Lufthansa Flyer, Author at Lufthansa Flyer

SWISS Publishes 777 ‘Training Flight’ Schedule Within Europe

by Lufthansa Flyer | Oct 8, 2015 | 777, Featured, Passenger Experience, Swiss | 4 comments

In anticipation of SWISS receiving their 777-300 aircraft next year, they’ve published a timetable showing crew training flights that will take place within Europe.

These flights are normal when an airline introduces new hardware to the fleet and it gives their flight crews ample time to familiarize themselves with plane.

As it stands now, LX plans to start these training flights on February 8 and will continue the flights through March.

BEGINNING FEBRUARY 8:

Zurich – Geneva will operate a 777 on flight LX2802, departing ZRH at 7:30a, arriving in GVA at 8:20. This flight will take place daily except for Saturday and will continue until March 25.

Geneva – Zurich will operate a 777 on flight LX2807, departing GVA at 10:00a, arriving in ZRH at 10:55. This flight will take place daily except for Saturday and will continue until March 25.

Be aware that 777 service will not be offered between ZRH and GVA at all between March 12 and March 19.

BEGINNING FEBRUARY 8:

Zurich – Frankfurt will operate a 777 on flight LX1072 departing ZRH at 12:15p, arriving in FRA at 13:20p. This flight will take place daily except for Saturdays.

Frankfurt – Zurich will operate a 777 on flight LX1073 departing FRA at 2:40p, arriving in ZRH at 3:10p. This flight will take place daily except for Saturdays.

Then, ON FEBRUARY 20, ZRH-FRA will change to Tuesday and Thursday service only, ultimately ending on March 22.

BEGINNING FEBRUARY 8:

Zurich – Barcelona will operate a 777 on flight LX1956 departing ZRH at 5:10p, arriving in BCN at 6:55p. This flight will take place daily except for Saturdays.

Barcelona – Zurich will operate a 777 on flight LX1957 departing Barcelona at 7:55p, arriving in ZRH at 9:45p. This flight will take place daily except for Saturdays.

Please note the 777 will not operate on February 12, and also not between March 10 and March 23. 777 service to Barcelona will end on March 24.

BEGINNING FEBRUARY 12:

Zurich – London (LHR) will operate a 777 on flight LX329 departing ZRH at 4:35p, arriving in LHR at 5:20p. This service will only operate on February 12, 13, and 20.

Zurich – London (LHR) will operate a 777 on flight LX318 departing ZRH at 10:05a, arriving in LHR at 10:50a. This service will only operate on February 13 and 20.

London (LHR) – Zurich will operate a 777 on flight LH 327 departing LHR at 6:55p, arriving in ZRH at 9:35p. This service will only operate on February 12, 13, and 20.

London (LHR) – Zurich will operate a 777 on flight LX319 departing LHR at 12:20p, arriving in ZRH at 3:05p. This service will only operate on February 13 and 20.

BEGINNING FEBRUARY 27:

Zurich – Hamburg will operate a 777 on flight LX1054, departing ZRH at 5:40p, arriving in HAM at 7:20p (SATURDAY ONLY).

Hamburg – Zurich will operate a 777 on flight LX1055, departing HAM at 8:16p, arriving in ZRH at 9:44p (SATURDAY ONLY).

777 service on this route will end March 26.

BEGINNING FEBRUARY 27:

Zurich – Malaga will operate a 777 on flight LX2110 departing ZRH at 9:40a, arriving in AGP at 12:20p (SATURDAY ONLY).

Malaga – Zurich will operate a 777 on flight LX2111, departing Malaga at 1:10p, arriving in ZRH at 3:50 (SATURDAY ONLY).

777 service on this route will end on March 26.
BEGINNING MARCH 13:

Zurich – Hanover will operate a 777 on flight LX814 departing ZRH at 7:45a, arriving in HAJ at 8:55a. This flight will operate a 777 on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday only between March 13 and 18.

Hanover – Zurich will operate a 777 on flight LX815 departing HAJ at 9:50a, arriving in ZRH at 11:15a. This flight will operate a 777 on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday only between March 13 and 18.

