Trip to Berlin

Every year, me and my partner pick a destination to visit. This year it was Berlin's turn - everyone was telling us great things about that city, so here we go!

The 4 segments involved were the following:

18 Jul: LX 2903, LUG-ZRH (operated by 0D)
18 Jul: LH 3801, ZRH-TXL
24 Jul: LX 967, TXL-ZRH
24 Jul: LX 2912, ZRH-LUG (operated by 0D)


Lugano-Zurich

Sector: LUG-ZRH
Departure: 07:35
Airline: Swiss International Air Lines
Operated by: Darwin Airline
Type: Saab 2000
Registration: HB-IZJ
Seat: 12D

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Photo © Marco Toso - SpotIT

We got up early, at 5:30 am, to get ready and be at the airport at about 6:30, in order to get some breakfast. But somehow it didn't turn out that way: our garage door wouldn't work, and I had to figure how to open the thing manually, which made us lose 15 minutes on our scheduled time.

We were at the airport at about 6:45, did our check-in, and boarding was at 7:05. Just in time for a quick coffee and a croissant. OK, we had breakfast anyway, but it was a hurry.

Luckily, Lugano is a really small regional airport, where only one airline flies: Darwin Airline. It operates all flights, for themselves, for LX and F7 (FlyBaboo). This means your average trip from check-in to the gate takes approximately 2 minutes, including security check.





We boarded 7:25 - boarding in Lugano means walking out of the gate door, across the tarmac, and up the airplane stairs 50 meters later - and were ready for take-off in a matter of 5 minutes or so. Quick and efficient as usual.

Take-off right on time at 7:35 from Runway 19, with the 2 Rolls-Royce AE 2100A engines pushing the Saab 2000 (almost) straight up - I love Saab 2000 take-offs!



The flight was scheduled to last 50 minutes, but we touched down in Zurich only 35 minutes later.



It was a wonderful flight, with a great view on the Swiss Alps thanks to the good weather. On such a short flight, there's no in-flight service - actually, there is: those flying Business get a glass of water, juice or champagne, and a sandwich. For cattle-class passengers like us, nothing. But on such a short trip it's not expected either.








Zurich-Berlin

Sector: ZRH-TXL
Departure: 09:25
Airline: Lufthansa
Operated by: Lufthansa Cityline
Type: Canadair CRJ-700
Registration: D-ACPD
Seat: 20F



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Photo © Glenn Beasley


After disembarking from the Saab 2000 and taking the bus to ZRH Terminal 1, we proceeded directly to security for gates A01-A10. As usual, I had to take my laptop out of its case. Then we proceeded to the waiting area.



Boarding was scheduled to begin at 09:00, and it did.



Again a bus transfer to the airplane. The CRJ-700 was there waiting for us.



OK, I have to admit it - I've never been on board a CRJ-700 before. And like most fellow A.netters, I found it to be really cramped.



After the abrupt take-off (the pilot seemed to pull hard on the stick just to make my camera drop while I was filming the take-off - remember, all electronic devices must be turned off) I discovered that not only the CRJ-700 was cramped, but also very (very!) nosiy in seat 20F, about 2 meters from the engines. Nosiy as in "The Saab 2000 is more silent"!



Anyway, I got the chance to take a picture of ZRH from above:



We were served a snack, actually a really tasty cheese sandwich, and a drink. Another uneventful flight, and after 1:10 hours we landed in TXL (it was windy as usual), where we were greeted by yet another bus to the arrival terminal.



Wait, where's everybody? The place was absolutely empty after the passengers of our flight left. There actually only were 4 of us waiting for a luggage, all the others had left.





Now it's time for the actual vacation - 7 days in Berlin. It was an amazing time, and I suggest everyone who hasn't been there yet to visit the city. It's definitely worth it.
For those who are interested, we have a picture gallery of our stay: http://www.orselina.net/gallery/berlino2006 ... it also includes a CSD sub-gallery  


Berlin-Zurich

Sector: TXL-ZRH
Departure: 14:40
Airline: Swiss International Air Lines
Type: Airbus A319-112
Registration: HB-IPS
Seat: 8D



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Photo © Fabian Gysel


Fast-forward, 7 days later our vacation is over. At 12:55 we took the TXL bus from the Berlin Dome to the airport. A 35 minute trip. Quite clumsy with luggage, but definitely cheaper than a taxi. So here we are again, in TXL, do our check-in and quickly eat something for lunch.







After that, we proceed to security and to the gate. The gate waiting area is really small. And I mean it: most people couldn't have a seat, there simply weren't enough.



I didn't know TXL didn't have an airside with shopping, restaurants etc. Otherwise we would probably have waited a little more before going through security. Oh well.

Boarding time is 14:10, but it started 15 minutes late because the incoming aircraft from ZRH was also late. This time we even got a jetway - it's an A319 after all!



As we anticipated, we took off 15 minutes late. For some reason the flight only lasted 1 hour and we still arrived on-time in ZRH. We were served a Mövenpick ice cream (yummy!) and a drink. Only in ZRH I was able to take a picture of the airplane:




Zurich-Lugano

Sector: ZRH-LUG
Departure: 17:10
Airline: Swiss International Air Lines
Operated by: Darwin Airline
Type: Saab 2000
Registration: HB-IZZ
Seat: 14D



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Photo © Tis Meyer


Same story like last time: we got out of the airplane (again through a jetway) and went to security for gates A01-A10. Boarding began an 16:40, and the good old bus brought us to the Saab 2000.



