I had booked the trip on the spur of the moment, 2 weeks before travelling, and before I knew it I was heading to Heathrow. Swiss moved to Terminal 1 in June. I have taken several trips out of T1 in recent months, and so far, the check in experience on LX has left me underwhelmed. The layout of the check in queue means that everyone queues at the business class desks, regardless of their class of travel. Grrrr!
As I was having an overnight layover in Zurich, my bags could not be checked in through to Narita. I asked for an invitation to the Star Alliance First Class lounge. I am not sure if this would have been offered without my asking for it.
One significant improvement in T1 is the availability of lounges. Star golds can use the Star Alliance Business class lounge or the bmi Number 1 lounge. If I have a long wait, I tend to split my time between lounges, but the bmi lounge is the much better of the two.
Getting into the Star Alliance First Class lounge is quite difficult, even with an invitation and a first class onward connection. Every time I go there, I have a problem at reception.
Today was no exception. Even though I had an invitation, the lounge dragon did not want to let me in, as the invitation was not signed by the check in agent. I really find this attitude unbelievable. Eventually I was grudgingly allowed to proceed.
The first class lounge is nothing special.
There are no views, but it is normally empty, and the hot food offering is particularly good. There is a very good selection of Indian foods.
There is champagne and free wifi available. At this time of day there were a few passengers taking South African flights.
After a while, I decided to adjourn to the bmi lounge, as this offers wonderful views, and the windowless lounge starts to feel rather gloomy.
The bmi lounge is a wonderful facility. The design is quite funky- imitating Virgin Clubhouses somewhat, but that is nothing to complain about. So far, the bmi staff that I meet are so thrilled about this lounge. They love showing it to passengers.
The views of the northern runway are spectacular, and there are chaises longues that give a fantastic view. I could easily miss my flight here. There is also a good selection of food. There is even an Aga in the lounge!
Soon it was time to board. The number 1 lounge is not too convenient for the gates, and I needed to cross the length of the departure lounge once more to get to the gate.
3rd August
LX339: LHR-ZRH Seat 6A Business class
A320 (not sure of the reg, but is an ex Swiss Sun machine)
Dep: 19.50 Arr: 22.30
Loads would be light on this evening’s flight, with only 3 passengers in business class, and economy appeared fairly light.
Boarding was unhurried, followed by the usual ritual of refreshing towel, water and newspapers.
T1 is now Star territory
T3
Just after take off
Overflying Kent, heading east along the Thames
The crew on this flight were not the most motivated that I have experienced on LX. In fact, they were rarely seen. After having a gin and tonic, we were served dinner.
Please don’t ask me what this meal was. I didn’t eat it. The food on shorter LX flights in Europe is something of a lottery. Mostly I find it bizarre and inedible, which is a shame, as the service is normally extremely good, and the food on the longer European flights tends to be excellent.
Overflying Belgium
We arrived on time in Zurich, and as is now the norm on UK flights, we parked at a remote stand.
I was staying the night with friends in Zurich. They dropped me off at the airport the following morning for my onward flight to NRT.
4th August
LX 160: ZRH-NRT Seat 1A First Class
A340-300 HB-JMG
Just walking into the First Class check in zone is such an exciting feeling. Check in takes no time at all.
The Swiss blurb tells us that there is coffee and champagne if required. I saw no evidence of this, but who needs it when you are spending about a minute checking in?
“HON” tags were attached to my bag and I was free to proceed to the First Class lounge. There is a lot of debate on websites such as FlyerTalk about the relative benefits of the First Class terminal at Frankfurt versus the F lounge at Zurich. Personally I much prefer the LX First product over that of Lufty, so for me it is a simple choice, and LX wins every time.
The staff at the lounge were very friendly and welcoming. There were few people in the lounge today. I was offered a selection of times for my transfer to the E terminal. My flight was leaving at 13.00, so I opted to leave the lounge at 12.15.
There are a few separate sitting areas, plus shower rooms, dayrooms, bar and a sit down restaurant.
There is an excellent selection of hot and cold food, plus a wide selection of drinks. Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque is plentiful, both Brut and Rose. The staff were extremely attentive in making sure that food and drink were replenished.
I resisted the temptation to gorge myself, but I did have a few glasses of champagne. The lounge offers great views of the ramp and runways, but the view is somewhat obscured by pipework- not great for taking photos. The Swiss lounge does not have the wow factor of other first class lounges that I have visited, but it has an air of understated elegance, functionality and efficiency that corresponds to their onboard product, and makes for a consistent experience without the gaudy glamour and glitz of certain Middle Eastern and Asian carriers. Let’s just say that it is typically Swiss.
At the appointed hour I went back to reception to be met by my driver and 2 other passengers: one was going to Dubai and the other to Montreal. We were ushered to ground level, where there is a dedicated security check and passport control. This really is the way to travel. We were then bussed by Mercedes van to the E terminal.
At this point the First service falls down, as passengers are left to make their own way to the gate. This is not such a problem, but it seems strange to receive the rock star treatment and then be rather unceremoniously dumped at the E terminal.
