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Maps generated by theGreat Circle Mapper -copyright © Karl L. Swartz.

Videos related to this report
Swiss | Airbus A320 | LGW-GVA | Economy: https://youtu.be/OfWijit1tik
Swiss | Airbus A319 | GVA-CPH | Business: https://youtu.be/KylJidVYSME
SAS | Airbus A320 | CPH-LHR | SAS Go: https://youtu.be/-wIrI-eMMmQ

Back in September 2014, I was informed that Swiss were having a pretty good sale. The best bargain to be had was on their flights between Geneva and Copenhagen - with ticket prices at around £25 for their business class cabin. Fellow a.netter Gabriel asked if I wanted to join him on a date in December - I did, however as I had long run out of leave from work by then, I had to decline his offer. I still looked at other dates though, as I’d heard great things about their airlines Business Class. I eventually settled on a date in mid January on the GVA-CPH sector.



This left a slight issue - I don't live in either Geneva or Copenhagen! No matter. I decided to fly out to Geneva the previous day and I studied various options. The previously mentioned Swiss sale meant that LX were once again the cheapest on the LON-GVA route - with a decently timed flight on their seasonal Gatwick operation.



Although it still cost more for Y than for the following days J class ticket…



The final piece of the puzzle was to find my way back from Copenhagen. SAS came in with the best flight times and prices, so they were the winner. Also, a (very) slight bonus would be that this flight would be operated by the A320 - so far I’d only been on SK 737’s. It would also be my first time using T2 at LHR.



So the final map looked like this:



So a trio of Star Alliance flights for the weekend. A bit of a culture shock as I’m firmly planted in the OneWorld ecosystem. Still, it made a change from the seemingly endless BA flights I took in the final months of 2014.

On to the journey then:

I took a pretty empty train to Gatwick, arriving at around 8AM.


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Close enough I guess…

I headed over to the Swiss check in area to grab a souvenir boarding pass, before heading through security.


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Security was an experience. Once I'd reached the front of the queue, the machine had a bit of a technical glitch, therefore everybody had to give up and head over to another queue. The staff said we would be given priority but it seemed like this priority was only granted once the people at the front of said queue had passed through - the whole experience taking around thirty minutes.


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Once I was through, I had a choice of two lounges to access via my Airport Angel card - the Aspire lounge and the No.1 Lounge. I opted for the Aspire lounge as I'd not been in that one before. I was given a half hearted welcome and once I was in, it was small, busy and there were virtually no views to be had.


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At least they had bacon rolls


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After around thirty minutes, I surrendered to the No.1 lounge...



Except I was told that they didn't accept airport angel. Funny, they did on my last visit. Plan C then was to grab a drink from the Bridge Bar.



That didn't work out either as it had transformed into a Nandos since my last visit, so I sat and used Gatwick's pretty slow wifi to check in for my flight from GVA-CPH the following day.



It appeared that the cabin had shrunk from five rows to just two in the last few days.



Once I had done this it was more or less time to head down to gate 24.



Once there, I was finally able to get some view of the action outside. And as the area was more or less deserted, no issues with photography either.


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G-VROM back in action after its mishap a few weeks previously.

Boarding started around fifteen minutes later.

LX363
LGW-GVA
January 2015
Airbus A320 / HB-IJU
Seat: 14A/ Economy
Scheduled: 10:10/12:45
Off Stand: 10:03
On Stand: 12:31

I made my way on board and got comfortable.


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A few moments later, the boarding complete announcement was given and I'd managed to score the entire row to myself.



We pushed back around ten minutes ahead of schedule and made the short journey over to the runway.


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Once we were there, it became apparent that ATC were sending the heavies off in one go, so we waited for ten minutes. During which time I had a great view of Golden Girl passing by.



Once the bigger guys had left, we ambled forwards on to the runway and lifted off into some initially clear skies, that soon turned grey.


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As we passed through the bad stuff, the seatbelt sign was turned off and the crew started their service, a choice of a cheese sandwich or nothing. Still, it was better than the birdseed that BA dish up. I also asked for some "tea" and a water to wash it down with.



