

Lastly, there were two desserts including strudel, as well as jars with snacks including nuts, pretzels, and candies.

Austrian Senator Lounge (Schengen) Vienna Summary

Overall, the Austrian Senator Lounge in the Schengen area of Vienna Airport is a perfectly fine place to visit before a flight to grab a bite to eat or a drink out of the, for a lounge mostly serving passengers flying on short one- or two-hour hops around Europe, selection.

That said, in terms of seating options or ambience, the lounge is nothing to write home about. As such, while the lounge is definitely worth stopping by if you have the time, it is not worth arriving at early to relax in or get some work done in.

The post Review: Austrian Senator Lounge (Schengen) at Vienna Airport appeared first on KN Aviation.

Not having done much research beforehand, I was surprised to find a number of aircraft on display on top of the deck.

Plane Spotting at Stuttgart Airport’s Observation Deck

Like many other airports in Germany, Stuttgart Airport has a rooftop observation deck. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. spring through fall and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in winter.

The deck spans the entire width of the main terminal building and offers solid views of some of the parking spots at the terminal and the taxiways leading to them. It also offers distant views of the airport’s sole runway.

Stuttgart Airport’s deck is equipped with some seating, vending machines, as well as a children’s playground.

There are even three aircraft on display. More about those in the next section, though.

Considering the deck’s opening hours and the fact that it is facing south, it is mostly useful photography-wise on summer evenings.

Ranking number seven in the number of passengers served among German airports, Stuttgart Airport is not particularly busy. The airport is also not particularly exciting in terms of traffic with the only long-haul service being seasonal Delta Air Lines flights from Atlanta and a considerable portion of the movements being Eurowings aircraft.

That said, I still enjoyed my time on the deck, in particular once the sun came out.

The personal highlight during my short stay was an ITA Airways Airbus A319 arriving from Rome.

While I had photographed the airline’s A350-900s in Tokyo multiple times before, it was my first time seeing a narrow-body aircraft in the airline’s striking blue livery.

It was also nice to see a United States Air Force Dornier Do-328 (C-146A to be precise), albeit only taxiing in the distance on the other side of the airport after landing.

Other traffic I saw during the one hour or so I spent on the observation deck included a KLM Cityhopper E175 departing to Amsterdam, a Pegasus 737-800 departing to Istanbul, a Vueling A320 arriving from Barcelona, an Aegean A321neo arriving from Athens, a Turkish Airlines A321neo departing to Istanbul, and a Swiss A320 arriving from Zurich.

While none of those is exciting in and of itself in particular, it was still nice to be able to see a decent variety of European airlines given that I do not spend much time plane spotting at European airports these days.

Stuttgart Airport’s Small Aviation Museum

As mentioned above, the observation deck also serves as a mini museum with three aircraft on display.

The largest of those is a PZL-Mielec An-2 (a Poland-manufactured version of the Antonov An-2) wearing a dark blue livery. While in the past the aircraft appears to have worn SP-ANL as its registration, that might not have been the aircraft’s real registration given that there appears to have been another An-2 with the same registration.

The only other fixed-wing aircraft on display in the museum is a single-engine prop North American AT-6A Texan registered D-FOBY.

The last aircraft on display is a PZL-Swidnik Mi-2 Hoplite (a Poland-manufactured version of the Mil Mi-2) helicopter registered SP-SAW.

In addition to actual aircraft being displayed on the observation deck, there also some aircraft components on display in front of the observation deck entrance inside the terminal.

Summary

All in all, if you have a couple of hours to spare at Stuttgart Airport and enjoy watching aircraft then the observation deck is a fun place to stop by.

While the time it is useful for taking photos is limited (unless it is cloudy and the sun’s position doesn’t matter), it is still worth a visit to, if nothing else, see the three aircraft on display.

The post An Hour of Avgeeking at Stuttgart Airport: Plane Spotting and Museum appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading this review to see what the flight was like.

