Tag Archives: ZRH

Hello from Zurich!

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I’m enjoying the last 30 minutes of my transit throught Europe in the Zurich Swiss First/ HON lounge and have to say that the last two days have been busy, but very exciting! From riding the U4 to downtown Frankfurt, to a visit to the Lufthansa First Class lounge to a limousine ride around the tarmac to a mechanical problem gone good. All this and more should be posted around August 1, 2009 on my blog, so stay tuned. I’ve been taking a LOT of photos here and there, and everywhere!

At the same time, I’ll add a cliff hanger. I can, without a pause, mention a couple of ways US Airways Envoy Class is superior to certain experiences of Lufthansa First Class. I’m not saying Lufthansa is poor, it most certainly isn’t, but return to the blog on or after August 1, 2009 and you’ll hear more.

That said, I’m off to Cape Town (via Jo’ Burg) on Swiss and South African Airways.

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark

Kinglobjaw to visit 2009′s 4th and 5th best airports this summer

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Check out the SkyTrax 2009 Top Airport list. I’m surprised Singapore didn’t rate higher on the list! Then again, I haven’t been to Seoul’s Incheon airport yet, but it looks nice.

That said I’m pleased to report I’ll be transiting through Zurich and Munich which are voted #4 and #5 on the list.

I haven’t been to Zurich before, but I’ve been to Munich twice and I can see why it made the list. It’s a very clean airport with a simple layout and elegant design. Enough said.

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark

Here’s a real shockeroo for you!

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Charlotte, NC to Honolulu nonstop on US Airways is supposed to start in November 2009. The extra 767 for this route will come from one of the three now officially downgraded to seasonal European routes (Brussels, Milan, Zurich). Apparently, this will be a seasonal route that will operate until Summer 2010 and resume in fall 2010 again. It will most likely affect Delta’s nonstop 747 service from Atlanta, GA to Honolulu, HI.

Charlotte, NC to Honolulu, HI. 4,678 miles.

Charlotte, NC to Honolulu, HI. 4,678 miles.

I will definitely take this flight into consideration when I go to Kauai next year. I’m assuming the meal service will be lunch or dinner followed by pre-arrival snack westbound, while the east bound will most likely offer dinner, followed by breakfast prior to landing. That’s in First Class, of course. In coach, I’m going to guess that meal service will be complementary to compete with Delta.

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark

British Airways starts new service to the Maldives

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Beginning October 25, 2009, British Airways will start flying Male, Maldives nonstop on a 777  from London’s Gatwick airport. The flight operates 3x weekly and is a 3-cabin plane (Business/Premium Economy/ Economy). The outbound from London departs on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays arriving the next morning, while the return departs Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The return is a daylight service. It appears that the service will be year round.

Along with Maldives, Britsh Airways will launch Sharm El Sheikh and Punta Cana. It’s a shame they aren’t running the flights from Heathrow, but British Airways’ holiday flights now tend to operate from Gatwick.

I was wondering which full service European airline will take the “plunge” (pun intended) and fly to the Maldives first. I remember reading about LOT planning flights from Warsaw and Virgin Atlantic wanting to start flights from London- Heathrow. Guess they were too slow as Sri Lankan airlines launched the flights first. Personally, I was betting on Lufthansa from Frankfurt or Swiss from Zurich.

Normally, I don’t blog about other airline’s routes aside from Star Alliance, but the Maldives are a destination that’s close to my heart and to which I plant to return to. Plus, I could redeem some of my AA miles on the new flight and try out Club World cabin on British Airways.

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark

Full Summer 2009 US Airways PHL/CLT- Europe/Middle East Flights Schedule

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The following is the entire US Airways transatlantic schedule from both PHL and CLT for Summer 2009. What I found interesting is that all destinations this summer are DAILY.

While looking through the schedules, I realized FRA will now get three A330-300′s daily and photographers will get a chance to snap three of these jets together. The three will be on the ground simultaneously from 10:15AM to 11:10 AM local time, given all three are on time. Also, MUC  for the first time ever, has been upgraded to A330-300 service, while LHR has been downgraded to a 767.

If I recall correctly, US has nine A330-300′s. It seems no spares will be left behind on the ground since all will be in used every evening on these routes:

  • PHL-MAD
  • PHL-CDG
  • PHL-FRA (X2 daily)
  • PHL-MUC
  • PHL-MAN
  • PHL-FCO
  • CLT-FRA
  • CLT-LGW

I didn’t list the Rio De Janeiro schedules as they are still pending approval from the DOT, but you can read about the proposed schedule in one of my earlier posts.

