ka9taw
Feb 13, 00, 10:39 am
An interesting 14,000 mile first experience aboard Swissair for three days in Dubai. All travel in C class.
BOS-ZRH:
Check-in with no line about an hour before flight. Visit RCC (wondering if SR will move to terminal B/AA when Delta alliance is over) to meet colleagues. Board A330 with no delay in seat 6K, bulkhead in C. This A330 has not been redone with SR's new first class sleepers, so rows 6-7 of C are in front of boarding door/galley (all other flights on this trip, new F sleepers were fore of galley, C aft). Amenity kit (consistent for all four flights) has toothbrush, eye mask, socks, lip balm, some kind of "refreshing water", lotion, and stickers for meal service (don't wake/please wake). No earplugs though they seemed to be available. Seats have individual BIG 12" video displays for movies, games, flight data. Looks like SR will be adding in-flight video gambling soon though this feature said "unavailable" on all four flights.
Meal service was excellent and consistent on all four flights; in fact, both flights originating at ZRH had the same menu. There is no chance of going thirsty on SR; the "bar carts" were everpresent during meal service and at other times during flights. Typical main meal started with mixed nuts (cold, score one for AA and others who heat them) and a beverage. First course had a very small salad cup, some kind of appetizer fish, and bread. Mains: beef, fish, vegetarian with vegetable/starch were good. Desserts were excellent and a wide variety of apertifs/ports/other after meal drinks available.
A redeye flight, so slept well for about three hours before a light breakfast appeared with many different egg choices.
Landed at ZRH, two hour layover during which we headed for the business class lounge. The lounge was crowded, but well stocked with a variety of beverages and some very light snacks. Flights not announced but monitors in one corner; oddly, our flight to DXB never displayed except for its final destination, Karachi.
ZRH-DXB, another A-330, similar good service and food. This flight, I kept the menu -
First course: Smoked marlin/trout w/red beet salad and chilled tortilla triangle
Salad (cup - very small, bibb/Boston lettuce)
Mains:
- Veal a l'orange w/noodles and broccoli
- Grilled steak w/mustard sauce, corn roulade, carrots and onions
- Scallops and jumbo shrimp in Pernod cream sauce, w/spincah and fennel
- Pumpkin timbale w/leeks and wild rice
Dessert:
Fruit, cheese, and/or white/brown chocolate mousse with mango coulis
I had the veal on one flight and the steak on another and both were quite good. The mousse was excellent.
A few hours later, they came by with strawberry Movenpick ice cream in cups or cones.
Arrival at DXB: Well, there were dozens of us on the flight for the same event, and the visa desk wasn't quite ready for us, very disorganized trying to find everyone's visas. Took about 30 minutes from landing/bus/visa/passport, so luggage was waiting and we got out quickly.
Stayed at the Renaissance Hotel Dubai, which was nice, on the club floor. A separate breakfast available/included in rooms on this floor, along with a separate concierge. She wasn't that helpful, though. Room had a fresh stocked fruit bowl, a first for me. Hotel was otherwise nice, their restaurant area has something for everyone, including excellent sushi (which I never thought I'd say about Dubai). Also visited the Marriott Hotel around the corner which was quite palatial.
DXB-ZRH: Best decision of my week to use a porter at DXB, as we walked right past a line of dozens of folks waiting to enter. Check in for business class is one line for all airlines (same for F). Made it through security, check-in, and passport in about 15 minutes total. Duty free shop not as amazing as its reputation. For Europeans, I can see that it would be a bargain, but from US perspective, prices similar to @home. Walked down to gate area, busses came to take Y, then C, then F to the plane.
This flight had a stop-over in Riyadh, so there was a light meal available between DXB/Riyadh, whatever it was I can't remember but it was fine. We were told to store any alcohol prior to landing in Saudi Arabia. I slept much of the rest of this flight. Enjoyed the flight progress updates which displayed constantly in the cabin - in four languages (German, French, English, and Arabic).
I stayed in Zurich for a day on the return. Leaving ZRH, I was surprised/disappointed that American passports are not stamped. I caught the train into town on a one-day pass for 11 CHF. Arriving at Hauptbahnof, I took a taxi to the Inter-Continental; he must have seen me coming as the fare ended up being around 30CHF. Upon return to ZRH next day, I took the "Joker bus" from the hotel to the airport directly at 22 CHF.
The Inter-Continental in Zurich is nice, good in-room TV/Internet and relatively quiet despite the tram being on the street right outside. Nice down comforter on the bed. They do have that annoying European thing where you must use your keycard to choose a floor in the elevator.
ZRH-BOS: Again no passport stamp on exit. The best flight of the four, I was in 12K. The flight attendent in this section of C was among the most attentive I have ever seen. There was simply no way to be unhappy on this flight. The menu was the same as ZRH-DXB, with the addition of a light meal 90 minutes out from Boston:
Fillet of salmon and "dab" with vinaigrette dressing and cabbage filled with tuna mousse
Green crepe roll filled with roquefort cheese with air-dried beef tartare
Bread: multi-grain or pizza bread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Banana cheesecake
They also did the Movenpick ice cream mid-flight, and had a new twist: draft beer! about 3/4 through. I was too involved with my work at this point (thank you Empower) for a beer, but a nice idea.
Oh, almost forgot: Wine through all four flights was the same, three reds, two whites, and a champagne. I tended to stick to the red Chateau Lassus Medoc Bordeaux and the white Macon Villages Blanc White Burgundy. Both were excellent, though my seatmate commented that all the wines had screw tops rather than corks. I noticed this in Swiss stores as well, maybe they just aren't into cork.
I really enjoyed all four flights, and found that despite their length, I never got that "are we there yet" feeling with the exception of maybe the last hour into Boston.