Check-in, Lounge & Boarding at London Heathrow Airport

With the weather being cloudy, I decided to end my plane spotting session earlier than planned and headed to Heathrow’s Terminal 2 which is used by Eurowings, all Star Alliance members, and a number of other airlines.

I could not check in online so I was not sure if I’d be able to check in early and go airside. Luckily, with Eurowings having multiple flights out of the airport, the counters were open and a friendly agent at the priority desk (which I approached as there was no queue and it was the first one I saw) issued my boarding passes all the way to Vienna.

I then headed to security. Seeing quite a long line at the regular check, I headed to the Star Alliance Gold Track and tried my luck asking if I could use it as a Star Alliance Gold member flying on Eurowings. I am not sure if it’s an official perk or not but luckily, I was let through and so getting airside took me just five minutes.

Airside, I first had some tacos at Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen, a restaurant that is part of the Priority Pass network, and then headed to the Plaza Premium Lounge to wait for my departure.

I left the lounge about ten minutes ahead of the scheduled 2:05 p.m. boarding time and headed to gate A24.

Not long after I got to the gate, an announcement explaining the boarding order was made and exactly as scheduled, boarding begun with Star Alliance Gold members and BIZclass passengers were invited first.

Avion Express Malta A320 Cabin & Seat

As mentioned earlier, my flight was operated by Avion Express Malta. The A320 registered 9H-AMU was equipped with 180 economy class seats in a 3-3 layout.

Interestingly, even as a low-cost, BIZclass passengers are guaranteed an empty seat next to them like business class passengers on more or less any other full-fare European airline.

While the seats themselves were alright, the legroom was terrible. It’s also worth noting that the seats did not, for better or worse, recline.

The only positive thing about the cabin was the fact that there were individual air vents.

As you will see later, those came in extremely handy.

Eurowings Flight 2461 Departure

Boarding was completed around 2:30 p.m. and by that time, the aircraft was completely full.

Without the APU and thus air conditioning running for some reason, it was also unhealthily hot. While there were individual air vents, using the safety card as a fan was the real life saver for me, as well as some other passengers throughout the cabin.

Shortly after, the cabin crew closed the aircraft doors and did a manual safety demonstration.

At 2:47 p.m., the air conditioning finally started working.

A minute later (13 minutes behind schedule), we were pushed back, and started taxiing toward runway 27R.

We took off at 3:07 p.m. and as soon as we were in the air, amazing views of dozens and dozens of aircraft parked at Heathrow Terminals 3 and 5 could be had.

Later, we did a left turn, which offered an overview of the entire airport.

Eurowings Buy-on-Board Service

The seatbelt signs were switched off about five minutes after take-off and from there, it took another 20 minutes or so until the buy-on-board service started. There was no free drink or meal service.

The buy-on-board menu offered a variety of individual items as well as sets.

Avion Express Malta A320 In-Flight Entertainment System & Wi-Fi

The Avion Express Malta was not equipped with an in-flight entertainment system or onboard wi-fi.

Arrival at Stuttgart Airport

About 40 minutes into the flight, one of the pilots made an announcement that we started our descent and were expecting to land in approximately half an hour. He also mentioned that it was 16 degrees and partly cloudy in Stuttgart.

Seatbelt signs were switched on at 4:55 p.m.

We landed on Stuttgart’s runway 25 about ten minutes behind schedule, at 5:21 p.m.

Five minutes later, we parked at a remote spot in front of the terminal.

From there, it took just over 10 minutes until a bus dropped us off at the terminal building, bringing the flight to an end.

Eurowings (Avion Express Malta) A320 Economy Class Summary

While I am not sure what flying on actual Eurowings aircraft rather than on one wet-leased from Avion Express Malta is like, I can say with certainty that it does not get much more “low-cost” than what my experience on this flight was.

Not unexpectedly, the legroom was close to non-existent and there was no free onboard service.

All in all, there is nothing wrong with taking Eurowings if it is the cheapest or best timed option for the route you need to travel on. However, in other cases, I would avoid flying the airline, especially if the flight would be operated by Avion Express Malta.