I'm not too sure what was going on with the tea but the cheese sandwich was very tasty.


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Meanwhile, I took the time to update the report and listen to a bit of Royal Blood.



For the rest of the flight, I took advantage of there being nobody behind and reclined whilst watching the various Swiss scenes on the overhead screens.


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Descent started around thirty minutes prior to arrival.



The famous Swiss chocolates were handed out a few moments later



There wasn't much to be seen until on very short finals.


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Once we did land, it was a short journey over to our remote stand.



Once we did arrive, everybody was up instantly despite the seatbelt sign still being on due to one of the engines still running.



Once the remaining engine was shut down, the whole aircraft was plunged into darkness.



The lights soon came on again though, and it was down the steps and on to a bus to the terminal.


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Passport control was a little busy, but it still only took around ten minutes or so. Once I was in, I grabbed a free train ticket from the machine in baggage claim and headed off to find a train to the city.


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As I still had a couple of hours or so until I could check in to my hotel, I took a look around the city.


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Like most cities, the old town was of most interest.


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I then made my way to the Design Hotel F6 where I had reserved a room for the evening.



During which time I checked in for the following days SK flight.


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Some more shots of the city after dark.


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Early the next morning, my alarm was sounding at 06:00. I got ready and headed out to the station to make the six minute journey to the airport.


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Once there, I grabbed a souvenir boarding pass from the LX business desk. There was a family ahead of me with a whole load of suitcases, yet the two agents on the first dest continued to sit there chatting amongst themselves rather than call me forward.


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A few moments later, I met up with fellow trip reporter Signol, who by coincidence happened to be on the same flight as me.



We passed through security and made our way up to the lounge for breakfast.


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After around thirty minutes, we headed off to the first class lounge, courtesy of Signol's Star Gold card - thanks for that! The first lounge was more or less the same as the business lounge, although smaller and busier. They had a few more food offerings but not too much.



After this, we made our way down to the gate. A plane pulled on to stand and it became apparent there would be a bit of a delay - although as far as we could hear there wasn't any announcement made.


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Boarding commenced at around 09:00, but we were then held on the jet bridge for a good ten minutes.

LX1286
GVA-CPH
January 2015
Airbus A319 / HB-IPU
Seat: 2A / Business
Scheduled: 09:00/11:00
Off Stand: 09:22
On Stand: 11:26

Once we finally did make it on board, it turned out that there were just three of us in business - so almost an a.net private cabin!



I was handed a bottle of water and a wet wipe and asked if I wanted a newspaper. Flight time was announced as an hour and forty minutes.



We pushed back twenty minutes or so behind schedule.



It was then a pretty quick taxi over to the active, where we joined a pretty long queue for takeoff.



We finally did make it into the misty air forty minutes or so late.


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After takeoff we were treated to some very good views of the surrounding area.


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Shortly after departure the meal service began. At around the same time the captain made an announcement - I couldn't really understand much of what was being said, but he did apologise for the delay.



There wasn't any choice in meal selection - other than the bread.



I initially didn't want to risk the tea again, but I then noticed Signol received a mug with its own bag and two chocolates. I figured if I could make my own maybe it wouldn't be quite so bad? I ordered some and it came from the usual airline style tin tea pot - so the lukewarm milky mess I had on my previous flight. And I didn't get any chocolates…


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The rest of the flight was spent in seat 2D talking to Signol who was seated in 2F. During which the purser did the rounds with the chocolate basket.



Descent started around thirty minutes before landing, so I made my way back to my own seat.



There wasn't too much to be seen on approach due to the cloud cover.



We touched down and made our way over to the A gates, disembarking a few moments later.


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After a brief stop at the Transfer centre to get some boarding passes, we had a brief look at what was around.


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Before heading up to the SAS lounge, where Robin once again guested me in - thanks once again.


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Decent enough food options - including meatballs, salad, bread and cheese.


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We grabbed a pair of seats in a quiet corner and spent the next couple of hours chatting.



