Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: YYC-FRA-WAW on LH in Y, train to Toruń
Part 3: My stay in Toruń, including the Hotel Bulwar
Part 4: GDN-FRA on LO in Y
Part 5: FRA-YYC on AC in J
Nothing exciting, got to the airport with time to spare, checked-in, and proceeded through security.
The check-in area is quite cramped, and there was a very long line-up for economy class. Luckily my *G did it’s wonders and I was done in no time.
The airport itself is very small, since a few years ago, other than the LOT flights to WAW and FRA, there was nothing really going on. In recent years, all the low-costs have come in, and now the airport is in dire need for a new terminal, which should be completed by 2012.
Downstairs is the arrivals and check-in area, upstairs there is a cafe and some shops pre-security.
Outside the airport
Check-in area
Arrivals/check-in level
Economy check-in line
Check-in counters
One more shot of the lower level
Departures level
Towards the tarmac
Shops
Schengen departures, missing the new addition of a LH flight to DUS
Domestic departures
Model of the new terminal to be completed by 2012
A blast into the future – and into the past
Wizz Air 737
Pre-security area
Airfthansa?!
The security agents were brutal, telling me after I had put my bag through the scanner that I have to take out all electronic equipment, including my Bose, iPad, Airport Express, camera… And that I have to take off my watch which is plastic and never beeps… Very strange.
Post-security, there isn’t really much. There’s a tiny seating area, a small bar-like cafe, a small duty-free, and somehow, they still managed to fit a VIP lounge in!?
Post-security area
Executive Lounge
The lounge is a contract lounge accessible to Priority Pass on any airline and *G flying on LH, LO, or SAS.
Overview
Very basic with amenities but at least there’s plenty of drinks and sweets. No food at all, though. A code for WiFi can be had from the furiously typing matron, as every guest is entered into the computer.
TV
Drink selection (note the beer in the morning!)
Bar seating
Towards the one PC
Another look
View out the window
Construction of the new terminal underway
One last view of the lounge…
A trick in Gdańsk, along with other small airports, is not to board too early. There are no jet bridges, and if you are one of the first to board, you will wait a long time crammed in the bus. So after initial boarding is called, there is a call: “all remaining passengers for Frankfurt please report to gate 5″. That’s when you go.
From the bus
Still, we waited some 5 minutes for the last remaining passengers.
Arrivals entrance
After a very short bus ride we arrived next to the Embraer.
Our Embraer
Out my window
TNT
U-turn at the end of the runway
Runway 29
Rows of clouds
Service consisted of drinks and a strange yellow sandwich-looking food item, which I declined. I knew there were pretzels waiting for me in Frankfurt!
From the back
Seat
LOT’s Embraers are very nicely appointed, comfortable, and the washroom was clean.
Nearing Frankfurt, I was in for a surprise – there were no clouds over FRA today! I spotted three airports, including FRA.
Airport No. 1
Airport No. 2 – FRA!
It was very cool witnessing multiple landings and takeoffs while still in the air!
Airport No. 3
747 landing
Landing was smooth, and surprisingly, we got an actual gate complete with jet bridge! LO has one gate in FRA, C1, which even has it’s own security, as it’s separate from all other gates.
That’s it for this part, there were already too many pictures, and there are many pictures to come in Part 5!
