I would like to warn anyone travelling or considering travelling with SWISS (ex-Swissair) about this airline, based on a recent experience. On Sept 29, I was due to fly out of Cairo (Egypt) back to Geneva. Together with 200 or so other passengers, we boarded the plane, only to be told that we could not take off because one of the engines was not working and that they would try to fix the problem, while we were served breakfast and watched a couple of movies on the entertainment centre - this with passengers inside the aircraft parked at the gate. 3 hours later, we were told that the problem was irresolvable and that technicians and parts had to be flown out of Zurich and that all passengers should disembark, collect their checked luggage and assemble in the airport hall.

What followed was the standard airline version of mayhem, incompetence and through disinterest on their stranded passengers: airline representatives did not provide any information or showed up, relying instead on airport porters to channel information to passengers; shabby transport/luggage arrangements to transfer passengers to a nearby hotel; passengers asked (rather told) that they had to share a room between 4 passengers, etc.

To cut a long story I am keeping other details out, such as hotel representatives coming to the departure gate with the police to collect money of passengers for 'extras' that the airline refused to pay: telephone and beverages...

Next day, we were flown out of Cairo and arrived safely in Switzerland. Having contacted Swiss's customer service to complain about the arrangements and the handling, I was dismayed to be that, accordingly to Swiss, the airline does not have a contractual obligation to fly passengers between any two given points on the dates reserved - and therefore, if the airline choose not to send another plane to replace the faulty aircraft, the airline was not due to compensate passengers.

At this stage, I am still evaluating the next course of action to tackle this issue - but in the meantime, I thought I would alert other fellow travellers... you may well be advise to choose an alternative airline such as a the respectable Lufthansa - a much smaller problem with this airline was resolved on the spot, with no argument and (to my amazement), in the most generous manner.

Rogerio Domingos/Lausanne