Ndebele From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 2885 posts, RR: 37 Posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 11972 times:
Once a week, Swiss is using the A330 for a ZRH-GVA domestic flight. As I like those shorthaul flights on longhaul aircraft, I somehow had thought about taking this flight for a long time, which I now did, as part of a STR-ZRH-GVA return trip.
STR-ZRH
LX1179
STD: 06:00 ATD: 06:00
STA: 06:40 ATA: 06:42
Seat: 18A
Number of passengers: 15
ERJ-145
HB-JAL
"400th ERJ"
Delivered to Crossair in 2000. Though I have flown the Swiss ERJ several times, it was my first flight on this particular aircraft.
My train arrived at the airport at 05:20 and I went straight to the Swiss check-in in Terminal 1, next to the LH desks. No queue at all, got my boarding passes for both STR-ZRH and ZRH-GVA, both window seats. Through security and passport control, boarding on-time by bus, not much to tell about the flight at all, so I'll leave it, because I guess I have written about the Swiss ERJ already more than often in my recent reports. Oh yes, one thing I'd like to mention: This was my first flight on "Swiss European", and although the aircraft was still in Crossair colours, the "operated by Swiss International Air Lines" titles have been replaced by "operated by Swiss European Air Lines" titles.
Also no pics from this flight, as it was still dark outside. During landing on runway 14, I could see all the stuff parked at ZRH during the WEF forum at Davos, nice. After arrival we were bussed to Terminal A, from where I managed to get a shot of the B747-400 of the Japanese government:
HB-JAL continued as LX420 to BHX.
Gate A67 for my connection, so I went through another security check and spent the time till boarding watching the busy morning rush hour at ZRH. Busy at least in the other parts of the Terminal, our part of Terminal A was deserted at this time of the day:
At 09:00 boarding began.
ZRH-GVA
LX2802
STD: 09:25 ATD: 09:28
STA: 10:15 ATA: 10:36
Seat: 37K
Number of passengers: C16 Y57
A330-200
HB-IQP
LX2802 operates daily, mostly with A32S aircraft, only once a week it's operated by A330, I guess it's in order to bring the A330 to GVA from where it does the JFK-flights, certainly not because they needed the capacity on this mid-morning ZRH-GVA flight. So in the end the flight was only about 35% full, however we also had 3600kg cargo and 30kg mail on board, which you can see being loaded here:
Our aircraft had arrived from RUH and JED earlier this morning. Boarding started at 09:00, most passengers looked like connecting passengers from some Africa flights, US-Americans, also some Indian passengers, not many Europeans. The seats in the center block of the 2-4-2 configured aircraft remained all free, everybody was sitting in the window-aisle block of 2. I can understand that, but for any reason nobody dared to use the huge center overhead bins, everybody had to put his bilongings into the bin above one's own head, so those bins were heavily packed in the end... Boarding was completed soon, and the were pushed back nearly on-time:
Taxiing for de-icing which took place in front of the E-Gates:
De-icing, which was needed because it was -7°C outside and our aircraft was standing in the cold for the last three hours:
This became boring, so I decided start my PTV. Of course no movies on this 30-minutes-flight, but the rest of the inflight entertainment was just the same as on long-haul. See me here playing the German version of "Who wants to be a millionaire":
De-icing was completed soon, and we took off from ZRH's short runway 28, which was long enough because we were well about 35 tons below mtow:
Into the clouds:
The routing of this 229-km-flight:
Service on this short flight consisted of the "Thank you for flying Swiss" chocolates, but hey what did you expect on a switzerland domestic flight. I mean we already started descending.
Approaching GVA's runway 05:
Just like all other announcements on this flight, the "Welcome to Geneva" announcement was made in French, German and English. Some other announcements during the flight were even made in a 4th language, Italian.
Easyjet is big@GVA:
FlyBaboo Dash 8, I think this one also flew ZRH-GVA that day:
FlyBaboo has a nice slogan: "a breathe of swiss air", but the real breathe of Swissair came when I saw Le cêntre de Swissair:
De-boarding via jetway, although we were then routed a different way than usual, obviously in order not to come into contact with the high-risk gate area, as already mentioned our aircraft continued as LX22 to JFK.