At around 14:00, I made my way through passport control and along to gate D102 where a pretty lonely looking A320 was waiting.


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As it turns out, this particular one is no stranger to LHR, having started its life with British Midland back in 2001 as G-MIDV. In somewhat of a coincidence, a few moments later, former sister ship G-MIDT (now wearing a BA uniform) pulled on to the adjacent stand.

SK505
CPH-LHR
January 2015
Airbus A320 / SE-RJF
Seat: 19F / SAS Go
Scheduled: 14:50/16:00
Off Stand: 14:48
On Stand: 15:40

Boarding began, and was completed pretty quickly. Initially there was somebody sat in the aisle, although they quickly moved, meaning I had the row to myself again.


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The flying time was expected to be an hour and a half.



We pushed back a couple of minutes early and headed over to the runway, departing pretty quickly.


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We were into some clouds soon after.



And just a few moments after that, we emerged from them again.


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Soon after, I watched a couple of episodes of Family Guy on my iPad.



During which time the Drinks service was performed, with seconds offered a few moments later.


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I stuck with the iPad until a few moments before descent started.


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We took the scenic route past London, which was lit up brilliantly in the low winter sunlight before touching down on to 27L.


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After we landed, the captain appeared a little lost... (I'm sure he wasn't though). Instead of taking a right in the direction of T2, we turned right and headed off in the direction of T5. Once we reached T5C, we did a U turn and headed off in the right direction.


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We pulled in next to an A3 A321, and as it turned out we were parked on probably the nearest stand to border control.


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From leaving the plane to seeing the sculpture out the front took around five minutes at the most due to there being no queue at all at the E passport machines. It was then through the tunnel to the bus station.


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And with that, my first trip of 2015 was at an end.

Swiss continue to impress, and I'm glad I had the chance to try their business class cabin - the only slight complaint was that they could have offered a little more for breakfast - but maybe I'm being a little picky.

Same goes for SAS - if you can find a decent fare, then they're a very good airline with friendly crew and a decent lounge, at least at CPH.

Next up from me is a trip to Latvia with a combo of Sun Air and Air Baltic:



Followed by heading down to South America with BA in First and Avianca in business, with a couple of connecting flights in between to join the dots:



And then a trip around Germany in May with BA and AB:



Previous trip reports

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Oz 2014 6: Back To Asia: VS A346 Upper Class SYD-HKG (by jwhite9185 Aug 1 2014 in Trip Reports)
Oz 2014 5: A Qantas Widebody To SYD. 763 BNE-SYD (by jwhite9185 Jul 22 2014 in Trip Reports)
Oz 2014 4: Oz Domestic, VA MEL-SYD-BNE 738/E190 (by jwhite9185 Jul 7 2014 in Trip Reports)
Oz 2014 3: Heading Down Under With MH 737/A333 (by jwhite9185 Jun 26 2014 in Trip Reports)
Oz 2014 2: Qatar Business BCN-DOH-SIN A333/77W (by jwhite9185 Jun 10 2014 in Trip Reports)
Oz 2014 1: Positioning LGW-BCN With EasyJet (by jwhite9185 May 26 2014 in Trip Reports)
Salzburg With BA In Club On The 737-400.March 2014 (by jwhite9185 May 11 2014 in Trip Reports)
The Red Nosed Way To Faro. LGW-OSL-FAO-LGW DY/BA (by jwhite9185 Apr 28 2014 in Trip Reports)
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The EZY Way To Catch A LAN 787 LGW-MAD-FRA-ARN-LHR (by jwhite9185 Feb 21 2014 in Trip Reports)
Trains, Planes And… Boats? ZRH A.net Meet (by jwhite9185 Feb 5 2014 in Trip Reports)
Asia 4: Heading Home On An A380 KUL-LHR (by jwhite9185 Jan 20 2014 in Trip Reports)
Asia 3: JAL 767 To Kuala Lumpur NRT-KUL (by jwhite9185 Jan 10 2014 in Trip Reports)
Asia 2:Catching A Cathay Pacific 747 To Tokyo In F (by jwhite9185 Dec 22 2013 in Trip Reports)
Asia 1: A Journey Of Epic Proportions LHR-KUL-HKG (by jwhite9185 Dec 8 2013 in Trip Reports)
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USA 2013 Pt 5: AA & BA's New WTP MCO-MIA-ATL-LHR (by jwhite9185 Jun 25 2013 in Trip Reports)
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Nice report James - good that you and Robin ended up on the same flights. My flights were fairly similar to yours, although I flew out LHR-CPH on BA, then GVA-LCY on LX.

