FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 8260 times:
Ciao, dear readers
and welcome to a new story.
It seems, it is far to long ago since I was the last time in Italy.
Italy, the country with the Dolce Vita style of living. Pasta, Pizza, Ferrari and beautiful wo..., ah, sorry people.
And yes, there is really an airport not yet pinned on my departure airports map and yes, when I´am checking the weather data around the last years with Apulia and especially Brindisi that looks like really nice.
Mostly dry and temperatures up to 25 degrees.
Is there something interesting to fly down to Brindisi?.
Yes, so it seems for the first view, no B737/A320 series planes and a new airline also on offer during my search.
Well, where is the book it button?.
Some three weeks after the return from Cyprus
Enough talking now, further on with the first leg.
Saturday, 31.03.2012
.
.
.
.
Service Swiss LX 1165 operated by Swiss European Airlines
Scheduled: 08.20 // 09.05
Now that´s a relaxed departure time this Saturday morning.
Wake up at 5.00 am, on the way at 6.00 am and at the airport around 7.00 am.
Seat selection is done online. Easy to catch my seat of choice for the first leg via LH´s website.
No way to change the seat for the second leg on the same booking.
Well, the trick is to enter the same data on the LX website and finally you see the seatmap for the second flight. Also quickly selected.
There is this very nice and btw. goodlooking young woman with a special relationship to ZRH airport.
She updated me frequently with the latest load data around my flights. So I know that the first leg today is short to overbooked and therefore no question to work proactive at the desk for an upgrade.
An somewhat cold elderly woman at work:
"Good morning, I´am checked in but not yet printed for ZRH and MXP. Is it possible to do it here?".
"Yes, let me see you´re documents".
"I know that the flight is well booked, is there an upgrade possible?".
"Yes, the flight is overbooked with one pax by now.
I will check it and give you a call later at the gate".
"Thank you".
Well, looks like a good start for the day.
By surprise no time to wait at security also with the first day of the easter vacation time in southern Germany.
The usual bunch of "I am frequently flying once per year" people around.
Not that anyone told them about the "new" security rules:
"This is no liquid, no this is apple juice!".
Ah, these people, better than any theater or commedy show!.
A short view to the screen shows me nothing else than an ontime flight from gate 162. Ok so far
Quickly done and up the stairs for the lounge, right hand side for me, the Senator´s place.
The elder woman welcomed me by name and also not by surprise the lounge is fairly empty this morning, not that much Sen´s on the way today.
Booking is done via Opodo this time. The only available offer with exactly these flights, leg 1, 2 and 7 together. The fare per leg is 50.00 Euro´s this way.
Scheduled aircraft type is the RJ100, not that often logged here, so warm welcomed.
Bubbles in the morning
Or better stay this way
Surprise, Anadolu Jet at STR
Boarding time is around the corner, down to the groundfloor for the bus gates now.
The elder female saw me and waved me in.
"Here is you´re new boarding pass, seat 2A".
"Thank you".
The bus arrived and shuttled me around the apron for a view like this
Under the wing, not that I have any special preference for shots this way!
Four engines for short haul
This is HB-IXQ, leg no. 9 only by now on the RJ100.
Nothing new here, done long ago on a NCE-BSL run.
"Stucklistock" is counted in the Switzerland register since 27.03.1996 with Crossair, Swiss International and Swiss European.
One of 20 examples in the active fleet.
08.25 am, close to ontime, "Euroswiss" leaving 8 cloudy degrees behind and heading for 25 minutes to ZRH from runway 25 with a shortcut of course. No need for the full length on the Avro.
Cockpit crew is from Switzerland. The captain with a nice short welcome during taxi.
The safety card just to confirm the plane type
The Swiss magazine directs me to the south
The aisle seat is also taken, but it´s spacious enough here.
The load is very close to 100%.
Legroom is sure ok here with the dark grey well used leather seats
And also this way
Cabin crew is one elder male FA with a nice welcome and also a really nice behavior further on, together with a young and also nice female serving the rear part of the cabin.
The FA´s doing a tough job with 11 pax in biz today.
Service is newspapers and small water bottles offered at the seats, drinks for several times, this croissant and the famous Swiss chocolates
Front cabin view
This is not my usual engine view
No route or flightlevel info´s here.
I should fly more often during this time of the year, really nice views
Short ahead to Lake Zurich
Along the lake
And the city
Touchdown at the 3700 meters runway 34, 09.00 am, short ahead to schedule, 5 degrees and superb sunny here in Switzerland.
Docked at a finger gate, a good chance for a last view to the engines
And also a good decision not to take the earlier service to MXP.
Milano bound pax are directed upstairs, all the others downstairs, so it seems exactly this plane is heading for Milano now.
But well, there is definitely something else to do here.
These nice young woman decides to spend some time of her work free Saturday also at the airport and welcomed me now at the gate.
