sutrakhk From Hong Kong, joined Apr 2008, 115 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 5730 times:
This is part IV of this trip report, the reason for visiting Malta is due to transformation of the new bus system there in early July.
I planned to take Air Malta’s direct flight from LHR, but when I book the ticket, all the cheapest fares were gone, with the higher booking class, I found that Swiss’s LHR-ZRH-MLA was cheaper. As I never use LX before, it is good to try one more airlines in my life.
The day start from here, LHR Terminal 4, where Yotel located
Waiting the train to Terminal 1 at 6:30am
Inside the train made by Siemens
Arrived LHR Terminal 1, SWISS counter is at Zone G
After checking-in, I headed to the departure area, there was a Fast Track there
Passed the security check, let’s go to the Star Alliance Lounge to have some food
There were many passengers in the lounge already, after walking around, I found a quiet corner to sit down
It’s what I can have…European style!
After the breakfast, it’s time to go to the gate
Oh, Hong Kong (without the iconic IFC)
BMI’s A330
27 June 2011
London Heathrow (LHR) – Zurich (ZRH)
Airline: Swiss International Air Lines
Flight: LX 317
Aircraft: A320-200
Registration: HB-IJW
Seat: 8F (Business)
Gate: 33B
Gate 33B
Boarding Pass
HB-IJW, my first ride on Airbus A320-series
While waiting, LH’s A320 arrived
Waiting area
Finally boarding started, here is my seat 8F
Wrong decision…the seating pitch in row 8 seems tighter than the first few rows
View from my seat, the flight was full in business class
Safety Instructions Card
Pushback on time, and we were airborne 10 minutes later
Once the seat belt signal was off, breakfast was served, hush brown again…
Not a long later, arrived Zurich
Parked at the remote gate
Transfer seems so complicated…
Finally found my way
After the passport control, finally inside the transfer zone for Schengen area
The terminal was very nice, however the room temperature was quite high, I kept sweating
Visiting the SWISS Lounge
Simple and finctional
Dining area
View from the lounge
Only hot food available was pasta
Sandwiches
Most attractive was the Movenpick ice-cream. You can ask for Wifi voucher for 1 hour free access
It’s about time to go to the gate, with some plane spotting
LH’s 737-500
Contact Air’s F28, D-AFKA
27 June 2011
Zurich (ZRH) – Malta (MLA)
Airline: Air Malta
Flight: KM 491
Aircraft: A320-200
Registration: 9H-AEO
Seat: 2F (Business)
Gate: A86
Gate A86
Boarding pass
9H-AEO
Another angle
Boarding was commenced, and I was at my seat 2F very soon
Normal seating pitch for intra-Europe business class
Only 3 passengers today in Business
I have my own row
Safety Instructions Card
Pre-takeoff drink, I chose water
Takeoff was powerful with the light load, and the meal was distributed soon after take off
AFAIK, no hot meal for flight within 2 hours, but the cold meal was good enough!
After the meal, take a look to the in-flight magazine
Yes, I go Malta because of them
LH brought their A380 to Malta
Touched down after 1 hour 45 minutes, did a quick u-turn in the runway, and finally stop outside KM’s hanger
All passengers was on the bus already, but we were still waiting for good 5 minutes. Finally realized that we have to wait for the flight crews and cabin crews
As Malta is in Schengen area, so no passport check was needed and we proceed to the baggage reclaim directly
Got my bag 15 minutes later, and I have pre-booked the transfer to the hotel in Valetta city center
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 5522 times:
Nice report. Food on KM flights looks pretty good. I went to Malta in May, and loved seeing (and riding) the old buses. I hadn't realised that the new Arriva ones were arriving so soon. They look so mundane in green compared to the characterful orange/yellow old buses. Shame.
knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1415 posts, RR: 17 Reply 3, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 5033 times:
Hi there,
Nice report, so thanks for that!
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): I went to Malta in May, and loved seeing (and riding) the old buses. I hadn't realised that the new Arriva ones were arriving so soon. They look so mundane in green compared to the characterful orange/yellow old buses. Shame.
Not really! It was fun for the tourists but if you have to depend on those old buses to commute to and from work every day it's a nightmare. Those old buses were unreliable and slow and most of their drivers had some serious personality issued going on.
AIR MALTA From Malta, joined Sep 2001, 2364 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 4932 times:
Very nice trip report. It brings back memories of the KM flighst I used to take when I used to live in Malta.
A warm meal would have been better but the food looked good.
Quoting knightsofmalta (Reply 3): Not really! It was fun for the tourists but if you have to depend on those old buses to commute to and from work every day it's a nightmare. Those old buses were unreliable and slow and most of their drivers had some serious personality issued going on.
Arriva had some serious problems in the first few months of operations... Not very good. And I would love to change those ugly clours back to Orange and Yellow for Malta, and Grey and Red for Gozo.
aflyingkiwi From New Zealand, joined Nov 2010, 488 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 3791 times:
Great report sutrakhk!
The product on LX & KM both seemed pretty good. The meals on both flights looked fantastic though am a bit surprised there was no hot meal on the Air Malta flight.
sutrakhk From Hong Kong, joined Apr 2008, 115 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3496 times:
Quoting Burj (Reply 2): Cool trip report...Since you had the whole row to yourself, could you have put all the armrests and the center tray up to have more space?
Yes, all the middle armrests and the small table can be raised.
Quoting knightsofmalta (Reply 3): Not really! It was fun for the tourists but if you have to depend on those old buses to commute to and from work every day it's a nightmare. Those old buses were unreliable and slow and most of their drivers had some serious personality issued going on.
So how is Arriva doing now? everything alright?
Quoting MSS658 (Reply 5): Another nice trip report in your series. Looks like KM and LX did a pretty decent job. Quite surprised to see the old seating on your LX flight.
Oh, this is the old seating in LX? Is it rare?
Quoting aflyingkiwi (Reply 6): The product on LX & KM both seemed pretty good. The meals on both flights looked fantastic though am a bit surprised there was no hot meal on the Air Malta flight.
AFAIK, KM would provide hot meal when the flight is longer than 2 hours
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