Zurich Kloten

At Zurich Airport I followded the transit signs and the ones for the Swiss Senator Lounge in the main terminal, where I had planed to meet flyertalker verve. Unfortunately because of my delay and his earlier flight it did not work out and I made only a quick visit in the lounge, used the lavatories and the headed for the underground train to terminal E.

I was a bit surprised to find the passport control now at this place, but this is one of the changes for Switzerland now being one of the Schengen Countries. Border Control was fast and as I reached the platform the next train was scheduled to arrive in a minute. I boarded the last car of the train because the E 27 gate was on the left side of terminal E with the stairs at the end of the platform.
Up the escalator I arrived at the security checkpoint. Once again laptop out of the bag, belt, (s)watch, shoes and jacket were x-rayed and I passed the scanner without a “beep”.

At the gate the officals told me the API data was not available and they had to get them. So I once again told the hotel data I had already stored in the LH system. It seems, that other airlines could not access them. That much to a common data interface in an airlines alliance.

Boarding had already started with families and now first and business class passengers were asked to board the plane as well as passengers with Star Gold status, so I joined the short line of passengers queuing for boarding. The ticket scanner beeped, but the API data were not yet updated in the system and so I was on my way into the plane.

Only one jet bridge was used and so we had to pass the business class cabin. My seat 30 J was one of the seats in the exit row. I stored my belongings in the overhead compartments and took my seat. The plane was nearly full with a load close to 100%. The seat next to me at the window was taken.

24 April 2009
ZRH – MIA
[Zurich – Miami]
LX 64 (Swiss); Airbus A 340-300 (HB-JMM)
Gate E 27
13:05 – 17:30 [effective 13:08– 17:33]
Economy Class
Seat 30 J

Pillow, blanket and headphones were already placed on the seats. The plane filled with the passengers and soon boarding was completed. Like on the flight from Düsseldorf to Zurich, we were asked if it was okay to sit in an exit row and if we were able to understand the instructions. We pushed back a bit behind schedule at 13:08 and rolled to our runway where we had to queue up with five plane in front of use. While queuing the captain informed us, that the flight sequence was raised and we had to wait another ten minutes but after a few seconds he once again came over the microphone and told us we were now allowed to start in three minutes. I chatted a bit with the flight attendant on the jump seat opposite of me about the dropping of the BKK-SIN segment, the times of Swissair and the remaining long distance routes of Swiss. It was very interesting to talk to her.

At 13:30 we were airborne and climbed into the sky above Switzerland.

The crew jumped into action after the seat belt signs were turned off and 15 minutes after take off some pretzels were distributed soon followed by a beverage round. Also the inflight entertainment system was started and I decided to listen to music while waiting for the lunch service to start.

The inflight entertainment system is an AVOD system with a huge selection of films, music, cds, definitively a larger and - from my impression - better selection than on Lufthansa. Swiss had over 210 CD available and also 18 films and a number of documentaries and short films about several themes. The screen is of the same size than on Lufthansa. The system used a remote control rather than the touch-screen system on Lufthansa.

I chatted a bit with my seat neighbour, a young girl who was from Florida and had gone to Italy as part of her architecture studies at Jacksonville University.

Approximately an hour after take off the lunch service began. The chicken and pasta question was likewise and we had the option between chicken with rice and pasta with cheese as a vegetarian meal. I went with the pasta and had a small bottle of white wine as well as a small bottle of water. The meal came with a small bowl of salad, a slice of soft cheese, a roll and a pudding. The pasta were okay and tasted quite good. It was probably one of the better meals I have had on a plane in Economy Class. The white wine was a Swiss one from one of the Coop caves and probably of lower quality than the wines up front but still not bad. With the meal came metal cutleries, which I like.
Trays were collected after 40 minutes and a coffee and tea service followed. I skipped coffee and tea and used the lavatories before they became crowded and powered my laptop for some things I had to prepare for work and also updating myself with information for the moderator workshop in Fort Lauderdale the next day until the battery of my laptop was running out of power after three and a half hour. One of the nice things at exit row, working with a laptop is there quite easy, as nobody reclines in your seat space.

After everything was cleared from the coffee and tea service the crew offered duty free items and also distributed the immigration forms. During this time the cabin lights were dimmed.

There were quite a few children in the cabin but they behaved quite well and did not disturb other passengers. The passengers, who were chatting in the aisles, were more disturbing but not in an annoying way.

During the flight time, flight attendants came through the cabin and distributed water. In the first time more frequently than later in the flight. If one used the call button they came quite quickly but sometimes forgot to bring what was asked for – a bit of a downside.

There was also no special recognition for passengers with Hon Circle or Senator status.

The plane was in good shape. One notices immeadiately that the A 340s and especially this one was really not old. It was one of the last A 340 joining the fleet of LX. In the first life it was flying for Air Canada.

The AVOD System worked quite well, but had some minor interruption, where the screen went blank for half a minute. I watched 'A Quantum Trost', the latest James Bond movies and listened to some music.

Flight time passed more or less quickly. It was several times a bit bumpy, but nothing to worry about. Very unusual for me, I did not walk through the cabin but stayed in my seat. Looking back, after nearly four hours in front of my laptop and two and a half hours for the James Bond there was not that much time left.

Close to 90 minutes prior to landing the crew prepared the lunch service. This time we had no choice, the only item available was a slice of Pizza Margaritha. I opted for a glass of water and a cup of coffee. There service was done by other crew members than the lunch service after take off. This crew member were less attentive and what I really dislike that they do not look at you if they get you your cup of coffee or water. The pizza was okay, a bit difficult to cut with plastic knives.

Half an hour after the meal service had started the items were collected and the crew began to prepare the cabin for the arrival. The captain came with an update of the weather information in Miami. We got some nice views of the area and my seat neighbour took some pictures.

During our approach I talked agent with the same flight attendant at the jump seat opposite my seat. She was also working for Swissair and we chatted about the good old times of flying long haul on the old Swissair network.

We touched down around 17:25 local time and taxied to our gate. Disembarking took some time, as far as I could notice Economy Class Passengers were blocked for entering the Business Class Cabin. And after we were allowed to leave I was blocked by fellow passengers who had to sort out some things. Finally in the jet bridge I was able to overtake some people and hurry up. Immigration was friendly, but the desks were not all manned and so it was a little bit chaotic as the signs over the counters indicated that they could be used. Anyway, there was not much of a questioning this time and soon I was on my way to customs and to the pick up point for the rental car shuttles.

Customs was a breeze and the Alamo Shuttle arrived the same moment at the waiting zone than I did and I was on my way to the Alamo counter.

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