Widebody aircraft on short haul Euro routes
#16
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EDKA, STR, ZRH
Programs: LH SEN, A3*G, IHG plat, DB Comfort, SPG gold
Posts: 964
Well, I'm not so sure about that.. this is just speculation, but on tuesday, the 1026/27 rotation was operated by WK (happens every now and then, this had even been scheduled for an entire season two years ago), and it *might* be cheaper for LX to put a large plane onto the route instead of renting a small one from Edelweiss. Seems not too probable to me, but just as a thought..
#17
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
Edelweiss is fully owned by LX so "rental costs" are left pocket - right pocket. The significantly higher landing fees, handling fees, fuel costs etc. for a wide-body are real costs. @:-)
#18
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EDKA, STR, ZRH
Programs: LH SEN, A3*G, IHG plat, DB Comfort, SPG gold
Posts: 964
Hm.. I asked the FA, and they were as surprised (and as excited) as the passengers about the equipment change. They couldn't give a reason, and there were also only two pilots on board, while I would have expected that there would be more than two on any training flight.
However, this really was the best shorthaul on LX that I've ever had (and I've had many). All the C passengers from the mini cabij were invited to move up front to the F cabin, and the FAs really seemed to enjoy to try to create that special first class feeling for us (even though the old F seats are really uncomfortable, particularly due to the weird headrests).
I can really recommend to try to get on one of those flights if you have the possibility to do so; according to one of my fellow passengers, this seems to happen quite regularly on the friday rotations to DUS for a few weeks now.
However, this really was the best shorthaul on LX that I've ever had (and I've had many). All the C passengers from the mini cabij were invited to move up front to the F cabin, and the FAs really seemed to enjoy to try to create that special first class feeling for us (even though the old F seats are really uncomfortable, particularly due to the weird headrests).
I can really recommend to try to get on one of those flights if you have the possibility to do so; according to one of my fellow passengers, this seems to happen quite regularly on the friday rotations to DUS for a few weeks now.
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Widebody service to PRG
Interestlingly this week shows two widebody flights ZRH-PRG-ZRH:
5/28: LX 1486/87: A333
5/31: LX 1486/87: B77W
Are these for real, or some schedule error?
PS: there is also a 77W 5/25 & 27, and a 343 5/26 .....
5/28: LX 1486/87: A333
5/31: LX 1486/87: B77W
Are these for real, or some schedule error?
PS: there is also a 77W 5/25 & 27, and a 343 5/26 .....
Last edited by cesco.g; May 24, 2017 at 11:49 pm Reason: added P.S. remark
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
[KVS Tool 8.4.7/Diamond - Timetable]
Code:
ZRH Zurich Kloten CH [LSZH]
PRG Prague Ruzyne CZ [LKPR]
MON 22 May 2017 - 28 May 2017
Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Frequency | Dur'n | Dep T | Arr T | Meals | Miles Kms | Codeshare
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- -------------------------------------------------------------------
LX 1484 ZRH 08:30 PRG 09:45 319 0 1234567 01:15 - 2 S 318 512
LX 1486 ZRH 12:05 PRG 13:20 77W 0 ---4-6- 01:15 - 2 S 318 512
LX 1486 ZRH 12:20 PRG 13:35 77W 0 --3-5-- 01:15 - 2 S 318 512
LX 1486 ZRH 12:35 PRG 13:55 319 0 12----7 01:20 - 2 S 318 512
LX 1498 ZRH 17:55 PRG 19:15 320 0 123456- 01:20 - 2 S 318 512
LX 1498 ZRH 18:10 PRG 19:30 320 0 ------7 01:20 - 2 S 318 512
Code:
A B | D E F G | J K 22 +P$ -P$I +P$ 23 +P$ +P$ +P$ +E$ +E$ +E$ -P$ -P$ 24 +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ 25 +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ 26 +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ 27 +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ 28 +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ +E$ 29 +P$ +P$ +P$ +P$I +P$I +P$ +P$ +P$ [>] [L] 30 +$ +$ -$ -$ -$ +$ -$ -$ 31 -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ +$ -$ 32 +$ +$ -$ -$ +$ +$ +$ -$ 33 -$ -$ +$ +$ +$ +$ -$ -$ 34 +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ 35 +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ 36 +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ 37 +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ 38 -$ -$ -$ -$ +$ +$ +$ +$ 39 -$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ 40 -$ -$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ 41 -$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ 42 +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ 43 -$ -$ +$ +$ +$ +$ +$ 44 -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ 45 -$ -$ -$ -$ +$ +$ -$ [G] [+] Available [-] Unavailable [X] Blocked [E] Elite [P] Premium [$] Chargeable [R] Rear-Facing [%] Recline Limit [I] Infant Bassinet [V] Keep Vacant [F] Crew [M] Missing Window [>] Exit Row [W] Wing Row [=] Bulkhead Row [L] Lavatory [G] Galley [C] Closet/Storage [|] Aisle [^] Upper Deck [S] Stairs
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,833
This is quite common. Flew to PRG on LX 77W last year. A lot of upgrades to C class
This was in connection with deliveries of 77W to LX and short trips to HAN and PRG for crew training. It has been discussed in this forum before, so look for the thread.