With this super nice weather conditions, it´s no question for us to go for a view outside from the recently re-opened public terrace. Definitely a really nice place for example to held a meeting with a couple of aviation enthusiasts from around the world
We spend a good time chatting in the sun. Be careful during this time of the year not to catch the first sunburn!.
And finally to go airside for a view to the lounge.
My next flight looks like ok from gate A58
She is accepted as my lounge guest, so more time to chat together.
Sorry for the blurry pic, but these Nespresso engine looks so special
Cold cuts
Or something hot
The lounge feels a little bit dark with these brown furniture
I like these Swiss model planes
Flying away
Time to go for the gate now and a view for the different Swiss liveries
This service is also well booked, but not as far as the first leg.
Proactive talking with the nice female gate agent, but no second upgrade, so it seems.
Bye now to H., thanx for you´re time, my pleasure to meet you there.
Onward with the next flight and a beep by passing the gate.
A beep. A good or a bad one?.
Ah, a good one, upgrade number 2 for me now!.
Service Swiss LX 1628 operated by Swiss European Airlines
Scheduled: 12.25 // 13.20
If anyone here wants to count the equipment changes around this trip, so it´s a good way to start it now.
Originally scheduled and also one of the reasons to do exactly that flights is the Helvetic Fokker 100.
But not for me today, a couple of weeks ago it changes to Swiss European and the Avro.
Anyway better than the standard Airbus/Boeing equipment.
The bus driver stops at HB-IYU, leg no. 10 on type and this is a new entry to my log.
This plane starts his career with Cityflyer Express at 15.12.2000, running for British Airways CitiExpress and finally with Swiss European since 21.02.2006.
It´s named "Rot Turm". Another example from the 20 in the fleet.
HB-IYU suffered an tail strike on landing at LCY in 2007 and was out of service for several weeks due to serious damage
Special Star Alliance paint here
The Swiss Star
I ike these small engines
And the undercarriage
12.50 am, 25 minutes late, superb sunny with 15 degrees, 40 minutes to go now for "Euroswiss" from the 2500 meters runway 28.
Cockpit crew is from Switzerland. The captain with a nice welcome during boarding. Some issues with pax numbers and loaded bags to solve, but nothing serious.
He´s once more short to hear prior to descent.
Let´s have a view from the other side of the cabin
The load is 90%.
The new looking safety card
Cabin crew is ok, both middle aged, one male, one female, nothing special yet.
Well, no legroom complaints here
New style dark grey leather seaters, clean so far
It seems that´s not a bad day for an panorama flight around the alps
Green and white contrasts
I´am getting used to this engine view
An airport in the distance
Some snow down under
We´re cruising really low, so it feels like
Service is newspapers offered at the seats, small waterbottles and a cold plate with bread and something sweet and fruity together with free drinks several times.
Not far from the italian border
Above Lago di Como
That looks like Italy down there
No route or flight level informations.
What about landing at this airport?
Touchdown at the 3920 meters 35L, 01.30 pm, ten minutes late.
Welcome to Italy with sunny 22 degrees.
Anyone lost inside?
It´s amazing when you disembark a plane early and see how much people are coming out of these small metall tube
By bus to the terminal and good to go for the next equipment change!.
Saturday, 31.03.2012
.
.
.
.
Service AZ 1027 operated by Alitalia
Scheduled: 15.15 // 16.30
Well, the AF Skyteam lounge is well signed here.
But finally when you turn around the last corner, you see that there is no lounge here anymore. Closed and redirected to the SEA Milano Sala Monteverdi now.
No complaints, it´s close to the usual AZ gates.
Up the escalator
Despite the low number of pax the offers looking not that really welcoming
Sure better this way
No apron view here
A 11 for Roma
This leg is booked by AZ directly. The fare together with the next flight is 40.00 Euro´s per leg.
OLCI works well this time with AZ´s website.
Checked in but not printed, as usual.
The female lounge agent is not possible to do so, but she told me that I should catch the boarding pass later at the gate.
A bit earlier than usual back to the gates.
Well, these people from Belorussia are extending their travels these days
I´am sure, this way leads to Roma
How I like these fashion advertissements
The nice elder female gate agent printed my boarding passes, she speaks also german to me, interesting.
Scheduled is the E75, warm welcomed but not for real, equipment change no. 2 here.
My plane is coming in with a strange dejavu feeling to say the least.
This is EI-IMF "Isole Tremiti" and after not that much browsing in my notebook I know that this is nothing new to me.
Leg no. 76 on type and the second experience here after LIN-FRA last October.
In service with AZ since 28.11.2003. One of 17 in the fleet.
The plane is noticed with an diversion to GVA last June with smoke on board, but good to know, nothing else happened
Hey, is this Italy or such a rough third world country?.
