|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
American Dream Airline™ |
|
Swiss
International
Business Class |
|
Extraordinair |
|
5 Stars
and Stripes for
Service & Comfort |
|
The
Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars and
Stripes™ |
|
|
|
|
| The personnel at the
podium in Terminal 4, gate 29 in JFK were busy checking-in boarding passengers
for the departing Swiss flight to Zurich. In their own pleasant, graceful and
professional way they tried helping a distraught passenger deal with a lost
boarding pass. Somehow they succeeded in their efforts to quickly handle it and
swiftly board the remaining passengers including me. |
|
 |
|
| It seemed that
everywhere I looked there was an overabundance of smiles and utterances of
"Grützi" (Swiss for hello) as I stepped into the large comfortable looking
Airbus 340. 'This is quite a change' I thought when I recalled the contrast of
flying Swiss during its darkest hour at the time of their bankruptcy a few
years back. I was shown to my seat in the Swiss Business Class by a capable
male flight attendant who immediately noticed my discomfort with my bulky
winter jacket. It was efficiently removed to the closet where it stayed stowed
until the flight's end. |
|
| I felt great,
with plenty of room to move and explore my surroundings getting to know all the
incredible innovations that have been put into place since Swiss re-organized
and is now back on track as a world-class player. I nestled in squirrel-like
actively probing my ample space, examining all the high-tech conveniences while
the attendants eagerly handed out international newspapers in several different
languages. Soon after, other attendants offered Champagne cascading form
bottles of Feuillatte Réserve Particulière into elegant fluted
glasses while offering each 'guest', Swiss's menu de fare. |
|
 |
|
|
I sipped silently on
this classical well-refined champagne and savored the aromatic, delicate
bubbles as they performed their tingling ballet completely and
effortlessly.
The upgrade from economy to business for some people is an
absolute must as a major improvement offers only 3 rows of twin seats or
approximately 20 seats in each business section. Configurations differ with
each model of aircraft but I can tell you that this Airbus 340 had ample space
for most sensible activities. |
|
 |
|
| I began looking up and
down at the light colored walls and ceiling, which contrasted nicely with the
dark checker patterned seats all the while enjoying the feeling of understated
quality and elegance. The cabin experience included feathery scenes of Swiss
aircraft in-flight projected on the video monitors while soothing, otherworldly
dreamy music wove a surreal sensation of levitation and we hadn't even left the
ground yet. {www.feoleimages.com} As the cabin crew prepared for the take-off
sequence, refreshing hot towels were offered along with lip balm and hand
cream. A nice pouch containing travel essentials such as soft socks, earplugs,
breathmints, eye covers, toothbrush and toothpaste were altruistically
presented to each passenger by the genuinely sympathetic crewmembers. A note
found in the pouch promised additional items upon request: shaving kit, nail
file, comb, shoehorn and sewing kit. I began to feel like a long lost relative
who unexpectedly dropped in for a visit and became the center of attention for
the host family. |
|
 |
|
Another flute of
champagne suddenly appeared as we taxied to the runway and I almost couldn't
resist the urge to kiss the hand that fed me. Swiss attendants are fluent in
several different languages as in their own country there are four official
ones including French, German, Italian and Romanch, the ancient residual
language based on Latin. Take-off requirements of sitting upright aside, the
force of the powerful but relatively silent engines performed the Herculean
task of lifting this behemoth with refinement and comfort.
Halfway to
the cruising altitude I had a chance to examine the culinary approach, the much
publicized seasonal menu by Swiss presented as the "Swiss Taste of
Switzerland". This affords Swiss Business passengers the luxury of sampling the
distinctive cuisines from the various regions of the country before arriving
there. For example, on my flight a team of chefs led by Roger Werlé of
the famous Theater Restaurant of Schaffhausen (a city near the border of
Germany), created the mood through their imaginative selections. Even his motto
reflected the commitment of their goal of making everyone feel comfortable:
"Our guests take the starring role but in a relaxed atmosphere and without the
stage fright". {www.theaterrestaurant.ch}
- First Course: Prosciutto
with green asparagus
Wine: 2003 Löhninger AOC Riesling -
Sylvaner Auslese, Weinbargenossenschaft Löhningen Switzerland Produced in
the Schaffhausen canton (province) offering exotic South Asian nutmeg in a
well-balanced fruit forward structure. It is rounded off by a soft, dry finish
working well with the delicate saltiness of the prociutto.
- Main Course: Pan-fried
seabass fillet with a tomato and olive ragout w/sautéed vegetables
Wine: 2002 Wilchinger AOC Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir), Rötiberg
Kellerei Switzerland A light bodied typical Pinot style that carries itself
well with the seabass and shows hints of black berries in a velvety but
well-balanced finish.
- Cheese Course: Selection
of raw milk Schaffhausen farm cheeses with local fruits
Wine: Porto
Niepoort Junior Tawny, Portugal Concentrated plum bouquet with mature ripe
fruits together in a full bodied fortified wine with built-in sweetness and
long finish.
- Dessert: Flourless
chocolate cake
After Dinner Digestif: Mirabellen, a specialty of the
Zimmerli distillery, Hallau Switzerland
- Good-night Kiss: Fine Swiss
Chocolate Truffles
|
|
 |
|
Franz Christoph
Chief
Executive Officer
Date of birth: 2 May 1960
Mr. Christoph is
married and has 5 children. His education includes a MSc of Business
Administration and Engineering from the Technical University of Darmstadt,
Germany.
Graduate Studies were completed in General Management and
Engineering at École Supérieure de commerce, École
Centrale de Lyon, France.
Doctoral studies and dissertation were
completed at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany. |
|
|
- 1990 - 1994 Deutsche Lufthansa
AG
- 1990 - 1991 General Management
Trainee, Corporate Development Department
- 1992 Project Manager, Passenger
Airline Division
- 1992 - 1994 Member of the CEO's
Rehabilitation Team
- 1994 - 2003 Deutsche Bahn AG
(German Railways)
- 1994 - 1995 Regional Head of
Finance and Personnel, Long-Distance Passenger Transport
Division
- 1995 - 1997 Vice-President
Finance & Controlling, Long-Distance Passenger Transport
Division
- 1997 - 1999 Senior Vice
President Corporate Development
- 1999 - 2003 Member of the
Management Board, CEO Passenger Transport Division
|
|
|
|
|
John Lomitola: Grützi
Switzerland ! |
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
 |
|
