Comments

Although I don't travel for work nearly as much as Tom Peters, I worked last year as an assistant to another business expert and logged several trips through Heathrow with BA. It was not an enjoyable experience as Heathrow is disorganized, and BA even more so. I can definitely sympathize with his choice to fly through Germany instead!

Posted by Katie at January 16, 2007 10:48 AM

Since Lufthansa is a good client of Boeing, a part of your air travel expenses will be beneficial for the U.S.-economy: ‘Financial Times Deutschland’ reported on Dec. 7th, 2006 that Lufthansa will be the first airline, which has ordered (20 units of) the new version of the Boeing-Jumbo 747-8.
http://www.ftd.de/unternehmen/handel_dienstleister/139423.html

Posted by Horst Schueberl at January 16, 2007 11:40 AM

I think that you've found out what most of Europe has known for a long time.

My lasting memory is after falling ill in India. The relief of seeing and then getting on-board their beautifully clean airplane was so soothing. I felt better in minutes.

Heathrow is not only a nightmare for pasengers; every plane flies over central London and makes life less enjoyable for millions.

Posted by Richard at January 16, 2007 11:59 AM

As a patriotic Brit, I'm ashamed to admit it but our flag carrier has very much fallen from grace. They are still good but it isn't enough: other airlines are very good to excellent so BA is being left behind.

Examples: after a row with their food supplier a year ago, it took BA literally months to get back to normal. I fly short haul around Europe and I couldn't believe that 4 months after the problem, they still couldn't get snacks onto short haul flights! And as of yesterday, with a 96% mandate, the cabin crews are going on strike again! I can't believe it - do these people not live in the real world?

BA are nothing to do with the management of Heathrow - that's run by BAA, who despite a similar name are a different company. And again, I'm ashamed to admit but it's a pigsty. (Apologies to any pigs reading this.) I now fly from Luton, Stansted or Birmingham if I can: Heathrow has become a detestable, horrendous nightmare.

Posted by Mark JF at January 16, 2007 1:24 PM

On the decline of BA and Heathrow, I agree heartily. I have mixed feelings about Lufthansa, however.

In November I flew San Francisco-Frankfurt, Frankfurt-Dubai and back. On both of the long legs, to and from San Francisco, Lufthansa used one of their old planes that had truly poor seats and services in business class (I picture Tom in the front of the plane). You'd think they'd favor the techie crowd out here with their more up-to-date aircraft, but it doesn't seem to be the case.

I asked the crew when all their planes would have the nice Recaro seats we experienced in the Frankfurt-Dubai legs and only received vague replies.

Posted by Lance Knobel at January 16, 2007 2:02 PM

I love Lufthansa, and not just because it's the airline of my ancestors. :-)

A few years back I was travelling to India to give a program, I flew Delta from Atlanta to Frankfurt where I was to transfer to Lufthansa for the flight to Mumbai. We were very, very, very late leaving Atlanta which left us with the need for an almost-instant connection in Frankfurt.

Lufthansa had folks meet us at the end of the jetway in Frankfurt and direct us, through a human chain of Lufthansa folks to our Mumbai flight. Since we only had minutes between flights, I asked the Lufthansa representative that met us when he thought our bags might reach Mumbai.

He pulled himself up as tall and Teutonically straight as possible, all the while looking at me with disdain. "Sir," he sniffed, "This is LUFTHANSA!"

I thought he was just being pompous, but when we arrived in Mumbai, our bags were on the same plane.

Posted by Wally Bock at January 16, 2007 5:50 PM

Ahh yes, the German factor...I so much enjoy cleanliness and orderliness...just like my Mutti and Oma instilled in me.

By the way, on LH you receive all the free German beer you can handle...in coach!

Posted by Michael Chaffin at January 17, 2007 11:14 AM

I don't fly frequently, but I've had excellent experiences with Virgin Atlantic -- the planes, the people, the promptness -- and they fly into Stanstead, which is a whole lot nicer than either Heathrow or Gatwick. Although they depart from only a few U.S. cities, those are easy to get to via other carriers (e.g., San Francisco, Las Vegas, Boston).