Here are the 2009 PHL/CLT transatlatnic flights:

 

From Philadelphia, PA

 

PHL-DUB (Dublin, Ireland) Aircraft: B757

US722 PHL (8:40AM)  - DUB (8:15AM+1)
US723 DUB (11:15AM) - PHL (1:55PM)

 

PHL-SNN (Shannon, Ireland) Aircraft: B757

US776 PHL (9:20PM)  - GLA (9:00AM+1)
US777 GLA (12:00PM) - PHL (2:20PM)

 

PHL-GLA (Glasgow, Scotland) Aircraft: B757

US768 PHL (6:45PM)  - GLA (6:45AM+1)
US769 GLA (10:15AM) - PHL (1:00PM)

 

PHL-MAN (Manchester, England) Aircraft: A330-300

US734 PHL (8:45PM)  - MAN (8:45AM+1)
US735 MAN (10:55AM) - PHL (1:40PM)

 

PHL-LHR (London-Heathrow, England) Aircraft: B767

US728 PHL (10:40PM) - LHR (11:05AM+1)
US729 LHR (1:05PM)  - PHL (4:20PM)

 

PHL-LGW (London-Gatwick, England) Aircraft: B757

US728 PHL (6:20PM)  - LGW (6:55AM+1)
US729 LGW (9:50AM) - PHL (1:10PM)

 

PHL-BHX (Birmingham, England) Aicraft: B757

US726 PHL (6:05PM)  - BHX (6:25AM+1)
US727 BHX (8:45AM) - PHL (11:50AM)

 

PHL-LIS (Lisbon, Portugal) Aicraft: B757

US738 PHL (8:25PM)  - LIS (8:30AM+1)
US739 LIS (10:35AM) - PHL (1:25PM)

 

PHL-MAD (Madrid, Spain) Aicraft: A333-300

US740 MAD (6:30PM)  - MAD (8:00AM+1)
US741 MAD (12:50PM) - PHL (3:15PM)

 

PHL-BCN (Barcelona, Spain) Aicraft: B767

US742 PHL (6:30PM)  - BCN (8:35AM+1)
US743 BCN (12:10PM) - PHL (3:15PM)

 

PHL-CDG (Paris, France) Aicraft: A330-300

US754 PHL (6:15PM)  - CDG (7:55AM+1)
US755 CDG (11:30AM) - PHL (1:55PM)

 

PHL-BRU (Brussels, Belgium) Aicraft: B757

US750 PHL (8:35PM)  - BRU (10:25AM+1)
US751 BRU (12:45PM) - PHL (3:25PM)

 

PHL-AMS (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Aicraft: B757

US798 PHL (6:35PM)  - AMS (8:35AM+1)
US799 AMS (10:45AM)  - PHL (1:15PM)

 

PHL-ZRH (Zurich, Switzerland) Aicraft: B767

US710 PHL (6:20PM)  - ZRH (8:25AM+1)
US711 ZRH (10:25PM) - PHL (1:30PM)

 

PHL-FRA (Frankfurt, Germany) Aicraft: A330-300 X2

US700 PHL (4:15PM)  - FRA (6:10AM+1)
US701 FRA (11:10AM) - PHL (1:15PM)
US702 PHL (8:20PM) - FRA (10:15AM+1)
US703 FRA (1:10PM) - PHL (3:50PM)

 

PHL-MUC (Munich, Germany) Aicraft: A330-300

US706 PHL (6:40PM)  - MUC (9:00AM+1)
US707 MUC (12:30PM) - PHL (3:55PM)

 

PHL-FCO (Rome, Italy) Aicraft: A330-300

US718 PHL (6:05PM)  - FCO (8:45AM+1)
US719 FCO (11:15AM) - PHL (2:55PM)

 

PHL-MXP (Milan, Italy) Aicraft: B767

US716 PHL (3:50PM)  - MXP (6:00AM+1)
US717 MXP (10:00AM) - PHL (1:10PM)

 

PHL-VCE (Venice, Italy) Aicraft: B767

US714 PHL (6:25PM)  - VCE (9:05AM+1)
US715 VCE (11:35AM) - PHL (3:20PM)

 

PHL-ARN (Stockholm, Sweden) Aicraft: B757

US752 PHL (8:15PM)  - ARN (10:45AM+1)
US753 ARN (1:00PM) - PHL (3:55PM)

 

PHL-OSL (Oslo, Norway) Aicraft: B757

US788 PHL (8:35PM)  - OSL (10:35AM+1)
US789 OSL (1:00PM) - PHL (3:45PM)

 

PHL-ATH (Athens, Greece) Aicraft: B767

US758 PHL (4:15PM)  - ATH (9:10AM+1)
US759 ATH (11:45AM) - PHL (4:00PM)

 

PHL-TLV (Tel Aviv, Israel) Aicraft: A330-200

US796 PHL (9:15PM)  - TLV (3:30PM+1)
US797 TLV (11:15PM) - PHL (5:10AM+1)

 

 

From Charlotte, NC

 

CLT-LGW (London-Gatwick, England) Aicraft: A330-300

US732 CLT (6:45PM)  - LGW (7:40AM+1)
US733 LGW (10:40AM) - CLT (2:25PM)

 

CLT-FRA (Frankfurt, Germany) Aicraft: A330-300

US732 CLT (4:30PM)  - FRA (7:00AM+1)
US733 FRA (11:45AM) - CLT (3:15PM)

 

CLT-CDG (Paris, France) Aicraft: B767

US770 CLT (4:30PM)  - CDG (6:40AM+1)
US771 CDG (12:00PM) - CLT (3:35PM)

 

Have a nice clicK life,
-Mark

Dell Mini 9- The “blogable” device?