The Swiss meals I think tend to be nice, but certainly more of a snack, than a "full service meal". He's what I got on 1140 departure CPH-GVA.

Hi James!


Another nice report, glad you were able to book the super cheap J class fare out of GVA, for me it didn't work sadly..
Also the fare ex LGW was quite cheap, I think Easyjet makes life a bit more difficult for SWISS out of GVA.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Thread starter): After around thirty minutes, we headed off to the first class lounge, courtesy of Signol's Star Gold card - thanks for that! The first lounge was more or less the same as the business lounge, although smaller and busier. They had a few more food offerings but not too much.

I am so annoyed of this, really. In ZRH, you sometimes have to wait outside because the Star Gold lounge is too crowded, while the business lounge is empty.....Does BA have the same problem that the Emerald lounges are more crowded then the Sapphire ones?

However, the service on the LX flight in business looks nice as always, also nice that you had such a light load.

The food of the SAS lounge looks horrible as usual, I just don't like the loungeconcept of SK......



greetings
Elias

Gabriel,

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 4): Nice report James

Cheers,

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 4): good that you and Robin ended up on the same flights.

Sheer coincidence!

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 4): The Swiss meals I think tend to be nice, but certainly more of a snack

Quality over quantity there.

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 4): He's what I got on 1140 departure CPH-GVA.

Looks decent enough. Better than the BA champagne brunch or whatever they call it.

Elias,

Quoting emek96 (Reply 5): Another nice report

Thanks,

Quoting emek96 (Reply 5): glad you were able to book the super cheap J class fare out of GVA, for me it didn't work sadly..

Shame, it was a great deal.

Quoting emek96 (Reply 5): I am so annoyed of this, really. In ZRH, you sometimes have to wait outside because the Star Gold lounge is too crowded, while the business lounge is empty

Cant you go to the business lounge?

Quoting emek96 (Reply 5): Does BA have the same problem that the Emerald lounges are more crowded then the Sapphire ones?

If anything its the opposite - at least at LHR. The F lounge is more a BA Gold/OW Emerald lounge as all the pax who are actually flying in F can use the Concorde room. Where as the business lounge has to cater for Club World, Club Europe and Sapphire card holders.

Quoting emek96 (Reply 5): The food of the SAS lounge looks horrible as usual, I just don't like the loungeconcept of SK......

It was good enough...

Great TR. I have been seeing so many trips on LX and i makes me really want to fly them   . Very luck that you got cheap buisness class tickets on the flight . Anyways amazing TR  

Enjoyed the report as usual James,

That Swiss Business fare was great, must keep an eye out for them if they come around again, but that tea! did they just show it a tea bag.

The legroom on SAS didn't look to bad either, hoping to get a couple of flights on them myself later in the year.

lesfalls,

Quoting lesfalls (Reply 7): Great TR.

Thanks,

Quoting lesfalls (Reply 7): I have been seeing so many trips on LX and i makes me really want to fly them

I've flown them a few times now and all flights have been pretty good.

Shuttle12T

Quoting Shuttle12T (Reply 8): Enjoyed the report as usual James,

Thanks, glad you enjoyed.

Quoting Shuttle12T (Reply 8): That Swiss Business fare was great, must keep an eye out for them if they come around again

Yeah, great value - even for an economy fare!

Quoting Shuttle12T (Reply 8): but that tea! did they just show it a tea bag.

