Showing posts with label Switzerland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Switzerland. Show all posts

1/07/2016

Swiss Air


Swissair, Switzerland's national airline, ceased operations in 2002. Swiss Air or Swiss, is an unrelated company that shares much of the philosophy of the former airline. As they say:
 The national airline embodies Swiss values such as "personal service", "in-depth quality" and "typical Swiss hospitality". 
It sounds great...  

Swiss reminds me of Lufthansa in many things.  Ha!

I have been traveling with them quite a lot recently because they offer great prices and flexibility for multiple-stopover trips (without the need of buying an around-the-world ticket). They have good planes, a good entertainment system, but the rest is all a happy medium regarding comfort, meals and service on board for intercontinental travelers, and an average for inter-European short ones. 

My first flight with Swissair was an inter-European one to Switzerland, and I had a very good experience; I was lucky enough to enjoy views with the tops of high mountains almost at my fingertips. Utterly beautiful and an awesome experience.  

My trips with Swiss Air have been carried by the carrier itself or by other Star Alliance members, mostly Thai and Singapore Airlines from/to Australia. However, I have found that the partnership, at least with South African Airlines was not good, and the conditions of the trip were those of the latter and not those of Swiss, even though the ticket was purchased with and issued by Swiss. 

I have never had any trouble with the airline, so I don't know how they behave when customers experience lost luggage or delayed planes or missed connections. 

Overall, I am happy to flight with them, but I am never excited to do so, because there are other airlines doing better job than they do, but they get me because they are usually cheaper. Another ha!  
 
 
NOV 2022 UPDATE - GONE DOWNHILL
I traveled with the airline recently as part of a multi-airline intercontinental trip. I don't know if this is the after-effect of COVID, but the airline has gone downhill in all fronts. Poor customer service. Average entertainment system. Poor food. I was unfriendly unhelpful flight attendants. Not comfortable flights. Some of the European segments had flights delayed and no reason or apology given to customers. I had a very small computer trolley bag pack, way smaller than the average cabin suitcase. I was targeted at the Zurich airport as not being able to take it into the cabin as I was also carrying a small handbag. Nobody else was addressed. There were people carrying double the size and two items on to the cabin without a problem. addressed in publish in a form that had the whole customer seating area focusing on me, that is, without tact or elegance. Really rude and unfriendly staff, who won't help you with anything and don't know what smile means. If the airline represent the country, I feel bad for the Swiss, because the airline gives a really sub-par 3rd-world country impression. Not enough flight attendants to attend a long-haul flight. Terrible experience and I will avoid them from now on, as much as possible. Yes, they have cheaper flights than most European companies, but you understand why when you travel with them. There are small European airlines providing better service than they do. 

1/21/2013

Zurich Airport Dayrooms & Rest Area (Switzerland)

Zurich Airport Dayrooms & Rest Area
Ph.: +41 (0)43 816 21 08
Booking email
(Photo courtesy of the Zurich Airport's Website)

PROS 
+ Very easy to find within the airport.
+ They have rest rooms with long-chairs, and proper rooms (single, double or family). 
+ Wonderful lady at the desk, at least the day I visited. You won't find a friendlier person in the whole airport. Danke! 
+ Spotless clean facilities.
+ Comfortable room with a small bed, water basin, TV, several wall hooks to hung your clothing and little more.  
+ Seconds away from several budget restaurants.
+ Fair value for money - You pay for what you get. Still, I found the prices very cheap, having into account that this is Switzerland and Europe.
+ Simple but comfortable lounge area with computers, flights monitors and papers.
+ Wake-up call available.
+ They provide one-hour free Internet.
+ You can book by email. Mention your complete name, nationality, and flight details (date, time, flight number) of your arriving/departing aircraft. 


CONS
- This is more a good backpacker facility than a proper hotel. Dayrooms really describe what this place is. It serves a function if you need to stay a few hours. However, if you need to stay overnight, go outside.
- Bathrooms and showers are on the corridor, not inside the rooms. They are separated for women/men, though.
- You must pass a Police check-up counter  to enter and leave the area, and must show your passport each time. That is a bother.
- To get your free Internet hour, you need to register your mobile number and your password will be delivered by SMS. Why making things so difficult for just 1-hr? This is so last century!
- The toiletries in the room are reduced to a sachet of soap and 2 towels. The bathrooms have dispensers of body wash and soap. You can purchase very cheap amenities sets at the front desk, and hire more towels, robe and stuff like that if you stay overnight.
- The single room and its bed could be a bit small for you if you are a big person or very tall.