Today my flight was leaving from E42. I really love the E terminal at Zurich. The design is very simple and there are wonderful views of the aircraft and runways.
My ride to Tokyo
At this point I saw many Japanese passengers at the gate. Wow! I really am going to Japan! Judging by the numbers, the load would be quite light today. Boarding was completed in a very orderly fashion, and of course, the Japanese passengers followed instructions to the letter, and did not get in the First/Business queue if they were flying in Y. This makes a nice change from the usual scramble to board.
I walked down the jetway, hardly believing that I was actually on my way to Japan.
My home for the next 12 hours+
I was welcomed aboard by 2 members of the crew who, on seeing that I was in First, immediately escorted me through the front business class cabin to my seat. The new Swiss first class is receiving many plaudits, and rightly so, but the “old” first class still hits the mark.
Many people comment that the cabin is drab, but I like the feel that the colours and the layout convey, of quiet efficiency. Typically Swiss, perhaps, and a world away from the gaudy, gold plated interiors of certain Middle Eastern and Asian carriers.
Today we would be looked after by 2 female crew, both of whom came to personally welcome me onboard. Their warmth and friendliness told me that this would be a very enjoyable flight, and throughout they did their utmost to make me comfortable. Crew in Swiss First are invariably excellent, and whenever I am in F, I really do feel that the crew are dedicated to giving passengers the best possible experience, from keeping my glass topped up, to enthusing about my destination, to persuading me to sample many different causes, and encouraging me to have the extra Sprungli praline with my Nespresso. I really cannot think of a better way to fly.
True to form, a glass of champagne (Pommery Cuvee Louise 1998) soon appeared.
Followed by amuses bouches…
Today I was in 1A, and there would be 3 passengers in First today, which made for a very personalised service.
The amenity kits were then given (Bally bag with La Prairie products) and pyjamas- I love the Van Laack pyjamas that Swiss have. Hot towels and menus were also distributed as we pushed back on time.
Bellinzona- the new A333.
We headed north east, over Lake Konstanz towards the Czech Republic and Poland, and the Baltic.
The tables are simply huge!
The “Taste of Switzerland” menu: Scwhyz Canton
Video programming started with Japanese news
Next came a surprise that was not on the menu- a sushi course! It was delicious, and beautifully presented. The sushi is actually catered by a leading Japanese restaurant in Zurich. A good start to the trip.
Appetisers are served in the old fashioned way, from a trolley-, which means that you can sample a bit of everything. I opted for the Balik salmon, which was truly excellent.
Although I had not asked for it, I was then served the tomato consommé with basil ice cream- sounds weird, but was in fact totally delicious.
>
This really was excellent. Next came the salad course, again mixed individually from the trolley. There were all sorts of exotic enhancements available, but I tend to like simple salads…
By now, we were over Poland and heading for the Baltic States
I decided to eschew the fillet of beef that was on offer as a main, and opted for the Thai green chicken curry. It was excellent; beautifully spiced and subtly flavoured.
The cheese course is always a highlight on Swiss, and the crew always know a lot about the cheeses on offer. This is one of the 2 plates of cheese that I managed to eat:
After such indulgence, I had to wimp out and go for a lighter dessert of Chriesibragel: warm cherry compote with elderflower ice cream, washed down with a ’98 Sauternes.
Coffee is another highlight up front on LX- Nespresso, with Sprungli chocolates. The perfect end to the meal.
Heading for St. Petersburg
Given the light load, I was offered the choice of having my bed made up in a neighbouring seat. I changed into my pyjamas and settled down for the night. The bed is very comfortable, and duvet and pillows are reminiscent of hotels, not of aeroplanes, and give a very comfortable night’s sleep.
Throughout the flight, the crew repeatedly checked the cabin in case anything was needed. Water bottles were regularly refereshed throughout the night, and when I woke up, there was a glass of orange juice at my seat.
I slept for a few hours and woke up over Siberia.
One minor moan that I will have about Swiss is that the movie selection is generally poor.
Getting nearer to Japan
Russian Far East
As we neared the Sea of Japan, breakfast was served.
There was a hot option of omelette with sausage, but I had already eaten too much.
On approach to Narita
The ANA and JAL tails told me that I had finally made it to Japan.
Narita airport is well designed and easy to transit from the passenger’s perspective. The queues for immigration were not too long, and there were Japanese immigration staff actually helping travellers to complete their forms, and congratulating passengers who had completed their forms correctly. (US and UK immigration staff, take note!)
My bag was one of the first on the belt, and within minutes I was on the Airport Limousine bus, bound for my hotel.
I won’t bore you too much about my trip. Japan is an amazing place. The people are wonderful, and Japan is the most amazing collision of ultra modernity and tradition. I am already planning my next trip back.
My trip took me to Tokyo, Nagano, Hakone, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima.
Here are some random photos from the trip.
Shibuya
Cubic watermelon- about £95!
Tokyo
Shinkansen
Kyoto
Osaka
Hiroshima
Of course., for us plane geeks, no trip to Tokyo is complete without a trip to Haneda. Haneda airport is just a few kilometres from downtown Tokyo, and easily accessible by train or monorail.