I'm beginning to wonder! Only time I've had worse was on EK.

Quoting Shuttle12T (Reply 8): The legroom on SAS didn't look to bad either, hoping to get a couple of flights on them myself later in the year.

Yeah it wasn't too bad but the seats were a little on the thin side. I wouldn't want to spend longer than a couple of hours in them.

Great trip report! I loved all the great pics. Thanks for sharing your travels with us.

Hi James,

nice report with good pictures as usual! What a great deal you got.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Thread starter): Once we finally did make it on board, it turned out that there were just three of us in business - so almost an a.net private cabin!

Reminds me of my GVA-AGP flight in January 2014 - I was the one and only passenger in a rather big A320 Business cabin.


PH

Hey James  

Nice report. Of course Swiss being my most ever flown airline with over 100 J class sectors its all very familiar to me. The one reason I love them is the service and product. I have never been via GVA though as it was always ZRH. Great that Robin could go with you and guest you in via the A3 Gold card  

On the longer breakfast flights such as ZRH-DUB they serve a proper hot meal alongside with bakery items.
An example here :



Always had great flights with Swiss and due to do some in the not too distant future so can't wait  

SK I also like their lounges are not the best but not the worst either. Aspire at LGW is for me not very Aspiring. Their new BHD one is much nicer with views. No. 1 LGW was there week before last and as usual loved it. I was not aware that they had stopped the deal with Airport Angel as I was using my ST Elite Plus on UX.

Thanks for report.

Regards

Philip  

Hello James,
A nice report again, as always. A cheap fare to try out Swiss in Europe J indeed, although I agree the meal does seem quite simple. But for the rest Swiss offers a very decent product indeed. The flight on SK looks good, and one get never get enough of those views of London.
Looking forward to reading about these other trips you have planned!
Robert

Hey J,

Good thing you and signol took advantage of that ultra cheap C class fare on Swiss. Did you receive any miles may I ask? Good for you to have a change from the usual BA flights too! This would be more a trip up my alley, on Star Alliance I mean  
Seemingly a bit of inconsistency there on Swiss, with the tea and chocs? For the rest, you know perfectly well what to expect - just like on BA I assume. SAS gets the job done with free tea and coffee, nice views over the London area and a whole row to stretch out. Looking fwd to the next one!

Sultanils

DDR,

Quoting DDR (Reply 10): Great trip report! I loved all the great pics. Thanks for sharing your travels with us.

Thanks,

PH,

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 11): nice report with good pictures as usual!

Thanks,

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 11): What a great deal you got.

Very good deal!

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 11): Reminds me of my GVA-AGP flight in January 2014 - I was the one and only passenger in a rather big A320 Business cabin.

Yeah, I was the one and only passenger on a BA flight in J back in November - great service!

Philip,

Quoting OA260 (Reply 12): Nice report.

Cheers,

Quoting OA260 (Reply 12): Of course Swiss being my most ever flown airline with over 100 J class sectors its all very familiar to me.

Impressive!

Quoting OA260 (Reply 12): The one reason I love them is the service and product.

Yeah they're a decent airline - even in Y.

Quoting OA260 (Reply 12): Great that Robin could go with you and guest you in via the A3 Gold card

Yeah good to see another *A lounge - I don't get to see too many of them, but they seem a little better than most of the OW ones I've visited.

Quoting OA260 (Reply 12): On the longer breakfast flights such as ZRH-DUB they serve a proper hot meal alongside with bakery items.

Is ZRH-DUB that much longer than GVA-CPH? Our flight took 1h40 - I'd imagine ZRH-DUB would be around the same?

Quoting OA260 (Reply 12): SK I also like their lounges are not the best but not the worst either.

This one was good enough.

Quoting OA260 (Reply 12): Aspire at LGW is for me not very Aspiring.

I don't think I'll be visiting again...

Quoting OA260 (Reply 12): No. 1 LGW was there week before last and as usual loved it.

The two that I've been in - both LGW South and North are pretty good. Yet to try any others.

