LX64A332 From Switzerland, joined Aug 2007, 272 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 15972 times:
Hello Fellow A.neters!
This trip report will focus on the return portion of my trip to Spain in the summer. Due to the fact that I was really busy the last month and a half with University case studies, and field work, I’m sorry for delaying to post my return TR.
Picture Disclaimer
I must sadly pre-warn you, that the quality of my photographs will not be top notch, due to the fact that I’m not much of a photographer, and that I’m using a Nikon Colorpix digital camera with no flash, as I don’t wish to be a nuisance to my fellow travelers. Even with this in mind, I still hope the details and details of the (some bad quality) pictures bring out the best for this TR!
Booking
When booking my flights, I wanted an interesting routing with as many new carriers and aircraft as possible. While I could’ve taken a direct LX ZRH-AGP flight, I wanted to be more exotic. So in the end, I thought why not choose Spanair, also a Star Alliance member, and I found the routing ZRH-BCN-AGP with ZRH-BCN in LX J and BCN-AGP in JK Y. My booking as usual was done through the respective companies websites, www.swiss.com and www.spanair.com , and the only nuisance was not being able to choose my seats online, which is one major factor which I think LX’s website lacks, and needs to be updated soon.
Getting to AGP and Check-in
Well, lets just say my day didn’t start too well! I had ordered a taxi the night before to take me to the 2hr away AGP airport. It was scheduled to arrive at 7:00 am, which would give me more than enough time for my flight, which departed at 11:00 am. Well, in true Spanish fashion, it arrived a mere 45 minutes late, at 7:45! So, with this, and the morning rush hour traffic around Algericas, I got to the airport at 10:15 am, with 45 minutes to spare! I went straight to the JK check-in area, which was only two counters for their BCN and MAD flights, one for C and one for Y. The economy class line was stretching all the way to the back of the building, and luckily for me, I am a Star gold, and was flying with LX J class on my connecting flight, so I was able to stand in the Business class line. Upon showing the agent my two tickets, to BCN and continuing to ZRH, she only tagged my bags to BCN, and said I would have to reclaim them. I explained to her that since JK and LX were both in Star Alliance, they had interline baggage agreements so she CAN check my bags through to ZRH. Finally a supervisor explained to her, and my bags were tagged to my final destination, however JK didn’t manage to give me a boarding pass for my LX flight, interestingly enough, on my outbound trip, I received my JK (BCN-AGP) boarding pass already in ZRH, so this is what they call Star Alliance partnership?
Malaga Airport
After clearing security, I didn’t have much to do but wait, and since there was no Star gold lounge in AGP, going to a lounge was also not an option. I spent my time walking around the duty-free area, and gate area, and later also went to get an ice-cream at Haagen-Dazs (crazy expensive).
Departure hall right after security, with the escalators leading up to the duty free and restaurant area.
Walking towards my gate.
Brussels Airlines 737 to BRU.
Condor 757 to somewhere in Germany.
Air Europa 737 to CDG.
Easyjet taxiing.
Flyglobespan 737 landing.
Gate and Boarding
My gate to BCN.
My A320 waiting.
Legroom on this A320 was standard. While many find JK’s A320 to have restricted legroom, I found it more roomy than the 717 I flew with previously.
Safety card
In-flight Service
Like many legacy carriers in Europe, JK has become more of a LCC. I truly believe Star Alliance needs to re-think the presence of these LCC legacy carriers, as they bring down the general appearance of such so strong and service orientated alliance.
This small indulgence put me back 3.50 EUR!
In-Flight Entertainment
In-flight entertainment on this short sector consisted of the Airshow.
Descent and Arrival into BCN
Shortly thereafter, I didn’t even realize we were already on finals for BCN. I quickly fastened my seatbelt and prepared for landing. Just as I wanted to start filming the landing, my camera ran out of battery! So sorry no pictures or videos of landing and taxiing in BCN!
Lounge
After I arrived, I had to proceed to the LX check-in counters to get my boarding pass and lounge invitation. In addition, I had to go through security once more, however it was very comfortable. I proceeded through passport control, and into the Salvador Dali lounge.
Seating in the Lounge
Snack and drink self-service areas.
Some little snacks and an Ice tea in the lounge.
And of course I had to visit my favorite website! ☺
Gate and Boarding
I proceeded to walk around the module 5, where non-schengen international flights depart from. To me it also seemed like an A321 factory!
RJ A321 to AMM
TK A321 to IST
SU A321 to SVO
LX A321 taking me to ZRH
My gate, 50.
I then proceeded to my seat, 2F.
Legroom on this A321
Safety card
Pre-departure water and moist towel
In-flight Service
As soon as we reached cruising altitude, we were given our meals followed by a drink. I must say, this was a great disappointment! To me it seemed like the caterers just put whatever they had leftover on the plate to make a meal! Nevertheless I ate the snack, the little rhubarb pudding wasn’t that bad though!
Then my favorite part of any LX flight, chocolate!
We were also served Moevenpick ice-cream, delicious!