Boarding hasn´t started yet when a young male in suit running to the gate, walking in a nervous style around followed soon thereafter by a "I´am the Chief Secretary" style lady together with a couple of highly important, at least from their behavior, politicians. Boarding the plane straight ahead, not that I´ve even noticed that someone collected their boarding papers.
Anyway let´s enter the plane now
What about a view to the heaviest off all heavy´s around the world?
Cockpit crew is from Italy, the captain with a nice and detailed welcome after boarding is completed.
One pax with checked lugagge doesn´t show up and we know what it means. Baggage offloading and some minutes to wait. He´s later again on the speakers short during descent.
3.35 pm, 20 minutes late, it´s partly cloudy by now but anyway 22 degrees, 50 minutes on"Alitalia" for Roma from runway 35L like arrivals.
A view to the well loaded cabin
Bright grey leather seats, clean so far.
Ok legroom in the last row, 25A, the aisle is also taken but the middle seat remains open with a load very close to 100%
Cabin crew is one elder nice male together with an middle aged and also a young female FA, both ok but nothing special.
Service is free drinks but where are the Biscotti this time?.
These safety card looks like really well used
No route or flightlevel information.
Fall in love with Italy. Yes I do, especially with the right hand party of the picture!
I like these red dot on the wing
Touchdown at the 3880 meters 16L, 18 degrees and partly cloudy here. 4.40 pm, ten minutes late.
Coming in to Roma for a quick connection now.
Another equipment change?. No way, absolutely no way!.
Saturday, 31.03.2012
.
.
.
.
Service AZ 1623 operated by Alitalia
Scheduled: 17.20 // 18.35
Brindisi looks like ok from gate B18
This is the second part of the AZ booking, the fare again 40.00 Euro´s.
Seat selection is also done online.
No lounge visit due to the short connection.
Bus boarding by now and the whole show is well in progress when I´am arriving at the gate.
The second bus for me to reach my plane
Well, this is definitely not the scheduled MD
This is EI-DSG "Elio Vittorini", leg no. 83 on the A320.
At least a new entry to my log.
Since 26.04.2007 in service with AirOne and Alitalia,
one of 53 planes in the fleet.
5.20 pm, perfectly ontime, 18 partly cloudy degrees here. No duration info for Brindisi and "Alitalia" leaves Roma from runway 25.
Cabin crew is one middle aged ok male and three female FA´s, all together nice, one elder, two younger.
Cockpit crew is from Italy, the captain with a short info inflight during early descent.
Inseat screens working, interesting
And also these safety card looks like well used
Bright grey leather seats. The cabin is not that really clean.
Legroom is ok here in the last row, 30A and three for me with a 90% load
Service is no Biscotti again, but free drinks.
No route or flightlevel informations.
Coming in to Puglia
Touchdown at the 2628 meters runway 13, 6.20 pm, 15 minutes ahead to schedule. 18 degrees and superb sunny here.
Parked directly in front off the terminal, no need for a bus transfer
Warm welcomed with these nice weather conditions
Under the wing, you know
There is a really cheap, 90 Cent, public bus service from the airport to the train station in the city. My way to go now
By the time night is falling and as far as I´ve checked the walking direction to my hotel, the roads here are not that really well signed. So it seems it´s better to follow the large boards at the main road to my accomodation.
I don´t recommend to do it this way in a Italian city with a strange oneway road system.
Finally I´ve walked around the old town till I´ve reached the hotel from the other side, but had initially only to walk down the main pedestrian zone to find it also.
Well, the next time maybe.
A nightly welcome
The lobby
A middle aged nice male greeted me, as requested a room on the top floor is prepared for me
This property is called "Orientale".
Not that cheap with 80.00 Euro´s B&B, but anyway Brindisi is mainly a biz oriented destination
The bathroom
Stepping out of the hotel for a view around and got immediatelly greeted by a thousand of people on the main street.
Is there some sort of demo goin on?.
No way, it´s Italy and it´s Saturday evening and that´s Passegiata time. The whole city is on the streets, so it looks like.
Really good looking wo..., ah sorry, people here!.
Is this Africa, Albania or really southern Italy, I don´t know!.
Let´s go for a view to the harbour
What about this illuminated thing above the nice bar?
If you come all the way from Roma in ancient times this is the end of the Via Appia
So, time for a couple of hours in dreamland now.
I should be up again early tomorrow morning to catch some more Brindisi impressions, coming up soon.
My conclusions flight by flight:
LX STR-ZRH: More please.
LX ZRH-MXP: Once again, more please.
AZ MXP-FCO: Ok, but nothing special.
AZ FCO-BDS: Short and relaxed.
Ciao and don´t forget to leave a comment, that´s really appreciated.
FLIEGER67 or what about a view to Facebook, Markus Klaus Felger that sounds also like me!.
ROGERBCN From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1132 posts, RR: 19 Reply 2, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 8172 times:
Hola Markus!