Zurich – Hanover will operate a 777 on flight LX828 departing ZRH at 6:35p, arriving in HAJ at 7:50p. This flight will operate a 777 on Tuesday and Thursday, March 15 and 17 only.

Hanover – Zurich will operate a 777 on flight LX829 departing HAJ at 8:30p, arriving in ZRH at 9:40p. This flight will operate a 777 on Tuesday and Thursday, March 15 and 17 only.

Please note that this special timetable is a VERY fluid one and changes should be expected. Proceed at your own peril if you are trying to catch a ride on one of these test flights! You might wind up on a Jumbolino instead! 🙂

As far as seating, it appears that SWISS has blocked the sale of First and Business Class seats for these flights. It is not known at this point if that will change, or if LX will offer special upgrades to SENs and HONs who are booked on these flights. If I learn more, I’ll pass it along.

H/T: VFT & FlyerTalk’s ‘ClaudiSTR’

Scenes From Safari: Part I

by Lufthansa Flyer | Oct 6, 2015 | Featured, Safari, Trip Reports | 6 comments

Last week, my wife and I headed out on what has become an annual Holiday for us. We shipped ourselves to the African Bushveld aboard a combination of Lufthansa and SWISS flights for a week-long Safari at the Dulini Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand region of South Africa.

To say this has become our favorite travel destination is an understatement. We’ve gone as far as to begin exploring the possibility of purchasing property in the area to build our retirement home within a game reserve so that we can literally enjoy a Safari everyday. More likely than not, we’ll have a mailing address ‘down there’ one day.

After our first visit to Dulini, it was a no-brainer to go back. Their hospitality, accommodations and access to some of the finest wildlife viewing would be hard to beat, so we’re not going to try. In fact, we’ve already booked our return trip for next year.

Words really can’t explain the experience and how it can affect someone, but I hope some of the photos I’ve put below can begin to show why we feel the way we do. The worst part of the trip is the last day. The blunt realization that we have to leave this paradise is not easy to deal with. The only solace we have is the fact that we are going back in less than a year. 359 days to be exact!

Enjoy the pics. I’ll have more over the next few days after I shuffle through about 11,000 photos that came home with us.

Oh, and if you are wondering why there is a Dulini watermark and not my own on the photos , I’ve offered to share them with Dulini so that they can be used on their social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter. It was easier for me to process the photos only once and use their watermark.

A tender moment between a Hyena and her cubs…..

A photo-bombing Giraffe decides to make an appearance….

A Hyena cub makes a chew toy out of her mother’s foot….

Ravenscourt (Male) and Tasselberry (Female) during their mating ritual.

Red Bull is not the only thing that gives you wings. Oxpeckers apparently do it as well.

a hyena and a baby animal lying on the ground

Hyena and cub…..

A very hard to find Mongoose…..normally very shy and elusive

Who knew that the Rock Monitor has the prettiest tongue in the animal kingdom?

One of many breathtaking sunsets that we experienced…

SWISS Economy Sale Ex-USA Ends Tomorrow!

by Lufthansa Flyer | Oct 6, 2015 | Economy Class, Fare Sale, Featured, Swiss | 0 comments

SWISS’ current fare sale for Economy Class travel between the US and Europe ends on October 7. This particular fare sale has 4 different groupings of valid travel dates between now and the first quarter of next year.

The first 2 groups cover departures between now and October 31 as well as between December 16 and December 23. The fares for these travel dates a little bit higher than the other 2 groups. On average I found these fares to be about $50-75 higher than the other group. For example, Chicago – Zurich during this time frame can be had for $932.

The second group covers departures between November 1 and December 15 as well as between December 24 and March 17. The same Chicago – Zurich airfare can be had for only $882.

The best fare that I was able to find from among the entire fare sale is a very attractive one between New York and Saint Petersburg which can be booked for ONLY $504.

Unfortunately the terms and conditions are not spelled out as well as they should be. There is no information provided as to when return travel has to take place, or what the minimum and maximum stay requirements are for the fares.