I rushed to the check-in, a dozen counters and no queue, checked in for my return flight to ZRH, and thought I'd be polite and do communication with the check-in agent in French language, which I had learned at school years ago - but then we both agreed it's be better to change to German language...
Alright, three hours until my departure back to ZRH. I took the train to Le gare céntral and then explored la cité du Genève à pied. Walking the few 100 meters to the Lac de Genève was not far, but of course La Fontaine was not in operation due to the cold temperature of -9°C, mon dieu, quelle blamage! Anyway I walked along la "Proménade du Lac", I'm not a fan of including too many non-aviation pics into my trip reports but for those who are interested:
Then I thought, hey, I could just walk to the UNO headquarters as well. No I couldn't, because I lost my way and I also guess the way there was longer than I thought, well in the end I didn't reach it and so I just took the train back to the airport where I arrived at 13:00, shortly before boarding time.
I went through security and enjoyed the superb view outside. Not! If you know GVA, the views are very poor, though there was some interesting equipment outside, like a Saudia B777, El Al B767, PrivatAir BBJ and B757, ... plus of course lots of easyJet Switzerland.
GVA-ZRH
LX2811
27 Jan 2006
STD: 13:45 ATD: 13:45
STA: 14:35 ATA: 14:31
Seat: 26F
Number of passengers: C13 Y45
A320-200
HB-IJS
Boarding started by 13:25. My second flight on a Swiss A320, but my first flight since they installed those new Recaro seats everybody is talking about. Though they look quite hard, I found those seats rather comfortable, but then I have to confess I can't really remember the old seats so it's hard for me to compare.
Again this flight was not very full, the two seats next to me remained free. But I was happy as I was flying this tour on stand-by tickets, the next flight leaving at 1515 was fully booked so this early-afternoon flight seemed just alright for me.
Pushing back on-time, we taxied towards runway 05 and took off at 13:58:
1/2 Saudia B777:
Once again above the clouds:
Not too much again to write about the flight, a short flight of less than 30 minutes in the air.
Approaching ZRH's runway 14:
PrivatAir BBJ2 operating Swiss' EWR-flight:
Emirates A340-500:
Arriving on our stand at Terminal A:
The original plan was to take a train or bus to downtown Zurich or Bülach and watch the movie "Grounding" about the last days of swissair (this movie is quite popular in Switzerland), then take the last flight back home to STR at 22:10. But somehow I didn't feel like going to la ciné now, so I took the next flight back to STR, leaving at 17:20.
ZRH-STR
LX1174
27 Jan 2006
STD: 17:20 ATD: 17:20
STA: 18:05 ATA: 18:05
Seat 9F
Number of passengers: 39
ERJ145
HB-JAM
Built and deliverd to Crossair in April 2001. My third flight on this aircraft. Nothing special to tell about this flight again, plus it was getting dark outside, so no pics either. On-time just like all four Swiss flights I took that day, very professional staff, and flights too short to actually do any sort of their famous inflight service. I enjoyed this daytrip on Swiss very much. Though in the end of the day, after arrival at STR, we had to queue for twenty minutes at passport control, as a THY flight from Istanbul and several other non-Schengen flights had just arrived before us, so if you ever wondered what the 100-meters-corridor in front of passport control is good for, now you know: it's for queueing. Time for Switzerland to join Schengen, I have to say.
So this is the end of my short report about a nice little daytrip, thanks for reading. Feel free to add your comments and questions, thanks in advance.
Jsnww81 From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1725 posts, RR: 21 Reply 1, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 11796 times:
Great report! When you said "Swiss A330 to GVA" I just naturally assumed you were on the daily JFK-GVA flight. I didn't realize Swiss were flying the A330 on any domestic routes.
Sfomb67 From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 406 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 11707 times:
Great photos, considering the bleak weather, especially the Alps. Switzerland remains my favorite European destination (Italy, a very close 2nd), probably because it was our 1st European vacation - Geneva to Interlaken. You should have taken some pictures of the train from the airport to Geneva.
TriStar500 From Germany, joined Nov 1999, 4646 posts, RR: 52 Reply 6, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 11336 times:
Hi Alex!
