Airline choices to florence
Jul 9th, 2006, 02:36 PM
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Airline choices to florence
We will be flying to Florence next spring from Boston. Our airline choices are Air France, Alitalia, and Lufthansa.
We have heard bad things about AF and Alitalia. Not much about Lufthansa.
Which would you pick?
We have heard bad things about AF and Alitalia. Not much about Lufthansa.
Which would you pick?
Jul 9th, 2006, 03:05 PM
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Lufthansa. Much better service than Alitalia. Lufthansa employees answer questions, in my experience, and Alitalia employees... well, I get the feeling they would rather tell me to choke than even pretend they are there to help customers.
If any problems arise at all, you will be better with Lufthansa than with Alitalia. I can't speak for Air France. Alitalia is the one airline that I would prefer not to ever again have to come in contact with.
If any problems arise at all, you will be better with Lufthansa than with Alitalia. I can't speak for Air France. Alitalia is the one airline that I would prefer not to ever again have to come in contact with.
Jul 10th, 2006, 03:50 PM
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right now this list only 1 return flight through munich with only a hour connection time. seems a bit risky. maybe they will add flights as gets closer?
if not back up airline - AF with lots of layover time at CDG airport????
if not back up airline - AF with lots of layover time at CDG airport????
Jul 10th, 2006, 04:09 PM
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If you are concerned with 1hr layover in Munich then fly through Frankfurt, with 2hr layover.
The flight leaves Florence at 7am (vs 9am to Munich), which is a downside.
1hr connection in Munich should be ok, but 2hr in FRA gives more window.
The flight leaves Florence at 7am (vs 9am to Munich), which is a downside.
1hr connection in Munich should be ok, but 2hr in FRA gives more window.
Jul 10th, 2006, 04:21 PM
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Lufthansa is a good choice. I traveled from Munich to Washington Dulles and I arrived there early. This was a good thing because it gave me enough time to pass for an overcrowded immigration stop in my way back to Mexico.
Jul 10th, 2006, 04:49 PM
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If go with lufthansa early morning flight would need a hotel at the airport. Any recommendations? Novotel and Holiday inn nord have terrible reviews on tripadvisor. will also be returning a car.
Jul 11th, 2006, 05:42 AM
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Lufthansa. Haven't flown Air France in some time and not at all on Alitalia. Haven't seen a lot of good reports on Alitalia and Air France seems erratic. Others can give you their personal experiences.
We flew LH last year: IAH - FRA - FCO & FIR - MUC - ORD - IAH, and again just last month: IAH - FRA & MUC - FRA - IAH. Both trips were very pleasant and had no complaints (other than the usual issues with traveling in the back of the bus). Attentive and friendly crew. Food very decent with good choices, and snacks served with drinks and in between meals. Complimentary wine etc before and during meals with after-dinner drinks also served. Hot towels before meals. Only "complaint" I've heard is that their IFE has no individual screens in seat backs (on their A340s) - just drop down screens from the ceiling. It's not a big issue with us since we prefer to listen to music/read/sleep.
2 incidents might be worth repeating. Last year, our hour connection in MUC evaporated when we left FIR an hour late. At MUC we were met by LH rep at the gate and escorted to connecting flight to ORD. Plane was held up for us and our luggage also made it. Last month, we were particularly hungry on FRA-IAH segment since we had gotten up at 2:30 am (!) to make initial flight out of MUC. In between the 2 hot meals they served, I asked FA if they had any more of the pretzels etc they served with the drinks. She asked if we were hungry and I explained why. In ten minutes she brought us 2 fresh sandwiches, apple tarts and some fruit out of business class. Very nice touch which they didn't have to do.
Would definitely fly them again.
Also, check out flyertalk.com
We flew LH last year: IAH - FRA - FCO & FIR - MUC - ORD - IAH, and again just last month: IAH - FRA & MUC - FRA - IAH. Both trips were very pleasant and had no complaints (other than the usual issues with traveling in the back of the bus). Attentive and friendly crew. Food very decent with good choices, and snacks served with drinks and in between meals. Complimentary wine etc before and during meals with after-dinner drinks also served. Hot towels before meals. Only "complaint" I've heard is that their IFE has no individual screens in seat backs (on their A340s) - just drop down screens from the ceiling. It's not a big issue with us since we prefer to listen to music/read/sleep.
2 incidents might be worth repeating. Last year, our hour connection in MUC evaporated when we left FIR an hour late. At MUC we were met by LH rep at the gate and escorted to connecting flight to ORD. Plane was held up for us and our luggage also made it. Last month, we were particularly hungry on FRA-IAH segment since we had gotten up at 2:30 am (!) to make initial flight out of MUC. In between the 2 hot meals they served, I asked FA if they had any more of the pretzels etc they served with the drinks. She asked if we were hungry and I explained why. In ten minutes she brought us 2 fresh sandwiches, apple tarts and some fruit out of business class. Very nice touch which they didn't have to do.
Would definitely fly them again.
Also, check out flyertalk.com
