The end of an exciting “A380-day” at the Peninsula Hotel

The arrival of the A380 on Monday, March 19th brought about great excitement to New York. A select few passengers of the A380 flight from Frankfurt were invited to a cocktail reception at the Peninsula Hotel in Manhattan. The invited guests included several VIPs, the press, as well as Airbus and Lufthansa employees. A pianist helped to create a wonderful relaxing atmosphere. It was a perfect way to enjoy the end of an exciting day.

The room quickly filled with conversation where guests exchanged their impressions of the A380. Jens Bischof, Lufthansa Vice President of the Americas, greeted the group and highlighted some information and facts on the “big bird.” Guests then proceeded to enjoy refreshments, delicious food and mini desserts.

The arrival of the A380 has been a success. We expect and look forward to the same rewarding experience in the fall!

First impression A380 at JFK

The best and most unexpected thing on the ground

Lufthansa is fond of branded goodies, which show up at every event we have ever had. Often they are wearable and sometimes they even have blinky LED lights in them. In the past I have avoided these trinkets, but the transparent planes bearing our logo which were passed out today were attractive even to me.

Apparently Lufthansa ordered 1,000 blinky planes, more than twice the number of passengers on board the A380 today. After five boxes disappeared in the span of about an hour and a half, a colleague and I gave up our own because the Lufthansa crew wanted them too, and we were short a few. My friend Antonia really worked the crowd waiting outside customs, spotting all the children and approaching their parents to tempt them with the toys.

The blinky planes have three settings: steady on, slow blink, and alarming (the latter made my heart race). The still photo just didn't capture the effect, so I also got it on video. (It's the bit that looks like electric jello.)

Inside JFK, day one

Dozens of Lufthansa employees donned A380/Lufthansa polo shirts to identify ourselves to the press, Airbus crew, and several large groups of passengers who arrived on the A380's first visit to the US under flight number LH8940 this afternoon. We met these privileged people just outside customs in Terminal One, guiding them to their respective destinations: upstairs to the lounge for the press conference (media and Lufthansa crew of 35), to the charter bus headed straight for the hangar (Airbus crew), to the charter buses headed for the hotels (passengers).

Several reporters were present already, waiting to interview the passengers who experienced the luxury of the A380; by all accounts it is a comfortable cabin, roomy but not huge, which is so quiet you don't even feel like you are airborne. The Lufthansa crew members that I spoke with, including the purser, felt honored to be part of this moment in aviation history.

The Today Show: Special report on A380 visit

The Today Show just broadcasted a report (see the video) on todays flight from Frankfurt to New York. One of their reporters is acutally on the plane right now.

National coverage tomorrow on Today

I just saw a commercial for the Today Show which will air a profile of the A380 tomorrow morning before its arrival stateside. I checked their website and couldn't find anything posted there yet, not even a preview of tomorrow's coverage...

My husband reminded me that the media will of course be there. That means I might spot some people in person that I have only ever seen on TV!

I wonder if Matt Lauer will sign my blog? :)

ETA

According to a press release of Lufthansa, the A380 will depart Frankfurt at around 9.00 am on Monday. That means we could expect its arrival at around 11.45 am to 12.30 pm at New York's JFK airport. After unloading passengers and some ground tests the plane will be brought to a hangar for a viewing event.