Take-off was on-time (hey, we have a pattern here! Everything's always on-time!). Bye bye, Zurich:



This flight only lasted 25 minutes because of the good weather: the pilot requested a visual approach to LUG and didn't need to fly all the way south to the PINIK IFR point for the LOC-DME approach. Here's a picture of the visual approach over beautiful Lugano:



And the video of the landing:



We landed early, and I stopped having a chat with the co-pilot who happened to be a flight instructor for Avilù, the flight school where I got my PPL back in 2003. I asked about jumpseating, but he told me that Darwin Airline had very strict procedures: you basically have to apply in writing in order to get a cockpit permit. The captain isn't allowed to just make someone enter the cockpit, even if it's someone he knows personally. Maybe I'll try for some future flight.

All in all, it was a great vacation. All the flights were on-time, with great weather, and no problems whatsoever. I can't comment too much on in-flight service: Darwin didn't have any, and it really was too quick to interact with the FA's on LX and LH. But they seemed very nice and efficient.

OK, that's it - we're back home. And this also ends my first trip report. I hope you've enjoyed it! Any comments are appreciated  

-Manuel

Cool report,
I am flying ZRH-TXL next sunday using LX and their A319.
Your pictures of Berlin are great too! Berlin is a great place!

Great report Manuel!

Cool movie clips!  

Keep up the good work   

What a fresh and entertaining report!

I'm nostalgic to see where I lived last year, Lugano... very nice thoughts!

Congratulations on the report structure, very cool and easy to read. How did you put the videos like that? 

It is not weird to see that all your flights were almost perfectly on-time, you live in Switzerland   .

Quoting ManuCH (Thread starter): For cattle-class passengers like us

Hahaha, I loved that!

Well, for a first trip report, I'll give you five stars.

Grazie!

Wow, great report! I also really liked the pictures from your photo album. Berlin looks great!

I look forward to possibly more reports in the future! 

Absolutely great report, pics and video!

The pic of that hot guy facing the camera in the jetway pic -- is that you?

Wow, thank you everyone for the compliments!   

Quoting 797 (Reply 3): How did you put the videos like that?

I just uploaded them on YouTube.com, then used the "embed string" and copy-pasted it on here. It apparently worked...

Quoting TheLUREnyc (Reply 5): The pic of that hot guy facing the camera in the jetway pic -- is that you?

Not exactly - he's my partner   I'll pass on the comment to him, I'm sure he'll be glad. You can see another (quite funny) pic of him here (directly from Berlin). For those who wonder what he was doing, we were preparing a postcard for his colleagues (primary school teachers  )

-Manuel

What a great trip report! I love the picture of Zürich airport taken from above and the one landing in Lugano - fantastic!   

Quoting ManuCH (Reply 6): Not exactly - he's my partner I'll pass on the comment to him, I'm sure he'll be glad. You can see another (quite funny) pic of him here (directly from Berlin).

WOW - very cute! Lets see one of you now!

TheLUREnyc -

You absolutely amaze me!

Quoting Tbear815 (Reply 9): You absolutely amaze me!

I get that alot.   

Nice report, Manuel. Flying to/ from Lugano and on the Saab 2000 - that's two things, which are quite special aviatic events for most of us here.  

Great report! ZRH is the best airport in Europe, IMHO.

I read your report on time- tomorrow I am flying LCY-BRN-LUG. Needless to say, I can't wait, as I have heard good things about Darwin.

Quoting TheLUREnyc (Reply 8): WOW - very cute! Lets see one of you now!

Oh dear   I'll send you an IM.

Quoting Cambrian (Reply 12): tomorrow I am flying LCY-BRN-LUG

Have a nice flight! And don't forget to make a trip report ... while you're here, keep in mind that there's the Locarno Film Festival from August 2nd to 12th.

Quoting TriStar500 (Reply 11): Flying to/ from Lugano and on the Saab 2000 - that's two things, which are quite special aviatic events for most of us here.

I have to be honest - flying a Saab 2000 and Lugano's scenery is special everytime for me as well, eventhough I live here. Y'all gotta come and visit this place sometime  

End of the touristic advertisement 

-Manuel

Quoting ManuCH (Reply 13): while you're here, keep in mind that there's the Locarno Film Festival from August 2nd to 12th.

Really? I was in Ascona a few weeks ago for the jazz festival. It was a lot of fun!

Quoting ManuCH (Reply 13): Y'all gotta come and visit this place sometime

Sssh! Don't give away the secret of how beautiful and (relatively) unspoilt the Ticino is!

I am flying back to LCY from BRN, so my trip will take in LCY, LUG and BRN airports- all very quiet and quick to transit. I am really looking forward to my trip, especially so since I read your report!

Hi, Manuel,
great report and cool pix.
I was for several times in Berlin this year, biz and fun trips and now looking forward to my next visit there in two weeks.
Regards,
Markus (FLIEGER67)

Great report. Some of those pictures are great!!!

SUJ