vacation through the benelux
As I mentioned in my previous report, I avoided the hassle of having to take a train from Brussels to Luxembourg when my original flight was cancelled and I was able to rebook. Out of an abundance of caution, I opted for a rather long layover than risking any me having to run through Zurich to try to do a non-Schengen to Schengen connection. Naturally, whenever I do that, my arriving flight is perfectly on time.
Flight routing
- 1
- 2LX754 - Business - Zurich → Luxembourg - Airbus A220-300
- 3UA21 - Business - Amsterdam → Houston - Boeing 777-200
- 4UA6127 - Domestic First - Houston → Washington - Embraer E-175
Swiss senator lounge - terminal A
Like Lufthansa's lounges, Swiss's business and Senator lounges can be found next to each other up the stairs/escalator from the gates level.
Check-in counters sit in front of a short staircase to take you to the Senator Lounge. The business lounge is on the same level to the left.
The centerpiece of the Senator Lounge is a large dining area with table seating. Most of the seats, along with the phone/computer rooms are found behind this area. A slightly elevated seating area parallel to entry staircase can be found to the left of the drinks area. Immediately to your right is a small terrace for smokers. The elevated area was quite crowded so I did not take a direct picture. The working rooms were quite isolated and I ended up spending most of my time in one of these.
Later on I discovered there was actually another staircase that led to a quiet area.
Here there were regular seating as well as these interesting lounger chairs.
There were small buffet items such as cold cuts, bread, and fruits for breakfast.
The main attraction was a small menu you could order from at the counter.
I got a poached egg with spinach and smoked salmon.
Various drinks can be found as well as fairly comprehensive coffee machine (it broke down later).
Later during my stay, the menu transitioned to lunch.
The penne with meatballs and bell pepper sauce was pretty decent and made for a good light lunch before my flight.
Whenever I have a morning arrival, I will usually take the chance to grab a quick shower in the lounge. In my opinion, this is one of the best perks of lounge access after an overnight flight. The showers can be found before the stairs leading up to the lounge.
There wasn't any wait for a shower when I checked it out early morning. I'm not familiar with the shampoo and body wash brand Swiss uses here, but they were pretty good.
I headed to my gate shortly before boarding. Unfortunately, it was a bus gate. Boarding was delayed for 10 minutes before it eventually began at 12:50pm CET.
LX754
Here's my first look at an A220. My ride to Luxembourg was on HB-JCD, a 4-years old A220-300.
The prominent feature of the A220s are its 2-3 configuration, meaning only 1/5 of the seats are middle seats.
I was seated in 4D, an aisle seat in the rows of 3. These were fairly sleek seats among European cabins. The main noticeable features on the A220 were the large windows and modern overhead lights/air nozzles. There were even mini monitors.
If I sit all the way back in my seat, the leg room isn't bad (picture is a little misleading because I'm pulling my legs back).
The tray table was decent sized and had two cup holders.
Boarding finished pretty quickly–by 1:10pm CET. The load in J was only 10/21. The Captain came on a few minutes later to warn that they were not finished loading and that control had given them a 2pm takeoff time, but that they hoped this would move up.
I took this time to flip through the buy-onboard menu below.
While we were waiting, the FAs passed out a small water bottle and a towelette. I also moved myself to 4F to have a window seat since I was going to have the row to myself.
Engines started at 1:55pm and we pushed back at 2pm.
Here's a Thai 777 taking off as we taxied.
We also passed by what appeared to be a Polish government VIP plane.
Here's a Cessna 172P. I'm not familiar with Crossair.
We took off at 2:15pm. The mini monitors above showed a flight map the entire flight–perfect!
Service began about 6 or 7 minutes after takeoff. I'm always impressed by European airlines squeezing in a meal service (even if it's just one tray) on these very short flights. The snacks were okay.
I asked for a cup of coffee as well. It was presented with a small chocolate.
I was fairly impressed by the size of the lavatory on the A220. Swiss has both soup and hand lotion onboard, which is much appreciated. These were the same brand used in the lounge.
