Kalimera, kalos ilthate !

As the first Instagramer of 2017, my thoughts are dedicated to you dear followers. May your hearts be filled with cheer, your minds be filled with joy, and your days be filled with happiness. Life is a ride. I wish you the opportunity to find exciting adventures year round! Happy New Year!

My work has taken me to places for the past 22 years and l have never looked back. I wanted to travel ever since boats or planes took me to Greece, the homeland of my ancestors.

My name is Anouk Werder and I was born and grew up in Biel/Bienne, a bilingual city in the Swiss canton of Berne, at the foot of the Jura region.

My cultural memory bank recalls family dinners with my Greek dad & Swiss mother, where German, Greek and French were spoken over matching culinary diversity served on a daily basis. In fact, l love cooking and the creativity involved in this intimate and personal experience of preparing a meal for someone. It connects all people, nationalities and backgrounds. Cooking allows me to relax and encourages me to work even harder at my next exercising session. Fitness, especially martial art related classes, is my release from stress; it gives me an outlet for all my emotions and makes me generally happier. It gives me confidence to do something good for myself.

Immersing myself in a good book is also one my favourite “me time” moments. Nothing beats allowing your mind to wander in the world of words & phrases.

A good hike in nature with my friends around my breath-taking neighbourhood of Neuchâtel, where I currently live,  is another favourite.

Not a surprise to my family and friends, becoming a flight attendant was an obvious choice. To date, my unmatched enthusiasm keeps me fit and leads me from the exciting streets of Manhattan and its magnificent architecture to the intricate detailing of Bangkok’s temples. After a long flight, the feeling of accomplishment is amazing. Every landing feels like an arrival into a living-in-the-moment comfort zone that thanks to social media l share at a click of my iPhone.

This account is a doorway into the life of people who share the passions and interests of us avid travellers. l do hope my posts will capture the finest moments of my life as a SWISS flight attendant and make you catch the emotions l wish to express through my pictures.

Come on in and follow me on Instagram @flyswiss!

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“Ladies and Gentlemen, a warm welcome on board this SWISS and Star Alliance flight through the month of February. My name is Mara Huber, and I’m your Instagramer of the month for February. I am delighted to welcome you here today, and I look forward to sharing my adventure above the clouds with you. I very much hope you enjoy your time on board.”

February – already the second month of this still-young year is upon us. A new year means new aims, new opportunities and the most diverse new challenges. I hope you all move a little closer to these aims in February, and that you are able to seize the new opportunities and to face up to any challenges with confidence.

“Remember to smile more, worry less and live your passion”

These words are my daily inspiration. I am so happy to be able to say that my profession is so much more than just a job to me. Being a Cabin Crew Member is my passion.

What I particularly like about it is the contact with people, and working with the different crews. These experiences, be they amongst the crew or in the direct contact with our passengers, are both highly educational and enriching in nature.

I was very warmly welcomed into the SWISS family last August, and since then have had the privilege of working on-board with lots on wonderful colleagues. And I happily use the term “family”, because I met so many charming crew members in the shortest time, and close friendships were soon formed.

To this day, my encounters with passengers have been pleasant and enjoyable. But my daily working life also has its more challenging experiences, and they serve to show me the areas where I can still improve – for which I am also grateful. Something else that fascinates me about my profession is being able to travel all over the world. I think travelling is an extension of the horizon. It teaches you tolerance, gratitude and modesty.

I am so happy that I was able to indulge my passion for flying after graduating, and to have been given such a unique experience as a young person.

Follow @flyswiss on Instagram, and explore an unforgettable February with me!

Yours, Mara

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Grüezi and welcome on board!

We’re Ksénia and Maude, two sisters from the beautiful canton of Grisons. Our profession as cabin crew members at SWISS enables us to fly around the world together and to enjoy every second above the clouds. Coffee and bagels in New York, wine and culinary delicacies in Johannesburg, hiking in Yosemite national park, and shopping in our favourite city Boston. All memories which will stay with us forever. To us, being able to fly is like a gift, and it has brought us closer together as sisters.

We’re looking forward to taking you with us on our adventures in the month of March, and to show you what a typical day of ours looks like on Instagram. Ready for takeoff? Then let’s go!

Yours,

Ksénia and Maude

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Patrick Miller already has a twelve-hour Hong Kong–Zurich flight behind him. And he’s now got six hours to kill before his onward flight to New York. The “transit” experience can feel like an eternity if the time has to be spent on an uncomfortable seat with bad coffee to drink. Not at Zurich Airport, though. And certainly not if – like Patrick – you’re travelling First Class. First off, Patrick is met at his arrival gate and chauffeured by a black limousine to Terminal E, past the open bellies of the widebody jets that are being loaded for their next departure. There’s an elevator to take him up on arrival; and as the door opens on the third floor, there stands … a Hollywood star. Is it the jet lag? A hallucination? No, almost anything’s possible at the SWISS First Lounge. But right now, Patrick has just one thing on his mind: a shower.

 Good enough to delay

The new SWISS Terminal E First Class, Senator and Business Departure Lounges at Zurich Airport were opened a year ago. And anyone who holds the right ticket (now also available for Economy passengers for the Business Lounge!) or frequent flyer status can enter this exclusive 3,500-square-metre world. In overall charge of all lounges is Bruno Schläfli, SWISS’s Head of Premium Services & Lounges and a natural-born host. “Our three new lounges offer different types of service,” he explains, “but theoverall goal is the same: to make the traveller’s time with us as enjoyable as possible.” To this end, the lounges offer restaurants and showers, along with dedicated work and relaxation zones. “Sometimes we almost overdo it,” Bruno says with a laugh. “We had one guest who found our Senator Lounge so great that he kept postponing his flight!”

Steak for breakfast

Thinking of his two small children who will be waiting for him in New York, Patrick decides to grab a few hours of sleep. But he’d like to eat something first. Five-star à la carte restaurant or American diner? He opts for the latter. The sun has just risen over Zurich Airport, and the traveller seated next to him is tucking into a muesli. But Patrick’s still on Hong Kong time, and he’s in the mood for steak. He’s in luck: The full menu is available here from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. After all, SWISS’s lounges pay no heed to local time. They’re a meeting point for globetrotters travelling from and to all corners of the earth, a place where time and space seem almost to be suspended. And it’s this that gives them their unique ambience. Even the unassuming perfection of the architecture, the designer furniture and the spectacular views of the apron and the runways seem to serve merely as a backdrop here.