The post Review: Eurowings (Avion Express Malta) A320 from London to Stuttgart appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading to see what the lounge was like and whether it’s worth a visit on your next trip.

Location & Opening Hours

There are three Plaza Premium Lounges at London Heathrow Airport, one each at terminals 2, 4, and 5.

Like the other two, the one at Terminal 2 is located airside, i.e., after security (there is no departure immigration check in the United Kingdom). The lounge is on the terminal’s fourth floor, near the terminal’s transfer area. It can be found easily by following signs pointing to “Lounge A3.”

It is open daily from 5 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. That covers essentially all departures from Terminal 2, which is used by all Star Alliance members and a number of other airlines.

Entry Requirements

While Plaza Premium lounges were removed from the Priority Pass network at one point, now they are back in. As such, if you have a membership, that is by far the easiest way to get in and it is also how I accessed the lounge free of charge.

Additionally, business class passengers traveling on select airlines including Icelandair are invited into the lounge.

If neither of the above applies to you, you can also pay to use the lounge (either at the reception if there is space or you can pre-book online). The fees are as follows:

• Shower-only (30 minutes): 25 GBP
• Lounge access (2 hours): 47.52 GBP
• Lounge access (6 hours): 75 GBP
• Private resting area (single, 3 hours): 66 GBP
• Private resting area (single, 6 hours): 109.92 GBP
• Private resting area (double, 6 hours): 165 GBP

It’s worth noting that officially, Priority Pass members are limited to a stay of up to two hours. I am not sure to what extent that is or is not enforced, though.

Children under the age of two can use the lounge for free.

Layout, Seating & Other Facilities

Entering the lounge past the reception, there was a staffed bar (with paid drinks but more about that later).

In addition to the bar counter, there were a square sofa in the middle and a couple of coffee tables around the edges of the room.

Passing through the bar area, there was one of the lounge’s lounging areas.

In addition to rows of sofa chairs (some enclosed with large privacy partitions), there was also a pair of counters.

There was plenty of power outlets throughout this area, as well as another lounging area on the other side of the lounge.

Next to the area above was the lounge’s dining area equipped with tables for two. At the time of my visit in the early afternoon, more or less all of the seats were taken (and the lounge was very crowded overall).

The buffet was spread across an island counter and a counter along the wall.

In the very back of the lounge was one more lounging area with sofa chairs. Some of the furniture in this area, as well as in other parts of the lounge, was quite worn.

There were also some relatively private workspaces.

In addition to the above, there were also some roped off seating areas. While it was not clear who it was for, presumably it was reserved for passengers accessing the lounge when flying in business class on an airline that uses the lounge as its designated lounge.

One last thing worth mentioning here is that while there were portable air conditioners in multiple places across the lounge, it was still extremely hot in there for most of my stay, only getting cooler later in the day when a part of the crowd left.

Drinks

Free cold drinks in the lounge included canned soda (Coke, Diet Pepsi, Fanta, and Sprite), dispensers with peach juice, infused water, and water.

Then, there was a pair of espresso machines and a selection of Twinings tea bags. There was also decaf coffee.

Selected alcoholic drinks could be had at the bar for free too. Those included a selection of two red, two white, and one rose wines; gin, vodka, whisky, rum, and Aperol; and draft beer.

Lastly, a wider selection of wines, liquor, and beers, as well as cocktails and premium soft drinks (Red Bull and kombucha) could be had at extra cost.

Food

The Plaza Premium Lounge in Heathrow’s Terminal 2 offered a good selection of dishes.

Starting with cold items, there were a salad bar, bread rolls, and whole fruits.

Hot dishes included pasta, chicken tikka masala, dal tadka, rice, and potatoes. There was also a “summer garden” soup.

While all of the dishes looked appetizing, I did not have a chance to try them as I was still full from eating tacos at the Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen.

Lastly, snacks and desserts included dried apricots, roasted almonds, caramel biscuits, breadsticks, crackers, and chocolate fudge brownies.

While, as mentioned above, I was full, I could not resist having the last of those.

