Zurich Kloten

As mentioned earlier we had arranged to meet in the Swiss Senator Lounge in the main terminal. Although our flight was departing from Terminal E, this lounge is the much better choice. Terminal E offers a lounge, the Panorama Lounge. But this lounge is quite often very busy. During an earlier trip to Singapore we had visited the lounge to find it overcrowded and did not even find a space to stand at one of the table. In addition the lounge staff did not restock the buffet and even began to clear the left items away. Therefore the Senator Lounge is the better option. There is only one other lounge in Terminal E, the lounge operated by Emirates. All other airlines use the Panorama Lounge, which is also a Priority Pass Lounge.

In the earlier days of Zurich Airport one had to pass an additional security check before entering the terminal with the gates. But since 2012 this had changed and the whole area is now a “sterile” area and there is no need for an additional security check. This was – at least to me – the major reason to use the Panorama Lounge for flights out of Terminal E as the time for the security check was unpredictable. But since this reason was no longer valid, the lounge in the main terminal is the far better option, especially as the lounge is usually not very crowded at this time of the day.

We had not much time to spend in the lounge but it was sufficient for a glass of wine and a small plate of paella from the buffet. The lounge was not that busy anymore with the most flights of the day already in the final stage of boarding. And the most passengers departing from terminal E had already walked over or were using the above mentioned Panorama Lounge. So we had no difficulties to find a seat either in the upper part or in the Smoking Bar further upstairs.

At 21:55 we left the lounge in direction to the midfield terminal E. A big poster was advertising the new flight to Singapore. Immigration was empty and I passed it in less than a minute and took the escalator further down where the train departed for the midfield terminal. A train just arrived in the moment we arrived there.

Once again I could enjoy the short advertising of Switzerland Tourism and the yodeldedoo … It find it funny, foreign tourist think it is lovely and my friends from Switzerland usually pretend not to be Swiss in this moment …

The gate for our flight to Singapore was departing from gate E47 which was very close to where the escalator from the train station was located. Our colleagues and friends from Munich arrived soon later. Boarding started in time at 22:10 and I was among the first persons boarding the plan.

29 May 2013
ZRH – SIN
[Zurich Kloten – Singapore Changi]
LX 178 (Swiss International Airlines); Airbus A 340-300 (HB-JML/ ‘Stans’)
Gate E 47
22:45 – 17:15 (+1) [effective 22:42 – 17:16.]
Economy Class
Seat 30 J

I walked down the jetbridge to our waiting plane. Only one door was used and I was greeted at the door and show directions to my seat. I again had secured a seat in the exit row. This is one of the advantages of holding Senator Status with Miles & More; it gives you the opportunity to reserve an seat at the exit row or on a seat offering more legroom in advance and unlike on other airlines without the need to pay for those seats. If you travel or have to travel in Economy Class this could make a significant difference. But let me give more information about which seat to choose and the Economy Class Cabin in general.

The seat pitch in Economy Class of this Airbus is 32 inch and the seat width is 17.3 inch. The exit row is in row 30. But close to the seats are also the lavatories of the plane which means increased passenger traffic, especially after meal service and before touch down. These lavatories divide the cabin into two parts one smaller with rows 23 to 27 and the bigger one from row 29 to row 45.

The best seats of the first part of Economy Class are these in row 23, which offer a lot of legroom and those should be the one to ask for (during check in) or to prebook (if holding status) if the exit row seats are unavailable or do not fit your need. The seats to avoid are those in row 24, as the legroom in row 24 is limited to the entertainment system in the first row. The seats in row 27 have a slightly limited recline, but they do recline. The configuration of this part is for all rows 2-4-2.

The second part of Economy Class is configured in 2-4-2 as well with the exception of the last three rows (42 to 44) which is 2-3-2 and the first row (29) and last row (45) is only in the middle part. The exit row seats are row 30 AB and 30 JK. The offer a lot of legroom but it could cold during the flight due to the door. Rows 29 in the middle part of more legroom but they are do not have unlimited legroom due to the bulkhead.  There are entertainment boxes underneath the seats in fronts – to be specific under seats A, D, G and K.

The plane was equipped with the AVOD IFE MAS3000i by Panasonic / Matushita offering more than 40 films, over 400 CD, 16 music channels, more than 50 TV programs and 15 games. The system has a 9 inch monitor at each seat.

The first impression of the crew was very good. They were friendly and usually my first impression is not wrong. The flight was not full in Economy and many passengers, especially those in the middle section of the cabin with four seats had empty sets next to them. The seat next to me was taken by a friend, who arrived from Frankfurt with a shorter connection.