Robert,

Quoting roberts87 (Reply 13): A nice report again, as always.

Thanks,

Quoting roberts87 (Reply 13): A cheap fare to try out Swiss in Europe J indeed, although I agree the meal does seem quite simple.

I guess I got what I paid for.

Quoting roberts87 (Reply 13): and one get never get enough of those views of London.

Hmm, I've become a bit immune to them now.

Quoting roberts87 (Reply 13): Looking forward to reading about these other trips you have planned!

I'm looking forward to taking them. Although the trip to Latvia has long been and gone...

Nils,

Quoting sultanils (Reply 14): Good thing you and signol took advantage of that ultra cheap C class fare on Swiss.

Yeah, glad I did. Good weekend.

Quoting sultanils (Reply 14): Did you receive any miles may I ask?

Yes, they awarded the same as a full flex Y fare.

Quoting sultanils (Reply 14): Good for you to have a change from the usual BA flights too!

Yeah! Although they're slowly creeping back in again...

Quoting sultanils (Reply 14): This would be more a trip up my alley, on Star Alliance I mean

I've got a few more *A flights coming up in the next month.

Quoting sultanils (Reply 14): Seemingly a bit of inconsistency there on Swiss, with the tea and chocs?

Different crew members dishing it out. Robin was served by the purser, I wasn't.

Quoting sultanils (Reply 14): For the rest, you know perfectly well what to expect - just like on BA I assume.

Really they should all be pretty consistent with their competitors.

Quoting sultanils (Reply 14): SAS gets the job done with free tea and coffee

I have a bit of a soft spot for them for some unknown reason.

Quoting sultanils (Reply 14): nice views over the London area and a whole row to stretch out.

Having the whole row to yourself always makes a difference I find.

Hi James,

nice report here, well done to take advantage of this great offer by Swiss. They certainly are a wonderful airline, I only had two flights with them in eco a couple of years ago, but was also quite impressed by the service back then. Just a shame that you didn't receive a proper tea, when apparently signol did. But at least they distributed their nice chocolates later.

And finally a nice flight with SAS, with great views over London on the approach.

Thanks a lot for putting this together
CaptainRed

CaptainRed,

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 16): Hi James, nice report here

Thanks,

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 16): well done to take advantage of this great offer by Swiss

Yes, glad I could take advantage of it.

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 16): They certainly are a wonderful airline, I only had two flights with them in eco a couple of years ago, but was also quite impressed by the service back then.

Yeah, I've had a few flights with them now (five I think?) and they've all been very good.

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 16): Just a shame that you didn't receive a proper tea, when apparently signol did.

True, but that was the only minor point of the flights.

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 16): But at least they distributed their nice chocolates later.

And I did grab a hand full!

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 16): And finally a nice flight with SAS

Again, no complaints there.

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 16): Thanks a lot for putting this together

No problem.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Thread starter): I was informed that Swiss were having a pretty good sale. The best bargain to be had was on their flights between Geneva and Copenhagen - with ticket prices at around £25 for their business class cabin. Fellow a.netter Gabriel asked

Were you informed here on a.net, or? I really should have taken the opportunity, living close to CPH!

Nice trip report, thanks for sharing. Funny meeting up with a.netters!

Pelle,

Quoting Pelle (Reply 18): Were you informed here on a.net, or?

No, a friend told me.

Quoting Pelle (Reply 18): I really should have taken the opportunity, living close to CPH!

Yeah you missed out there!

Quoting Pelle (Reply 18): Nice trip report, thanks for sharing.

No problem.

Great quality as always!

invaders,

Quoting invaders (Reply 20): Great quality as always!

Thanks, glad you enjoyed.

Another great trip report and always enjoy your photos.

James.

Another good read, that was quite a bargain fare on business! I must keep an eye for them lol.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Thread starter): Close enough I guess…

Haha! I guess Gatwick has not received the memo that SR went under... in 2001...

LX service looks good as usual as well as the lounges, I still need to log SK but their fares are quite expensive from BCN.

