Flying Lufthansa to the US Open 2014: An Experience That Was More Indian Than You Think

A big tennis fan, I went to watch the US Open live last year. Previously I’d flown with Lufthansa in 2004 and watched Roger Federer become the champion. So, I again got my flight tickets with Lufthansa to fly to New York for the finals. Also, around the same time, I’d seen Lufthansa’s commercial for their More Indian Than You Think initiative. I was excited at the prospect that Indian cuisine and inflight entertainment were among the things that were being emphasized by the airline. From my previous trip I knew that the Lufthansa cabin crew dished out the best hospitality and service (in my personal regard and experience of over 12 years of boarding international flights.)

I’d got my stadium tickets well in advance. I was booked from the Quarter Finals at the Billie Jean Stadium. So, I planned my flight tickets and hotel accommodation accordingly. As this tournament was only my 2^nd live grand slam event, I had left nothing to chance and had researched and booked everything well in advance.

On the night I had to catch my flight, I must have checked for my print of the flight boarding pass countless times (had gone online through the Lufthansa app and had my baggage checked-in online.)
As wisdom advises, I left a few hours early for the airport, cleared security and waited patiently for my flight boarding call. Preparing to fly to a major sporting event can leave you very careful.

I was the first in line for the boarding and the first one aboard the Lufthansa A320 heading to the John F. Kennedy Terminal in New York. As the More Indian Than You Think commercial on television had shown, everyone boarding the flight was greeted with a courteous, ‘Namaste’. We took off without a hitch and found a clear sky, crescent moon and stars aplenty; a great start indeed!

Since I wasn’t sleepy, I ordered a masala chai and settled with some inflight entertainment. I watched a Bollywood film which I’d loved as a child and eventually fell asleep to some Indian music. I woke up to some turbulence, but it passed quickly; and went back to the inflight entertainment (I’d forgotten my book which I wanted to read inflight.) Most of the flight just saw me watching tennis on Lufthansa’s entertainment package.

After some very nervous moments before landing (clearly had to do with watching the US Open live) we landed at JFK from where I went about quickly to settle everything. In the following days, I watched with thousands of others, one of the greatest modern tennis tournaments!

Moving Abroad: Picking an International Airline

What probably is the most important international flight you’ve boarded? Is it that first-ever trip abroad in which you were so starry-eyed you almost forgot what all cuisines were there or what entertainment options were available inflight the international airline?

Well then wait till you come across the chance to move abroad with your family! Not only will the inflight food and the inflight entertainment be some of the most important factor all of a sudden, but the cabin crew and the seating and convenience of booking the international flight will also be of prime concern. Today, based on my recent experience, I’ll be divulging some tips that I guess will help you zero in on an international flight as you plan moving abroad.

Timing is the key. When you are moving for once and all, the time at which you are making the booking holds the key to a convenient immigration. Whatever international airline you are opting for, make sure it suits your timing of joining the new job, setting up the new business et al. Also, booking an international flight ahead of schedule saves you on the ticket prices. Win-win!

Check the inflight food. When you are accompanying kids and your parents along (it’s the whole family taking off to a new continent), it is imperative that you check what all options are available in the food inflight. I flew with Lufthansa, and with the amazing range of dishes available inflight courtesy their More Indian Than You Think campaign, all of us had a gala time all the way to New York. And yes, their masala chai is amazing. Do try in case you fly Lufthansa.

Inflight entertainment is a big advantage. Consider flying with two adolescents. The long flight hours almost seem never-ending taking care of their nuances when all you are concentrating on is how to acclimatise to the new place. With a range of their favourite Bollywood hits and classic movies, the inflight entertainment range of Lufthansa did me a huge favour in taking care of my kids and my parents alike.

It’s the cabin crew that holds the key. I still remember it vividly the amused smile that flashed across my mother’s face on being greeted with a customary Namaste on entering the Lufthansa flight. Also, the crew members were courteous enough to the never-ending demands of my kids. All in all, the Lufthansa cabin crew was the most amazing I’d ever encountered.

I hope the above tips help you plan a great trip as you contemplate a new beginning on the new horizon. Wish you all the best for your future!

