I think I have a new favorite airline
Jul 15th, 2011, 09:18 AM
#1
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I think I have a new favorite airline
On Wednesday, I flew from Zurich to Miami with Swiss International Airlines. My miles posted two days later with Continental and I just made Gold!
Swiss used a new Airbus A330-300 with staggered seating in Business Class. I was able to sleep on my side, back and front on a complete lie-flat bed. The food was excellent; I had the corn fed chicken. The fasten seat-belt sign was turned off five minutes after take-off and there were no annoncements during the flight except during the first and last hour. Check out how the seating in business is done:
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Swi...irbus_A330.php
A complete menu was given out in Business Class but when they served the food, I was able to see the options before making my final choice. The video on demand worked great with a large screen television in business. There were a lot of kids in Business Class--don't parents know about tough Love? The wine glass could have been a little bigger, but with such great service, I managed.
Swiss used a new Airbus A330-300 with staggered seating in Business Class. I was able to sleep on my side, back and front on a complete lie-flat bed. The food was excellent; I had the corn fed chicken. The fasten seat-belt sign was turned off five minutes after take-off and there were no annoncements during the flight except during the first and last hour. Check out how the seating in business is done:
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Swi...irbus_A330.php
A complete menu was given out in Business Class but when they served the food, I was able to see the options before making my final choice. The video on demand worked great with a large screen television in business. There were a lot of kids in Business Class--don't parents know about tough Love? The wine glass could have been a little bigger, but with such great service, I managed.
Jul 15th, 2011, 10:34 AM
#2
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Is this for real or is it an advertisement? Or are you just trying to rub it in for those of us who have to choose between riding in coach or staying home? There is a certain arrogance and sense of entitlement in this posting that I find distasteful.
Jul 15th, 2011, 11:16 AM
#3
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That certainly was not my intention. There has been a lot of talk on this forum about airlines that offer flat beds in business class. I think Swiss has an excellent setup for long-hall flights. I liked the way they showed me the food options before I made my selection.
Note that I did not mention the name of the airline in the title. If you find this posting distasteful, may I suggest that you find a private island with no internet access to live on.
Note that I did not mention the name of the airline in the title. If you find this posting distasteful, may I suggest that you find a private island with no internet access to live on.
Jul 15th, 2011, 11:19 AM
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Having flown biz class for the first time (to SE Asia) on United this spring, I'm happy to hear first-hand reports regarding the other airlines because I hope to do it again on future long-haul trips. FWIW, San Francisco-Seoul on United 747 biz was fantastic.
Jul 15th, 2011, 12:42 PM
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wally34949 is very definitely not an advertisment. Maybe not quite yet an institution, but often a refreshing and always an original voice in this forum.
Not all people who fly in the front end of airplanes are loaded with money; some have just learned how to play the game well.
And Wally, I very much agree with you that SWISS business class is one of the best out there, even with the Euro-size wine glasses.
Not all people who fly in the front end of airplanes are loaded with money; some have just learned how to play the game well.
And Wally, I very much agree with you that SWISS business class is one of the best out there, even with the Euro-size wine glasses.
Jul 15th, 2011, 03:45 PM
#9
Hi wally -
I'm glad to hear you had a good flight. My last flight on Swiss in Business Class was memorable because it was so awful - Zurich - LAX about two years ago.
The seats were impossible to sleep in, the entertainment system was awkward, my vegetarian meals were abysmal(rice, green beans, carrots and cooked spinach) and the service was aloof at best. Somehow it was all worse knowing we'd paid for it; no upgrade. I said 'never again' and so far, I haven't.
I'm glad to hear you had a good flight. My last flight on Swiss in Business Class was memorable because it was so awful - Zurich - LAX about two years ago.
The seats were impossible to sleep in, the entertainment system was awkward, my vegetarian meals were abysmal(rice, green beans, carrots and cooked spinach) and the service was aloof at best. Somehow it was all worse knowing we'd paid for it; no upgrade. I said 'never again' and so far, I haven't.
Jul 15th, 2011, 04:40 PM
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Wally, did you get the incredibly fabulous chocolate mousse for dessert??? To die for! I could have eaten several of them instead of the meal.
I like Swiss as well, but I'm usually in the back of the bus. Nice to get those upgrades whenever possible. I'm another one who is playing the game. Flying first class around the world right now, on 140,000 ff miles and about $80. On UA. Loving it. Will be flying LH first class (upper deck) to FRA on the way back from BKK to ORD.
I like Swiss as well, but I'm usually in the back of the bus. Nice to get those upgrades whenever possible. I'm another one who is playing the game. Flying first class around the world right now, on 140,000 ff miles and about $80. On UA. Loving it. Will be flying LH first class (upper deck) to FRA on the way back from BKK to ORD.
Jul 15th, 2011, 07:03 PM
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Unfortunately frequest flyer programs in Australia are crap.... you have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get a free trip from Australia to USA. Unfortunately I have to pay to lie flat.
Jul 15th, 2011, 07:10 PM
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It will cost me 288,000 points for one ticket for Syd to LAX first class. So if I use my Visa card I will have to spend over $500,000 for ONE free ticket. Ridiculous.