Nice to see your nice weekend reading TRs up again.
You have chosen a very nice route, all to the South. Glad to see that LX upgraded you in both legs, really small offerings in both flights as far as food is concerned but the nice views make up for it.
AZ seems to have played a couple of tricks on your planned flight equipment denying you the opportunity to fly their beloved MDs.
Look forward to reading the return journey and many more to come.
Salut!
Roger
"At reise er at leve" H.C. Andersen (Travelling is Living)
mxp From Italy, joined Aug 2003, 389 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 8051 times:
Hi Markus
im sorry to heard u didnt have the MD, in fact im planning also a day trip from MXP to NAP and back to catch it even if i dont love the type very much
I was there in MXP the day u depart to catch the Antonov and i remember to see ur aircraft departing .....
Anyway thanx to came to Italy and look forward for other TR
ALberto
717Flyer From Finland, joined Jun 2011, 303 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 7892 times:
Hey, Markus,
I was already starting to miss the work of "Trip Reporter Productions" and finally, after some eager awaiting this very nice story came online - well done!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Italy, the country with the Dolce Vita style of living. Pasta, Pizza, Ferrari and beautiful wo..., ah, sorry people.
Oh Markus, you haven't changed at all have you?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): And yes, there is really an airport not yet pinned on my departure airports map and yes, when I´am checking the weather data around the last years with Apulia and especially Brindisi that looks like really nice.
What a coincidence! Some weeks ago a major Finnish tour operator announced they would start doing package tours to Apuglia so we'll have direct HEL-BDS-HEL flights on Finnair this summer. The fares are very high though, some 500 EUR for a return ticket.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): There is this very nice and btw. goodlooking young woman with a special relationship to ZRH airport.
She updated me frequently with the latest load data around my flights. So I know that the first leg today is short to overbooked and therefore no question to work proactive at the desk for an upgrade.
And this woman from ZRH? I think I know who you are talking about! Very nice of her to keep you updated. .
Well well, what is it that I see on the departures board if not blu-express. You should try them sometime Markus!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): My conclusions flight by flight:
LX STR-ZRH: More please.
LX ZRH-MXP: Once again, more please.
AZ MXP-FCO: Ok, but nothing special.
AZ FCO-BDS: Short and relaxed
Nicely summed up! Looks like LX did the job once again.
And it seems like you had quite a day even though you got no T-tail in the end with all those upgrades, impressive!
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 5, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 7874 times:
Hey, nice to see some comments.
@Roger:
Quoting ROGERBCN (Reply 2):
Nice to see your nice weekend reading TRs up again.
You have chosen a very nice route, all to the South. Glad to see that LX upgraded you in both legs, really small offerings in both flights as far as food is concerned but the nice views make up for it.
Thank you and short flights so not that much on offer.
Quoting ROGERBCN (Reply 2):
AZ seems to have played a couple of tricks on your planned flight equipment denying you the opportunity to fly their beloved MDs.
Not that easy with AZ these days.
Quoting ROGERBCN (Reply 2):
Look forward to reading the return journey and many more to come.
Coming up soon, you know.
@Alberto:
Quoting mxp (Reply 3):
im sorry to heard u didnt have the MD, in fact im planning also a day trip from MXP to NAP and back to catch it even if i dont love the type very much
Really good to know this.
Quoting mxp (Reply 3):
I was there in MXP the day u depart to catch the Antonov and i remember to see ur aircraft departing .....
Anyway thanx to came to Italy and look forward for other TR
Thank you and I will show it to you when I´am the next time in the area.
@R.:
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 4):
I was already starting to miss the work of "Trip Reporter Productions" and finally, after some eager awaiting this very nice story came online - well done!
Thank you.
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 4):
Oh Markus, you haven't changed at all have you?
No way, absolutely no way!.
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 4):
What a coincidence! Some weeks ago a major Finnish tour operator announced they would start doing package tours to Apuglia so we'll have direct HEL-BDS-HEL flights on Finnair this summer. The fares are very high though, some 500 EUR for a return ticket.
Hey, that sounds strange with 500.00 Euro´s return.
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 4):
And this woman from ZRH? I think I know who you are talking about! Very nice of her to keep you updated.
Definitely.
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 4):
Aww, the engines in the Avro are so cute!
reifel From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 1134 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 7778 times:
Hi Markus,
thanks for this report. You've been lucky with all these upgrades.
Too bad for the equipment change. A E75 and especially a MD80 would have been nicer.
Flew with AZ from FCO to GOA and I got a equipment change from a MD to an airbus as well. Didn't got the PTV on though. But got biscotti. You got nothing. is this just inconsistency or did they cut this down?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): Really good looking wo..., ah sorry, people here!.
Haha, getting a bit carried away?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Well, the trick is to enter the same data on the LX website and finally you see the seatmap for the second flight. Also quickly selected.
