Swiss LX009 ORD-ZRH 11/5/09 (F)

Well, after my short flight on UA with it's nice F suite I was wishing I'd just gone straight to LHR with them but, in the name of research I staggered on with my zig-zag tour back to Edinburgh!

Arrived in ORD about 30 mins ahead to time and headed for the train to take me to T5 where my LX9 would depart from at 1915. Found the LX check-in desks and got my onward BP's printed off as UA couldn't do it at IAD for some reason. This was my first of many pleasant interactions with LX staff and I was offered an escort to the lounge which I declined. Security had a premium lane and was a breeze.

I arrived at the LX lounge and was handed a letter form the station manager explaining the details of the flight, boarding time and the names of the 'Pilot in Command' and 'Maitre de Cabin' - nice touch.

The lounge agent ushered me towards the F section of the lounge where I took a seat. I was the first to arrive and must say I was slightly underwhelmed by the room and what was on offer! The drinks were mediochre and were accompanied by a very small selection of sandwiches, biscuits and cheese which were replenished occasionally by a miserble old bint who's facial expression was to remain in 'growl' mode for the duration!



There was a business section adjacent which was similar and a bit larger (but not much). For first impressions this was not a good start and I'm no wine buff but is 'Freixinet' Cava the best fizz offering they can think of? [:0]

Another offer of being escorted, this time to the plane was declined and I headed off on the short walk to the gate at around 1830. Priority boarding was signposted so I stood in line while the agent was busy checking Y pax. She caught me in the side of her eye and asked if i was in J, so I just offered my BP and she almost jumped to attention and told me off for not getting her attention sooner!

I was warmly met at the door and shown to 1K where the two crew looking after F immediately introduced themselves and offered a glass of Jacquart, amenity kit and pyjamas.




The seat is very good as you would expect but the cabin is very open certainly compared to UC and my previous BA and UA F cabins.



Flight time of 8:15 was announced which was fine by me and after another glass of fizz we pushed and departed. The seatbelt signs went off very quickly and I settled in for a bit with another glass of fizz. Menus were issued by the uber friendly crew which comprised of the following -


DINNER
CHICAGO - ZURICH


GOURMET MENU

First Course

Seafood, meat and vegetarian platter.

Main Courses

American beef tounedos with ciabatta crust and port and shallot jus, served with roasted Spring vegetables and thyme gnocchi.
-
Roast chicken breast with a tomato sauce, wilted spinach and conghilli pasta.
-
Saffron and cheese tortellini in a red pepper sauce with red grape tomatoes and Kalamata olives.
-
Special of the day (Sea Bass).
-
Choice of vegetables.

Cheese

Emmental

Gruyere

Chaumes

Goats Cheese

Camembert

Dessert

Chocolate and strawberry ice creams with caramel and raspberry sauce.
-
Swiss chocolates
Espresso and a selection of coffees and teas.

SUPPLEMENTARY CHOICES

Selection of soups, seasonal salads, cheese and fresh fruits.

WINE LIST

CHAMPAGNE

Pommery Cuvee Louise 1998

WHITE WINE

Bianco di Merlot DOC
Convivo 2006

Chablis AOC 1er Cru
Vaillons 2006

Grunter Veltliner
Smaragd, Terrassen 2007

RED WINE

Merlot Riserva la Prella
2006

Smith Haut Lafitte
2004

Excellent
2005

DESSERT WINE

Sous l'Escalier
Petite Arvine du Valais 2007

PORT

Porto Calem
20 years old

------------------------------------------------------------------


My table was set and I moved onto a glass on the Chablis -



Then the first course trolley appeared -



I had a little bit of everything and it was quite pleasant then selected the chicken for main, sticking with the Chablis. The chicken was moist and very tasty. I snuck in a little try of the Cuvee Loiuse at this point too! During dinner service Captain Imelschmidt came out and toured the F cabin saying hello and even taking up residence on the ottoman of 1A for a while!

I was slightly surprised when he appeared for no other reason than he could have been Billy Connoly's stunt double - hair, moustache, beard the lot!!



'Fatigue' was very quickly kicking in and I declined any more service after I had finished the main course and had my bed made up while on a visit to the loo. I managed to muck up re-setting my watch so only woke up about half an hour before landing as I'd glanced at the time earler and thought we still had about 3 hours still to run! Just time to freshen up and get out of the Rugby shirt (aka pyjamas) and have a coffee before landing at about 1025 local.

Yet again the crew were superb and came round individually thanking each passenger and bid a farewell with a handshake and a smile.

I felt reasonably fresh on arrival and headed for the J lounge for a shower before catching my LH to FRA then onto EDI.

Thoroughly enjoyable is all I can say though I really wish it had been a daytime flight so I could have avoided the sleeping bit!!



HB-JMO after arrival in ZRH

Regards

John

Hhhmmm ... Freixenet ... excellent for spritzer - should have tried it with a dash of sparkling water, some ice and Aperol or Campari - it ain't often you get the right sparkling wine in an F lounge for one of these little venetian numbers

Thanks for the TR, another ho-hum lounge experience at ORD notwithstanding, seemed like a good flight.

[HighFlyer]

Sounds like a wonderful dining and drinking experience onboard ... just slightly marred by the lounge that doesn't quite come up to scratch. As you say, Freixenet is not normally what you'd expect to be offered in an F lounge these days, I'd be expecting Lorraine Chase to pass through at any moment with a Campari. [:)]

Thanks for the report though, the dining looked fab! [y]

Thanks,
Sarah

Another excellent TR John, and not bad stamina for an old fella[:D]

all the best
Iain

quote:Originally posted by iforres1
Another excellent TR John, and not bad stamina for an old fella[:D]

all the best
Iain


Don't start - 40 on the 29th! [:(]

Mmmm we are on the same flight in a couple of months looks like plenty of good eating and drinking onboard[:D]

Thanks for the great TR and photos![y]

Great set of TRs.

I have seen wonderful things written about LX. You weren't on one of their brand new 330s with the new F suite were you?

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
Mmmm we are on the same flight in a couple of months looks like plenty of good eating and drinking onboard[:D]


I can see BA'a profits being down that day[:D]

Iain

quote:Originally posted by willd
Great set of TRs.

I have seen wonderful things written about LX. You weren't on one of their brand new 330s with the new F suite were you?


Err no - have a look at the pics! It was nice enough though but the cabin was very open.

John

quote:Originally posted by iforres1
quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
Mmmm we are on the same flight in a couple of months looks like plenty of good eating and drinking onboard[:D]


I can see BA'a profits being down that day[:D]

Iain


Maybe, we are slumming it in Y on BA out to Zurich[:D]

[ChuckC]

A great read from you, John, as always. Have wanted to try LX and this gives me some motivation.

Best regards,
Chuck-

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
quote:Originally posted by iforres1
quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
Mmmm we are on the same flight in a couple of months looks like plenty of good eating and drinking onboard[:D]


I can see BA'a profits being down that day[:D]

Iain


Maybe, we are slumming it in Y on BA out to Zurich[:D]


And heres me thinking that the CCR was going to have a new record for the number of bottles of champagne consumed. Oh well, galleries had better stock up[:)]