Written by MM

This round trip consisted of six flights operated by three airlines, using six different aircraft and passing through six different airports. The ticket was purchased as a round trip through United as the main carrier. In the end, this proved to be a good choice, as I was very satisfied with United’s overall service.

The journey began with a morning Croatia Airlines flight to Munich. I arrived at the airport quite early, and it was in its usual rhythm. There were no crowds, baggage drop was quick, and I received boarding passes for all three flights. I passed through security without delay and had plenty of time to buy something to eat.

When I reached the gate, the newest A220-100 was already parked there. It was also my first flight on this aircraft type.

Takeoff was on time, even slightly ahead of schedule. We quickly climbed from foggy Zagreb above the clouds, with views of the sunlit slopes of Pohorje and the Austrian Alps beyond. The A220-100 struck me as a fairly quiet aircraft with good performance. The 2-3 seating configuration and relatively large windows are definite advantages. The downside is limited legroom, although in this respect it is not significantly worse than its slightly larger Airbus counterparts or the Boeing 737 series. The cabin crew was very friendly, and the crackers they serve are probably among the highest quality I’ve had on a flight.

After an hour, we landed in Munich. There was no need to change terminals, only to move outside the Schengen zone, which was done very quickly. Munich Airport is easy to navigate and, in terms of design, much more pleasant than Frankfurt. With only two hours until the flight to Houston, I went straight to the gate. The entrance area was cordoned off with tape for a pre-check before boarding US-bound passengers. Officers asked standard questions similar to those on an ESTA application. Some passengers were randomly selected for additional screening. It may have seemed slightly awkward, but everything was handled professionally and was understandable from a security standpoint.

Boarding United’s B777-200ER was efficient and departure was on time.

I had booked Premium Plus, a class positioned between Polaris and Economy. From a passenger’s perspective, it is positive that this B777 configuration accommodates only 276 passengers. I did not see the load factor in Polaris, but Premium Plus was full and Economy appeared close to full as well. The catering is the same as in Economy, but served on proper plates with real cutlery. The selection and quantity of drinks are also better. Most importantly, the 11-hour flight is far more comfortable thanks to the 2-4-2 configuration, compared to 3–4–3 in Economy. There is significantly more legroom, better recline and a footrest, making it comfortable even for tall passengers. The United cabin crew was very friendly. The flight was smooth, with no turbulence, and we landed in Houston on time.

The connection time to New Orleans was two and a half hours. Houston is a pleasant airport and there was no need to change terminals. However, immigration took quite some time for those of us entering on ESTA. The line was long, and I waited one hour and fifteen minutes. The Global Entry line, by contrast, was empty and moved quickly. My conversation with the officer was brief and friendly. After immigration, we collected our luggage and dropped it off again, which is handled efficiently in Houston. We then went through security once more. Despite the procedures, everything went smoothly and we reached the gate on time.

In general, when connecting in the US, it is wise to allow at least three hours between flights. Possible delays and immigration procedures should always be taken into account. More than three hours would make the experience completely stress-free.

The flight to New Orleans was operated by United on an A320. It is a short hop of 49 minutes. Interestingly, United’s A320 features a true First Class cabin in the first three rows, in a 2–2 configuration, with very spacious seats. All of them were occupied, despite the short duration. The rest of the aircraft was also full. The flight was smooth and uneventful, and we landed in New Orleans. The airport is very pleasant, both aesthetically and functionally.

The return journey to Zagreb began with check-in at Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans. The United agent was very friendly, everything was handled quickly, and I received all three boarding passes. Security was efficient and I had plenty of time at the gate. The airport is very nice, with charging points almost everywhere. The food and beverage selection is good, although prices are relatively high.

United’s Embraer E175 to Washington Dulles departed on time. The 2-2 configuration is excellent from a passenger’s perspective, and I found it more comfortable than the A320.

We arrived on time at Washington Dulles, where we had a connection to Frankfurt. The layover was two hours and twenty minutes. Although United usually arrives at the C/D terminal and Star Alliance partners depart from the B terminal, we were fortunate to arrive at an A gate (A/B terminal), and after a short ten-minute walk we were already at our departure gate. Since our baggage had been checked through in New Orleans, there were no additional procedures regarding luggage or security. However, there was a document check for non-EU residents, similar to the process in Munich.

The flight from Dulles to Frankfurt was operated by Star Alliance partner Lufthansa. A large B747-8 was already parked at the gate. Its distinctive nose, positioned right next to the boarding area, looked very impressive.

Boarding and departure were on time. I had a Premium Economy ticket, similar in concept to United’s Premium Plus, with a 2-4-2 configuration. However, I was noticeably more satisfied on United’s B777-200ER than on Lufthansa’s 747-8.

On United, Premium Plus is located directly behind Polaris, with a partition separating it from Economy, creating a sense of privacy and a clear distinction from the main cabin. Lufthansa’s layout is less ideal. Behind Business Class there are four rows of Economy, followed by two lavatories, then Premium Economy, and then Economy again. As a result, Premium Economy passengers lacked privacy and were constantly exposed to foot traffic from both Economy sections using the nearby lavatories. The red and green lavatory indicator lights were directly in front of us, which made the area feel busy throughout the flight.

Nevertheless, the flight itself was smooth and punctual, and we landed in Frankfurt on time. We had five hours there before the flight to Zagreb, which allowed plenty of time to walk around, eat or have a drink.

The final flight was operated by Lufthansa on a CRJ-900, from gloomy Frankfurt to rainy Zagreb. The flight was uneventful.

If I compare the comfort of the CRJ-900 and the E175 in the same class, my preference goes to the Embraer. The cabin feels larger and more comfortable.

I very much enjoyed the city of New Orleans. I spoke with several American residents and was pleasantly surprised at how well they knew Croatia. When I asked what they liked most about it, I expected the answer to be “beautiful Dalmatia,” but most mentioned Plitvice Lakes. They also pointed out that the lack of a direct flight from US hubs to Zagreb is a disadvantage. One stopover is acceptable to them, but two are considered too much.

A waiter in New Orleans asked where I was from. After I told him, he began talking about Dražen Petrović, Toni Kukoč, Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić. He seemed to know even more about them than I do.

Overall, although the journey from Zagreb to New Orleans was long, it was comfortable and pleasant. The stay in the American South was equally enjoyable and highly recommendable.