Trick and treat!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): There is this very nice and btw. goodlooking young woman with a special relationship to ZRH airport.
She updated me frequently with the latest load data around my flights. So I know that the first leg today is short to overbooked and therefore no question to work proactive at the desk for an upgrade.
How great to meet her again!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Not that anyone told them about the "new" security rules:
"This is no liquid, no this is apple juice!".
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Service is newspapers and small water bottles offered at the seats, drinks for several times, this croissant and the famous Swiss chocolates
All of them on 25 minute flight? Good job LX!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Definitely a really nice place for example to held a meeting with a couple of aviation enthusiasts from around the world
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): Boarding hasn´t started yet when a young male in suit running to the gate, walking in a nervous style around followed soon thereafter by a "I´am the Chief Secretary" style lady together with a couple of highly important, at least from their behavior, politicians. Boarding the plane straight ahead, not that I´ve even noticed that someone collected their boarding papers.
The plane would not leave with only them inside, so why the rush?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): What about a view to the heaviest off all heavy´s around the world?
Glamorous!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): Yes I do, especially with the right hand party of the picture!
Alright, as long as I can have the left hand.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): I don´t recommend to do it this way in a Italian city with a strange oneway road system.
Thanks for the tip.
Thank you for sharing. Have a nice sunny weekend. I am back to bed now.
MH017 From Netherlands, joined Apr 2005, 1633 posts, RR: 34 Reply 8, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 7759 times:
Buon Giorno Markus !
Bellissimo TR...grazie mille
Too bad you had so many equipment-changes; it's very much like KLM/KLC
LX looks nice in their European Business Class - too bad the flight(s) were too short...
Yeah, we should do an A.net meet @ ZRH again, now that the viewing-deck has re-opened !!!
AZ, ofcourse, was domestic, so what could you expect here...
Looking forward to the continuation of your trip...
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 9, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 7723 times:
Hey, good to see more comments.
@reifel:
Quoting reifel (Reply 6):
thanks for this report. You've been lucky with all these upgrades.
Thank you and lucky me, definitely.
Quoting reifel (Reply 6): Too bad for the equipment change. A E75 and especially a MD80 would have been nicer.
Flew with AZ from FCO to GOA and I got a equipment change from a MD to an airbus as well. Didn't got the PTV on though. But got biscotti. You got nothing. is this just inconsistency or did they cut this down?
Decision by the crew with the service so it seems, done another leg with Biscotti this time.
@Suryo:
Quoting akhmad (Reply 7):
I might feel shivery, but it will not keep me from replying on your exciting report. Brindisi, who would ever think about that but you!
Thank you, really good to know this way.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 7):
Haha, getting a bit carried away?
deltamartin From Sweden, joined Dec 2010, 1059 posts, RR: 9 Reply 10, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 7682 times:
Hello Markus!
As usual a great report of yours!
Very interesting to read about your trip to Italy! Especially since I'll fly Alitalia for the first time myself in June.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): The usual bunch of "I am frequently flying once per year" people around.
Not that anyone told them about the "new" security rules:
"This is no liquid, no this is apple juice!".
Ah, these people, better than any theater or commedy show!.
Can indeed be quite fun to watch, but not what you want to see when in a hurry!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): What about a view to the heaviest off all heavy´s around the world?
Nice. I was lucky enough to see it at ARN earlier this year. For sure something special.
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 11, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 7552 times:
Hi, Martin,
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 10):
As usual a great report of yours!
Very interesting to read about your trip to Italy! Especially since I'll fly Alitalia for the first time myself in June.
Thank you and good to know about you´re upcoming trip to Italy.
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 10):
Can indeed be quite fun to watch, but not what you want to see when in a hurry!
Sure the point here.
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 10):
Nice. I was lucky enough to see it at ARN earlier this year. For sure something special.
Definitely.
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 10):
My AZ flight is scheduled to be on the MD, I hope it doesn't become an Airbus!
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1409 posts, RR: 17 Reply 12, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 7359 times:
Hi Markus
Excellent report on certainly a worthy cause!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): There is this very nice and btw. goodlooking young woman with a special relationship to ZRH airport.
She updated me frequently with the latest load data around my flights.
Markus, you old charmer! Sounds like some heavy duty flirting going on here.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Legroom is sure ok here with the dark grey well used leather seats
Those seats really are perfect, especially on the Avro. The first time I stepped aboard one with the new seats I could hardly believe how much space there was!
It's a pity you didn't manage to secure a flight on the MD, at least nobody can say you didn't try! But at least you got the upgrade and another chance to meet with that very good looking woman from Zurich Airport.
Thanks for posting this report Markus. I always find your trip very entertaining.
dc9northwest From Romania, joined Feb 2007, 1735 posts, RR: 4 Reply 13, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 7331 times:
Hi there Markus,
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Yes, so it seems for the first view, no B737/A320 series planes and a new airline also on offer during my search.
