Driven in a Porsche to your departing 747 flight

Coming back from Frankfurt this Sunday, I experienced Lufthansa's first class terminal, where a chauffeur drives you/your party individually from the terminal lounge directly to your departing aircraft by way of either a Porsche (Cayenne) or a Mercedes Benz. The driver goes along the airport tarmac, parking next to the airplane and escorting you into the aircraft. We got the Porsche for our ride, and it has to be one of the most indulgent ways I have ever caught an airplane! Back in the US, I was soon enough brought to earth however, having to take a TED flight for my final connection.

I recently got to fly private with a client - Mercedes S class service right onto the tarmac to the door of the aircraft. We climbed in, the door was closed, and we were off. It was amazing - literally 4 minutes from arrival to takeoff. No nonsense about how to buckle your seat belt, no waiting for other passengers, no lecture about floating seat cushions or how to hug your knees if the plane is plumeting to earth - just get in, close the door, sit down and taxi to the runway.

That's the kind of treatment I get. Of course it's only a 172.

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Nothing wrong with that! It really makes me want to pursue a pilot's license. I guess the private plane I was in, a Beechcraft King Air, is a step up from your Cessna - but some other co-workers of mine just left on a cross country trip with that client in a G5.

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A previous employer had a company plane for state to state travel. What you described is exactly what we had going. It was the best. You parked at 7:45 and were in the air at 8:00. By 10:00 I was in another state driving to the office.

It's even better on international flights. Zip by customs, get in a van, get in the Bombardier Global Traveller. Nice

I spent 29 years flying the big jets. For the first 10 - 15, it was (generally) a pleasant experience for most and often a very nice experience for many. The last third of my career saw a plunge in the customer experience the likes of which are just about unparalleled in American business. Since 9/11, its been like falling off a cliff, with the gov't adding its insults to the steadily diminishing customer service. Now, I dabble in flying executive jets. I cannot imagine the folks I shuttle around today going through security with their shoes off .... much less putting up with the cattle car conditions and prison guard demeanor of the airline public contact folks. There was some thought, as jet fuel began to skyrocket, that the increasing price would curtail executive flying. That has not been the case in my experience. Thanks for allowing me to pontificate for a moment on things other than Porsche.

I began the topic relating to Porsche, so apologies if its drifted off topic, but agree with the above. I read recently Lufthansa's market cap is greater then United, Delta, American, NW, and Southwest COMBINED! In much of Europe, flights still seem to treat you better with 50 minute flights including meals and not charging for wine or beer... Disappointing to read how american carriers are going penny wise and pound foolish doing idiocy like charging $15 for checking a bag, causing everyone to bring all their crap into the plane, costing millions in reduced aircraft turn around time, extending check in lines due to ridiculous labor intensive and time consuming $15 dollar transactions, as if that is going to prevent United or American from going under due to fuel costs. Might as well re-instate head set $3 charges while they are at it. No vision, no strategy, just a penny pinching death spiral. I was surprised at the wealth while in Prague, saw several 911 Turbo's, Ferrari in downtown area... and given Europe's car taxes in general, even more impressive as a 996 in many countries there costs up to 50% more then in the US...