LH 1196
FRA-ZRH, 0h55m
Boeing 737-300 (D-ABEP, “Saale” … I only know this because of the video I took 
)
Seat 2A, “J”
Nothing really to call home about, as it’s just an economy class seat with business class service. The flight is only 55 minutes, and it seemed the pilots didn’t want it to be a minute more, since they sped along taxiways and runways to get to Zurich in a jiffy. I eschewed any service save for a glass of Coke Light, since I knew better things awaited me in the lounge and next flight.
From a Mercedes to this ...
I'd rather Lufthansa just drive me all the way to ZRH in the Benz
At least Lufthansa doesn't place their ads all over their napkins *cough*United*cough*
Landing shadow at ZRH
ZRH FCL
A quick deboard and a walk down the concourse put me in the HON Circle/F lounge before 5:40pm. My flight wouldn’t depart for another 5 hours, so I asked for a day room to have a nap and another shower (since it’d be about 20 hours until the shower at FL390 south of China). I was told that if I wanted a shuttle ride to the flight, that I should report at 10:05pm to the front desk.
Already, a huge difference between the men (Lufthansa) and the boys (SWISS), at least when it comes to ground service. Lufthansa would come to get you, while SWISS makes you report to them.
Day room in the FCL. Forgot to take a picture of the shower.
I napped for about 3 hours, catching up on the sleep that I didn’t get on my UA flight. The shower is great, and I love the Bvlgari toiletries they give you there. I ended up taking them with me and gave them to family members whose bags didn’t show up at BOM for a bit. They loved them as well.
A bit after 9pm, I indulged in possibly the best lounge meal I’ve ever had. That usually wouldn’t be saying much, but I’ll still say it. It was on par with a great restaurant – the presentation, the service, and the food. Though I forgot to take pictures of the menu ...
Table setting
Salad
DELICIOUS Duck entrée
Raspberry brownie dessert
I ended my meal at 9:40pm and surveyed the rest of the lounge, awaiting the 10:05pm shuttle to the far end of the airport.
I'm like a kid in a candy store.
Waiting near the front desk for the van limo to the gate, since I wouldn't want to miss it and walk across Switzerland to my gate.
Myself and 3 others were escorted through a separate passport control (to exit the Schengen zone) then to a waiting Mercedes van. Two of us were on the HKG flight while the other two were on the flight to BKK. After a rather long drive through ZRH, we were escorted through a service entrance to an elevator and dropped off within the terminal to go find our gates. Again, boys (SWISS) vs. men (Lufthansa). Although the boys are better chefs.
The other F passenger to HKG asked if I knew where I was going. I responded to her … “I think so?”
“Good, I’ll just follow you.”
We talked on the way to gate, and she asked me why I wasn’t wearing a jacket since it was a chilly night in Zurich. I explained that I was just connecting and didn’t really mean to exit the climate-controlled airport.
“You’re connecting from California?!?!”
I gave a poker face as to how she knew and began to think how to convince this woman, about my age, that I wasn’t crazy.
“Your accent gave it away.”
Schieße.