Well, where is the book it button?.
Shame about the equipment changes, no?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Seat selection is done online. Easy to catch my seat of choice for the first leg via LH´s website.
No way to change the seat for the second leg on the same booking.
Well, the trick is to enter the same data on the LX website and finally you see the seatmap for the second flight. Also quickly selected.
Ah, yes, the tricks of the business. Very interesting!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Not that anyone told them about the "new" security rules:
"This is no liquid, no this is apple juice!".
I don't agree with the liquid ban, but if they catch you, let it go!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Scheduled aircraft type is the RJ100, not that often logged here, so warm welcomed.
Yep, nice and rare-ish. Only flew this series twice, on a 142... First time to gate check a bag, I think.
I guess you'd prefer for Business to be in the back..?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Well, the AF Skyteam lounge is well signed here.
But finally when you turn around the last corner, you see that there is no lounge here anymore. Closed and redirected to the SEA Milano Sala Monteverdi now.
As usual, something can't be that easy in Italy.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): OLCI works well this time with AZ´s website.
Checked in but not printed, as usual.
What, OLCI working for AZ? No way!
Same for me...
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Scheduled is the E75, warm welcomed but not for real, equipment change no. 2 here.
My plane is coming in with a strange dejavu feeling to say the least.
AZ certainly does this a lot, it seems.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): What about a view to the heaviest off all heavy´s around the world?
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6080 posts, RR: 56 Reply 14, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 7270 times:
Hi Markus !
Nice report to one of my favorite countries ! Too bad you missed out on the MD-80 but I much prefer the Airbus in comparison for comfort.
Great to see you had a great evening in Brindisi where I briefly passed thru on my Interrail tour in 1988 and took the ferry to Patras in Greece. I didn't see much of the city but it looks nice like most Italian cities do.
Take Care and look forward to your return report!
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 12):
Markus, you old charmer! Sounds like some heavy duty flirting going on here.
Hey, the nice way to stay in contact only!.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 12):
Those seats really are perfect, especially on the Avro. The first time I stepped aboard one with the new seats I could hardly believe how much space there was!
Good point here and also my impression.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 12):
It's a pity you didn't manage to secure a flight on the MD, at least nobody can say you didn't try! But at least you got the upgrade and another chance to meet with that very good looking woman from Zurich Airport.
Thanks for posting this report Markus. I always find your trip very entertaining.
Thanx again and sure I will try it to catch more MD´s up the north!.
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 13):
Very interesting... My success rate with AZ hovers around 25%.
With 8 MDs left and probably more going away soon... Now's the time.
Sure the point with the AZ MD´s.
@Lars:
Quoting The777Man (Reply 14):
Nice report to one of my favorite countries ! Too bad you missed out on the MD-80 but I much prefer the Airbus in comparison for comfort.
Thank you.
Quoting The777Man (Reply 14):
Great to see you had a great evening in Brindisi where I briefly passed thru on my Interrail tour in 1988 and took the ferry to Patras in Greece. I didn't see much of the city but it looks nice like most Italian cities do.
Take Care and look forward to your return report!
Really good to know about you´re touring back in the old days.
aflyingkiwi From New Zealand, joined Nov 2010, 488 posts, RR: 3 Reply 16, posted (1 year 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 7190 times:
Hi Markus,
Great to see another report from you. Quite an interesting route you took down to Puglia. LX as usual looks pretty good, the observation deck at ZRH looks pretty cool as well. I'll note that for the next time I go to Europe.
AZ looked alright but not much better than an LCC. Interesting that they had PTV's on the BDS Leg. Were they turned on during the flight?
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 17, posted (1 year 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 7031 times:
Hey aflyingkiwi,
Quoting aflyingkiwi (Reply 16):
Great to see another report from you. Quite an interesting route you took down to Puglia. LX as usual looks pretty good, the observation deck at ZRH looks pretty cool as well. I'll note that for the next time I go to Europe.
Thank you.
Quoting aflyingkiwi (Reply 16):
AZ looked alright but not much better than an LCC. Interesting that they had PTV's on the BDS Leg. Were they turned on during the flight?
Yes they are, but only with the standard AZ advertissements to see.
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Reply 18, posted (1 year 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 6989 times:
Hi Markus,
Good to read about more Italian flights, looks like Alitalia is more like Albaltic with the plane lottery. Couple of cute Jumbolino flights, congrats with the upgrades (but see my notes below) served as a nice appetizer.
I really like Puglia, absolutely loved my (short) visit to Bari a year ago, it is so much nicer than most of Italy and with that kind of nice weather definitely a place to keep returning to.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Yes, so it seems for the first view, no B737/A320 series planes and a new airline also on offer during my search.