Any questions, feel free to post or e-mail.
BOS-ZRH:
Check-in with no line about an hour before flight. Visit RCC (wondering if SR will move to terminal B/AA when Delta alliance is over) to meet colleagues. Board A330 with no delay in seat 6K, bulkhead in C. This A330 has not been redone with SR's new first class sleepers, so rows 6-7 of C are in front of boarding door/galley (all other flights on this trip, new F sleepers were fore of galley, C aft). Amenity kit (consistent for all four flights) has toothbrush, eye mask, socks, lip balm, some kind of "refreshing water", lotion, and stickers for meal service (don't wake/please wake). No earplugs though they seemed to be available. Seats have individual BIG 12" video displays for movies, games, flight data. Looks like SR will be adding in-flight video gambling soon though this feature said "unavailable" on all four flights.
Meal service was excellent and consistent on all four flights; in fact, both flights originating at ZRH had the same menu. There is no chance of going thirsty on SR; the "bar carts" were everpresent during meal service and at other times during flights. Typical main meal started with mixed nuts (cold, score one for AA and others who heat them) and a beverage. First course had a very small salad cup, some kind of appetizer fish, and bread. Mains: beef, fish, vegetarian with vegetable/starch were good. Desserts were excellent and a wide variety of apertifs/ports/other after meal drinks available.
A redeye flight, so slept well for about three hours before a light breakfast appeared with many different egg choices.
Landed at ZRH, two hour layover during which we headed for the business class lounge. The lounge was crowded, but well stocked with a variety of beverages and some very light snacks. Flights not announced but monitors in one corner; oddly, our flight to DXB never displayed except for its final destination, Karachi.
ZRH-DXB, another A-330, similar good service and food. This flight, I kept the menu -
First course: Smoked marlin/trout w/red beet salad and chilled tortilla triangle
Salad (cup - very small, bibb/Boston lettuce)
Mains:
- Veal a l'orange w/noodles and broccoli
- Grilled steak w/mustard sauce, corn roulade, carrots and onions
- Scallops and jumbo shrimp in Pernod cream sauce, w/spincah and fennel
- Pumpkin timbale w/leeks and wild rice
Dessert:
Fruit, cheese, and/or white/brown chocolate mousse with mango coulis
I had the veal on one flight and the steak on another and both were quite good. The mousse was excellent.
A few hours later, they came by with strawberry Movenpick ice cream in cups or cones.
Arrival at DXB: Well, there were dozens of us on the flight for the same event, and the visa desk wasn't quite ready for us, very disorganized trying to find everyone's visas. Took about 30 minutes from landing/bus/visa/passport, so luggage was waiting and we got out quickly.
Stayed at the Renaissance Hotel Dubai, which was nice, on the club floor. A separate breakfast available/included in rooms on this floor, along with a separate concierge. She wasn't that helpful, though. Room had a fresh stocked fruit bowl, a first for me. Hotel was otherwise nice, their restaurant area has something for everyone, including excellent sushi (which I never thought I'd say about Dubai). Also visited the Marriott Hotel around the corner which was quite palatial.
DXB-ZRH: Best decision of my week to use a porter at DXB, as we walked right past a line of dozens of folks waiting to enter. Check in for business class is one line for all airlines (same for F). Made it through security, check-in, and passport in about 15 minutes total. Duty free shop not as amazing as its reputation. For Europeans, I can see that it would be a bargain, but from US perspective, prices similar to @home. Walked down to gate area, busses came to take Y, then C, then F to the plane.
This flight had a stop-over in Riyadh, so there was a light meal available between DXB/Riyadh, whatever it was I can't remember but it was fine. We were told to store any alcohol prior to landing in Saudi Arabia. I slept much of the rest of this flight. Enjoyed the flight progress updates which displayed constantly in the cabin - in four languages (German, French, English, and Arabic).
I stayed in Zurich for a day on the return. Leaving ZRH, I was surprised/disappointed that American passports are not stamped. I caught the train into town on a one-day pass for 11 CHF. Arriving at Hauptbahnof, I took a taxi to the Inter-Continental; he must have seen me coming as the fare ended up being around 30CHF. Upon return to ZRH next day, I took the "Joker bus" from the hotel to the airport directly at 22 CHF.
The Inter-Continental in Zurich is nice, good in-room TV/Internet and relatively quiet despite the tram being on the street right outside. Nice down comforter on the bed. They do have that annoying European thing where you must use your keycard to choose a floor in the elevator.
ZRH-BOS: Again no passport stamp on exit. The best flight of the four, I was in 12K. The flight attendent in this section of C was among the most attentive I have ever seen. There was simply no way to be unhappy on this flight. The menu was the same as ZRH-DXB, with the addition of a light meal 90 minutes out from Boston:
Fillet of salmon and "dab" with vinaigrette dressing and cabbage filled with tuna mousse
Green crepe roll filled with roquefort cheese with air-dried beef tartare
Bread: multi-grain or pizza bread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Banana cheesecake
They also did the Movenpick ice cream mid-flight, and had a new twist: draft beer! about 3/4 through. I was too involved with my work at this point (thank you Empower) for a beer, but a nice idea.
Oh, almost forgot: Wine through all four flights was the same, three reds, two whites, and a champagne. I tended to stick to the red Chateau Lassus Medoc Bordeaux and the white Macon Villages Blanc White Burgundy. Both were excellent, though my seatmate commented that all the wines had screw tops rather than corks. I noticed this in Swiss stores as well, maybe they just aren't into cork.
I really enjoyed all four flights, and found that despite their length, I never got that "are we there yet" feeling with the exception of maybe the last hour into Boston.
Any questions, feel free to post or e-mail.