Info from bank site;
1 point per $1 spent on purchases using your ANZ Frequent Flyer American Express® card, to maximise your points earning
1 point per $2 spent on purchases using your ANZ Frequent Flyer Visa card, with the convenience of 29 million locations worldwide
Info from bank site;
1 point per $1 spent on purchases using your ANZ Frequent Flyer American Express® card, to maximise your points earning
1 point per $2 spent on purchases using your ANZ Frequent Flyer Visa card, with the convenience of 29 million locations worldwide
Jul 16th, 2011, 01:33 AM
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<i>Unfortunately frequest flyer programs in Australia are crap.... you have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get a free trip from Australia to USA.</i>
Why not just use a US-based FF program?
Why not just use a US-based FF program?
Jul 16th, 2011, 02:05 AM
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Wally, did you get the incredibly fabulous chocolate mousse for dessert???
Would you believe I had a bowl of fruit instead.
I'd like to add that the Zurich to Miami flight doesn't leave Zurich until after 1:00 p.m. and arrives in Miami around 6:00 p.m., giving one plenty of time to connect in Zurich. Example, I took the 9:45 a.m. flight from Barcelona to Zurich. The Lufthuansa flight leaves earlier for Miami, which means one often needs to fly to Frankfurt the night before.
Would you believe I had a bowl of fruit instead.
I'd like to add that the Zurich to Miami flight doesn't leave Zurich until after 1:00 p.m. and arrives in Miami around 6:00 p.m., giving one plenty of time to connect in Zurich. Example, I took the 9:45 a.m. flight from Barcelona to Zurich. The Lufthuansa flight leaves earlier for Miami, which means one often needs to fly to Frankfurt the night before.
Jul 16th, 2011, 03:43 AM
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Not my fav not great experiences
for me in the past though not recently
on new planes with new seats should be good though.
airlinequality.com has balanced like this one recently
sevice leaves something to be desired GREAT chocolate though.
Swiss International Air Lines customer review : 5 July 2011 by A Hoffmann (Germany)
Trip Rating : 5/10
PVG-ZRH in biz class. After reading all these excellent reviews my expectations were high. Unfortunately far to high. We were not greeted when boarding the aircraft nor were we addressed by name during the flight. Seeing that I hold a LH/Swiss Gold card that is rather disappointing as that detail can make such a big difference and gives every passenger that ´valued´ feeling. The new biz seat is the best business seat I have ever flown in. The ´lounge` position is wonderful and great to watch movies. Unfortunately the movie selection is so poor that - a total of 12/13 movies of very poor quality - one doesn't know which movie to watch. The food was mediocre at best but the worst by far was the attitude of the flight attendants. They simply couldn't care less. After another bad experience on Swiss last month when my flight from Zurich to Nuremberg was cancelled after several delays and the only alternative offered by Swiss was a 6-7 hrs bus ride I will try to avoid Swiss.
for me in the past though not recently
on new planes with new seats should be good though.
airlinequality.com has balanced like this one recently
sevice leaves something to be desired GREAT chocolate though.
Swiss International Air Lines customer review : 5 July 2011 by A Hoffmann (Germany)
Trip Rating : 5/10
PVG-ZRH in biz class. After reading all these excellent reviews my expectations were high. Unfortunately far to high. We were not greeted when boarding the aircraft nor were we addressed by name during the flight. Seeing that I hold a LH/Swiss Gold card that is rather disappointing as that detail can make such a big difference and gives every passenger that ´valued´ feeling. The new biz seat is the best business seat I have ever flown in. The ´lounge` position is wonderful and great to watch movies. Unfortunately the movie selection is so poor that - a total of 12/13 movies of very poor quality - one doesn't know which movie to watch. The food was mediocre at best but the worst by far was the attitude of the flight attendants. They simply couldn't care less. After another bad experience on Swiss last month when my flight from Zurich to Nuremberg was cancelled after several delays and the only alternative offered by Swiss was a 6-7 hrs bus ride I will try to avoid Swiss.
Jul 16th, 2011, 04:32 AM
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Spending $500,000 to get a roundtrip first class longhaul ticket that may costs $10,000 to purchase means you're getting a 2% rebate. That's actually better than average, when many cards' program only give you 1% back.
It is definitely NOT ridiculous.
It is definitely NOT ridiculous.
Jul 17th, 2011, 02:40 AM
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Spending $500,000 to get a roundtrip first class longhaul ticket that may costs $10,000 to purchase means you're getting a 2% rebate. That's actually better than average, when many cards' program only give you 1% back.
It is definitely NOT ridiculous.
Rwwkan - if I paid cash for many things I would get a discount. I could save a lot of money paying cash and could save myself 10,000. Using a credit card is not the best course of action.
I am not in a FF program.... I just pay for what I get and shop around for the best possible prices by paying with whatever will give me the best price. I dont see any value for me in joining a US based FF program where I get points for travel as I use different airlines all the time. I am not too fussed about points.
It is definitely NOT ridiculous.
Rwwkan - if I paid cash for many things I would get a discount. I could save a lot of money paying cash and could save myself 10,000. Using a credit card is not the best course of action.
I am not in a FF program.... I just pay for what I get and shop around for the best possible prices by paying with whatever will give me the best price. I dont see any value for me in joining a US based FF program where I get points for travel as I use different airlines all the time. I am not too fussed about points.