In-flight Entertainment
While there was a show called “Just for Laughs” playing, I wasn’t interested, and concentrated on the beautiful French coast below!
Shortly after Take-off
Overflying the city of Marseille
Landing and Taxiing in ZRH
After a smooth landing, we taxied past Dock E, with a LX A343, TK 737, KL 737, and an Air Malta A319.
PrivatAir BBJ operating on behalf of LX to EWR.
LX A343 and Air Berlin 737.
LH 737 and view of Dock A.
Helvetic old and new color schemes.
Afternoon LX lineup at Dock A.
Well, that concludes my TR, I hope you have enjoyed reading it, and please feel free to leave any comments or suggestions!
Rogerbcn From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1140 posts, RR: 19 Reply 3, posted (4 years 8 months 1 week 20 hours ago) and read 14783 times:
Hola LX64A332!
Glad to read your return TR. I enjoyed reading it and seeing someone else's pictures and comments on this well known route.
Quoting LX64A332 (Thread starter): not being able to choose my seats online, which is one major factor which I think LX's website lacks, and needs to be updated soon.
I find this to be quite unusual as well. I called LX about it and I was told that the only reservation allowed was the general window-corridor choice.
Quoting LX64A332 (Thread starter): Like many legacy carriers in Europe, JK has become more of a LCC. I truly believe Star Alliance needs to re-think the presence of these LCC legacy carriers, as they bring down the general appearance of such so strong and service orientated alliance.
This is really pitiful. I always think about those who book a LX flight operated by JK (the same is true for IB and UX) and end up with this kind of service. Really terrible.
I have been in it many times and I think the offerings are quite poor. I am lookin forward to the new T-Sud lounges to see if it betters a bit.
Quoting LX64A332 (Thread starter): As soon as we reached cruising altitude, we were given our meals followed by a drink. I must say, this was a great disappointment! To me it seemed like the caterers just put whatever they had leftover on the plate to make a meal! Nevertheless I ate the snack, the little rhubarb pudding wasn't that bad though!
You always get cold meals in this sector... If only BCN and ZR were 500 more miles apart we would get something hot. I am really envious of those DUB-ZR foods.
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6219 posts, RR: 79 Reply 8, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 13297 times:
Interesting report with many details.
Quoting LX64A332 (Thread starter): Upon showing the agent my two tickets, to BCN and continuing to ZRH, she only tagged my bags to BCN, and said I would have to reclaim them. I explained to her that since JK and LX were both in Star Alliance, they had interline baggage agreements so she CAN check my bags through to ZRH. Finally a supervisor explained to her, and my bags were tagged to my final destination, however JK didn’t manage to give me a boarding pass for my LX flight, interestingly enough, on my outbound trip, I received my JK (BCN-AGP) boarding pass already in ZRH, so this is what they call Star Alliance partnership?
Not surprising at all - airlines are often integrated quickly, but it can take years until everything works fine. I had a bad experience with Air China when I tried to book a flight to HKG in September and October. Website, call-center, fare transparency - what a mess.
Quoting LX64A332 (Thread starter): Legroom on this A320 was standard. While many find JK’s A320 to have restricted legroom, I found it more roomy than the 717 I flew with previously.
I cannnot comment on their 717s, but the A320 and A321 were simply horrible in terms of seat pitch.
Quoting LX64A332 (Thread starter): I truly believe Star Alliance needs to re-think the presence of these LCC legacy carriers, as they bring down the general appearance of such so strong and service orientated alliance.
At least JK still serves free drinks and snacks on international flights - in contrast to Iberia (oneworld).
Quoting LX64A332 (Thread starter): As soon as we reached cruising altitude, we were given our meals followed by a drink. I must say, this was a great disappointment! To me it seemed like the caterers just put whatever they had leftover on the plate to make a meal! Nevertheless I ate the snack, the little rhubarb pudding wasn’t that bad though!
The meal doesn't look bad at all - these Sushi and antipasti items make a nice difference. But, of course, that's not to everybody's taste.
Thanks, I try my best to provide the readers with was many details as possible
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 8): Not surprising at all - airlines are often integrated quickly, but it can take years until everything works fine. I had a bad experience with Air China when I tried to book a flight to HKG in September and October. Website, call-center, fare transparency - what a mess.
That truly does sound like a mess! Reminds me of a similar situation 3 days after TK joines star alliance, I did ZRH-IST-DYU and lets just say it was a nightmare!
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 8): I cannnot comment on their 717s, but the A320 and A321 were simply horrible in terms of seat pitch.
I didn't think the A320 offered good pitch, however it was better than the B717!
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 8): At least JK still serves free drinks and snacks on international flights - in contrast to Iberia (oneworld).
True, at least JK aren't like SK, where on a 3.5 hr ATH-CPH flight you have BOB.
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 8): The meal doesn't look bad at all - these Sushi and antipasti items make a nice difference. But, of course, that's not to everybody's taste.
The food itself wasn't bad tasting, however the unpleasant presentation, and odd combinations, made the meal look like a disappointment.
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