Posted by Paula at January 17, 2007 2:18 PM

Hi Tom,
glad to read about your good experiences with Lufthansa.
Best wishes from northern Germany

Posted by Jörg Weisner at January 18, 2007 6:28 AM

Sorry have I missed the point I can't think of a single airport that I have ever attended that isn't nerve janglinly desined for maximum stress and discomfort regaurdless of seciurity, if you want turtle pace x -10 try Stanstead, trust me its worse tha Heathrow. Further, Douglas Adams has a great tract on airports in one or other of his books? Not sure which one...

Posted by Patrick at January 18, 2007 11:31 AM

Wouldn't it be nice if one could separate the airlines from their airports. Frankfurt vs Heathrow is like choosing between the plague vs cholera, whereas both BA and LH are quite OK airlines (especially long haul - the LH leather Recaro seats used on the European flights are the worst seats for comfort in any airline except perhaps Ryanair; unless you brace yourself with your feet you continously risk sliding down onto the floor).

Totally agree with TP's thoughts of LHR (although BA's arrivals lounge in T4 is a nice compensation for the long haul traveller), but Frankfurt is not far behind when it comes to clueless logistics (especially if you try to figure out where Schengen starts and ends) and haphazard gate planning for connecting flights.

I quite like both BA and Lufthansa, but for the LH flights I'd much rather go via Munich (and also make sure you get the Airbus 340 and not their 30 year old 747s if you travel long haul). The only drawback there is the frequent bus shuttles when you fly within Europe. But the best transfer airport anywhere in my book is still Singapore's Changi.

Posted by Mats at January 18, 2007 12:04 PM

Like BA, Lufthansa flies only the most recent version from the Boeing 747-family, the 747-400. Boeing rolled out its 747-400 in 1989!

Posted by Horst Schueberl at January 18, 2007 2:50 PM

A thought on excellence in air travel--why do airlines allow their employees to throw my luggage and dump it on a revolving carousel? I paid over $100 for my suitcase. I am careful with things that cost over $100. Every time I have to do the ultimate in self-service--chase down and wrestle with my newly scuffed and dirtied $100 bag--then walk away into an unknown airport, I think to myself that airports are among the least civilized places I routinely visit. That is my last impression every time.

Posted by Richard in Houston at January 18, 2007 11:31 PM

Tom; this dawned on me this morning, we are all under pressure to do something about our carbon foot print, be more green and evnvironmentally friendly. You my friend do too many air miles and given that technology can place you anywhere any time, why do your customers insist on your physical rather than virtual pressence? I am sure I would love to be in your pressence and catch the personal element that you bring, I for one have only seen you on video and know that for me was sufficient? Equally your home/work life balance would have a greater karma and you'd avoid all aiports in the process and lead some green thinking in the process(lacking in the mother land wouldn't you say?)? How about moving to the Virtual Tom Peters Lecture Tour after this one, please consider this, I'll buy the first tour t-shirt!

Posted by Patrick at January 19, 2007 3:33 AM

Great idea Patrick

Having had the pleasure of witnessing Tom 'in action' for one whole day in 2006 in London I would support your proposal with one small proviso i.e. ‘Virtual’ applies to the entire world … apart of course from Britain :-) .. We are talking ‘turf wars’ here!

Sun is shining – 60 Deg F - wonderful Friday here in England – a fabulous weekend beckons for all at TP I hope.

Posted by Trevor Gay at January 19, 2007 9:28 AM

Agree, BA has had its day, long ago in my opinion. Cathy Pacific for me everytime in APAC, Air France to USA. My policy in Europe ABA (anything but BA. Luckily Birmingham is my local and thats great.

Posted by Dave Hills at January 21, 2007 7:17 AM

I would question the whole because it's German thing - My experiences of flying out of Cologne was very different from Frankfurt

Posted by PaulH at January 22, 2007 4:35 AM