Nothing beats starting the day with breakfast at the sweet, small LH Business lounge in Hamburg. Isn't it adorable? I could hug it all day long. I did not yet dare to get myself any bubbly stuff, still having bad memories of the evening that preceded my flight day...




Oh Baby, Baby, take me to Munich! (which she did, I am such a womanizer!)





Oh I forgot, more breakfast on the plane. Oh well. A man's gotta do what a man does (which is slightly restricted while being inside a plane)





G'day Munich! G'day overcrowded Lounge. And g'day Italian businessmen next to me, which collectively (maybe they were some form of Heavy-Business-Gang) took off their shoes to put on fresh socks. A spectacle I had yet to have the pleasure of experiencing in a Lounge.





Finally! Bubbly! Time to get started. I was in dire need anyways (see: Italian Socksgang)





People! Let me through! I am on urgent business to get into that metal tube!





The small front Business cabin on the LH A346. In an ideal world it is cozy and comfortable. In a not so ideal world it can be hell. Which would it turn out to be? Continue reading!

Not today, Luke. The upgrade force wasn't with you. (and thus the F cabin remained fully empty, a tear-inducing sight)





Looks so totally harmless and comfy. Such perfection of perfidy. The throne of the trustless. The Horror of the fearless. Oh my!





Oh.
(nothing else came to mind seeing the contents of this "amenity kit")





I sit, thus I drink.
(based loosely on Roman deity Bacchus)





"Mr. GmK, please enjoy the first course, the specialties are really great today!" (I wonder if they did actually taste it before...)

But then the magical words:

"May we offer some more to drink?" - "Yes, please, and don't stop doing so until I finally understand LHs food excursions!" (last part was just in my mind, I hope)





If I recall correctly I was the only person in our mini-cabin to pick the Bibimpap. Our very friendly Korean FA gave me a short introduction on how to eat it and was openly enthusiastic and happy that I had picked his nations food. It was tasting quite good, taken the circumstances (Made in Germany by a probably Bavarian cook who never saw Korean food before). In any case I was happy, seeing the fish of my seat neighbour, who looked more like wishing to be cat food than being served in a C cabin (the fish, not my seat neighbour).

"May we offer some more to drink?" - "Yes, please, and give my seat neighbour some more as well, he had to endure that sad looking fish"





"Service with a smile" still rang a bell with this crew. In fact, they were very high up in the LH universe, at least concerning enthusiasm and being friendly. Great crew!





"Which dessert Mr. GmK?" - "Uhm, maybe...both?" - "Of course! And something to drink with that? Port or Cognac maybe?" - "Why do you even ask!?"

In the background: my iPad, as my IFE decided to turn into a 40s TV and only show black&white color. On my iPad a LH A380 documentary is running. Watching something about LH while flying LH. Lufthansaception!





Coffee always works. Proudly sponsored by Coppeneur Chocolate.

After food service it was finally time for the daily gymnastic routine - not that I planned on it, but boy, the LH C seat does cause you to do so. Noone can say you get too little excercise while flying on it: Up, down, slide, slide, left, right, repeat. Awesome! Unfortunately, and that's the dark side of the mini cabin if it happens, a real pro snorer appeared out of nowhere and started to "entertain" us all. He seemed to have a degree in it, as he was very good. Not even my in-ear headphones helped (as I don't want to run them at 100db blowing music into my ear).





Breaaaakfast. Or something like it. Didn't look pretty, but tasted extremely good for some reason. Probably due to little sleep, aforementioned snoring champion and all the nice liquids I consumed.





ICN is a ghastly place at 5-6am in the morning. So I quickly went to the Transfer desk to reassign my seats for the OZ flight, and off to the Lounge I went. This remains one of my favorite Lounges, since Size&Design work extremely well together. And they have grand piano in the middle of it. Simply for that they get points in the "Useless items in an Airport Lounge" category.





Oh look, different perspective but same lounge!
(yes, I was quite tired at that moment. For a short moment I pondered sitting down at the piano and playing some rocking Elten John songs - but luckily my tiredness, much to the joy of all present people, won.





Still not sure what that actually was I ate and drank. Didn't matter anyways at that point. In the lower left you see the vibrating box-of-doom, that could certainly be used to start an earthquake if wanted. It vibrates as soon as your shower room is ready.





