May 22, 2008 - Lufthansa flight LH4584 Frankfurt - Brussels:  Waiting in a "sardine configuration"
The boarding happend on time at 17:00 for the flight which should depart at 17:25 in Frankfurt. Once in the Boeing 737-300, I discovered an aircraft division which I never saw before. The first fourteen rows (of each 6 seats) were assigned to business class, leaving  only eight rows for economy class !  When everyone was boarded 7 of the 84 business seats were taken whereas in economy class all 48 seats were occupied. We were all astonished by such a "sardine configuration". A late-minute passenger even wondered if such a situation is allowed for his more than €700 economy retour ticket!
This configuration would, however, only last for fourty minutes, the duration of the flight.
BUT, first of all, the inbound slot in Brussels was canceled due to a traffic jam evoked by a failure of the ILS on 7L. The departure time was retarded with 40 minutes.  So, we were condamned to remain an extra 40 minutes in this "sardine configuration". Finaly at 18:10 we were cleared for departure and taxied to runway 18.
BUT, the aircraft remained unexpectedly long at the holding point of RWY18. After 5 minutes the captain announced a failure of the weather radar and the need to return back to the parking position. The technical crew arrived and it was decided to replace the electronic radar module. It arrived and was quickly replaced. So, after another 20 minutes we could finally take off at about 19:05. Now, I understand why the boarding pass only shows the boarding time and never the departure time.
Anyway, spending two and a half hours in a full aircraft is an onsuperable torture. BUT, with the sight of 77 empty seats in front of you it makes you more than peevish. Thanks, Lufthansa, for this inventive situation.
P.S. The bumpy landing at Brussels was probably due to the heavy tail weight (LOL).

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