Motzai Shabbos, Apr 22, 2023
Drove to the airport in the pouring rain and was told the ramp was closed, and delays were mounting. Our office people arrived around 10:15pm and started to check-in over 150 boxes of stuff that had to be flown with our flight, and by 11pm it was all done, and passenger check-in started and moved very quickly.
By 12am most people were already checked-in and waiting for the last few to show up (with some that were stuck in the Holland Tunnel behind an accident), and by 1am everyone was checked-in, and the few people that were waiting for an empty seat had to return home.
As our flight was leaving at a late hour, we came up with a concept instead of the first meal service on-board, we served a Melava-Malka at the gate area, and arranged with one of the concessions stands to serve hot coffee. As we were supposed to be the only flight in the gate area we went a bit overboard, and even had a bakery donate tons of cakes & pastries. In the end the other flights were delayed, and the gate area was full with other passengers, but we were able to setup and give out the meal & food
Around 1:20am we started boarding, and at 2:05am we pushed back and made our way to the runway.
LOT Polish 7241Newark (EWR) > Budapest (BUD)
Sunday, Apr 23
Pushback: 2:05am (5 min late)
Takeoff: 2:24am
Landed: 4:32pm (18 min early)
Flight time: 8hr8min
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9
Few of the flight attendants knew me having flown with one of our charters in the past, so it made it easier to understand our service level.
Pretty soon after reaching cruising level the crew served a dessert service, and I handed out ice-cream for everyone.
The purser checked with the captain when is sunrise, and the entire plane became one big shul with everyone putting on talis & tefillin and davening shacris.
Fortunately, afterwards the noise started to quiet down and those who wanted were able to get a short nap.
2 hours before arrival was served a full breakfast with warmed up bagels.
Afterwards the cabin was cleaned and prepared and at 4:30pm we landed in Budapest airport right on time.
For the passengers from our flight there were buses waiting, we took everyone to a hotel in the area of Kerestir were we had dinner waiting, and everyone was able to freshen up in the pool or spa (we also had some rooms available for an extra fee). From the hotel we had a bus every 30 min or so to Kerestir.
(plus buffet not pictured)
After everyone deplaned, I got to work, making sure nothing was left behind, and all good food items (such as Kosher soda/juice/snacks) were packed away for the return flight. After all was taken care I passed passport control, got porter service to take our 150+ boxes to the conference room we rented at the airport.
The airport room we rented out together with “Reb’ Shaya’las Guest House” as a place for any yid traveling thru BUD airport over these few days can stop for a bite, cup of coffee, daven with a sefer torah.
After a while I left the airport with a driver to the hotel, got some rest, went to Kerestir to drop in a kvittel and headed back to the airport to make sure everything went smoothly.
Our buses departed Kerestir between 2 & 3am, check-in went quickly (I had arranged extra staff for this) and by the time one bus arrived the passengers from the previous bus were all done with check-in.
By the gate area we had a sefer-torah and one big minyan formed, and around 6:15am boarding started.
We ended up waiting extra few minutes when one of the passengers lost their phone (which was found after pushback and send back to NY the following day).
LOT Polish 7242Budapest (BUD) > Newark (EWR)
Monday, Apr 24
Pushback: 7:08am (18 min late)
Takeoff: 7:32am
Landed: 9:58am (32 min early)
Flight time: 8hr26min
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9
Right after reaching cruising altitude breakfast was served,
and 2 hours before arrival lunch was served, with snacks available throughout the flight.
At 9:58am we touched down in EWR and 10 minutes later was by the flight and everyone went home with bags of yeshuois for Klal Yisroel
