- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Introduction
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: United Global First Lounge San Francisco
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Lufthansa First Class San Francisco to Munich
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Le Meridien Munich
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich, Swiss Business Class Munich to Zurich
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Swiss First Class Lounge Zurich, Swiss First Class Zurich to Bangkok
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: St. Regis Bangkok
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa Bangkok
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Thai Airways First Class Bangkok to Hong Kong
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Ritz Carlton Hong Kong
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Exploring Hong Kong
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: United Club Hong Kong and Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge Hong Kong
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Asiana Business Class Hong Kong to Seoul Incheon
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Hyatt Regency Incheon Airport
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Asiana First Class Lounge Seoul Incheon
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Asiana First Class Seoul Incheon to Frankfurt
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Sheraton Frankfurt Airport
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt, Lufthansa First Class Frankfurt to Seattle
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Four Seasons Seattle
We made it to the airport around 3PM and headed straight to first class check-in, which is partitioned off from the rest of the terminal. The agent had a good sense of humor, and when he saw we were going to Bangkok he said “oh, is it time for Hangover 3 already?”
Terminal
First class check-in
In no time we had our boarding passes, and proceeded to the dedicated premium security line located right next to the first class check-in area. We were through in less than five minutes, and took the three-minute walk to the First Class Lounge.
Terminal
FCL entrance
Unfortunately our flight was leaving from a gate today, meaning we had to walk there (as opposed to the remote stands, where they’ll drive you to the plane).
For once the FCL was fairly empty, which is a rarity given how small it is. The lounge is designed almost the same as the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, with lounging areas, a restaurant area, a bar, a cigar room, and shower suites.
FCL
I checked out the buffet area though in the end only grabbed a pretzel, since I knew there would be lots more food that evening.
FCL restaurant
Buffet
Buffet
I worked for about an hour, and at 4:30PM we headed to our departure gate, G44. Our flight was going to be operated by an Avro RJ100, which is one adorable little plane.
Departure gate
Mini-jet
Business class boarding was called almost immediately, so we headed aboard.
Swiss 1109
Munich (MUC) – Zurich (ZRH)
Sunday, March 18
Depart: 5:05PM
Arrive: 6:00PM
Duration: 55min
Aircraft: Avro 100
Seat: 4D (Business Class)
For those of you that haven’t flown intra-Europe business class, it’s simply coach with a blocked middle seat and better service. They do this in order to allow flexibility for revenue/inventory management, given that you can change the size of the business class cabin from flight-to-flight based on demand.
The RJ100 is unique in that it’s in a 2-3 configuration, so if you’re seated on the “2” side you don’t get a blocked middle. As a result we selected the “3” side, so we would have an empty middle seat.
Business class
I found the seats to be a bit more comfortable than Lufthansa’s, and certainly nothing to complain about on a 30-minute flight.
Within a few minutes of settling in the purser offered us a bottle of water and refreshing towel.
Water and towel
As our departure time rolled around the captain came on the PA to advise us of our flight time of 30 minutes, anticipating an on-time arrival in Zurich.
Sure enough we had a quick taxi to the runway, and within moments were airborne. The RJ100 is one heck of a powerful plane.
Shortly after takeoff
There was some chop on the way out, though within about five minutes the seatbelt sign was turned off and service commenced.
Unlike Lufthansa’s intra-Europe catering, I found Swiss’ to be excellent. The snack was a cold plate with chicken pesto, tomato and mozzarella, zucchini, two hot rolls, and some sort of custard dessert. I accompanied it with a Diet Coke. You really can’t beat the quality (or quantity, for that matter) of food on such a short flight.
Snack
Just about as soon as we leveled off we began our descent, and about 10 minutes before landing the seatbelt sign was turned back on.
On descent
Unfortunately we were arriving at a remote stand, though this turned out to be a good thing. Swiss has business class only buses, which leave almost immediately and are very comfortable, not to mention they drop you off in the area of the terminal where the first class lounge is. So less than five minutes after the aircraft door opened we were already in the first class lounge – can’t beat that!
Our plane
Business class bus
First class lounge entrance
And this is the part of the journey where it’s supposed to get more fun…
No picture of a pretzel in the lounge? Otherwose, great job swiss!
Come to think of it, the carrier was Contract Air. ..or I just wasn't paying attention, I tend to put on my Bose and zone out on those quick flights.
@ janyyc -- Amazing. Clearly I'm the unluckiest guy ever.
@ SkiCat Travels -- As far as I know Lufthansa serves food in business class on all flights.
Wow, food on a 30 minute flight! I've flown a few Lufthansa flights within Germany and I usually sit right behind the business class row, but I've never seen them serve food. That's a pretty good deal.
@lucky One more data point. My mom was flying a day after me CPH-FRA-YYZ also in F and they picked her up too. Two guys waiting for one lady! ;) She was driven to her aircraft from the F B lounge too (it was on a remote stand).
@ Seva -- If it's domestic first class you don't get lounge access. If it's United international first class you can access any Star Alliance first class lounge with the exception of Lufthansa first class lounges (they're the only ones that are excluded).
Hi, I have a question, if you are flying first class united, are first class lounges free or we still should get 1time use access? Thank you
@ Brian -- I've seen it for HONs, though am surprised to hear this as I've transited FRA a dozen times in Lufthansa first class and have never been picked up.
@lucky / @janyyc In November of last year I was flying ZRH - FRA - KIX and getting off the flight at FRA there was a car with my name on the board. It was also waiting for a HON Circle member and his wife. I don't know if the car was for him or for me (I suspect it was for him) but nonetheless we all enjoyed the ride to the terminal.
@ janyyc -- Odd, I can honestly say I've never had that happen with Lufthansa.
@vincent @janyyc - LH does at FRA and MUC. LX doesn't at ZRH.
@vincent & @lucky
I was flying CDG-FRA-YVR yesterday and my dad and I were picked up on a 3+ hour connection. Maybe they had too many cars?
@ Andy Bluebear -- Funny enough the last time I flew this route I sat on the "3" side and they didn't even block the center seat. So it really is a scam, since the blocked middle seat is the main benefit of intra-Europe business class.
@ vincent -- Typically they only drive you to the plane and don't pick you up. Was your inbound flight late when they picked you up and you had a tight connection, maybe?
Aren't you supposed to get a private ride when you arrive / depart or connect in F class on LH and LX in ZRH ?
Cause that was the case for me when arriving at a remote stand in MUC, connecting to a F flight to SFO...
Good post.
A Business class bus. It's clear from the photo that you were in classy company.
"The RJ100 is unique in that it’s in a 2-3 configuration, so if you’re seated on the “2” side you don’t get a blocked middle."
So do people on that side get a discounted price? lol I mean, if someone is next to you, it defeats the purpose of it being business class...
the nickname of the Avro is "Jumbolino" for that matter.
it does seem kind of crazy to put 4 engines on such a little plane
Great post, lucky!
Always interesting to read how other people experience a route one often flies...
...I'm already curious to read the next part and find out why you wrote the "supposed" in italic/cursive characters :-)