So you have actually pulled through with that project... nice! In a time where it is getting increasingly hard to fly on a widebody intra-Europa you have made out one of the very few remaining routes, and an exotic combination of airports and aicraft it is.
BTW - you chose the wrong answer in "Who wants to be a millionaire?".
Homer: Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!
Sabena 690 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 11314 times:
Hi Alex,
Excellent report, thanks for writing!
I didn't know that LX was using the A332 on certain domestic flights between ZRH and GVA.
This trip reminds me to the DUB-SNN-DUB "funtrip" I made back in 2003, to catch a ride on the Aer Lingus A330's flying the route. The difference was that the EI A332 on my two flights was almost completely fully booked! However, almost all pax on board of the DUB-SNN were continuing to BWI, while almost all pax on the SNN-DUB were coming from BWI and connecting to DUB.
Ndebele From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 2885 posts, RR: 37 Reply 9, posted (4 years 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 11097 times:
Hello and thanks to evrybody for your replies so far!
Quoting Daron4000 (Reply 3): great report. how were the premium seats looking? i am flying the A330 longhaul in F/C in 2 weeks and was wondering how they seem for sleeping?
I didn't take any photos of the seats, but they look comfortable of course, and I'm sure you'll find some photos in the photo database. Enjoy your flight and let us know if you did.
Quoting ZRHnerd (Reply 5): Good report as always, shame you missed "Grounding", brilliant movie
I've heard some good comments about that movie, guess I'll try to get a copy of the movie as soon as it's available.
Quoting TriStar500 (Reply 6):
BTW - you chose the wrong answer in "Who wants to be a millionaire?".
Quoting AJO (Reply 8): I hope you didn't pick the (highlighted) option A in the trivia quiz
Of course not, it was just that the "A" option is always highlighted at first, I took a picture and then used the curser buttons to select the correct answer.
This game can make you go crazy on longhaul flights, because in the 4000 Euro (or "bonus points", as it's called) area, there always appear some questions about swiss politicians, probably simple to answer for swiss people, but not for Germans. It's the swiss-german version of the quiz.
Quoting Sabena 690 (Reply 7):
This trip reminds me to the DUB-SNN-DUB "funtrip" I made back in 2003
Yes I remember you took this flight, must have been fun as well. And it's a nice way of trying out an airline's longhaul product without having to pay for a longhaul ticket - though on your flight the passengers consisted of mostly longhaul passengers.
Unfortunately I had forgotten my headset at home, and of course Swiss didn't offer any headsets on ZRH-GVA as there is usually no inflight entertainment at all on this route. The audio (and of course also the video) program is quite a good selection as far as I can remember of my LX A330 longhaul flight to JFK a few years ago.
Once again thanks for the replies, and keep them coming, they're appreciated.
Contact Air From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 913 posts, RR: 13 Reply 11, posted (4 years 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 10616 times:
Hi Alex,
interesting report and great pics! You obviously had a nice day-trip. IFE on a domestic flight must be fun.
By the way: do you know why the "Swissair Centre" at GVA is still called like that and why they are still using the old logo? Is it independent from the airline which is now called Swiss?
Ndebele From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 2885 posts, RR: 37 Reply 13, posted (4 years 1 week 3 days ago) and read 10372 times:
Thanks again for the replies!
Quoting Dens (Reply 10):
I flew once from GVA to ZRH with A330. The flight was overbooked.
Surprising, if you keep in mind how often they serve the route. I guess it has always something to do with the departure times of the connecting flights at ZRH, the regular Swiss A330 flight leaves GVA on thursdays at 10:10, so when your flight was overbooked, probably many people wanted to connect to places like DXB, NRT and the late transatlantic flights.
Quoting Contact Air (Reply 11): do you know why the "Swissair Centre" at GVA is still called like that and why they are still using the old logo?
I don't know, and believe me I was a bit surprised about that, too.
@Lfutia: Enjoy your trip and let us know how you liked Swiss' longhaul product!
FLIEGER67 From Germany, joined Sep 2003, 2192 posts, RR: 50 Reply 14, posted (4 years 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 10132 times:
Hi Alex,
back from the States and therefore a late comment to your "special" Swiss daytrip.
