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- Thread starter Livvie
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Yes, was disheartened when saw the mesh screening at Geneva as haven't at other airports, even prior years at Zurich. Don't suspect is security issue, rather sunblock to protect people behind the wall of glass during the afternoon. Unfortunately, was unnecessarily rushed at both Geneva (staffing) and Zurich (1 hr layover). Have a less than flattering photo of 2 people working check-in with huge backup, taken CYA if problem at train clearly shows arrived over two hours early. Supervisor eventually added more agents, and when saw our ticket with connections, bumped us to the front...boarding as we arrived at the gate and I quickly snapped that photo. At Zurich, it is a huge airport, Swiss air has the favored A terminal, but United, and other International airlines are terminal E - tram underneath the runways to separate terminal. At least all were regular walkway to board - not board bus at gate and transported across tarmac to climb stairs to plane (limited number of gates at airport supporting modern wide body wingspan) Also boarding as I arrived, and missed the "Transfer" desk next to a different gate, noted when seeking to board. Had to go there for COVID Neg test paperwork review (also reviewed at Geneva) required for all US citizens, even vaccinated - which were only ones allowed in Switzerland, and the few foreign exceptions entry (foreign tourist not allowed entry). After review, they put a sticker on back of passport so could then board - but no time to find location to click a better picture.
At any rate, made it home - and actually felt safer on the "everyone tested" flights across the pond than come one come all on the US domestic flights. Ironically, we made the reservation an the day Switzerland opened up the US to "fully vaccinated" and during our return trip, the move USA to high risk where unvaccinated can't even change planes on pass through - shipped back to USA - and vaccinated, while allowed, must now have negative rapid test paperwork as well.
Couple takeaways from the trip. 1) Avoid "partner/co-ticket" airline mix (Star Alliance in this case) and try to keep all same airline. While works OK with the airline operations including baggage check through to destination, it is the user experience that suffers. Seats are assigned (and reassigned by airlines) both arriving on Brussels Airlines (and their unique COVID/Locator paperwork requirements), and the departure on Swiss Air. Worse, while the ticket was purchased through United, when attempting early check-in, was denied on United - even for those legs - as the trip originated with Swiss Air. On Swiss Air site, while could see the reservation and special Swiss Air ticket numbers, while never could change seats assigned, when attempted to check in got "server error" forcing the manual check-in. 2) Check Zurich to avoid 3rd country. I've done the 2.5 hr train vs 40 min Geneva train in past, and not bad and faster than changing planes for the short hop. Historically, United was the only carrier with non-stop to Geneva, but didn't think to check Zurich non-stop when the arrival was through Belgium, not paying attention to my return other than total time (typically 14 hours). I've done Orlando non-stop to Zurich on Edelweiss which was great - but their single day weekly schedule robbed me of a weekend. Also did Virgin Atlantic to London then collect baggage and recheck-in with EasyJet on separate ticket purchase for the final leg. Both Virgin Atlantic and British Air had non-stop Orlando to London Gatwick, but Virgin didn't serve Switzerland, and BA Swiss connections were out of Heathrow. It appears BA is now Orlando to Heathrow, so may be an option in the future, vs United to Washington DC or New Jersey hubs.
Thermometer (June 28/21 on our still shaded balcony - very warm for here)
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Trolley Car - Taken at the half way point on the ride.
Train ... Glacier Express. Describes itself as "the slowest express train in the world." Plus some lady that kept following me all over and I never could ditch her. I guess I shouldn't use a "T" word to describe my wife. 
Oh, yeah!!! They are called 'code share' here, and I flew first to Cabo San Lucas on Delta and Alaska (because Alaska flew to Cabo from LAX, go figure, and was in a code share agreement with Delta) so we land at SFO, were to spend 4 days there, and take the Delta shuttle to LAX, and then the ride on Alaska to Cabo. The first part is perfect. SFO is GREAT! We hop the 'shuttle', get to LAX with hours to spare, and get to go in the Alaska Airlines club. Have an awesome experience, and show up at the gate. 'Oh, you are coach on this flight. Oh, and the return. You board with everyone else. Stand over there' But we were assured we were 'first class'. 'Delta can't tell us what to do! You are in coach, because we 'don't have room for you'.' Well, yeah, you are a code share partner with Delta. 'Yeah, but that doesn't mean you get code share rights! And you have to pay for your baggage too!' WHAT? We were told we didn't have to pay, our bags were checked through to Cabo, even though we staying 4 days between our arrival in SFO! 'Well, just because you are on a code share flight, we are supposed to bend over backward and give you priority service? It doesn't work like that here!' But we got in the Alaska Air club for free. 'Who let you in!' The guy at the door, we showed him our Delta code share ticket on Alaska, and that we were 'first class', and he said 'Come on in!!!'...
Oh, they were pissed. 'You shouldn't have been given access to 'the club'!'
I called Delta, they asked to talk to the gate agent. Nearly twenty minutes later they, grudgingly, allowed us to board in the back of first class, or what they call it, and 'waved' our baggage fees. Good grief!!! What a pain in the keester!!!
The return trip was uneventful. Apparently we were 'tagged' in their system, and got back to LAX without a problem. The whole idea of 'code sharing' is that you can check a passenger into your airline at the beginning of their booked trip, and they can pass through several 'code sharing airlines' ON THE SAME TICKET, AT THE SAME CLASS, WITH THE SAME BENEFITS. Otherwise, why have code sharing at all? It help spread the wealth, so to speak. The trip was a present, and it turned into a headache because of the airline politics. And once we were told that a code share partner didn't have a seat for us. Yeah, you bet we raised hell, and like magic, a seat 'appeared', as if out of no where.
I love to travel, I just am really getting to the point I hate the process OF travel, but love being there. I'd have driven to Cabo, if I could have done it in less than a couple of days. The lure of having a private plane sure looks great, but I'm not a Wall Street parasite. *sigh*
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U _ shape
Slide scan. San Francisco side street, 1980s
Slide scan. San Francisco side street, 1980s
U...Urgent Care
This was part of a commercial photoshoot I did.
This was part of a commercial photoshoot I did.
U-nbearable situation.
Full disclosure: this is U-nfortunatelyobviously not my image but I was U-nable to resist. I hope you will U-nderstand.
Full disclosure: this is U-nfortunatelyobviously not my image but I was U-nable to resist. I hope you will U-nderstand.
Train ... Glacier Express. Describes itself as "the slowest express train in the world." Plus some lady that kept following me all over and I never could ditch her. I guess I shouldn't use a "T" word to describe my wife.
Loving wives are the most tenacious trackers in the world! We can only admired them. Right?