"No A32x series"? Hah, that's a good one!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Italy, the country with the Dolce Vita style of living. Pasta, Pizza, Ferrari and beautiful wo..., ah, sorry people.
Quoting FLIEGER67,reply=0: There is this very nice and btw. goodlooking young woman with a special relationship to ZRH airport.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Fall in love with Italy. Yes I do, especially with the right hand party of the picture!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): These nice young woman decides to spend some time of her work free Saturday also at the airport and welcomed me now at the gate.
Markus, please! Like they say in a certain piece of (crap) fantasy literature "men have uncontrollable urges" but still, you are pushing it a bit far methinks!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): "I know that the flight is well booked, is there an upgrade possible?".
I strongly dislike this. Begging for upgrades is so embarrassing, almost as bad as putting your thumb up to hitch a guest visit to a lounge. I mean there's a certain predetermined pecking order the agents should be following, so there's no need to pull stunts like this. Unfortunately far too often the agents are lazy bastards who skip the rules and do whatever is easiest for them, usually giving upgrades to the last minute pax with gate assigned seats and whatnot. IMHO those agents should be fired on the spot - they are not doing their job properly so they deserve to be on the dole.
Is that part of the regular schedule? Or was it operating the TK flight or some charter?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Be careful during this time of the year not to catch the first sunburn!.
And finally to go airside for a view to the lounge.
Oh yes, last spring I got my first sunburn around this time in Luxembourg!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Sorry for the blurry pic, but these Nespresso engine looks so special
Ahh, I'm starting to like Nespresso a lot, thanks to the machines in the office.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Service is newspapers offered at the seats, small waterbottles and a cold plate with bread and something sweet and fruity together with free drinks several times.
So where are your champers? What good is an upgrade if you don't drink the plane dry?
Nice shot of Malpensa although I'm surprised that there's no third runway visible - I thought they were well into constructing that thing?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): But finally when you turn around the last corner, you see that there is no lounge here anymore. Closed and redirected to the SEA Milano Sala Monteverdi now.
Ahh, gotta love Malpensa. The one thing I was waiting for 4 hours for my AY flight to HEL there it turned out that the AY lounge (which was the same one you pictured upstairs from the Schengen pier) was closed for renovation with a sign directing pax to a landside lounge. Since I was already airside I wasn't exactly very impressed by this.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Scheduled is the E75, warm welcomed but not for real, equipment change no. 2 here.
E175? I thought all the Alitalia ones are E170s?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Service is free drinks but where are the Biscotti this time?.
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 19, posted (1 year 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 6891 times:
Hi, P.,
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18):
Good to read about more Italian flights, looks like Alitalia is more like Albaltic with the plane lottery. Couple of cute Jumbolino flights, congrats with the upgrades (but see my notes below) served as a nice appetizer.
I really like Puglia, absolutely loved my (short) visit to Bari a year ago, it is so much nicer than most of Italy and with that kind of nice weather definitely a place to keep returning to.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18):
Markus, please! Like they say in a certain piece of (crap) fantasy literature "men have uncontrollable urges" but still, you are pushing it a bit far methinks!
Hah, good point here!.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18):
I strongly dislike this. Begging for upgrades is so embarrassing, almost as bad as putting your thumb up to hitch a guest visit to a lounge. I mean there's a certain predetermined pecking order the agents should be following, so there's no need to pull stunts like this. Unfortunately far too often the agents are lazy bastards who skip the rules and do whatever is easiest for them, usually giving upgrades to the last minute pax with gate assigned seats and whatnot. IMHO those agents should be fired on the spot - they are not doing their job properly so they deserve to be on the dole.
Exactly my opinion with the late pax and the non status upgrades by the gate agents.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18):
Is that part of the regular schedule? Or was it operating the TK flight or some charter?
As far as I know by now, this one is operated by SunExpress and is running during the summer schedule for AnadoluJet. But the STR service was a standard SunExpress one.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18):
Oh yes, last spring I got my first sunburn around this time in Luxembourg!
Sure a surprise during this time of the year.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18):
Ahh, I'm starting to like Nespresso a lot, thanks to the machines in the office.
Good point.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18):
So where are your champers? What good is an upgrade if you don't drink the plane dry?
No bubbles for me, you know.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18):
Nice shot of Malpensa although I'm surprised that there's no third runway visible - I thought they were well into constructing that thing?
Not at all, as far as I know.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18):
Ahh, gotta love Malpensa. The one thing I was waiting for 4 hours for my AY flight to HEL there it turned out that the AY lounge (which was the same one you pictured upstairs from the Schengen pier) was closed for renovation with a sign directing pax to a landside lounge. Since I was already airside I wasn't exactly very impressed by this.
That´s MXP style, definitely.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18):
E175? I thought all the Alitalia ones are E170s?
Want to have the new plane smell?. Wait for the next story!.
Parton87 From Sweden, joined Sep 2008, 524 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (1 year 4 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 6717 times:
Hello Markus!