Interesting to follow and good pix.
IMO HB-JAL was the incident aircraft at STR last week, isn´t it?
Regards,
Markus (FLIEGER67)
Lfutia From Netherlands, joined Dec 2002, 2833 posts, RR: 32 Reply 15, posted (4 years 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 10092 times:
Alex -- 1 of the photos isnt showing up! i was wondering if you could repost it. i'm very interested to see the photo thats not showing up since im extremely eager to see what its like inside Swiss's A330's
expect a big trip report from when i get back from India after flying LX/AC
Leo
[Edited 2006-02-04 23:15:54]
Leo/ORD -- Groetjes uit de VS! -- Heeft u laatst nog met KLM gevlogen?
Airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 2195 posts, RR: 20 Reply 16, posted (4 years 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 10069 times:
Alex, thank you for this interesting report! Actually I was planning this flight myself last year, but I changed my schedule and flew on LX A320 instead.
Now, I looked up the particular flight in the system, but the summer schedule doesn't show the A330 anymore between GVA-ZRH ?! Will there not be an aircraft change anymore on the USA route from GVA?
If you've any info about the flights in e.g. coming June..., which days/flight of operation, your reply would be highly appreciated by me!
It would be fun to experience the A330 on such a short route! And I would definitely try it out if I see a chance to do it too!
Ndebele From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 2885 posts, RR: 37 Reply 17, posted (4 years 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 9946 times:
@Flieger67:
Thanks for your reply. No the ERJ with the incident at STR the day before was HB-JAO. - I'm gonna read you report now!
@Lfutia:
I deleted the photo intentionally - basically it was just another PTV "screenshot" of our routing, but a low-quality one. I didn't make any cabin shots, but you'll find several of those in the a.net photo database, I suppose.
@Airbuseric:
The fact that they're flying the A330 domestic at the moment has something to do with the fact that the GVA-JFK flight is operated only six days of the week I think, so the A330 is flown GVA-ZRH on thursday and returns ZRH-GVA on fridays. If they operate GVA-JFK daily in summer, then there won't be a need for the domestic flight, as the GVA-based aircraft could always be exchanged at JFK as well - ZRH-JFK is operating twice daily in summer.
Alphafloor From Chile, joined Jun 2004, 1261 posts, RR: 52 Reply 19, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 9444 times:
Hi Ndebele !
I really enjoyed reading and watching your pictures of that domestic A330 flight. It reminds me when it was also possible to do ZRH-GVA GVA-ZRH legs with a B742, then with a B743 and MD11... but these days are gone. Must be unsignificant for you but I wonder... I see you reached crz altitude at ~FL150 during the ZRH-GVA leg what about the altitude reached on your GVA-ZRH leg ? Landing on RWY05 in GVA from ZRH is good as you gain some minutes flight time The pictures are very good, what camera did you use ? You didn't have chance with that typical cold and cloudy weather here in GVA. Another point is the flight time... 45mn is a lot for this flight ! Well anyway... good and cool report thanks again for sharing Ndebele !
Next time you'll be in GVA drop me a msg I'll be your driver
Ndebele From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 2885 posts, RR: 37 Reply 20, posted (3 years 10 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 8701 times:
Quoting LXSWISSA330 (Reply 18): flying swiss widebodies in europe is a past time, but ive flown them over 20 times when heading over every summer to europe
You are the man
Quoting Alphafloor (Reply 19): I see you reached crz altitude at ~FL150 during the ZRH-GVA leg what about the altitude reached on your GVA-ZRH leg ?
Thanks for your kind feedback! Honestly I really can't remember about the altitude we reached, as I looked more out-of-the-window than on the screens.
My camera can be seen mirrored in the PTV on the Who-wants-to-be-a-millionair pic, it's a small Minolta digicam, a few years old but still alright for me.
Would be nice meeting you once I'll be visiting GVA again - or maybe if you should pay STR a visit, let me know.
Buck3y3nut From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 733 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (3 years 3 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 7499 times:
excellent trip report. enjoyed reading about Swiss...
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