Flight check: London City-Zurich

Published: 21/05/2008 - Filed under: Archive » 2008 » June 2008 » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Airlines » Archive » 2008 » June 2008 » Tried & Tested » Airlines » Swiss »

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CHECK-IN I arrived at London City airport at 0730 for my 0835 flight in economy and found it was delayed until 0855. When I reached the desk I was told that I couldn't be checked in because there was a problem with the weight of the plane, as a lot of people had been checking in skis. (Due to the short runway at London City, careful calculations need to be made to ensure the plane can gather enough speed to take off.)

More passengers started queuing behind me and at the other three Swiss desks. A lot of them had been bumped from the previous flight because of the same problem, and it appeared the next flight was overbooked too. I asked what would happen if they couldn't get me on my flight, and was told they would try and get me on the next available flight at 1220 (the last flight on a Saturday).

At 0830, permission was granted to check in the luggage of the people who had already checked in (presumably those who had been bumped from the previous flight). We then had to wait to hear from the pilot how many more people he would be prepared to take. It was six and, luckily for me, I was one of them.

THE LOUNGE There is no lounge at London City except for a small VIP room, and instead business and first class passengers are given meal vouchers.

In contrast, on the return journey in business class, I used the dedicated business class lounge at Zurich (there is also a first class lounge for long-haul passengers - see box).

The lounge is nearing the end of a renovation and has a cafeteria-style section with a bar offering free hot and cold drinks, alcohol, sweets, cakes and savoury nibbles. There is also an "e-station" with ten laptops but no seating, and a separate area with low leather armchairs and another small bar offering the same refreshments as in the back.

The lounge has free wifi/wired internet access (keys from Swisscom are available at the desk), a good selection of newspapers, and upstairs, passengers can get a drink at the "longest lounge bar in the world", which is 28.6 metres in length.

This business class lounge is open to all Miles and More members with Senator and Frequent Traveller status, as well as Gold customers of any Star Alliance member airline.

BOARDING Back at London City, at 0855 the flight was on its final call, so I walked up the escalator to security and then down a long corridor to the gate. There was no airbridge so I crossed the tarmac to the plane. Once on board, I found the overhead luggage bins were full, so I had to put my laptop under the seat in front of me.

On the way back, my 1835 flight started boarding at 1815 so I made my way to Gate A66, a five-minute walk from the lounge, just after 1800. Security was processed speedily and I joined the queue of passengers waiting to board. Once in our seats, wet towels, bottled mineral water and newspapers (the Financial Times and the International Herald Tribune) were handed out at 1830.

THE FLIGHT On the outbound flight, I was in my seat (18B) by 0910. The LCY-Zurich route is served by a fleet of Avro RJ100s, which are configured 2-3 in both economy and business. The seats are also the same in both classes and are comfortable, with blue-grey leather upholstery and a pitch of 32 inches. (Business class passengers should note that Swiss does not have a "middle-seat free" on the RJ100.)

Leaving London, the captain announced that Zurich airport was very busy so we needed to wait for a slot, meaning there was another short delay until we started taxiing at 0920. Take-off was nearly one hour late, but the service started promptly and by 0945 I was offered a blueberry muffin and an orange juice or a coffee, and then a small signature Swiss Air chocolate bar.

On the return flight in business, dinner consisted of cold meat and pickles, a warm bread roll with Camembert and a raspberry cheesecake. Unfortunately, there was no record of me ordering the vegetarian option, so I had to make do with bread and cheese.

A selection of cold beverages (including champagne and other alcoholic drinks) was served with the supper, followed by tea, coffee and signature chocolates.

ARRIVAL The flight landed in Zurich at midday, having taken slightly longer than the anticipated one hour and 15 minutes to get there. We disembarked quickly, my bag arrived promptly and I headed for the station downstairs.

VERDICT A stressful start to the journey, but the ground staff and cabin crew were helpful, and once on board the flight went very smoothly. On the return in business, apart from the delays and the mix-up with the food, the service was excellent, and the location of the airports at both ends makes travel on the route very convenient. Economy on Swiss offers a comfortable, efficient travel solution, while business class provides a smart, relaxing service.

PRICE Typical economy class return fares from London to Zurich with Swiss start from £49 online, while business class return fares start from £182.

CONTACT swiss.com.

Report by Jenny Southan