Hi,
having some time to transfer between two flights I visited the great visitor terrace to which you get free access with a same day's boarding pass. This actually is my favourite viewing deck of any airport as it offers great close views of parked, taxiing and departing aircraft and provides modern information displays etc. Below are some shots I took there.
Priority security check was rather quick and I soon found myself on the shuttle train to Dock E satellite building where I visited the SWISS Business Lounge before boarding. This lounge is great with a nice airy atmosphere, another outside viewing terrace and a nice food & drinks selection.
Boarding started in a well organized way and I was welcomed aboard by a friendly male flight attendant with a 'Gruezi'. The cabin was already very well occupied - so just some captures of my window seat directly next to the splendid looking huge engine providing all the power for this long trip to the US West coast.
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The seat is comfortable in seating and for sleeping but definitely misses privacy and free aisle access. I always had to bother my neighbour to get out for bathroom etc. - not really up to modern Business Class standards nowadays.
The seat however provided a nice closable storage compartment in front of you under the monitor.
Provided on the seats was a blanket and pillow - both of ok but not great Business Class standards.
On the armrest a Victorinox amenity kit with basic content was waiting - it had some lip balm but no other skin care products for example.
A (not active) noice cancelling headset was hanging on the side wall next to a cute looking cube ambient light.
A friendly cabin crew member soon offere welcom drinks from a tray where I picked a glass of Champagne.
Some minutes later hot towels were offered.
Once boarding was complete menus were distributed for today's flight which offered nice sounding food from the Swiss canton of Vaud.
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The Maitre de Cabine welcomed us on board and announced a flight time of 11 hours 10 minutes before a safety video was played.
On the way to the runway we passed a nice Thai 777 that was being pushed back for its also long flight to the other end of the world.
We powered into the skies in a easterly direction making a sharp left turn to avoid overflying Zurich and climbing to cruising altitude in a westerly direction.
Once the seatbelt sign was turned off cabin crew got ready and started with taking meal orders. I decided to go with the Tomato-crusted chicken breast as main dish.
About 40 minutes into the flight a regular trolley service started from the front of the cabin with aperitifs offered. The drinks were accompanied by nuts that were served cold. I decided to go with a Gin Tonic.
Trash was cleared away ca. 20 minutes later and table clothes were laid out. In the same moment drinks were served again. Another trolley followed and the starter trays were served where I decided to go with the Bündnerfleisch. Warm bread was offered from a basket that also offered butter and olive oil.
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Drink refills were offered many times during the whole lunch service and water and wine glasses were always proactively filled up. I guess in the end of lunch I had almost 4 glasses of white wine as the very friendly flight attendant never stopped offering more wine refills.
My main dish was served by hand from the galley and also tasted very nice as did the starter. Only the presentation looked somehow very simple.
Next followed a trolley with cheese course and some port wine.
Finally the meal came to an end with dessert and hot drinks offered.
The meal ended with a nice fine chocolate served out of a box. In total the whole lunch was very tasty and the crew was always proactively passing the cabin offering drink and bread refills. Although it was a trolley service you never felt forgotten or not well looked after. It was a very professional and well thought service process.
Flight progresses watching some movies from the modern entertainment system - only the selection could have been better.
The bathroom was rather small but clean. It also offered some more skin care products that were not available in the amenity kits.
Our route continued over Greenland where I could enjoy some amazing views.
Mid flight more snacks including tasty Mövenpick ice cream were offered. A self service snack area had also been set up in the galley on trolleys. I also loved the popcorn.
Along the route some nice views of the North American continent could be followed.
Ca. 2 hours before landing another hot towel started the pre arrival meal service which was again served from a trolley. I decided to take the pasta main dish. The meal was very tasty but rather on the small side for such a long flight.
In the last hour of our flight some more nice scenery could be watched including Las Vegas and the surrounding area.
We landed on time overflying busy and crowded Los Angeles highways.
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Thanks for reading,
FlyAlex