 No wallet required

The currency issue – francs, dollars or euro – is equally irrelevant. Whether the guest selects one of the 1,000 wines, orders a four-course meal or uses one of the hotel rooms, it’s all free of charge. “Everything we offer is part of the product the customer receives when they buy their ticket,” Bruno Schläfli confirms.

Too little time again

The alarm rings on Patrick’s mobile phone. In 40 minutes LX 14 will be leaving for New York. The pile of newspapers on his side table remains unread: The lounge’s Hästens box-spring hotel bed was just too comfortable. He didn’t manage a peek through the terrace’s telescope at the distant Alpine panorama, either. Once again, his transit time was just too short!

Text: Barbara Lienhard / Photos: Claudia Link

The post SWISS Lounge in Terminal E at Zurich Airport appeared first on SWISS Blog.

Zurich is a thriving hub of modern art and masterly cuisine, of living traditions and inspirational design. And with the 20 event highlights below, you’ll have even more reason to visit this varied city in 2017.

Spring surprises

The Mercedes-Benz CSI has been opening Zurich’s event calendar in January for almost 20 years now. The meeting offers the highest prize money and attracts the best field of any World Cup showjumping event; and alongside the stars of the equestrian scene, it further features a wide range of shows and parties to delight the whole family. February’s Man’s World may appeal more to the male, with its poker contests, digger shows, gin tasting, barber shops and more. The vast selection of beers from all over the globe at the Zurich Beer Festival, on the other hand, is sure to appeal to female tastes, too. Mid-April, of course, brings Zurich’s traditional Sechseläuten festival with its famous “Böögg”; but in 2017, it will also be offering two spectacular museum exhibitions: “Osiris” at the Museum Rietberg, with some 300 statues, sarcophagi and cult objects from the depths off Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, and “Macht Ferien!” (“Vacation!”) at the Museum für Gestaltung, highlighting 100 years of Swiss tourism promotion. Incidentally, holders of a ZürichCARD enjoy free or discounted entry to many of the city’s attractions and events, along with free use of public transport and further discounts in selected shops!

Summer fun

Zurich’s 2017 summer begins with the opening of the 35 or so lake- and riverside lidos in and around the city. From then on, local life takes a decidedly open-air turn, be it with the Kreislauf 4+5 design festival in the fashionable Zurich-West quarter, the Ironman contests in Rapperswil and Zurich, the Latin American Caliente! festival, the world-famous Street Parade or the Zurich Openair music festival just outside the city. Further 2017 summer highlights: the opening of the new Swiss Finance Museum in the heart of downtown, the colourful Badenfahrt (which is only held every ten years), the Weltklasse athletics meeting with its star-studded field, and the World Youth Music Festival. Plus, of course, thelakeside Zurich Theater Spektakel, with its rich and varied programme of international theatre ensembles, street artists and further lively performers.

Autumn attractions

Next autumn will have a decidedly culinary feel. September will bring the second FOOD ZURICH, a citywide festival devoted to eating and drinking that extends to more than 100 events including workshops, dinners and tastings. Gourmets on Lake Zurich can also use the intriguing drallo app to steer their way through the area’s vineyards and even enjoy some selected local wines. And September’s Zurich Film Festival will offer its now traditional window onto the glittering movie world, including VIP appearances and a wide range of screenings and showcase events.

Winter wonders

As the days grow shorter, Zurich prepares for its finest season of all. The end of November will see the Christmas lights illuminated all over and the various quaint Christmas markets setting up their stands. There’ll be skating rinks right by the lake, up in the woods and outside the Opera House to delight young and old alike; and while St Nicholas drives the youngest through the city in his special Fairy-Tale Tram, sportier residents will be coursing the winter streets in the annual Silvesterlauf run.

More exciting stories about Zurich on www.zuerich.com.

The post Twenty reasons to visit Zurich in 2017 appeared first on SWISS Blog.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would love to welcome you on board through the month April.

This month I got the honor to present you the daily life as a cabin crew member. My name is Caro and I just work for SWISS since October. After I graduated in Germany 2015, I traveled together with my backpack for 1,5 years around the world. During this time I explored so many different culture and met people from all around the world. Connecting to the varieties of life was always a huge significance for me. That’s why I love my job as a flight attendant. Every single day you get the possibility to learn new things, meet different people and get open to special situations.

It’s not just a job and the possibility to travel around the world, no, it’s more a “school of life”.

I’m really happy to take you on board on the flight April. Enjoy to get impressions about the workplace above the clouds. Follow @flyswiss on Instagram and have fun!

Yours, Caro

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Bombardier CSeries – modern, ergonomic, efficient!

“Could we have a quick look at the cockpit? Wow – look at those huge screens!” and “What’s it like flying the new aircraft? It certainly looks neat and tidy!”

These are the sort of things I’ve been hearing every day since I started the CSeries in daily line operations. I had the privilege of being one of the first First Officers in the world to have the pleasure of completing the exciting type rating on this brand new aircraft. With regard to the aircraft design, the manufacturer Bombardier approached the airlines at the outset and asked them what they would appreciate in a new development. The engineers then set about creating an entirely new kind of aircraft based on the ‘clean sheet’ concept. What makes flying and working in the cockpit so special? Where do I begin …

In the cockpit of the Bombardier CSeries – HUD and more

Presumably, the first thing a pilot notices when looking into the cockpit is the head-up display (HUD). As the name implies, it is intended to guide the pilot’s eyes upwards, and make it easier to scan the main flight parameters. To this end, most of the PFDs – Primary Flight Displays – are projected directly at eye level.

This means that in the short final, for instance, the pilot has the necessary parameters right in front of him as well as the runway, which eliminates the need to keep changing perspectives. This is particularly useful on challenging flights with poor visibility. The pilot also constantly has the critical speeds and runway in sight on take-off, so he is always looking at what matters.

Another details that should be mentioned at this point: the Control Tuning Panel, where we set the radio frequencies and transponder, and operate the navigation equipment, is now on the glareshield and thus also at eye level. So most of the movements that take place over the course of a flight do so with the pilot looking forward. So ergonomically, the CSeries is clearly far superior to many other aircraft.

The Surface Management System (SMS) and Electronic Checklist (ECL)

The five large displays also contribute greatly to the clear design of the cockpit. We are able to display navigation maps, the Flight Management System, the communications system, all the checklists, the various aircraft systems and the video monitoring on any display – just as the situation requires it. There are two particular functions that I would like to mention, the Surface Management System (SMS) and the Electronic Checklist (ECL).

On the SMS, the aircraft is projected on a moving map by GPS, which makes taxiing on complex airports very much easier – anyone who has ever taxied to a standstill on a foggy night in Paris will know exactly what I mean

The ECL has truly revolutionised checklist tasks in our cockpits. On the CSeries, the checklists are shown and worked through on the displays. If the system “senses” a switch in the intended position when checking a checklist, then that item is checked as green on the list and does not need to be addressed any further. This saves lots of talking, and offers an additional safety layer.

Eco-friendly thanks to the high bypass ratio

As I used to fly the Avro RJ100, and thus flew entirely without fly-by-wire, in the beginning I had a tremendous amount of respect for this new control technology. However, in my first simulator session I realised how very pleasant and direct it is.

The CSeries is controlled by sidestick, and is designed to be “speed stable”. So when I am flying manually, I trim it as I would a conventional aircraft. This makes it feel highly intuitive and direct – it didn’t take long to get used to the sidestick after the joystick, and now I never even notice that the inputs are being carried out by a fly-by-wire system.

The necessary thrust is provided by Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1524G engines with Geared Turbofan™ technology. What makes these engines so special compared with conventional ones is that a state-of-the-art gear system separates the engine fan from the low-pressure compressor and turbine, allowing each of the modules to operate at their optimum speeds. The engine is also notable for its tremendous bypass ratio of 12:1 (to compare: B737 & A320 ~6:1). This has greatly reduced consumption values, CO₂ output and noise emissions. SWISS uses the highest-performing engines of this kind, which can generate up to 104 kN of thrust.

The CSeries is ideal for our network because it will shortly receive certification for “steep approaches” (approaches at a gliding angle of over 4.5°) and can land on very short runways. We will then be able to use it on very special airports such as London City and Florence, which are currently served by the Avro RJ100, and which is gradually leaving our fleet. I am already looking forward to the exciting operation at these airports!

The CSeries – not only popular with pilots!

The CSeries also offers a wealth of advantages for pilots. The cabin is extremely modern in appearance, and has been fitted with improved, wider seats. The windows are also a good 30% bigger, and provide a pleasantly light interior. Passenger comfort has also been increased by the innovative seats by ZIM, which are in a design that is used in the automotive industry. Thanks to a central support, they offer more legroom with the same seat pitch. Larger lockers and improved cabin ventilation complete the new travel experience for passengers.

Finally, the unmistakeably positive mood on the aircraft must also be mentioned. Whether you ask the passengers, crew or pilots, most will usually respond with a smile and confirmation that the CSeries really is a successful aircraft, and flying – or working – on one is simply tremendous fun. A lighter cabin with more space, modern design, a more ergonomic cockpit and many other factors really make it a great pleasure to be involved with a model that is a global innovation. I would be delighted to welcome readers on board.

More exciting stories on www.pilotstories.de.

Text/Pictures: Sascha D’Angelo 

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Never heard of Sechseläuten? No worries: Here are the ten most important facts about Zurich’s traditional spring festival.

1. What it is all about
Zurich’s Sechseläuten (six o’clock ringing) festival celebrates a council decision of the 16th century when the city’s guilds resolved that the working day should end one hour later – at six o’clock – in the summer months. The end of the workday was always marked by the bell of the Grossmünster Cathedral. So when this started ringing at six on the first Monday after the spring equinox, summer was clearly on the way.

2. How it is celebrated
The festivities begin on a Sunday with the children’s parade. But it’s Sechseläuten Monday that brings the main event, when some 3,500 guildsfolk proceed through the streets in their historical costumes. They’re accompanied by some 350 horseriders, 50 floats and 30 marching bands. At the end of the procession, on 24 April at 6 p.m. precisely, the bells of the Grossmünster start to ring and the fire to burn the “Böögg” is lit.

3. The “Böögg”
The “Böögg” is the baddie. “Butzemann”, “Bullebeiss”, “Buhmann”, “Boesman”: He goes by many names. Zurich’s “Böögg” looks like a snowman. And he’s burnt to symbolise the end of the winter season. Latter­day legend has it that the faster the “Böögg’s” head (which is conveniently stuffed with fireworks) explodes, the finer the coming summer will be.

4. The record
Last year it took 43 minutes and 34 seconds to blow the “Böögg’s” head off. That’s the longest it’s taken since records are kept! In 1956, by contrast, the “Böögg” lost his head after just 4 minutes.

5. The “Böögg’s” origins
The boys in the city’s Kratz district used to burn a “Böögg” around the spring equinox – the same time the city guilds were holding their Sechseläuten festivities. These old “Böögg” figures were paraded around the streets before they met their fiery end. That somewhat rowdy tradition has been transformed into today’s children’s parade, which is held on the Sunday before Sechse­läuten Monday.

6. A public holiday
Sechseläuten Monday is generally a half­day public holiday in the city of Zurich. So together with “Knabenschiessen” Monday in September, which is also generally a half­day off, it gives the citizens a full day’s holiday each year.

7. A watery end
In 1944, during the Second World War, Sechseläuten was held at the marina in the Enge district, because the usual site had been plant­ed with vegetables. And the “Böögg” fell intothe lake! In 1950, 1960, 1993 and 1994 the“Böögg” fell off his bonfire before his head hadexploded.

8. A fishy custom
The junior members of the Zunft zur Schiff­leuten (the watermen’s guild) used to throw dead fish into the crowds (and even through any open Bahnhofstrasse windows) during their procession. That was abolished last year: They now throw chocolate fish instead.

9. Fine dining, too
The city’s guildhouses that line the River Lim­mat aren’t just architecturally attractive. Many of them are home to fine restaurants as well. Like the Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten, which serves such Swiss classics as Zürcher Geschnetzeltes and cheese fondue.

10. The “Böögg” BBQ
Once the official celebrations are over, Switzer­land’s biggest impromptu barbecue is held on Sechseläutenplatz around the remains of the “Böögg” fire. People of all ages gather to grill the sausages they have brought with them over the glowing embers. Even the “Böögg” has his good side, it seems …

More exciting stories about Zurich on www.zuerich.com.

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Grüezi, Herzlich Willkommen, Velkomin, 歡迎,  Aloha, ようこそ, Shalom, Karibu, Bienvenue, Καλώς ορίσατε, Salam Alaikum, добро пожаловать, Welcome

Dear @flyswiss followers, dear passengers,

As May’s Instagramer of the Month, I’m thrilled to be able to give you a look behind the scenes of the exciting world of flying.

My name is Joy and since October 2015, I’ve been working in my dream job as a flight attendant with SWISS. You can see me in the cabin on SWISS Economy and SWISS Business flights aboard our short-haul aircraft (A319, A320 and A321), our long-haul aircraft (A330 and A340) and our flagship aircraft, the Boeing 777.

My day-to-day life is full of adventure – shopping in Manhattan, dog-sled rides in Montreal, spaghetti and gelati in Rome, sunset in the Hollywood Hills, caipirinhas in São Paulo, safari in Johannesburg, sushi in Tokyo, roof-top bars in Brooklyn or visits to the bazaars and mosques of Oman. I’m only 21, but I’ve already had the privilege of visiting 36 different countries. Discovering the diverse range of countries and cultures never ceases to fascinate and enlighten me. I am so grateful that I’m able to pursue my passion for travel and flying as a member of the cabin crew.

However, it wasn’t just the travel bug and the desire to discover new places that led me towards this career. I thoroughly enjoy providing hospitality to passengers from a wide range of different countries, as we soar above the clouds. My days are extremely varied thanks to all the wonderful, memorable experiences, which are a great enrichment to my life. Every flight is unique – you never know what to expect. The world of flying is like a giant family and I’m thankful to have wonderful colleagues and close friendships.

Join me in May on my 38,000-foot adventure and enjoy a glimpse at a regular workday in the life of a flight attendant on @flyswiss.

See you soon – either on Instagram or on board!

Kind regards,

Joy

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The personal booking experience

Downtown Zurich is still stirring itself awake when the first customers arrive at the SWISS City Ticket Office on Paradeplatz. “As a rule, our mornings are pretty quiet,” says Katja Rinaldi-Martin, the 37-year-old manager of the exclusive City Ticket Office, which is the only one of its kind in the SWISS world.

“Over lunch and in the early evening, though, we often have all our desks in use. Having said that, no two days are ever truly alike – which is what makes our work all the more exciting.” Katja turns to attend to an older couple who have just come up to one of the elegantly designed islands that the office now boasts. “Off to Miami for a bit of sun again?” she asks them. The couple nod enthusiastically, and then thank flight attendant Susi von Siebenthal for the coffee and the SWISS chocolates that she has just provided. “Miami’s one of our most popular destinations,” Katja tells us, “especially in the colder months. But we also get a lot of demand for Bangkok, New York, São Paulo, London, Vienna and Nice,” she adds, before turning again to the couple, who clearly prefer this personalized booking experience to the online alternative.

SWISS’s Zurich City Ticket Office is available to both business and leisure travellers. But it’s the latter who make up the bulk of its clientele. What all its customers have in common, though, is an appreciation of the personal contact, the professional assistance and the years of experience that the office and its team provide. “Many of our visitors book Business or First Class, inquire about round-the-world tickets or are interested in routings that are a little out of the ordinary,” Katja observes. “Or they may have some specific issue with one of our products: a question about the additional services we offer under SWISS Choice like seat reservations, or about our à la carte meals, our gift vouchers, our mileage upgrades or our special offers.”

The Zurich City Ticket Office, which was totally refurbished last November and now features an interior that is closely modelled on the elegant SWISS First Class lounges, will not only book customers on flights to any of SWISS’s 102 destinations, but can arrange air travel on any member airline of the Lufthansa Group. And the most unusual request they’ve had to date? “That could be the couple who were emigrating to the USA and taking their dog with them,” Katja recalls. “They really didn’t want it to have to travel in the cargo hold. So they booked the whole First Class cabin! We provided a blanket and a personalized bowl for the long flight. And the day after they arrived, we received a photo from them showing a clearly very contented canine enjoying the First Class experience at 39,000 feet. As you can see,” Katja concludes, “at our SWISS City Ticket Office, almost nothing is impossible!”

Text: Tamás Kiss / Photos: Claudia Link

The post In the heart of Zurich: The SWISS City Ticket Office appeared first on SWISS Blog.

A major and critical part of a cabin crew member’s work is what we call “daily business”, that is, on-board service. Our training includes both an intensive section on service as well as learning about our many on-board products. From choosing the right wine to the ingredients of an Economy Class dessert, we know how to provide excellent service in the air.

Coordinating specific service procedures is also our responsibility. Since unusual situations have to be handled all the time, this represents an exciting challenge for us. Depending on the destination, the duration of the flight and the booking class, the products may vary enormously, so you have to be ready to accept new tasks every day.During my last post, I told you about our uniform and our appearance as a cabin crew member; since we all look like a part of SWISS, we also have to act like a part of SWISS. That includes learning all of the knowledge expected of a cabin crew member.

The next section of our training is very exciting but also very intense, and as usual there’s a lot to learn.We visit the Product Hub at the Operation Centre by way of introduction into the topic. It’s a showroom where all of the current products of SWISS are on display. From the current on-board dining menus to the seating arrangements, everything is set up for you to try it out yourself. Many of the products are actually laid out to show how they should be presented and served to the guests on board.For example, the trolleys are already loaded to demonstrate for us everything that goes into them and how they should ideally look once we’ve prepared them. I was especially fascinated by the seats in First Class. Even though it wasn’t absolutely necessary for us during this section of the training, that made it all the more exciting for me to try them out for once in my life. You could say it’s like sitting in a cloud, so you quickly forget you’re actually seated in a plane.

During the afternoon, we practice setting up the Economy trolleys in groups of two and three. The mood was great; we had a load of fun and there was a lot to discover and, of course, to learn. Questions popped up like: “How is the red wine presented appealingly on the trolley?”, “Where do the cups go?”, “How do you place the napkins on the sandwiches?”, “Which container is used to serve the tea?”. It’s these little details that contribute to the perfect on-board experience. We also learned some cool and practical tricks, like how you best load the trolley so that you can serve 200 people as efficiently and elegantly as possible.

Another exciting topic was the on-board kitchen (called the ‘galley’ in the industry). There are about 10 trolleys in the Eco galley for a short-haul flight. Therefore, it’s important to understand the galley as well as you can and to know what’s in each trolley. This knowledge is critical for good time management; you save so much time when you know where everything is. And time in the airline industry, as everyone knows, is scarce.

The next day we took a guided tour of Gate Gourmet, our on-board catering supplier. That was really exciting. Now we knew how the products were prepared for the trolleys and made “airworthy”. It was also very interesting to see what happens with the rubbish created during the flight. It gave us all a better appreciation of clean, conscientious work on board.

At this point, we were pretty well versed in the Economy products. We knew the different wines on option, how to serve them and how the trolleys had to be set up. Oh yeah, I almost forgot: Passengers can order special meals when they book their flights. This guarantees that people with allergies don’t eat something wrong during the flight. We also offer food for people with religious dietary restrictions, such as kosher and halal meals. Did you know that SWISS offers more than 16 different special meals? I sure didn’t; at least not beforehand. We were allowed to taste our way through the full range of special meals so that we would know what we were serving people later on board. That was a great experience and we all determined that airline food did not deserve its, in some cases, notorious reputation.

Now let’s move on to the Business Class products. We practised in a special “mock-up” which looked exactly like the aircraft cabin. It was clear that our Business Class products have a few special touches. Everything it a little more sophisticated, with a broader range of beverages, a different way of serving the food and a touch more professional way of interacting with the guests. For example, we’re expected to know the names of each passenger and to remember who’s drinking still or sparkling water. It’s definitely a different world.

In addition to the actual products and service, we learned how best to react to certain interpersonal situations. For example, what we should do when guests suffer from a fear of flying. First and foremost, it’s important to attend to such guests and be present for them. It also helps to explain to the passenger exactly what’s happening and what might be causing unfamiliar noises. Naturally, we want each passenger to have a nice and pleasant experience on board our flights.

So, that was just a little sample of our training in the Product & Service section. Now everyone’s full of anticipation, because the next stop is to take a short-haul flight. I’m very eager to do mine. I’ll finally get the chance to put into practice everything I’ve studiously learned over the last several weeks. My first day will take me to Bucharest, Hanover and Vienna.

I am ready for take-off.

Yours, Martina

The post What would you like? Coffee or tea? appeared first on SWISS Blog.

Nadia Damaso travelled to Asia for SWISS where she fed her way through the Asian metropolises.

In the first post of her culinary journey, she presents you Japan.

Japan, Tokyo

A country full of clichés but more so of surprises! You simply have to have experienced it yourself to realise that the Japanese don’t just live on sushi; big cities like Tokyo are just as well-ordered and quiet as cities like Zurich on a Sunday; mouthguards are not worn because of smog, but first and foremost by women who want to cover their non-makeup faces; every toilet seat is heated, whether inside a shopping centre or outside at a park (this really has to be introduced in Switzerland!); fresh fish, for example, from the biggest fish market in the world – Tsukiji fish market – just melts on your tongue; the Japanese enjoy both the heart and insides of a fish alike; ramen soup has been almost naturalised in Japan although it originally came from China; freshly made soba noodles are the cream of the crop; the manufacturing process of sake – a Japanese rice wine – is comparable with beer brewing; green tea and matcha tea are second to none; the famous Onsen hot spring baths can only be used in the nude; sumo wrestlers are as flexible as a rubber band but at the same time as strong as Hercules and could eat as much as Obelix at every meal; beans are part of practically every dessert and besides all this yummy food, it’s quite simply an incredibly exciting, appealing and diverse country!

Not to miss

• Tsukiji fish market, Tokyo – the largest and most famous fish market in the world. More than 2,000 tonnes of seafood are traded a day.
• Kaiseki dinner with Onsen bath and overnight stay in a Ryokan – you can’t get more typical “Japanese” than that!
• Watch sumo training – and be both astonished and entertained at the same time.
• If you have enough time, travel on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Itoigawa. Enjoy freshly caught crabs on the coast, then go for a 30 minute drive up into the mountains, which are covered in one metre of snow even in April.

It is important to know that..

• ..it is a huge advantage to have a translator as you won’t get very far with just “Konichiwa”.
• ..pushing is a completely foreign concept and you should never blow your nose in public.
• ..you should eat down to the last grain of rice as it is good manners.
• ..prices are similar to those in Switzerland.
• ..you can fly with SWISS directly and daily to Tokyo and the service is great!
• ..cherry blossom time, end of May/beginning of April, is one of the best – you are however surrounded by tourists.
• ..you should book hotels a few months in advance as it is otherwise difficult to get fairly decent accommodation.
• ..you have to take off your shoes before steps and landings (shoelaces are therefore not very good)
• ..you should try everything that smells good to you – only then will you know if you like it or not!
• ..you should take as many photos as possible – just as many as the Japanese take when they are in Europe!

Text: Nadia Damaso
Bild: Nadia Damaso & Tanja Wüthrich

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Hooray, summer has arrived! The sun is raising the temperatures, people are getting cheerier, and everyone’s starting to look forward to their long-awaited holidays. For my part, I’m eager to greet you on board flights to our loveliest holiday destinations this June. I’m happy to announce that I’m your next Instagramer of the Month. Get ready to go on quite a ride!

But before we start, let me tell you a little bit me, so you’ll know who you’re flying around the world with for one month. My name is Elisa Marske and I was born not all that far away in Germany. I spent my early years in Wolfenbüttel, which is close to Hanover. When I was 8, we moved to Switzerland and, for the last 13 years, I’ve been living in the adorably sweet, little town of Zofingen in the canton of Aargau. One thing I learned quickly from moving as a young child is that you feel at home anywhere in the entire world.

My personal motto is ‘never stop exploring our wonderful planet!’ Our earth is an incredible gift; all we have to do is open it and explore it with an open heart.

After completing a commercial apprenticeship, I soon realised that working all day in an office was not my idea of an exciting and enriching life. In the end, this led me to SWISS in January 2016, with whom I now travel above the clouds as a dynamic cabin crew member. Given that I’ve loved to travel and I’ve been curious about the big, wide world since I was little, I can now live out my dream and I’ve very happy about it. I love getting to know lots of new people and the great experiences, conversations and sometimes even friendships that arise from that. It’s an enrichment that comes with the profession as flight attendant.

Since cabin crew members are known to fly though plenty of different time zones and time and again have to stay awake through the night, it’s extremely important to find a way to balance this at home. I do it through physical activity, preferably outdoors in nature. Walks in the woods or the occasional round of jogging with music keep me fit. Spending plenty of time with those I love also makes me happy and I always make enough time for that. Then there’s my own personal travel… As I mentioned, travelling has become a real hobby of mine and I love to do it the uncomplicated way: alone with my backpack.

I can definitely recommend it to everyone, and who knows? Perhaps I’ll soon have the pleasure of welcoming one of you on board on your way to your next adventure!

Don’t be afraid to talk to me at any time!

I’m looking forward to sharing this month with you and I hope you’ll enjoy plenty of new impressions.

Yours, Elisa #flyswiss

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Southkorea, Seoul

Kimchi, kimchi and yet more kimchi. Fermented vegetable “en masse” with an amazing amount of garlic, chilli and other spices, and in every shape, type and form you can imagine! When you arrive in Seoul, a mere 56 km from the border with North Korea, you would be forgiven for thinking you were on a different planet. They’ve got everything there, and nothing that doesn’t exist! It really was a different world, miles away from absolutely everything! If the words bibimbap, kimchi, gimbap, mandu and japchae mean nothing to you, then that should change as quickly as possible – ideally by visiting one of the city’s many local markets, whether large or small, and enjoying your fill of these freshly prepared delights! And no way should you be allergic to the smell of fish, because there’s no escaping from it! Dried and fresh, deep-fried and preserved; you’ll find it all. But do meals in Korea always come with so many side dishes? Yes, most definitely! A typical Korean meal will be accompanied by between 5 and 10 side dishes, all included in the price, and often you can order as many refills as you like. You could say they’re our bread, salt and pepper. And if you happen to like spitting on the ground without having worry about the consequences, or just generally like spitting, then you’ll love Seoul, because that’s considered normal behaviour there (well, that’s the impression I had anyway!). There is one hard-and-fast rule, first try the really good food, and then decide whether you want to keep the various flavours in your mouth (and I would say most definitely) or not :).

Not to be missed

• Bibimbap, kimchi, gimbap, japchae, pajeon & mandu (dumplings) – just try everything!
• Kwangjang Market for authentic Korean street food
• Namdaeum Market, a market with over 10,000 shops that has been in existence since 1414!
• Enjoy the sunset from Inwangsan Mountain, about an hour’s walk from Deoksogung Palace in the city
• The “in” quarters of Myenong-Dong and Itaewon – totally crazy, but absolutely not to be missed.
• The “Parc” restaurant in Itaewon
• Bukchon Hanoi Village! Be sure to visit the Bukchon Sonmandu there for the best dumplings and “Naengmyeon noodles”. They are served in a large bowl, and there’s a pair of scissors on the table so you can cut them into the length you want.

It’s important to know that…

• … Taxis are very cheap in Seoul, and the best way to get from A to B – but make sure the meter is on so you’re not ripped off.
• … Google Maps doesn’t work in South Korea, so just ask for the Korean app, and you’ll be fine.
• … Most young people speak very good English, whereas the older ones tend not to speak a word. So having a translator with the main words is a big help!
• … The South Koreans are very proud of their country and their culture, and this should always be respected.
• … In Korea, you start counting your age at 1, not 0. So if you think you’re 30 here, in Korea you’ll be 31. (But actually, it’s not done to ask a Korean directly how old they are.)

Text: Nadia Damaso
Bild: Nadia Damaso & Tanja Wüthrich

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Finally! The time has come for us (Ludwig, Mathias and Sabrina) to embark on a remarkable journey! What lies ahead of us? 18 months of exciting challenges around the globe, where we will take on a variety of projects within different departments, including a social project in Thailand, a week of hands-on at Zurich Airport, time spent in a monastery and lots more.

We begin by immersing ourselves into the world of the Lufthansa Group. Keen on getting to know our eight Lufthansa Pro Team counterparts, we’re off to Frankfurt on our first duty trip. Right from the start, we bond as a team. Even though we all come from different backgrounds, we have one thing in common: our tremendous excitement for the new challenge. Here we are – the new generation of the SWISS ProTeam!

Our second week starts with a visit to LSG Sky Chefs. For one day, we get to follow the processes of the LSG Sky Chefs and observe the journey of the food trolleys, which we only know as guests on board. Fascinated by the logistics, we walk through different cuisines – from Halal to Japanese, see how the food ends up on the trays, observe last-minute orders from various airlines and follow the trolleys as theeeyyy leave the LSG area again. Now, every time we spot an LSG truck driving around the airport, our hearts skip a beat.

The whole ProTeam group then flies to Zurich: relaxing in the luxurious SWISS First seats in the SWISS product hub, watching suitcases rush by during the Zurich Airport tour, opening an emergency door at the Aviation Training Centre – the two days at SWISS are full of highlights. While the Lufthansa ProTeam gets an impression of SWISS, it feels like coming home for the three of us, and we can’t deny being proud of showing the others around. At a workshop organised by Miles & More and Lufthansa Cargo back in Frankfurt,we  realise how diverse, interesting and different the people within the Lufthansa Group are.

“Outdoor training” is next on our agenda. The only information we have been given about these two days is that we are supposed to bring weather-proof clothes and solid shoes! Building a bridge and climbing through a giant spider web are only two of the various exercises that challenge us and let us grow as a team.

Another special day unfolds as we visit “Lufthansa Technik” in Hamburg. Touring the impressive halls reminds of the effort needed to maintain an aircraft. Seeing a propped up Airbus A380, disassembled engines and empty planes, leaves us astonished.

Five weeks deep dive come to and end! This intense time brought us closer together, but for now, we are ready to start our first projects in Zurich.

Mathias, Ludwig and Sabrina

Text/Bild: Mathias, Ludwig und Sabrina

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SWISS is adding no fewer than five attractive new destinations to its European network this summer: Bergen (Norway), Cork (Ireland), Figari (Corsica), Niš (Serbia) and Sylt (Germany).

And whenever there are new points to be added to the route system, it’s the company’s Network Management unit that is crucial to the process. Few people can present all the planning complexities that opening a new air route entails as well as Head of Network Management Martin Apsel-von zur Gathen. It was as a pilot that this 32-year-old originally envisaged his career. But after studying aviation management, he is happy today to help shape the SWISS network instead. “We really are a central hub within our airline,” he says. “What we do in Network Management has a direct impact onevery other part of the company.” But what exactly is it that Network Management does? To begin with, the unit permanently monitors and analyses developments on all SWISS routes andin all SWISS markets, to constantly further enhance the services, schedules and profitability of the SWISS route network. Its specialists also develop ideas for new destinations.

The addition of Cork is a recent example. For the many travellers who were alreadyflying to and from the city via SWISS’s existing Zurich–Dublin service, the new non-stop flights now offer an appealing alternative with a substantially shorter flying time, plus attractive new arrival and departure combinations for anyone planning an Ireland vacation. Opportunities like this can always arise and be exploited at short notice, too. But the planning and preparation involved entail close coordination with various other units that are co-responsible for the operations’ commercial success.

Decisions on new long-haul routes are generally taken about ten to twelve months in advance, while for new short-haul destinations, some six months’ lead time is usually required. SWISS’s Network Management is also actively involved in steering the relevant processes within the Lufthansa Group. “Our goal here is to coordinate these activities as effectively as possible within the group, take swift decisions, learn from each other and support one another, to provide all our customers with the best possible schedules,” Apsel-von zur Gathen explains.

Needless to say, it’s the group members’ long-haul networks that demand the most coordination here. “Our SWISS long-haul planners work in integrated teams with our colleagues from the other Lufthansa Group hubs of Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna,” Apsel-von zur Gathen continues. “When we recently decided to put our new Boeing 777-300ERs onto our Zurich–San Francisco route, we did so within the wider context of the group’s services to California. We adopt a similar approach with our fleet planning, too.”

The intensive and clearly defined planning process generally begins with one key question: How do things look on the capacity front, i.e., which aircraft is available to open additional routes? “The sheer range of areas where decisions need to be made is really exciting,” Apsel-von zur Gathen enthuses. “In the morning we may be discussing our long-term fleet and capacity planning; and in the afternoon we have to work out how to accommodate a short-notice ‘fan flight’ to the Ice Hockey World Championships.”

“A sound knowledge of the market, a good picture of our competitors’ schedules and above all flexibility: These are what it takes to exploit an airline network’s revenue and profit potential to the max,” he concludes. And to show how complex network management can be: Once you’ve completed the evaluation process, you may still not be able to add a new destination to your network, because you can’t get the arrival and departure slots at the times youneed them. Planning is everything!

Text: Tamás Kiss / Photos: Claudia Link

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The Swiss Romandy – the most beautiful gate to Europe and the rest of the world

Western Switzerland is always worth a visit – home to picturesque places like St-Ursanne on the river Doubs, impressive cities such as Neuchâtel, famous for its castle, the spectacular scenery of Lavaux, cultural highlights such as the Montreux Jazz Festival near to the glistening waters of Lake Geneva. Thanks to SWISS and Geneva Airport, Romandy has also become an exciting place to take off on your travels: SWISS connects Geneva directly to 33 different cities and – via Zurich – to 90 other destinations in 43 countries.

The Bombardier C Series – our most state-of-the-art aircraft

The Bombardier C Series is the most modern aircraft in the SWISS fleet. Its new-generation engines significantly reduce noise and fuel consumption while the spacious, light cabin ensures the highest level of comfort for all passengers. SWISS is dedicating its first CS300 plane to the people of  Romandy and their homeland.

From a competition to a printed film

As a testimony to its commitment, SWISS is dedicating its very first Bombardier CS300 to Swiss Romandy and its citizens. A wide-scale two phase competition was held over a number of months. Firstly, SWISS asked the Swiss Romands: What does Swiss Romandy mean to you? The response quote was phenomenal: more than 7,000 people answered with a slogan, a phrase or just a word. Their replies once again demonstrated the diversity and richness of Swiss Romandy. But all the answers had one thing in common: pride in the region, its nature, its inhabitants and their achievements. There was also a second question: Who is your Swiss Romand hero? SWISS received many testimonies inspired by very poignant personal stories, sometimes amusing but mostly moving. SWISS then chose 49 of these stories at random and their heroes’ names are each printed on one of the seats of the new aircraft.

The artist: Mathias Forbach, aka Fichtre

Mathias Forbach, 34, is an independent graphic designer in Vevey who works for a range of customers both at home and abroad. He was amazed by the huge number of suggestions and interpreted the many entries into one graphic design.

“The aim of an artist is to convey his art and allow it to travel. What could be better than using a plane?” he said, commenting on the project. But how did the design get onto the plane? The design, printed on a special film, was carefully transferred to the aircraft by a firm specialized in this field. The workers needed utmost concentration throughout because the film is only 0.05 mm thin!

The heroes of Swiss Romandy

This aircraft is dedicated to Romandy – and the Swiss people of Romandy. It’s dedicated to the nurse who works for Médecins Sans Frontières and soothes the pain of those most in need. It’s dedicated to the 90-year-old grandmother who still makes time for herself  to do the things she enjoys. And dedicated to a disabled friend who still tackles a marathon despite his handicap. This is the very essence of Swiss Romandy – a brave community in which courage and humanity reign.

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At last it’s July! Over the coming days, the academic year will be drawing to a close in most of Switzerland’s cantons, and the long-awaited summer holiday beginning. We’ll have the pleasure of welcoming more families on-board again, all looking forward to their beach holiday in Nice or Miami, or perhaps a city trip to Madrid.  And some of them might already be looking forward to a lovely holiday at one of our five new summer destinations, such as Cork.

Which is why it gives me even greater pleasure to be able to give you an insight into my work as Cabin Crew in this month of the summer holidays. My name is Yannik Riesen, and I come from beautiful Seeland in the Canton of Bern.

When I left secondary school, I knew I wanted to take some time out from school and experience a new world, that of aviation, before going on to university.

It was the best decision I could have made. I love working with my colleagues so much. It’s lovely how we all support each other, and all share the same aim. And it’s particularly important in our job to be open and honest with each other. Communication within the team can often be key, whether dealing with problems with passengers or a medical incident on a flight.

It’s also wonderful to experience different cultures and learn so much about them. Along with all the delightful experiences I have on a flight, I am also extremely grateful for the times afterwards. Exploring new cities that you might otherwise never have come to is just fabulous. Walking the Great Wall of China with the crew, seeing the Statue of Liberty in New York or just lying on a beach in Dar Es Salam are some of the things that make our job perfect.

I’m looking forward to sharing all these impressions with you on instagram this month, and I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Warmest wishes, Yannik

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Avro RJ100 ferried to Cranfield (UK)

Our Avro RJ100 withdrawal programme is coming to a close. 15 Avro RJ100 have been withdrawn and replaced with our new Bombardier C Series twinjets over the past ten months. While some of these had reached the end of their service lives and are thus being scrapped, others have been returned to their lessors, who are leasing them out again to new customer airlines, primarily in Africa and South America. We’ve also been trying to find buyers for those aircraft that belonged to us. Most of the aircrafts concerned have been found new owners: having been well maintained over the years, our SWISS RJs still attract sizeable interest on the second-hand aircraft market. We recently accompanied a crew on their ferry flight with HB-IYQ, to Cranfield in the UK.

It’s a dull and rainy early-May morning when Captains Reto Scheidegger and Michael Weisser meet in the Zurich OPC for their pre-fight briefing. It’s no ordinary rotation today, though. They’re on a special mission: ferrying HB-IYQ to Cranfield near London, to return it to Falko, the leasing company that owns it.

The days leading up to the flight have seen IYQ carefully prepared for its handover by a team from our Technical Division. The work included compiling extensive documentation guaranteeing that the aircraft had been faultlessly maintained. “If there’s anything that isn’t in order, or if a particular document is missing, it can all get pretty expensive,” stresses Werner Reiser, Senior Manager Aircraft Phase-Out Programmes in our Technical Division.

Our pilots finish their briefing around 07:00, and are joined by Karl Wilkinson. Karl is from lessor Falko, and is there to accompany the ferry flight and check and document the aircraft’s functionality throughout. He’s an old hand, and knows almost every RJ nut and bolt. He even organized the type’s acquisition by Crossair, and spent some time working on the ‘Jumbolino’ with our Technical Division, too.

India Yankee Quebec makes its last departure from Zurich just before 08:00 with the three men on board, and climbs into the grey morning sky. Flight LX 5210 has Captain Weisser at the controls. But it’s not to the UK that he heads, but to the Netherlands. The itinerary includes a stopover at the small Rotterdam Airport. There are customs formalities involved in importing the aircraft to the UK: and these require it to land in another EU country first.

After a 40-minute flight, Rotterdam is reached. Our pilots take a break in a small lounge by the apron while Karl coordinates with Customs. Karl is evidently satisfied: he hasn’t noticed any irregularities on the flight so far.

Shortly after noon comes the phone call they have been waiting for: the aircraft is approved for import to the UK. A short time after, HB-IYQ takes off again for its final destination, Cranfield. And after a further 30 minutes it flies over the small aerodrome, turns and lands. This is where its SWISS career ends. It will soon be in service again, but with a different registration. Before then, though, it will receive another thorough inspection by the mechanics of Avolon, the maintenance company that is based at Cranfield. They in turn will be accompanied by a representative from our Technical Division, who will oversee all the work and sign the formal delivery document.

For our two SWISS pilots the work is done. They’re a little sad: the RJ, they agree, was always a special plane to fly. But now it’s time to dead-head back to Zurich, via London Heathrow.

Text: Reto Hoffmann, Florian Flämig/ Photos: Reto Hoffmann

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Swiss International Air Lines and SOS Children’s Villages have been close and genuine partners for 15 years now. The generosity of SWISS’s passengers and personnel helps give families and children in India a better and brighter future.

Ask Harsh what his dream job would be and he has a clear reply: He wants to help people, and give something back. Harsh would like to become a radiologist in Delhi; and if everything goes well, this 15-year-old should be studying at university a few
years from now. Harsh is an orphan. Like all the youngsters at the SOS Children’s Village in Bawana, near Delhi, hardly anyone knows what kind of past he brought with him into the institution’s care. What we do know, though, is that all these young residents are being given a lot of love, warmth and future prospects in their new home.

SOS Children’s Villages helps youngsters and families in need in more than 130 countries. Its work is funded by donations. And, for 15 years now, those donors have included countless SWISS passengers. The company invites its in-flight guests to give any loose change they no longer need in whatever currency they may have. It’s a request that has raised more than 2.5 million Swiss francs over that 15-year period. And for the past five years the funds raised from SWISS passengers have been channelled to the SOS Children’s Village Bawana.

“Our relationship with SWISS is very important to us,” says Nicole Wollner, a member of the Executive Board of SOS Children’s Villages Switzerland. “We are united in our objectives. The funds SWISS has raised have been used, for instance, to totally refurbish the SOS Children’s Village in Bawana.”

Wollner is equally moved by the commitment of SWISS’s personnel: On a recent visit to SOS Children’s Villages in India they presented over 40 bicycles for the youngsters’ use. “The kids were so delighted!” she reports. The May trip was made to show SWISS the direct impact its support is having, and saw a joint delegation from the company and SOS Children’s Villages Switzerland fly out to Delhi to visit the villages in Bawana and nearby Faridabad and learn more about the various local projects, such as the Family Strengthening Programme.

The trip made quite an impact on Christoph Ulrich, SWISS’s Head of Human Resources. “We really value our partnership with SOS Children’s Villages,” he explains. “We’re very proud that the generosity of our passengers can help so many people. And the amazing results we saw in India are a huge incentive to us to continue working on our collaboration.”

“What especially impressed me,” Ulrich adds, “were the women of the Family Strengthening Programme at the Bawana village, whom our support has provided with truly effective tools to give themselves a living. It’s phenomenal what the people are doing there. And it was so inspiring to see what a difference this project is making.” Which is all thanks to you – our passengers – too!

Text: Anna Miller / Photos: Remo Nägeli

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