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Düsseldorf International
Due to the late flight and other colleagues being on holidays, I was unable to take the day off and so I spend the Thursday in my office finishing some reports. Finally at 17:00 it was time to leave the office as my rental car had to be returned at 17:30 and my plan was to have a snack in the lounge before flying to Zurich.
I filled up my 5 series BMW – a nice upgrade from the booked Economy category – with fuel at my favorite petrol station and drove the last couple of kilometers to the airport, where I arrived around 17:20. I returned the rental and went straight to the First Class check in area, where all four counters were open, but only one counter was busy. I checked luggage this time, as I was not in the mood to pack super light. And 16 days with hand luggage is even for me a bit difficult, especially if you take your running gear (shoes) with you.
I was checked in quite fast and received the boarding pass for my flight Zurich – Hong Kong as well. I walked to the security, where the lines were not that busy as well. Economy class security lines were not that busy as well and the waiting time there would not be much longer today. This time, I had to be touched down, but my hand luggage went through the x-ray machine without problems. A bit surprising, usually the digital and electronic gadgets cause a hand search.
I went to the Senator Lounge, which was busy, but I was able to find a lounge chair near the buffet.
I read a bit in the papers, wrote and answered some e-mails making use of the Telekom hotspot, which I can use for free as a customer of their wireless data network, and had a coffee to keep me awake.
Boarding was announced for 19:30, but the lights on the board were already flashing at 19:25 and soon later the announcement was made, just as I left the lounge. Down at the gate, the boarding process had already started, but the line was short and soon later I was on the jetbridge.
28 April 2011
DUS – ZRH
[Düsseldorf International – Zurich Kloten]
LX 1027 (Swiss); Airbus A 319 (HB-IPR / 'Piz Morteratsch')
Gate A 75
19:50 – 21:00 [effective 19:49 – 21:01]
Economy Class
Seat 8 A
There was an equipment change and instead of the A 320 an A 319 was used for the short flight to Zurich, probably the load was not very high justifying a bigger plane on this route today. Our Airbus A 319 was delivered to Swissair on May 12, 1999. Swissair leased the plane from ILFC, one of the big aircraft leasing companies. After Swissair went bankrupt it is leased by Swiss as successor of Swissar on March 30,2002. Equipped with 138 seats and a flexible Economy Class / Business Class seating depending on the demand, aka moveable curtain. Equipped with CFM56-5B6/P engines with 105 kN. The /P behind the engine typ stand for a re-configured high pressure composer.
The maître de cabin welcomed us on board and told us flight time and announced the safety video, which was shown on the overhead screens in the cabin, while the crew prepared the cabin for the departure.
We pushed back at 19:49 and headed for the runway. At 19:56 we left DUS in eastern direction towards Ratingen. The sky was cloudy and views were not very good.
We flew in southern direction towards Frankfurt and Stuttgart. Meanwhile the cabin crew had started the service. The service consists of a ham sandwich and a choice of beverage. I skipped the sandwich but had a glass of water. The flight itself was uneventful. I had a look through the inflight magazine and dozed a bit.
After we had passed Stuttgart around 20:30, the captain came over the intercom and announced the remaining flight time with 20 minutes. He expected an on time arrival and also a bumpy approach due to strong head winds.
Well, he was a bit too optimistic, as it took a few more minutes before we finally touched down at ZRH around 20:55 and taxied to our gate A 82, where we arrived 6 minutes later. Gate A 82 meant quite a hike back the main terminal, where not only the lounges are located but also the train to the E terminal where my flight to HKG was departing. The screens in the cabin had already displayed the gates for connecting flights.
I was able to leave the plane quite fast and walked to the main terminal. The walkway was blocked by a couple with a stroller, which could not be passed. At the main terminal, I decided to make only a short stop at the Senator lounge in the main terminal and head straight to the E terminal and the lounge located there.
