My soon to be husband and I are flying from Chicago to Athens with a layover in Zurich in a couple of months. We booked the flight through Hotwire, so we obviously had no say in the airline. Neither of us has ever flown overseas so we didn't have a preference anyway. Just wondering if anyone has good tips or horror stories with this airline.

Thanks!

We've flown them twice from Chicago through Zurich onto other places. We were in couch and had no complaints. I actually think they were better than most. We had the tv screens in the seats and they gave us plenty of water. So no complaints! Have a great trip.

In my opinion, Swiss is wonderful. Very good service, on-time, etc. I flew them recently from Madrid to Zurich, Zurich-NY and NY/Geneva return. Loved every moment of the flight and I was in coach!

They have always had a good reputation depite that little "bankruptcy" bump in the clouds a while ago. Overall I think you have absolutely nothing to fear.

Generally speaking I always try to choose a European carrier (over an American one).

We flew from Zurich to Chicago on SwissAir last year and were really pleased. The service was great, the seats had individual entertainment monitors, and the food was decent. Plus, they give you these really great Swiss chocolates! Of the airlines I have flown to Europe, Swiss is probably my favorite thus far.

Flew Swiss Air once enroute to Paris - no complaints!

I flew Swiss Air in 2002 from Zurich to Venice. It was a short flight, but during that time I was given a small sandwich, Swiss chocolates, and champagne, all for free!! Any airline that gives me free Swiss chocolates and champagne will definitely get my business again.

My parents have flown on Swiss Air a few times to Italy and they really like it. They said it's a well-oiled machine: everything is done with promptness and efficiency. But you'd sort of expect that wouldn't you!

Thanks everyone! Sounds like we lucked out!

have used this airline several times and was satisfied each time no complaints. also great duty free shopping at he zurich airport

I'm glad you mentioned the shopping at the Zurich airport. I am not much of a shopper, especially at the airport, but one thing that will lure me back to the Zurich airport is a chocolate bar I bought at a kiosk that contains cognac. I don't mean cognac flavoring, I'm talking actual liquid cognac inside a chocolate pillow. I'm drooling just thinking about it....Yes, athebay, you did luck out. Please eat a chocolate bar for me.

haha P_M, I will! That sounds delicious!

I've only flown Swiss Air once, from Rome to Zurich and wsa really impressed. The stewardess was so eager to help people find their seats (maybe she was new) but all were bilingual and in very pleasant moods. This contrasted with the next flight I boarded from Zurich to Dallas on AA where we met with surly attendants who got very sarcastic at the drop of a hat.

Actually I think now they are just called Swiss. They changed their name after that horrible crash on the east coast a few years ago - I think near Newfoundland?

at any rate, I flew on them to Venice a few years ago, and they were great. The layover was in Brussels, both ways, and heading back (6 AM flight!) the flight attendant showed me a completely empty row to sit in (more like stretch out and nap in).

Swissair collapsed after taking some ill-advised financial risks like buying Sabena of Belgium. It's not directly related to the crash of Flight 111 at Peggy Cove, Nova Scotia. [Some airlines did fail soon after a crash - Pan Am, TWA, etc; but many more others survive.]

Swissair and Sabena both shut their doors - with all their investors losing everything. FFers lost their miles too, I believe.

The current Swiss International Air Lines is built up from Crossair, which was a regional feeder fo Swissair. They changed their name to Swiss after becoming the largest carrier of the country.

Before I fly, I usually search for reviews from http://www.epinions.com/trvl?tab=1

Click airlines or the subjects you're interested.

Have a grand trip!