[cityprofessional]

Sorry for the late reply on this – just saw this thread

I do agree with you, Simon, re: inflight service on Swiss. However, your February experience outlines the one main problem with the airline… i.e. Having to connect in ZRH. Until they finish building a proper non-Schengen pier, the bus transfers and walking distances and procedures for connections (laptop cords out?!) put it almost on a par with FRA for ease (difficulty) of connecting there. GVA is not much better, especially now that it is clogged up with Easyjet traffic

Compare this to the effortless connections that are possible at MUC, or (albeit smaller) VIE, DUS and other such Germanic Star hubs. Until these are sorted, unfortunately I’m going to be avoiding Swiss for connections unless I absolutely have to…

[KeaneJohn]

No, my flights are next week. I will post a report on there.

When I was living in the Midlands I flew business class BHX-FRA-ATL and back and vowed never to change in Frankfurt ever again. That said, the day after I am back from PRG I am flying LCY-FRA-DXB so will see if the experience has changed.

Smaller airports feeding into ZRH/FRA/AMS are on the whole a lot better than dealing with an endless trek to LHR, hours of taxiing pre and post take off and an age at baggage reclaim. Will update you next week.

[Travelrecord]

Thanks John – look forward to that. Also if you could advise if there is or isn’t a lounge Swiss Business users can use.

I’m Star Alliance Gold but their site says they haven’t a lounge at Prague. But maybe Swiss have an agreement with an independent lounge?

Clive

[Inquisitive]

Agree Swiss is the perfect short haul flight, if one does not mind transit. We use Swiss for almost all family holidays in Europe. If planned early, their fare is mostly cheapest from Heathrow to almost all major citis in Europe compared to BA or the other direct distination flight. We liked it better than any budget airlines as we stayed near Hethrow – considering all factors, this looks best option for us. Due to my Gold status at Star alliance, we could use the lounge at Zurich – with smily request, almost always, I get in with whole family. Only a couple of mild complain – i) at Zurich transit, one has to clear security again and sometimes there are long queue, ii) earlier Swiss used to distribute mini chocolate happyly – now they control that somewhat.

[Senator]

I agree ZRH is not optimal right now with UK flights departing from B-gates with a bus until upgrades are finished. My concern is more the LX experience at LHR with the long walks at LHR T1. That is a bigger issue for me

However, the business class prices ex.UK to anywhere in Europe are stellar. I use BA on ARN-LHR return and then back-track with LX via ZRH with time to conduct business in Zurich.

My minor complaint about LX is lack of a closet for heavy coats, and suit jackets in the winter.

[LuganoPirate]

John / Travel, they say good things come in three’s, so may I, who use to live in Eltham (my mother still does) make that three from the same area?

I agree with you about LCY and the DLR, which with my Oyster card and the 161 makes my visits very easy! In fact I’m flying over next week from Geneva.

I love Swiss and Zurich but must agree about the non-Schengen pier. I’m curious about GVA as it’s a long time since I flew from there, and the onward connections are not so bountiful as they are ex ZRH. I’ll report back on my experience flying from there next week.

[LuganoPirate]

I know this is of limited help, but if flying to Zurich first class with LX, they will drive you to the connecting flight to LCY or else escort you through emigration and security bypassing the queues. Also valid for HON status.

[Travelrecord]

My experience of Swiss Business check in at LCY hasn’t been great. When I’ve caught early flights it’s been treated as an additional economy check in with queues to match.

I love the Swiss First and Star Alliance Gold check in as soon as you get out of the taxi at JFK immediately you go through the gate

[conair346]

Simon, in the case of Mr Bouncer, I’ve a few things.

Firstly he should be shot, or at least thrown into one of the engines while at TOGA.

Secondly, while dispatching at Manchester, I have put a few of his colleagues in their place. I make them leave the gate area or at least sit down, and also strictly enforce baggage regulations on all my flights, regardless of the airline. An FR passenger will get the same harshness as an LX, LH or TCX passenger. Someone such as Mr Bouncer should know the airlines regulations and if not, he will when I’m done.

Thirdly, onboard the aircraft I have, as a passenger, removed luggage from the overheads in business when I see others putting their economy luggage up there. I set it in the aisle and leave it to the crew to return to the passenger. While working if I see it I’ll let the crew know or inform the passenger that it is not their space.

I like to think I cut a fearless figure while working. I’ve no time for passengers screwing about trying to beat the system. My duty is to get the flights out safely and on time, and god help anyone who gets in my way – Mr Bouncer would soon be Mr Schoolboy.

[SimonRowberry]

Conair,

Nice one!