Currently there are 2 terminals. Terminal 1 is the JAL stronghold; Terminal 2 is the preserve of ANA. An international terminal is currently under construction.
Terminal 1 does not really feel like an airport at all. It has more of the ambience of an upmarket department store.
There are many high quality shopping outlets, just in case withdrawal from shopping sets in whilst waiting for a flight.
Check in area
In both terminals there are JAL or ANA sponsored shops, selling all kinds of airline memorabilia from aprons and pens to models and flight bags. These are the kind of shops that make the average a.netter hyperventilate!
Haneda has to be one of the best airports in the world for spotting. The terminal 1 viewing area offers great views. There is a café nearby and seating. It seemed very popular with families.
As I mentioned, T1 is JAL territory, and it was wonderful to have so many opportunities to spot the A300-600: my all time favourite plane, and increasingly rare in Europe.
For the moment, Asiana is one of the few foreign interlopers at Haneda…
After a while, I hopped onto the free transfer bus over to Terminal 2. As a slave to Star Alliance, I felt much more at home on ANA territory! ☺ Terminal 2 is more modern, and feels more like an airport than T1. The observation terrace also offers better views.
It was my last day in Tokyo, and I decided to check out the Norimono Club- an aircraft model shop in central Tokyo. It has a great selection , including some highly rare models, but at eye watering prices. Well worth a visit if you are in Tokyo. I did treat myself to an ANA Pokemon 747-400D. Just couldn’t resist.
Early next morning I was back at Narita, heading home.
First, Business and Economy have their own dedicated areas in Terminal 2 at Narita. I was alone in checking in at the Swiss First Class counters, but the neighbouring Lufthansa First Class counter was quite busy.
My bags were checked through to Heathrow, and I was given an invitation to the ANA First Class Lounge, and a welcome letter from the Swiss Station Manager.
Security was quiet this early on Sunday morning. I did some spotting, and saw the Swiss flight arriving from Zurich.
I had a quick look at the shops and then headed for the ANA lounge.
As I entered the lounge, the 4 ladies staffing the desk bowed in unison. I was going to miss Japan!
The First Class lounge was quite empty. The staff were simply amazing- totally dedicated to making guests feel comfortable and at home. The lounge had a Western style buffet, plus sushi bar.
Refreshments, plus the ubiquitous cooling towel
The lounge also offered excellent views over the ramp and departing runway.
A lounge attendant came to tell me that it was time for boarding, and thanked me for visiting the lounge, wishing me a pleasant flight.
LX161 Sunday, 16th August
Dep NRT: 10.25
Arr ZRH: 15.55
A340-300 HB-JME
I headed to the gate. I really was leaving Japan…
The moment that I stepped back on board, I was already back in Switzerland. I received the customary welcome from the First crew, followed by both the Maitre de Cabine and the Captain, who passed by to say hello.
The champagne was flowing as I settled in for the 12 hour journey back to Zurich. This time I was in 1k. There were 3 other passengers, one of whom was the husband of a crew member.
The view from 1K
Star Alliance territory
Menus, hot towels, amenity kits and pyjamas were handed out.
As we taxied, I took the opportunity to snap a few more Japanese tails…
Laden with fuel, I experienced the usual, lethargic take off performance of the A340.
Again, programming commenced with the news in Japanese.
As we crossed the sea of Japan, the meal service began.
Amuse bouche
Appetisers were served from the cart, and despite only asking for the salmon, I was persuaded to have a selection of starters, all of which were excellent.
The main menu choices were Fillet of Beef, Guinea Fowl or Pumpkin, Ricotta and Spinach Ravioli in Saffron Sauce. I opted for the Ravioli, and it was superb.
Cheese plate
Overflying the Russian Far East
Dessert was Chocolate Fondant with Japanese Green Tea Ice Cream:
After an excellent meal, during which it was so hard to resist the encouragement of the crew to overindulge completely, it was time to get some sleep.
I had one of the best sleeps that I ever had on a plane.
Again, my only complaint is the rather lamentable film selection onboard. I was reduced to watching “The Island”, that turkey featuring Ewan Mc Gregor and Scarlett Johanssen. Desperation had obviously set in.
At one point, my system needed rebooting, and I was reminded just how old the system on the A340 is!
That’s better!
Soon it was time for the pre-arrival meal. Again, this was excellent.
The salad was good, but ruined as it was drenched in dressing
Veal Medaillons with Pernod Sauce and Squid Ink Fettucine
Please don’t leave the box!
Not sure which airport this was? Stuttgart?
We touched down at Zurich ahead of schedule. One small gripe about travelling in First on LX is that there is no van service for arriving passengers. I made my way to the First Lounge, where I had a couple of hours to kill before my onward flight to London.
By now I was feeling quite tired and I decided to take a shower. The showers in the First Class lounge are well appointed and I felt better after taking a shower.
The First class lounge is a haven of tranquillity. In addition to the bar and restaurant service, there is an excellent selection of food and drinks at the buffet.
There are also excellent views of the ramp, runways and E terminal.
Contact Air F100
F100 heaven!
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