This was in connection with deliveries of 77W to LX and short trips to HAN and PRG for crew training. It has been discussed in this forum before, so look for the thread.
#22
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Zurich
Programs: BA GGL, TK*G EL, KL P ELPL, ex AB P, ex LH/LX Sen, HHonors D4L, Bonvoy P
Posts: 1,647
Other than crew training, they might also take advantage of a demand surge on 25 and 28 May, as this marks the beginning and end of the long Ascension Day weekend in Switzerland and PRG is a popular destination for this weekend. No doubt they will be able fill the plane.
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
I was aware of the new 77W training flights, but some flights are 343, 333 besides the 77W. Another curiosity is, that the w/bs are always middays.
#24
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EDKA, STR, ZRH
Programs: LH SEN, A3*G, IHG plat, DB Comfort, SPG gold
Posts: 964
Today, I'll have the "honour" to be flying the F cabin again on LX1026 (HB-JMI). Actually, this was a bit strange - upon OLCI for the last flight on the A343 on this route, I were only offered seats in the C cabin (and only moved forward after boarding upon invitation by the FA), but this time, I was instantly offered a seat in the F cabin (and only the F cabin). Does anyone know wheter there are any criteria by which the candidates for the first two rows are chosen, and what they are? In both cases, I had my FTL number in the booking.
#25
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DUS
Programs: LH HON
Posts: 764
Same experience on June 18th. Surprisingly the flight ZRH-DUS on the A343 was completely full and the FA told me that the flight back the same evening is also nearly full. Only pilot training? I doubt that. But there was no trade fair in DUS in that time.
#26
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EDKA, STR, ZRH
Programs: LH SEN, A3*G, IHG plat, DB Comfort, SPG gold
Posts: 964
Interestingly enough, according to the LX website the A343 has the same seating capacity as an all-economy A321 (219 seats). Maybe there are just too many business class passengers.. at least on monday, there was a trade fair, but while the FAs on the route still seem to be quite surprised about the large plane, it seems that the A340 is becoming more and more common on this route.
#30
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,512
A couple of weeks ago I found myself unexpectedly on an A343 flying ATH-ZRH!
Aegean’s website only allowed me to check in online for the first two legs of my return from LCA (LCA-ATH on A3 and ATH-ZRH on LX) approx. 42 hours before departure of the LX flight. I had originally reserved 2F but when I checked the seatmap I found the seat next to me was occupied, so I decided to move myself to 5F which was the first window seat with nobody next to me.
Since swiss.com would not let me check in for the last leg ZRH-MAN however many times I tried I was pleased when a check-in agent at LCA handed me a BP for all 3 segments. I didn't even look at the seat number which had changed from 5F to 5K for the second leg. Also I usually check the registration of the incoming aircraft on FR24 when flying from an outstation but I didn’t for some reason on this occasion. It was quite a surprise when I entered the aircraft and an FA told me to go through the galley and turn left!
I’m not sure what would have happened if I had kept my seat in 2F but it looked like the First cabin was kept empty.
Aegean’s website only allowed me to check in online for the first two legs of my return from LCA (LCA-ATH on A3 and ATH-ZRH on LX) approx. 42 hours before departure of the LX flight. I had originally reserved 2F but when I checked the seatmap I found the seat next to me was occupied, so I decided to move myself to 5F which was the first window seat with nobody next to me.
Since swiss.com would not let me check in for the last leg ZRH-MAN however many times I tried I was pleased when a check-in agent at LCA handed me a BP for all 3 segments. I didn't even look at the seat number which had changed from 5F to 5K for the second leg. Also I usually check the registration of the incoming aircraft on FR24 when flying from an outstation but I didn’t for some reason on this occasion. It was quite a surprise when I entered the aircraft and an FA told me to go through the galley and turn left!
I’m not sure what would have happened if I had kept my seat in 2F but it looked like the First cabin was kept empty.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Jan 12, 2018 at 2:47 pm Reason: typo