We began our descent at 2:40 and landed 13 minutes later. After a quick taxi, we arrived at our gate at 2:58pm CET.
Glad to see that the airline is partnering with other Swiss companies and promoting their national brands. Never heard of Soeder before. If they are as good as SwissJust products (which I've used), they must be great! Nothing like smelling like Alpine herbs! :D
Really remarkable. I wonder if Swiss also have some snack or bob service in Y for such a short flight.
A correctly printed menu! Take that, United!
I would need a ground plan of that lounge.
I loved those! And those separators and side trays. You say this is a domestic lounge? Impressive!
I have the impression this is the same seat model on some older Sky Airline cabins, and they are incredibly creaky! Did you hear any noises coming from your seat?
A lovely short flight. And yet another great report. Thank you, YGeorgeW!
Yes, they do and this is often the reason why I prefer flying Coach rather than Business on shorter intra-European flights. There is a great BOB choice and you can even pre-order them ahead of your flight. Flying Business on those shorter flights, usually there is no meal choice in Business. And having a high frequent flyer status I do have all other benefits regardless of the class I fly.
Thanks for replying Pilpintu!
I always think this is a nice touch when airlines do this. If nothing else, it lets me explore a lot of different brands I wouldn't have exposure to otherwise.
The way I wrote it up wasn't all that clear, but it's actually a fairly straightforward space with the dining area as the center.
I didn't note any noise in my notes from the flight, so if there were any, it must not have bothered me.
Thank you for your report - I fly on the Swiss A220 basically every week and I love this plane.
Swiss is actually Crossair! On March 31, 2002, most assets of Swissair were taken over by Crossair and the name changed to Swiss International Air Lines. Crossair was founded back in 1975 and become a leading regional carrier using initially Fairchild Swearingen Metros, then became the launch costumer for the Saab 340 and later the Saab 2000.
Here in Switzerland Soeder products are very trendy and popular local Swiss products, based on natural products and production.
I love boarding with buses, seeing the plane, the smell, the noise - and it brings back memories of my childhood in the 60s and early 70s, traveling with my parents all over the world, boarding VC-10s, DC-8s, B-707s, Caravelles, Electras, Viscounts, Heralds, etc. I flew them all and then, 1971, for my first time climbing up the impressive high stairs to board a BOAC 747 at ZRH.
-> It's a shame that only Delta flies A220s in the US (I think?).
And what about JetBlue? They fly already some 15 A220 out of an order of 100 A220. And crossing the border to Canada, there is Air Canada with A220.
At Pilpintu:
These are newly developed seats by ZIM Aircraft Seating Gmbh that were launched with the introduction of the A220 into the Swiss fleet. The huge advantage of this seat is that there is a single-arm meal table solution for more passenger comfort, rather than having the usual two-arms trays.
Oh, wow. Thanks for all this information!
I think the Caravelle was the most elegant aircraft ever made. I never flew on them, but I still have a diecast model of one. :D
JetBlue is a thing, isn't it? I have read wonders about them. They don't serve my country but they come all the way down to Lima. I must try them one day.
Now with the extended range A321neos they have, I can definitely see some deep South America routes coming in the next few years after expansion to Europe (Paris is next after London which already started last year). I could definitely see JetBlue in GRU/GIG/EZE/SCL
Will be nice to have that option!
That would be an interesting market for JetBlue to go after. I've always felt that long-haul North America to South America flights are a bit lacking in frequency/routes and also often feature less desirable cabin configurations.
I think all the planes with a C are elegant; think of the Constellation, Comet, Coronado, Concorde - and the C-Series, now the A220.
Omg... You're right!! ???
That's right, and also startup US carrier Breeze Airways flying a nice fleet of new 2-cabin A220s with huge First class section
Thanks for reading SR100!
If my domestic work routes mostly had an A220 it would be much more enjoyable than the current rotation of ERJ-175s and A319/A320s I usually end up on.
Interesting tidbit of history there, thanks!
As the others have pointed out, I stand corrected here.