The captain welcomed us on board and informed us about the departure proceedings, the flight time and the weather to be expected in Singapore. The maître de cabin welcomed us on board soon later and announced the safety video.
The safety video was shown and some of our group who decided to upgrade to Business Class made a quick visit in the Economy Class Cabin. We chatted a bit of our plans for Singapore or their onward journey. There was one who used the trip to Singapore to make a quick sidetrip for one day to Capetown to visit a friend. One must really be airline enthusiast to make such a sidetrip, especially given the fact, that we were flying back the following Sunday and we only had three days in Singapore.

In the meantime the captain also welcomed us on board and gave us some updates about the flight time and the weather to expect in Singapore. He also expected an on time arrival.

We were pushed back at 22:42 and taxied for the runway. At 22:56 the captain powered the engines and we accelerated on the runway. The plane was quite heavy and we made full use of the runway before we finally took off and climbed into the dark sky above Zurich.

Our plane for today was an Airbus A 340-300 with the registration HB-JMS named after the city of Stans. It was delivered on March 24, 1999 to Austrian Airlines. This Airbus belongs to the fleet of Austrian Airlines for over eight years with the registration OE-LAL and was the one painted in the “Philharmoniker” color scheme in 2006. It was withdrawn from service on July 09, 2007 and joined the fleet of Swiss one month later. It was then equipped with 8 seats in First Class, 48 seats in Economy Class and 172 seats in Economy Class and re-configured only four years later with the new Business Class and had now 8 seats in First, 47 seats in Business and 164 seats in Economy Class. It was powered with four CFM56-5C4 engines which thrust of 34000 lbf each.

During our climb to reach cruising altitude we chatted with the flight attendant on the jump seat opposite our seats and about various topics from destinations in Asia , things to do in Singapore and Bangkok and the flying habit. The flight attendant already noticed that my seat mate was HON and that I was SEN and secured us headphones from Business Class, which was a nice touch and gesture, especially as I forgot my noise canceling headset at home. These are the small things, which make a difference. They do not cost much – if anything at all – but the crew and airline shows that they value your Business.

As the fasten seat belt signs were turned off, the crew went to the station and began to prepare the service. The service started much quicker than on Lufthansa, which is an advantage as it gives you more time to work, sleep or relax. There was no hot towel service and no first beverage round done ahead of the main meal service. We both skipped the meal service; I only had a roll with a small bottle of white wine.

I talked about various topics with my seat neighbor. A second beverage round was done offering coffee and tea in addition to the cold beverages already served during the first beverage round. The flight attendant asked the friend next to me, if he liked to have a glass of wine from Business Class which he accepted. I was asked as well. We told her it would be fine for us to use plastic glasses from Economy Class, but she brought the wine in proper glass ware and mentioned the wine tastes better using proper glass ware. Of course she was right, but the views of other passengers were priceless. Later my seat mate was asked if he liked another glass of wine, which he accepted, but I declined this nice offer.

The crew did a few beverage rounds during the night offering water.

After the meal service the lights were dimmed and the flight became also quite bumpy with the seat belt signs being turned on for a longer time.

Two hours before touch down in Singapore the crew did the second meal service, the breakfast. There was no hot towel service done before the breakfast service started. I skipped breakfast and only had a cup of coffee.

Later the crew did a second beverage round and clearing trays in the same time. I asked for a refill of coffee.

The hot towel service which I had expected before the breakfast service was done after breakfast service after the trays were collected. I am unsure, if this was by accident, as on an earlier flight the hot towel service was done before breakfast. Might it as it be, it was nice to get it …

The crew began to prepare the cabin for our arrival in Singapore and soon later he captain came over the microphone as we had passed Kuala Lumpur and informed us, that we already had begun our descend into Singapore Changi. He expected an on time arrival despite the fact that we might flew some waiting patterns.

The approach was slightly bumpier than the last time, but this is not unusual for Singapore, especially as it was raining in Singapore.

Ten minutes before touch down the crew took the seat and we chatted about Singapore and Asia in general with the flight attendant on the jump seat across our seats.

Finally at 17:11 we touched down and taxied for our gate, where we arrived at 17:16. It took some time before we finally were able to disembark through the Business and First Class Cabin. In the terminal we meet our friends and colleagues who had been in Business Class or in the front part of the Economy Class Cabin.

Immigration was no wait at all and those of us with checked bags did not have to wait long. Unfortunately one baggage was damaged as part of the handle was ripped off so he had to fill a claim with the people responsible for damaged baggage.

There was a long line at the taxis, so some of use decided to use the MRT to go downtown.

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