Plaza Premium London Heathrow Terminal 2 Summary

Overall, the Plaza Premium Lounge in Heathrow’s Terminal 2 was an average contract lounge.

The biggest downsides were the insufficient air conditioning and the crowdedness. On the other hand, the buffet selection was respectable and the food quality looked good. …and the brownie was excellent too!

All in all, while the lounge is not worth paying for outright, if you can visit it free of charge, it can be worth a visit for a quick bite or drink. Depending on what you prefer to eat, however, you might want to head to the Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen instead, though.

The post Review: Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2) at London Heathrow Airport appeared first on KN Aviation.

The first of those was Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen, a restaurant where Priority Pass members get a dining credit.

Location & Opening Hours

Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen is located after security check (there is no departure immigration check in the UK) in London Heathrow’s Terminal 2, which is primarily used by Star Alliance airlines and their affiliates like Eurowings. Once you pass the security check, you will need to take an escalator or an elevator one floor down. The restaurant is then on the right side of the central part of the terminal when looking toward the apron.

If you have enough time, you might also be able to use the airport’s airside transfer busses to use the restaurant when departing from other terminals. That said, I have not tried it and am not certain whether or not you will be able to take the bus without a boarding pass from Terminal 2.

Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen is open every day from 6AM until the departure of the last flight of the day. That covers all but the earliest (like 6AM flights to Vienna and Zurich) departures out of Terminal 2.

Using Priority Pass at Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen

Eligible Priority Pass and LoungeKey members dining at Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen get an 18 GBP discount off their bill. For bills under 18 GBP that means dining (or drinking) for free while for bills over that amount, you will have to pay the difference. Those who got their Priority Pass membership through select credit cards are not eligible for the discount.

Guests of Priority Pass members get an 18 GBP credit too.

As such, for example, if you go with one guests, the two of you will be able to get a 36 GBP discount off your bill. Before doing so, make sure that you have free guesting privileges or that guesting costs you less than the discount.

Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen Menu

Depending on the time you visit Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen, you will either be able to choose from their breakfast menu or lunch/dinner menu.

In the case of the former, they offer a wide variety of options ranging from lighter items like granola through egg-based dishes all the way to a full English Breakfast. Essentially all breakfast options are within the 18 GBP credit and some even leave enough spare room for complimentary coffee, tea, or juice.

The main dining menu offers a variety of starters like tacos and chicken tenders, as well as mains ranging from fish and chips through burgers all the way to steaks. Most of the items are either within or just over the 18 GBP credit with, unsurprisingly, steaks being the main exception.

A variety of beers, wines, and other drinks is available as well.

Given that the menu changed slightly just a few days after my visit, rather than trying to list everything here, head to the restaurant’s website to see their latest menus.

My Experience at Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen

A good portion of both regular table and bar seats at Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen was occupied when I got there around 12:30PM. That said, I was still seated and ready to order in no time.

While the restaurant’s regular customers can order online by scanning a QR code available at each table, those using Priority Pass need to place their order with one of the staff members. Given that they were quite busy serving dishes and drinks to those that ordered online, getting the attention of one of the waiters or waitresses took a bit.

Nonetheless, once I managed to do so, I ordered tacos (14 GBP for three) and Fever-Tree elderflower tonic water, which added up to just under 18 GBP. I went with the chicken tacos, which were filling. Since then, the menu appears to have changed with tacos coming in pairs for 9.95 GBP and there only being a choice of beef brisket, pulled pork, and mushroom.

Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen Summary

There are two Priority Pass options in London Heathrow’s Terminal 2 – this restaurant and a Plaza Premium Lounge. In my case, I stopped by the restaurant for lunch before heading to the lounge.

While the food in the lounge looked good as well, if you have the time to do so, you might still want to stop by Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen if your Priority Pass membership allows you to do so. You will not only be able to choose from a good range of restaurant-quality food and drinks but also enjoy the meal in an arguably nicer environment than the lounge, which was quite crowded for a good part of my visit.

The post Review: Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen (Priority Pass Restaurant) at London Heathrow Airport appeared first on KN Aviation.