Croatia Airlines: Split - Munich via Zagreb

Trip Report

I recently had an enjoyable experience flying with Croatia Airlines from Split to Munich via Zagreb, as part of a longer journey back to Charlotte, North Carolina. The entire itinerary was booked using miles, with all flights in business class. My journey would eventually take me across the Atlantic on Lufthansa flight LH428 from Munich to Charlotte, operated by one of the airline's Airbus A350-900 aircraft originally delivered to Philippine Airlines, featuring a rather unusual cabin configuration.

However, it was the two Croatia Airlines flights that made a positive impression, with friendly crews, comfortable aircraft and a pleasant onboard experience.

My journey began at Split Airport, where I boarded Croatia Airlines flight OU651 to Zagreb. The flight was operated by a brand new Airbus A220-100, part of the carrier's ongoing fleet modernisation programme. I had been looking forward to trying the aircraft, and it certainly did not disappoint. The cabin felt fresh and modern, while the aircraft itself was remarkably quiet and comfortable. Even on a relatively short domestic sector, the A220 made a noticeable difference to the overall flying experience.

The flight attendants were extremely friendly and welcoming. A small snack box was provided with a choice of drink, which was adequate for a flight of this length.

Wi Fi was available for a fee. Wi-fi for chat, advertised for 0 euros, actually only lasts 10 minutes, which is odd considering most airlines offer it for free.

After arriving in Zagreb, I continued my journey to Munich on flight OU4436. This sector offered a rather different experience, as it was operated by an ATR72 turboprop aircraft from ETF Airways on behalf of Croatia Airlines.

Having just flown on the modern A220, transferring to a turboprop was quite a contrast. However, it was an interesting experience in its own right, particularly because of the business class arrangement. Unlike the more conventional layouts I had encountered on previous flights, the business class section on this aircraft was situated towards the rear of the cabin. This was a first for me and certainly made the flight a little more memorable. The cabin is in excellent condition, and the seats are quite comfortable.

Once again, the cabin crew left an excellent impression. The flight attendant looking after the cabin was attentive, professional and genuinely friendly throughout the journey.

A small snack box was again served on this sector. I feel Croatia Airlines could perhaps try to do a bit more in the catering department on international flights. I flew on miles so can’t really complain but getting a box with nibbles for a full paying customer doesn’t look great. In my opinion they could avoid this by simply putting the snack onto a plate. It would give off a completely different impression. Interestingly, I found out that if you order any special meal, you actually get a proper looking meal on a plate, along with bread, butter etc. But if you don’t, you get the box.

The rest of the flight was uneventful.

Overall, the new A220-100 was very comfortable, modern and quiet. Both flights featured pleasant onboard service.

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