LX MAN-ZRH-JFK-ZRH-MAN in C and F Mini TR
Sep 28, 2009, 4:05 pm
#1
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LX MAN-ZRH-JFK-ZRH-MAN in C and F Mini TR
Just a mini report from me with no pictures I'm afraid. 
Just back from a great weekend in New York flying from Manchester to Zurich in C and Zurich to JFK in the new First product (well may be not so new anymore).
MAN-ZRH in C.
Check in at Manchester was not good. Two desks open, one for economy and one for Business... but economy passengers using both so took a while to check in.
Lounge was the pretty rubbish Serviceair offering in T1. No hot food and nothing special.
Flight delayed almost one hour due to late arrival (due to fog in ZRH).
Flight from MAN to ZRH was very pleasurable + seat block. Catering was good, lovely chocolates! Nice fruit plate etc. Nice FA's.
ZRH-JFK in new F.
Upon arrival at ZRH from MAN there was no assistance to guide us through to the JFK flight which considering it was a tight connection due to the delay was disappointing. Managed to get to the gate in good time though. Again disappointed with the boarding as the Business/First queue was being used by everyone and they had the queue roped off in such a way that it was almost impossible to get through so just joined the queue with everyone else. Heard a few other premium passengers complain to the gate staff about the set up etc.
Then we get on board and settle down in the F cabin. Fantastic experience. Met with some preflight champagne (Louise) and nibbles. Great MdC made us feel special and comfortable. Only 4 passengers in F for this flight. Food was very good and the cheese was superb. Wines were ok but nothing special. Service was brilliant. Seat was very good but a bit hard. Massage function was a bit rubbish but didn't detract from the experience! All in all it was a great flight with a fully flat bed and all the trimmings.
Flight arrived on time into JFK. Unfortunately no special F assistance on the ground so took a while to get through Passport control.
JFK-ZRH in new F.
Bloody brilliant. They got it all right on the return journey. Dedicated First check in. Assistance through to the Swiss First lounge. Looked after with good food and drink. Escorted through Fastrack to the plane. A very good service indeed. Flight was on time and same excellent level of service. 7 First passengers so almost full. Pyjamas are good! Great Ice cream.
ZRH-MAN in C.
Unfortunately no assistance on arrival into ZRH. Made our own way to the First lounge. What a lounge! Very good facilities all round. Only minor gripe was the Wireless internet was limited to 30 minutes which I found annoying as I had a lot of work to do between flights. Very helpful lounge staff. Lovely showers.
Fastrack security and S Class limo to plane which was really nice. Good flight back to Manchester though slightly delayed due to fog in ZRH again.
Our "priority" suitcases were the last to appear on the baggage belt but this is a special feature of Manchester Airport and nothing to do with Swiss - it happens all the time!
Overall experience of Swiss was very very good. I think they need to be more consistent with the on ground assistance but really couldn't fault the flight in F. Would definitely do it again.
Also the new C seats on the long haul looked very good too.
^
Just back from a great weekend in New York flying from Manchester to Zurich in C and Zurich to JFK in the new First product (well may be not so new anymore).
MAN-ZRH in C.
Check in at Manchester was not good. Two desks open, one for economy and one for Business... but economy passengers using both so took a while to check in.
Lounge was the pretty rubbish Serviceair offering in T1. No hot food and nothing special.
Flight delayed almost one hour due to late arrival (due to fog in ZRH).
Flight from MAN to ZRH was very pleasurable + seat block. Catering was good, lovely chocolates! Nice fruit plate etc. Nice FA's.
ZRH-JFK in new F.
Upon arrival at ZRH from MAN there was no assistance to guide us through to the JFK flight which considering it was a tight connection due to the delay was disappointing. Managed to get to the gate in good time though. Again disappointed with the boarding as the Business/First queue was being used by everyone and they had the queue roped off in such a way that it was almost impossible to get through so just joined the queue with everyone else. Heard a few other premium passengers complain to the gate staff about the set up etc.
Then we get on board and settle down in the F cabin. Fantastic experience. Met with some preflight champagne (Louise) and nibbles. Great MdC made us feel special and comfortable. Only 4 passengers in F for this flight. Food was very good and the cheese was superb. Wines were ok but nothing special. Service was brilliant. Seat was very good but a bit hard. Massage function was a bit rubbish but didn't detract from the experience! All in all it was a great flight with a fully flat bed and all the trimmings.
Flight arrived on time into JFK. Unfortunately no special F assistance on the ground so took a while to get through Passport control.
JFK-ZRH in new F.
Bloody brilliant. They got it all right on the return journey. Dedicated First check in. Assistance through to the Swiss First lounge. Looked after with good food and drink. Escorted through Fastrack to the plane. A very good service indeed. Flight was on time and same excellent level of service. 7 First passengers so almost full. Pyjamas are good! Great Ice cream.
ZRH-MAN in C.
Unfortunately no assistance on arrival into ZRH. Made our own way to the First lounge. What a lounge! Very good facilities all round. Only minor gripe was the Wireless internet was limited to 30 minutes which I found annoying as I had a lot of work to do between flights. Very helpful lounge staff. Lovely showers.
Fastrack security and S Class limo to plane which was really nice. Good flight back to Manchester though slightly delayed due to fog in ZRH again.
Our "priority" suitcases were the last to appear on the baggage belt but this is a special feature of Manchester Airport and nothing to do with Swiss - it happens all the time!
Overall experience of Swiss was very very good. I think they need to be more consistent with the on ground assistance but really couldn't fault the flight in F. Would definitely do it again.
Also the new C seats on the long haul looked very good too.
^
Last edited by oxtailsoup; Sep 28, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Sep 30, 2009, 1:11 am
#3
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The comment about MAN's handling of priority baggage is very true - I sometimes wonder whether I would be best asking the staff in LHR to not add them on their way back - must be a militant bunch of hardened socialists or similar at MAN who explicitly try to make priority bags mix in with all the others (equality for all!), as I can see them being offloaded first / loaded last on my regular trips from LHR!
Sep 30, 2009, 3:09 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Thanks for the report,
The comment about MAN's handling of priority baggage is very true - I sometimes wonder whether I would be best asking the staff in LHR to not add them on their way back - must be a militant bunch of hardened socialists or similar at MAN who explicitly try to make priority bags mix in with all the others (equality for all!), as I can see them being offloaded first / loaded last on my regular trips from LHR!
The comment about MAN's handling of priority baggage is very true - I sometimes wonder whether I would be best asking the staff in LHR to not add them on their way back - must be a militant bunch of hardened socialists or similar at MAN who explicitly try to make priority bags mix in with all the others (equality for all!), as I can see them being offloaded first / loaded last on my regular trips from LHR!
From my experiences, my bags always come out quicker when flying BA than BMI on the LHR-MAN route.
OP - Though short, your TR reminds me of my LX F flights both of which I remember fondly.