Thanks for the great story. Nice that you manage to do some more flights in Italy. It´s a country I like very much too. I some ways at least Pity about the MD and the Fokker. But you still get the Avro´s. How about contactair? They don´t fly between STR and ZRH anymore?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): at LCY in 2007 and was out of service for several weeks due to serious damage
Oh, it´s that one. I´ve seen the video on youtube. There was someone filming the landing. Rock hard that´s for sure. I guess some pax get off with a neck pain! Have you seen the video?
Sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, RR: 29 Reply 22, posted (1 year 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 6573 times:
Hello Markus,
Nice report with many good sunny pics, way to go!
Yes, what about the MD? What a hell of a lot equipment changes you had. Good that those upgrades compensated for this a bit but still, a ride on the white-green-red Jungle Jet would’ve been very nice. Too bad you got no Helvetic F100 this time. In 2 days, I hope to log this one. I’ll report for you, if that’s OK
CaptainRed From Germany, joined Oct 2010, 578 posts, RR: 19 Reply 24, posted (1 year 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 6386 times:
Hello Markus,
good to see another Italy trip from your side, always nice to visit that country. Some great pictures as well with some nice sunshine. Really like the pics with the four engines, gives a nice backdrop for some air-to-ground photos. Just too bad you missed the MDs, but I guess these upgrades on the Swiss legs compensated a little for that.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Not that anyone told them about the "new" security rules:
"This is no liquid, no this is apple juice!".
Unbelievable, some people. For sure funny to watch, but certainly not when you are in hurry.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): A short view to the screen shows me nothing else than an ontime flight from gate 162. Ok so far
Good to see the United flight to Newark, nice to have another long haul from STR.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Service is newspapers and small water bottles offered at the seats, drinks for several times, this croissant and the famous Swiss chocolates
Nice service, given the short length of this flight. I have done that leg as well with Swiss a couple of years ago in economy, and we got the same service back then. They really had to hurry to finish it, but it was done in a very efficient and friendly way.
Nice overview, always nice when you see the airport before landing or after departure.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): What about a view to the heaviest off all heavy´s around the world?
Wow, nice catch, what a mighty airplane.
Now I am curious with what you came up for the return flights, looking forward to read about it.
CaptainRed
25 FLIEGER67: Hey, nice to see more comments. @Robert: Thank you. Sure the point here. Ah, Helvetic, miss that one. Count me in this way. Drinks only, no snack at a
26 adamspotter: Hi Markus, Nice report as always, too bad about the equipment changes though hehe, understand what you mean Tell me about it, happened to me this week
27 signol: Hi Markus, nice to read of another of your adventures Though there doesn't seem to be much to say, good flights, shame about the missing Mad Dog but g
28 gabrielchew: Nice report Markus, but a shame about all the subs! Nice curve! Is that all you got? Doesn't look very business-like. The kiwi tart and wrap on the ne
29 FLIEGER67: Hey, good to see more comments. @Brendan: Thank you. Ah, good to know!. Hey, that sounds interesting. Definitely not the real fun for the US pax on th
30 MSS658: HI Markus Nice trip report, thanks for sharing! Nice to see you have logged the LX avro's. I was flying avro's as well between BRU and CPH. Did the IF
31 PlaneHunter: Hi Markus, nice routing, interesting report! You were lucky with the Avro in Star Alliance colors. I'm disappointed about the LX C Class catering, tho
32 FLIEGER67: Hi, nice to see more comments. @Marc: Thank you. No real IFE on the A320, advertissements only. @PH.: Thank you. And sure, lucky me with the special l
33 LXM83: Hello FLIEGER67 Nice report, just seen the return portion coming on-line and I thought I would need to stay in the right order by reading this first.
34 FLIEGER67: Hoi, J., Thank you. Thanx again, warm welcomed. Also my opinion, you know. Not at all, that Helvetic F100 is still missing. I´am used to this view, y
35 infodesk: Hi Markus, I trawled through 3 pages of TRs to unearth this one, as I realised it was another one you posted whilst I was away. Now there‘s dedicati
36 FLIEGER67: Hoi, H., Thank you. True words, definitely. Much better than 3.30 am!. Sure it helps. Exactly. Good point here. Sure the way to do it. Thank you again
Sponsor Message: 
From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, 
From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1132 posts, 
From Italy, joined Aug 2003, 389 posts, 
From Finland, joined Jun 2011, 303 posts, 
From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 1134 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2333 posts, 
OMG, was it exactly what they’re saying?
From Sweden, joined Dec 2010, 1059 posts, 
From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1409 posts, 
From Romania, joined Feb 2007, 1735 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6080 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Nov 2010, 488 posts, 
From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, 
Sultanils
From Ireland, joined Mar 2008, 2068 posts, 
Sponsor Message: 
Printer friendly format