Simon

[KeaneJohn]

Hi there Clive.. In PRG at the moment after flying LHR-ZRH-PRG on Friday. Mixed experience.

Although I live in Woolwich appointments in Central London made it more convenient to fly from LHR so got to use BMI Lounge. Was very busy on a Friday early afternoon with hardly any seats available. Large group of loud people hogging the bar area and mediocre food available. Still managed a couple of glasses of wine and a sandwich before boarding. Was going to check out Star Alliance lounge as well but spent too long shopping.

LHR-ZRH sector 19 pax out of 24 so a busy cabin. Again a mediocre food offering. Dried ham with a pea salad. light mouse and cheese. Was funny to see a passenger in front who ordered a vegetarian meal to be initially told its wasn’t available and offered a serving of cheese when another crew member produced her meal. Crew genrally attentive and never an empty champagne class. Flight had departure delay due to restrictions in ZRH. Captain came into cabin and explained what was going to happen and that once airborne and ETA in ZRH known he would get connecting information. A nice touch I thought.

Landed in ZRH 25 mins late with 55 min connection. Buses at steps for pax with shorter connections. Mad dash through transfers and A security which seemed to be busy but went down quickly. Arrived at gate 5 minutes before departure to find it was showing final call. I was last pax and was taken by bus to aircraft.

Food offering better in so far as a very tasty chicken and mustard salad and again a bottomless champagne glass.. With glasses changed when a new bottle was opened.

Baggage was second off (I am guessing as one of last to be loaded) so a welcome sign and in taxi on way to hotel within 10 mins of landing.

On the whole a very pleasant experience.. Have had better on LX but can’t complain. I guess busy flights and delays put a bit more pressure on.

PRG-ZRH-LCY tomorrow wil let you know how that goes too.

Incidently on Wed I am flying LCY-FRA-DXB with LH and then DXB-MCT with LX on Sat in J. Does anybody know what the service is likely to be like for J on this short hop.

[Tim2soza]

@SimonRowberry

I think Mr Bouncer was on my Easyjet flight last week from MUC to STN. Same position on the bus. Then to his horror, and my total amusement, some other PAX dared to get onto the bus from the ‘wrong’ door. The PAX had 3 small kids and Mr Bouncer tried to manhandle them behind him. Daddy PAX was having none of it. When we got to the aircraft, Bouncer’s overtaking maneuver failed, and Daddy PAX and kids crawled up the stairs to the plane. Bouncer was steaming. I was in floods of laughter. Anyway, Bouncer got his front row seat and snored loudly back to STN.

Separately, another new one on me, which I would call Business Class Snobbery LITE. Easyjet speedy boarders, having been released to board the plane, were made to wait before crossing the tarmac, and one of them says to another ‘I suppose the riff raff will catch up with us now. Makes the extra money we spent a waste.’ My jaw bounced off the floor.

[SimonRowberry]

Hi Tim,

Your post says it all! And people complain about kids…….!!

Cheers,

Simon

[LuganoPirate]

Just flew Swiss GVA – LCY return in business with miles. On checking in I was told there was no reservation for me. Shocked I produced on my iPad the booking. It took the lady 2 seconds to spot I had booked the outbound flight for a week earlier, on the 11th, when I was still in JNB!

Oops, the dangers of the “fat finger” when booking with an iPad or iPhone!!!

I had booked a business saver for 25,000 miles using some about to expire miles from my mothers account, and this ticket is non-refundable etc. To Swiss’s great credit, they agreed to honour the booking for an extra 20,000 miles and 70 francs. It was an exception granted as they could see I flew back with them from JNB on the 11th and am a Senator.

Than came a call back. They could do nothing as the miles came from my mother, who did not have the extra 20,000 needed, and they are not allowed to top that up with miles from another account.

So it was a new ticket, again exceptionally granted as the flight was quite full and with just 1 hour to go, for 45,000 miles and he fully credited the taxes etc to the new ticket as I would have lost some of those.

Well done and thanks to Swiss for helping to sort all this out in a very kind and helpful way. Also a lesson for all users of these gadgets to be aware of the fat finger and double check those dates.

PS. The flight, service and crew were as always on top form.

[MartynSinclair]

I used Swiss yesterday for a single flight from LHR-GVA and what a pleasant experience it was. One of the things I liked was that as economy was not full, boarding cards were issued as if it was business class, i.e. middle seat free. Nice touch. Not like Ryan Scare that squeeze all passengers into 3 rows.

Chocolate on landing was also a nice touch, although I dont touch the stuff.

All in all, I can see from this one flight why Simon swears by them (for good reasons of course).

[Author]

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