TRIP REPORT: Lufthansa, Milan - Belgrade via Munich
This is the first trip report I have written it comes from a student perspective. It comes from the perspective of someone who last year took over 10 flights with low cost airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air), and from the start, I must admit, there is no big difference on short haul flights between Lufthansa or easyJet for example. The most significant difference is the price of the tickets, the additional difference is that on Lufthansa flights I got a small bottle of 0,33l water and one coffee cookie, even the legroom is similar.
I took this flight on the 15th of March from Malpensa Terminal 1. From Milan, there are two ways to get there, either by train or shuttle bus, due to the airport being some 50km from the city centre. My flight from Milan to Munich was at 13.10, operated by Air Dolomiti’s Embraer 195 and then from Munich to Belgrade at 15.05 operated by Lufthansa Cityline CRJ900. The flight between Milan and Munich takes 1 hour and 10 min. I was anxious about whether I would be on time for the flight to Belgrade. It was the first time that I was flying via Munich and I didn't know what to expect.
I arrived a bit less than 2h before the flight. I had a bag to check in. There were 8 check-in desks for Lufthansa Group airlines (Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Air Dolomiti) out of which 4 were open. After I checked-in, I was directed to security control which works perfectly at Malpensa. I must admit, I have never waited more than 15min even during the peak of the summer season, but this time I waited some 5min. One of the reasons why it works so well, in my opinion, is that there are automated doors to let you inside of security and there is no need to take electric devices and liquids out of the bag. Furthermore, it is possible to pass security control with a bottled drink.
Our plane was connected to the airbridge and boarding started some 20min before the scheduled departure. The flight was full, and there are around 10 flights per day to Munich from two of Milan’s airports - Linate and Malpensa. We were 20mins late on takeoff.
On board, the Wi-Fi was working and you could surf on the Air Dolomiti website which provides a variety of newspapers, magazines and playlists. Some 20min after take off, we were offered a small bottle of water and a tea cookie. We landed with a 5 min delay.
Upon disembarking a person was waiting for me, as well as another person who was also traveling to Belgrade. The airport employee took us by car, first to passport control in a small room with one policeman, and then to the plane. We arrived at the plane at 15.00 and it was empty. Soon after, the pilot came up to us and told us that there was a problem with the emergency system and that they were waiting for a decision on whether they would change the aircraft. In the end, we were forced to disembark.
About 40 min later, boarding started by bus which took us to the same plane as the previous one. The cabin was full at more or less 80% of capacity. Wi-Fi was not working, and during the flight, the flight attendants provided us with a bottle of water. An interesting fact for me is that prices on the menu on both flights were more economical than those at airports especially in comparison with those at Munich airport.
My personal opinion about the airport in Belgrade is that there are too many stairs. If I recall, I think that I took 3 or 4 flights of stair, I felt a bit claustrophobic because of the lower ceiling and its black colour.
On my way back from Belgrade to Milan via Munich, due to a small delay from Belgrade I missed my connecting flight, even though we landed some 15 min before departure time for Milan but this time there was no one waiting for me. When I asked customer assistance why she said to me there were a lot of intercontinental flights at the time and that they provide this kind of service to those who need to catch international flights. She gave me a new boarding card and a €10 food voucher. I needed to wait for 2.55h at Munich airport for the next flight to Milan even though there was a flight which was leaving for Milano Linate after 1.30h but they didn't put me on it because my original ticket was to Malpensa.
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