Once again, nice read and pictures, looking forward to reading about the South American adventure!

MIAspotter.

luv2fly,

Quoting luv2fly (Reply 22): Another great trip report and always enjoy your photos.

Thanks,

Christian,

Quoting MIAspotter (Reply 23): Another good read

Cheers!

Quoting MIAspotter (Reply 23): that was quite a bargain fare on business! I must keep an eye for them lol.

Well they were pretty well known about...

Quoting MIAspotter (Reply 23): I guess Gatwick has not received the memo that SR went under... in 2001...

I'm guessing not. Or just cheaper to use an old sticker and leave everybody to figure it out for themselves.

Quoting MIAspotter (Reply 23): LX service looks good as usual as well as the lounges

Yeah, all of the LX lounges I've been in have been pretty good.

Quoting MIAspotter (Reply 23): I still need to log SK but their fares are quite expensive from BCN.

Really?! Strange, as BCN is normally the cheapest place to fly from - at least every time I've looked. Hence starting last years trip from there.

Quoting MIAspotter (Reply 23): Once again, nice read and pictures

Thanks again.

Quoting MIAspotter (Reply 23): looking forward to reading about the South American adventure!

Yes, just a couple of days until departure now.

Hi James,

Well, Swiss & bargain are usually two words that don't go well together. Well done on taking advantage of the excellent deal in J. I looked into it but couldn't make the timings work for a daytrip.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Thread starter): Although it still cost more for Y than for the following days J class ticket…

Still a bargain though   

Quoting jwhite9185 (Thread starter): That didn't work out either as it had transformed into a Nandos since my last visit, so

Good job you had a Plan D (and E and F...)

Quoting jwhite9185 (Thread starter): As we passed through the bad stuff, the seatbelt sign was turned off and the crew started their service, a choice of a cheese sandwich or nothing

It seems to depend on the route as to whether you get a choice or not. On a recent DUS-ZRH flight there were only meat sandwiches: the old cliche that all Germans eat meat. The cabin crew said that on the UK routes mots people want cheese.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Thread starter): I'm not too sure what was going on with the tea but

The only airline to make a proper cuppa in the sky is easyJet imo.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Thread starter): There was a family ahead of me with a whole load of suitcases, yet the two agents on the first dest continued to sit there chatting amongst themselves rather than call me forward.

Yep, that also sums up my latest LX experience at the ticket desk.

I'd really love to know just how much of a loss LX is making on these GVA routes. EZS got their claws into GVA first and they've made a real success of it.

Happy flying
Infodesk   .

Hannah,

Quoting infodesk (Reply 25): Well, Swiss & bargain are usually two words that don't go well together.

True - especially as it was a couple of days after the Swiss changed the ruling regarding the value against the Euro - meaning my already pricey hotel went up £16 over night!

Quoting infodesk (Reply 25): I looked into it but couldn't make the timings work for a daytrip.

Yes, the flights were at slightly awkward times - which meant I couldn't make a day trip work either. Never mind though as I got to spend some time in Geneva, which is a pleasant enough place.

Quoting infodesk (Reply 25): Still a bargain though

Thats true.

Quoting infodesk (Reply 25): Good job you had a Plan D (and E and F...)

I think the next plan would have been to sit on the floor.

Quoting infodesk (Reply 25): It seems to depend on the route as to whether you get a choice or not. On a recent DUS-ZRH flight there were only meat sandwiches: the old cliche that all Germans eat meat. The cabin crew said that on the UK routes mots people want cheese.

Yet I've never been offered a cheese sandwich on BA. Interesting how different airlines go about things.

Quoting infodesk (Reply 25): The only airline to make a proper cuppa in the sky is easyJet imo.

BA tea is pretty good.

Quoting infodesk (Reply 25): Yep, that also sums up my latest LX experience at the ticket desk.

Shame really.

Quoting infodesk (Reply 25): I'd really love to know just how much of a loss LX is making on these GVA routes. EZS got their claws into GVA first and they've made a real success of it.