Fog vs International Flight: Make The Best of The Lost Time

With cold gripping the whole of the northern hemisphere, a thick blanket of fog could very well be your host at almost every destination you are going to arrive. Such conditions, although undesirable for international flights, but with work resuming after the amazing New Year holidays, taking an international flight becomes all but inevitable.

Flight delays, long flight hours, and a lurking possibility of a logjam can be very counterproductive to the spirit of flying. But here are some things you can do to make sure you enjoy both the long flights as well as the waiting hours in the airport, to scoop an amazing travel experience even in hardened conditions.

Reach the airport in time. Howsoever punctual you’ve been, it is always advisable to leave an hour early in winters to give you buffer time in conditions of fog, and even snow. Moreover, your international flight might also be tucked in a bit earlier citing reasons of bad weather, so it is good to have a head start.

Check in, and have a go at the airport lounge. Your international flight delayed by an hour? Not to worry! Airports are huge places, giving you ample spaces to explore and catch the wonders of. You could window shop, catch some great vantage points for that shutterbug in you, and in case you are an architect connoisseur, can have a detailed view of the magnificence that airports are. But do check in the moment you enter the airport. Saves you the queue!

Go for direct rather than connecting flights. Although international flights give us an opportunity to explore the country we have a stay over, in winters, it is advisable to go for direct flights rather than connecting ones. I travelled to Berlin with Lufthansa recently. With their More Indian Than You Think campaign currently underway, not only was my flight comfortable, I also had the luxury to savour some delectable Indian cuisines as I caught on some famous Bollywood hits. It feels good when such things are offered on international flights, that too with a generous cabin crew.

Opt for an airline known for punctuality. Well, this was the chief reason I went with Lufthansa. Everything else was bonus! From easy bookings to the convenience of choosing your seats to great inflight food, entertainment and hospitable crew members, Lufthansa is really reinventing air travel in this part of the world.

So get set for a wonderful travel experience. Pack your bags with all the woollens you’ll be requiring, and get set for an amazing international flight!

Why You Should Book A Flight Ticket And Fly Abroad In 2015!

Its 2015 already, and it’s the best time to travel. It’s also time that you plan, save, book flight tickets and head out to see, perhaps, a major sports event live! Go, travel, explore and use any excuse to see the world. Make that your travel resolution for this year. You could be enjoying Indian music and delicious Indian meals on board a Lufthansa to watch a match of the Bundesliga, or you could be on your way to watch the a concert in Canada. Make sure that you head out and travel to some foreign place, this year.

Start with this. Get to know the cabin crew of any airline and the hard work they put into providing their service. Learn about different people and their different jobs. Befriend an air attendant and hang out with them during a flight layover, chat up with a random stranger (don’t be creepy and lingering though) – the point is to have new experiences, meet new people and enjoy yourself. There’s a simple joy in looking out over watching a sea of clouds from 38,000 feet as your inflight entertainment for a few hours – reflecting on rich travel experiences.

Getting back on track, head out and live it up; make your travels like a Bollywood film – large and colourful! Try and opt for a new hobby which would help motivate you to book that flight ticket or, maybe even a seat on a cruise. You could be crew member on a snorkelling team or a veg Indian food specialist at a foreign diner (all that time in the kitchen mastering Indian cuisine should pay off).

Imitate stars from Indian TV shows to entertain new found company outside a sports arena – it will throw you off your comfort zone. Cook up a delicious Indian dish at a traveller’s hostel with fellow travellers – nothing helps bond better than an Indian cuisine done right. Stepping out of your comfort zone is what you needs to be done. Imagine all the adventures, even simple ones, (whether it may be browsing the flight movies list on an impulsive maiden flight to Eastern Europe) that you will have once you let go of your inhibitions!

If you don’t have enough money to travel rich, book flight tickets in economy class, choose a bed n’ breakfast or hostel instead of a proper hotel,  don’t go for that lavish, weekly night out. Save and head out when you can. Even a flight experience with everyone speaking a different language is extremely enriching.

Get up, select a major event, book that flight ticket and hold on to it tight. Step out, the world awaits you!