In October, my girlfriend and myself decided to go home from Liverpool to HKG to visit our families and friends. We shopped around and found LX and BA offered similar prices out of MAN at about 450GBP per person. Having read all the nice trip reports on LX, we decided to give them a go.

Outbound flight 1
Route: MAN – ZRH
Flight number: LX 381
Date: 25th October 2007
Scheduled times: 18:45-21:45
Seat: 17A and 17B
Type: Fokker 100, HB-JVE
POB: 78
Flight Distance: 609NM
Cost Index: 50

Some more information, all times local:

Time Taxied: 1921
Time Took off: 1933
Fuel Load: 6890kg
Departure Runway: 23L
Wind: 090/5
Take off Speed: 150kts
Take off Power: 85%N1
Take off Weight: 40.9t

Arrival Runway: 28
Landing Speed: 140kts
Landing Weight: 37.1t

We checked in the evening before we were due to fly and successfully got 2 seats at the rear of the plane. We deliberately did it to have an experience on the noise of the engines. This was my first time on board a Fokker aircraft and I thought it was a pretty good plane. The plane was late arriving into MAN from its previous leg from ZRH. We were a bit tight in our connection at ZRH as we got only an hour for the next flight onto HKG. We were a bit worried about the connection but we did not bother, because we could not do anything but to sit back and relax.

After take off a sandwich was served. We ordered one meat and one cheese and both of us liked the cheese more. We also opted for some orange juice for my girlfriend and a bottle of red wine for myself. We also got some water. For some reasons, we need a lot of water whenever we are flying. Oh and also the famous Swiss Chocolate at the end!

We finally took off about 45 minutes behind schedule, the flight was quite smooth and we cruised at FL350. My thought was that the plane’s service ceiling is FL320. LOL… The landing in Zurich was smooth, and we parked on a remote stand. A bus came and drove us to the terminal, near the A gates.

Transit in Zurich

We need to take the Skytrain to the E gates, which I thought was quite nice. I never knew they run on cables rather than rails. We passed through security and thought, oh my god, the departure time has gone, the plane may have gone. However we tried our best to make it to the gate and found that the plane was still there. I spoke to the agent, “I thought you should have gone”. But she replied with a polite “We are always waiting for your business!” which I thought was very accommodating. We boarded the A340 then the captain made an announcement that we are still waiting for some baggage then off we go. We left the gate slightly behind schedule.

Outbound flight 2
Route: ZRH - HKG
Flight number: LX 138
Date: 25th October 2007
Scheduled times: 22:45 – 16:40 +1
Seat: 42A and 42B
Type: Airbus 340-300, HB-JML
POB: 240
Flight Distance: 5538NM
Cost Index: 30

Some more information, all times local:

Time Taxied: 2257
Time Took off: 2310
Fuel Load: 87.10t
Departure Runway: 34
Wind: Calm
Take off Speed: 137, 147, 155kts
Take off Weight: 256.8t

Arrival Runway: 25R
Landing Weight: 178.9t
Autobrake setting: OFF

Plane was transferred from AC to LX and recently undergone renovation. Cabin was spotless. Take off was the stylish A340-300 take off which I thoroughly enjoyed. I had a nice view of the city. Dinner was very soon served with a choice of pasta and chicken. Again, both of us ordered one and we think that the pasta was better. This was followed with some drinks, which I can’t recall anymore what I drank. I then dozed off to sleep for a couple of hours, woke up and enjoyed the view out of the window. Oh one thing I would like to ask, is it unique on LX’s A340 to have the insulation pads on the rear doors near the galley? The crew told me it is very good in order to keep the cold away from the plane. And its true, the galley seems quite cold.

An hour before landing, breakfast was served. I loved the breakfast but my girlfriend did not. The croissant was fresh but my girlfriend prefers what she used to on SQ, something more Chinese. We arrived into HKG about 5 minutes ahead of schedule, before landing, the captain pointed out the Hong Kong Island to the passengers on the left side of the plane. I have not been to HKG for more than 2 years and I surely missed the place. By the way, I thought it was recommended to switch on the Autobrakes for landing? However the crew selected off for this landing.

After a month at home, its time to head back to the UK.

Return flight 1
Route: HKG - ZRH
Flight number: LX 139
Date: 30th November 2007
Scheduled times: 00:05 – 06:10
Seat: 38A and 38B
Type: Airbus 340-300, HB-JMC
POB: 217
Flight Distance: 5474NM
Cost Index: 80

Some more information, all times local:

Time Taxied: 0001
Time Took off: 0022
Fuel Load: 102.90t
Departure Runway: 07R
Wind: 160/7
Take off Speed: 142, 156, 163kts
Take off Weight: 274.6t

Arrival Runway: 34
Landing Weight: 180.1t
Landing Speed: 138kts
Autobrake setting: OFF

Plane is first hand by Swiss and the inside of the plane looks the same as the outbound aircraft. We were early leaving the gate and taxied to 07R for take off. After take off, I had a nice view again on the Hong Kong Island, which I thought was stunning. Shortly after this, we entered China. Afterwards, I shut the window blind and had the dinner, then, deliberately drink more wine to put myself to sleep. When I woke up, breakfast was being served. Once again I enjoyed the Croissant , and of course the cheese. But in my opinion, the quality of catering is better ex ZRH. Oh I forgot to mention, they use real cutleries which I thought, airlines like CX and SQ should also begin using again.

Return Flight 2
Route: ZRH-MAN
Flight number: LX 390
Date: 30th November 2007
Scheduled times: 07:10-08:10
Seat: 8A and 8B
Type: Fokker 100, HB-JVC
POB: 68
Flight Distance: 625NM
Cost Index: 50

Some more information, all times local:

Time Taxied: 0713
Time Took off: 0718
Fuel Load: 6.8t
Departure Runway: 28
Wind: Variable, 2 kts
Take off Speed: 123, 137, 143kts
Take off Weight: 39.6t

Arrival Runway: 23R
Landing Weight: 36t
Landing Speed: 128kts

Nothing much to report here because I was very tired (even after the long sleep). The front part of the Fokker is definitely nicer than the rear. It was surprisingly quiet. Food was the muffin, which I thought was worse than the sandwich. But overall, it was a nice and uneventful flight.

However my girlfriends baggage did not make it to MAN, but was misconnected at ZRH. The baggage arrived the same day in late afternoon though.

Oh I should mention, on arrival the captain personally came and hand the logsheet to me. She was very nice and wished me a nice trip. She must have thought I am in the UK to travel. But thank you very much for the nice word.

Ok to conclude, we enjoyed Swiss. My girlfriend thought the catering is not ‘her cup of tea’ because she is so used to SQ. She has been flying with SQ every time she travels between MAN and HKG. Swiss offer a good and reliable service while offering a good price. Well done Swiss and hope they would expand in the near future and fly to more places in Asia.

Thank you for reading this report and I look forward to your comments. Sorry for the lack of photos as I am not really keen in taking pictures inside planes. Hope you would understand.