It seems pretty much anywhere EZY operate to causes the competition to lose money.

Excellent report as usual James, thank you.

It seemed good to compare Swiss in both Y and J. Y seems to be ok, pretty standard for a legacy carrier these days. J was very good, only a few cm more legroom but very good service! The steward posing with the chocolates for the photo particularly kind.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 1): A few moments later, I met up with fellow trip reporter Signol, who by coincidence happened to be on the same flight as me.

Well, a weekend flight on a bargain fare - there's always a chance of meeting a fellow a.netter!

Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 1): After around thirty minutes, we headed off to the first class lounge, courtesy of Signol's Star Gold card - thanks for that! The first lounge was more or less the same as the business lounge, although smaller and busier. They had a few more food offerings but not too much

Yes, I assume as most Star Golds would come here, and only paying Business Class passengers not Star Gold would use the Business lounge. The only difference I saw really was the ham and cheese.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 2): After takeoff we were treated to some very good views of the surrounding area

The best views of the flight. Especially as the cloud cover filled the view from then on.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 2): Before heading up to the SAS lounge, where Robin once again guested me in - thanks once again.

You're welcome  

Your SAS flight looked pretty much identical to mine, 90 mins later!

Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 3): We pulled in next to an A3 A321, and as it turned out we were parked on probably the nearest stand to border control.

Even down to the same gate  

Thanks again James for the report!

signol

Hi James,

Nice read and pictures, thanks for posting.

It is a number of years since I flew Swiss, but agree the shorter sectors have a weak meal service in business, longer sectors such as ZRH-IST get a much better meal service.

Look forward to reading the South American reports when they make it on line.

Cheers

Mark

LGW to Geneva must be new????

they never used to fly to LGW. Only BA and EasyJet.

Robin,

Quoting signol (Reply 27): Excellent report as usual James

Thanks,

Quoting signol (Reply 27): It seemed good to compare Swiss in both Y and J

Yes - there Y offered a pretty good service. Where as J was a little weaker than what I'd expected.

Quoting signol (Reply 27): Y seems to be ok, pretty standard for a legacy carrier these days.

Depends on which legacy carrier you're talking about...

Quoting signol (Reply 27): The steward posing with the chocolates for the photo particularly kind.

Well I guess he couldn't upset two thirds of the business pax!

Quoting signol (Reply 27): Well, a weekend flight on a bargain fare - there's always a chance of meeting a fellow a.netter!

True, but there were plenty of flights available.

Quoting signol (Reply 27): Yes, I assume as most Star Golds would come here, and only paying Business Class passengers not Star Gold would use the Business lounge.

I guess they have no other options?

Quoting signol (Reply 27): The only difference I saw really was the ham and cheese.

Interestingly enough, it was the opposite model in BOG. The Star Gold lounge was the more basic lounge, where as the Diamond lounge which was only for business pax had the (slightly) better food offering and was far more spacious.

Quoting signol (Reply 27): The best views of the flight.

The only view of the flight!

Quoting signol (Reply 27): Your SAS flight looked pretty much identical to mine, 90 mins later!

Good consistency then.

Quoting signol (Reply 27): Thanks again James for the report!

No problem.

Mark,

Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 28): Nice read and pictures, thanks for posting.

Thanks,

Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 28): It is a number of years since I flew Swiss, but agree the shorter sectors have a weak meal service in business, longer sectors such as ZRH-IST get a much better meal service.

Much like BA then. Band 1 is pretty basic where as band 5 get all the bells, whistles and menus.

Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 28): Look forward to reading the South American reports when they make it on line.

First one should be online in a week or so.

lychemsa,

Quoting lychemsa (Reply 29): LGW to Geneva must be new????

Reasonably - I actually saw the first flight arrive in October 2013. I think its only winter seasonal, so this would have only been its second season.

Quoting lychemsa (Reply 29): they never used to fly to LGW. Only BA and EasyJet.

Guess they decided to grab a slice of the pie too. I actually saw a TOM 767 upon arrival at GVA so I'm guessing there are a few UK charter flights too.