Today, no critics, only congratulations to SWISS AIRLINES.

I flew this morning to Zürich from Vienna. Being a HON, I was transfered by Limousine to the airplane as it was at an outside position. I entered the plane as first passenger and the purser just told me to sit down in business where I wanted, knowing that I had an economy ticket. I was so puzzled I had to ask him again if he really meant in business. His answer was, yes, where you want, business is almost empty today, it will be more confortable for you.

That has NEVER happened to me and I thought all the time before questioning the purser, why he offered me this. I know many pursers at Lufthansa or Austrian and they would get into trouble should their management know about this. It happened only one time to me because I complained that the seat next to me was not free altough many places where empty in economy. The purser just said I should sit in business.

Here, there was no reason. I did not ask anything.

The purser then explained me the following:

- he is the boss and responsible for all what happens in the air
- HON passengers are their most important customers
- number of HON members will be reduced dramatically since no HON Miles for economy and reduced miles on Z
- he has the freedom to please his customers
- he does so when there are not many HON's in economy on the same flight and business is quite empty

He knew something similar would be impossible at Lufthansa or Austrian. He said their management was empowering them. You could see he was proud to work for Swiss.

Congratulations to Swiss management. Something to think of at Austrian and Lufthansa...