Round The World and other travels

Flight Log 6 : LX2032

Zurich (ZRH) - Madrid (MAD)

This flight was retimed as a direct result of the late-arriving Shanghai flight - not for my benefit, you understand, but because on board the Shanghai flight there was a 120-strong party, all bound for Madrid. Given a choice between delaying the Madrid flight and finding overnight accommodation in Zurich for 120 people, SWISS opted to hold the flight. This was clearly to my benefit, because it provided a suitable re-route option that would get me to my intended destination on the intended day.

I settled into 1F. Boarding was complete by 1750, but loading of a different kind was still going on beneath our feet - no doubt the delayed luggage from LX189, hopefully including my suitcase! As usual, bottles of water and cold towels were distributed to Business Class passengers at this stage. I couldn't help noticing that cabin presentation on this occasion fell a little short of the usual impeccable standards, due to a few scuffmarks on the panelling. The Captain announced our expected flight time as 1hr 50mins and we eventually made a move at 1804. We didn't join the queue of short-haul aircraft waiting for Runway 28, instead taxiing to the runway normally used by long-haul flights. Possibly it was a means of getting us on our way with as little further delay as possible. In any event, take-off was just prior to 1815.

Service started from the rear of the Business Class cabin, which would normally have been a tad irritating. (Why do some crews do this, when Star Golds and other status passengers tend to select seats at the front?) Having just spent 13 hours indulging myself on LX189, however, I really didn't care. Sure enough, there was only a vegetarian meal left by the time the crew reached me. The tray contained a small salad, with a little bottle of dressing. The main course seemed to be a combination of potato gratin and ratatouille, which was actually very much nicer than it perhaps sounds. Additionally, there was a portion of Camembert cheese. I drank apple juice, but refused the offer of bread rolls and didn't eat the salad. I simply didn't have the appetite for it all.

When coffee was served, I noticed a change since my last short-haul SWISS flight, some six months previously. Rather than distributing little wrapped squares of milk chocolate throughout the plane, a box of chocolates was passed around Business Class.

Our route having taken us over Toulouse, across the Pyrenees and past Zaragoza, we touched down at Madrid Barajas just before eight o'clock. At this huge airport, it took fully 13 minutes to make it to our allocated stand.

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