And there I was, thinking I got lucky by getting some iced coffee. Oh how wrong I was. But - pure sugar is also tasty, isn't it?





I know, it basically doesn't matter if you fly a 'normal' 747 or a Combi. But for my collection it was needed. Poor sod I am





I had the upperdeck alone for myself - and three lovely FAs. I finally get why people like OZs service, it was awesome from beginning to end. Maybe I only remember it that way as they were very determined to make me empty that bottle of Bubbly they had opened for me.





Very comfy for especially such a short flight (2h). I did not fully like the headrest, but you can't always like everything, or?





The 'Western Option'. Somewhere below the veggies there's a tender piece of meat the same tenderness like a piece of cotton. Not that I usually eat cotton but...you get the drift.

The flight itself was quite bumpy but really shone in service. Thank you OZ, you convinced me! It also got me positively hyped to finally arrive at Tokyo, my old home.

Immigration at NRT was a breeze (noone there) and so quickly I was off into the city.




Finally!

I don't want to say much about Tokyo itself. Others have done so before in much better terms. It was wild, loud, quiet, calm, brilliant, funky, dreamy, crazy, prudent - all in one. Just as it is to be - and even more. It felt like coming home, connected to the most fantastic feeling any traveller can have: Getting yourself lost in a place, drowning yourself in experiences and discover new things. Thank you Tokyo for taking me back home.










Way to fast it meant: Sayonara. Luckily I knew that I would get to experience LX F, so I wasn't all too sad about it.




May I? Yes I may!




ANA Suite Check In. For a short moment you forget you're at an airport. Only other time I felt that was in BKK in their F check in area. The dedicated security area away from all others (compare Frankfurt FCT) and being offered someone to escort you also makes it a very smooth experience.





ANA Suites Lounge. Small, comfy, clean and quiet, unobstrusive staff - which are always ready to help. Just like a lounge should be.





Foooooood!




More fooooooood! In general a small and good selection (didn't take photos of everything). Not stellar, but much better offering than others. The small noodle-bar was also already open, but I didn't opt for something warm&heavy in the morning.




...so, Suhsi instead. (forgive that fork, I did indeed simply use my fingers...)



And, logically, some Bubbly. They needed a while to find a proper glass, and refused my offer to simply take a white wine glass. Oh well. Was worth the while though!




And to say good bye to Japan - some Sake. (notice the extremely pretty napkin *sigh*)

Shortly after I was picked up by an extremely cool lady to take me to the plane. We had a meaningful conversation, but I forgot what it was about. Go figure...





Hello beauty! Nice to see you!


I'll say it straight up front: This was by far one of the best flights I have taken all my life (maybe 1-2 others are close. This is not counting adventury flights across volcanoes and in deep jungles, I am comparing the Premium segment here) Everything was good, from start to finish, almost every small detail fit. There are flight experiences one thinks back to often and remembers them fondly - this was one of them. If Swiss shows such a performance in most of their F flights, I am bound to book them again for sure.





I like the style. Some might call it 'old-fashioned' and yes, some other F products certainly do have more appeal, but I must say that now after flying it, that this cabin resulted in an immediate feeling of comfort, unlike others.




Ohhhhh yes! Endorphines doing a happy dance. And this seat is a wonder in being comfortable.





Only two more guests in F today - perfect!





Holiday after a holiday. For me this flight was also a reward after half a year of very stressful work. Seldomly flights are also part of the recreation. This one was.

"May we offer some very awesome bubbly cool stuff?" - "Of course! I am planning to enjoy this flight from start to finish" - "Well, we will do everything in our power to help you with that".

This dialogue turned into reality. It's such small details like saying "May we" instead of "Here, have this" that define good service. "My" FA Monika Joachim (and I really hope my feedback I sent to LX after the flight reaches her) did her job with such a passion and smile, that I was quite perplexed at first, so rare it is nowadays. Never intrusive, open, honest - and most of all: predicitive and anticipatory. Also the MdC Huber and the pilot (who greets F passenger personally when flying Swiss) that came by just showed a sense of enjoying what they do. I knew I was in for a treat.





Small Amuse-Bouche. Something fishy. Gladly!

"Some more champagne?"





Looking into the "Stübli", the front mini C cabin. Seeing the new C live for the first time, and it looks quite good. Will have to try it one day.

"Some more champagne?"




And off we go. Bye Japan, it was a pleasure!

If flying F, I try to get dayflights. I want to get the most out of the experience and not sleep through it, feeling like my miles went in vain.

After the wonderful slow take of roll service started soon. I always read the table would be large, but golly, THIS large? It's ridiculous! I love it!

"Some more champagne?"




Starters. Oh boy, sushi again? Really? Ok, if it must be. Poor me.

"Some more champagne?"




Heavenly Balik. Please, stay away with Kaviar, give me more of the Balik stuff. As a matter of fact, make me win the years production of Balik. I'd be a happy camper for a long time.

"Some more champagne?"




Gooey shrimps in gooey goostuff. Not all has to be good, luckily.




Tomato Soup. Delicate.

"Some more champagne?"




Beef-Filet. The second F FA, a young nice one, asked two times how I would like it cooked, and apologised profoundly when it did not turn out fully the way I wished. I did not mind, the Bubbly was starting to take an effect, and her smile made any worries go away in any case.

"Some more champagne?"




But then - sacre bleu!! (excuse my French). They dared to do the impossible: Loading one my very favorite red wines! Chocolate Block by Boekenhetskloof in South Africa. A dense and oh so extremely delicious Bordeuax-Style wine with a distinct South African note. Red grape juice from the gods! I had to drink it. Darn.

My FA showed herself from another great side by knowing alot about the wine industry and so on. We were able to talk about our favorite wines and styles in a very charming and candid way. Good stuff!




Cheese? Surrender to me! Come into my arms! (or rather stomach)




Fittingly they had "Vin de Constance" loaded, a South African sweet wine. Back in the day (18th/19th century) this wine was shipped to Europe to be drunk in the royal houses. If you like sweet dessert style wines and are bored of French sauternes, give this a try!




Dessert didn't go so well. I still don't know what exactly it was, except some kind of cake with gelatine elements all over. Complaining on quite a high level here (which isn't too difficult, being in a plane at FL350. *Badabummm*)




Espresso and chocolates. And some more sweet wine. And because I seemingly looked very hungry (!?) they insisted I keep the box and may only return it when empty. I took that challenge, and succeeded (after a while, containing bubbly again).

I didn't plan on sleeping, but FA Joachim offered to make up my bed in the empty seat across the aisle anyways. That way I was able to switch inbetween lying and chilling and sitting and chilling. Multiple ways to chill. Awesome!




Yes, other airlines can also server good tea. But I like the china and the fact they serve in pot and not only dangle a teabag in your cup. Even during the 'night' - always came in a pot. Thank you Swiss, faith in tea serving on airplanes: restored.




Some more cheese? But certainly, even while others sleep.




More Balik? Well guess what (yay!)


I tend to walk around during flights, this time was no different. During one of my 'tours' I met FA Joachim in the galley and we had a longer talk about the situation of Swiss in the last years, and especially about the new and old F. The ghist: She prefers the old F, as especially the kitchen area is much larger than in the new, making service easier and faster. She also thinks that the old seats are more comfortable and the cabin feels much more spacious. The new F has a nice design though. And the toilet - well - you can't change the fact of it being the smallest F toilet there is (or that I know of).





"Lunch-Breakfast-Snack"

Back to Bubbly. I 'managed' to down 3 bottles during this flight. If I'd be proud of that it would be quite sad (people that are proud of the amount the drink scare me), but in restrospect the whole situation, globally and inside this plane, simply made it...right. It is hard to explain, but I seldomly felt that much at ease as I did during this flight. Not only due to the bubbly stuff. Would I repeat it? For sure!





Ah, one more dessert? Certainly!


And well, suddenly the flight was over. Out of the blue, and sadly so. But as a German saying (and probably also in other languages): Stop while it's at its best.





Bye, wonderful LX flight!

I will not go into details of the Zurich FCL and the journey back. They would be boring in comparison.

All in all it was a great week with many fantastic experiences. And in big parts due to that LX F flight.


Over and out.