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What has Windows XP SP 3, an 8.9 inch LCD screen and a full QWERTY type keyboard?

Answer:  A Dell Inspiron Mini 9! A truly blogable device that will even fit in smallest book bag or purse. They’re coming out with a 12, but if you want to keep it small, go with the 9. And while in the aviation world bigger is better and more fun, when you mix blog writing, laptops and travel- smaller does turn out to be wiser.

So it has been a while since I’ve talked to all you fine folks and I wanted to assure you I have not turned my back on you. What has changed? The last time you thought about me, I was 18- now not so much. 19 here and every flight I take less people consider me the “brat” who stole their last available upgrade seat. I sure miss those days!

What’s new, you ask?

A lot has happened since my few hours in PIT. Aside from fuel going sky high and falling down low, one of the best TV series fast forwarding 5 long years into the future, world’s longest all-business class legacy airline flight making it’s way from EWR to SIN and a few other things, I’m still good!

What’s coming, you ask?

I think my tiny photography hobby might be growing in the upcoming months. I’ve upgraded my simple digital point and shoot camera to the Canon EOS 50D. Get ready for some nicer, higher quality travel photos.

Back in September five airlines allocated in two opposing teams fought for the honor of giving up 2 of their highly coveted “O” and “I” class award seats in First/Business Class for Kinglobjaw’s 150,000 (X2) US Airways Dividend Miles Award from USA to Africa.

Team Europe included Lufthansa (LH) and Swiss Intl Airlines (LX) and offered a tempting LAX-FRA-MUC-ZRH-JNB-FRA-LAX which consisted of upper deck 747 First Class on 3 flights, a First Class Terminal visit in FRA, a ride on the rare A300, and exquisite Swiss hospitality service generations have raved about.

Team Asia which included ANA (NH), Singapore Airlines (SQ) and Thai International Airways (TG) offered an exotic ORD-NRT-BKK-JNB-BKK-NRT-ORD involved the elegant Japanease service, the warm and friendly Singapore Girl and the Royal Orchid service by Thai was another excellent choice. NH is known for delicious food and Thai’s First Class lounge at BKK is a true rival for Lufthansa’s FRA First Class terminal due to it’s Royal Orchid Spa.

The winner? Before the decision, only one airline knew it would win regardless of which of the above choices would be selected. Team Africa! Since, JNB isn’t the final destination, there is only one Star Alliance carrier that could fly me from JNB-MRU and back. South African Airways, I’m ready to try your Business Class.

Alright! Alright! You want to know what option was selected between the United States and JNB? Both choices were available in First Class all the way through to JNB, so this decision was tougher than most would expect. In the end Lufthansa and Swiss were chosen. Lufthansa’s ultra private upper deck First Class experience on the B747, the FRA First Class terminal and the option of flying Swiss is what made me choose the two carriers for the July 2009 trip. Plus, I’m dying to fly an A300, especially since Lufthansa is one of the oldest operators of the type and is slowly, but surely beginning to retire them. Therefore, I hope my flight won’t be downgraded to a narrow body. I want to save airlines SQ, NH, TG, and OZ for my next trip to Asia. To my readers, which option would you pick?

A) LAX-FRA (Lufthansa 747) + 1 night in FRA for Zzzz’s…
FRA-MUC (Lufthansa A300), MUC-ZRH (SWISS AVRO RJ100), ZRH-JNB (SWISS A340)

Return: JNB-FRA-LAX (Both 747’s on Lufthansa)

B) ORD-NRT (ANA 777) + 1 night in NRT for Zzzzz’s
NRT-BKK (Singapore Airlines 777), BKK-JNB (Thai A346)

Return: JNB-BKK (Thai A346), BKK-NRT (Thai 777), NRT-ORD (ANA 777)

What else is new, your ask? I’m planning a fun mileage run since I think I can find lower deals than the US Airways’ Buy Up to Preferred program.

I really want to try to find a deal to Seattle, WA (SEA). I love the city and I want to check out the Boeing museum. Plus, if I can get a free night at the Seattle Airport Marriott that would be fantastic. It is my favorite property near the SEA airport. Their indoor pool is amazing. Few airport properties in the USA are this nice. Marriott sure did an excellent job here. Enough with the words, sometimes pictures do indeed speak more than words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty long post, but totally worth it since I messed up big time by not posting for a few months. I’m really sorry about that, but I won’t forget this blog or my readers- I promise.

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark