Welcome to the fifth part of this flight report series from my trip to Italy. After some amazing days it was time to go home. This time I had only a short layover in Zurich. This would be mi first time flying on LX, and Edelweiss, and also flying on a A220 (I think we don’t have any of these in South America).
The whole trip itinerary:
- AEP – IGR on LATAM Argentina A320
- IGU – GIG on LATAM Brazil A320
- GIG – FRA on Lufthansa Boeing 747
- FRA – LIN on Lufthansa A320
- FLR – ZRH on Swiss A220 YOU ARE HERE
- ZRH – EZE on Edelweiss A340
LX1681
Date: 05/06/19
Origin: Florence – Peretola FLR
Destination: Zurich – Kloten ZRH
Departure: 19.05 (20.15 real)
Arrival: 20.20 (21.15 real)
On that date I was in Florence, where I spent the final days of the trip. Approximately 3 hours before scheduled departure I took the T2 tam to the airport. I think it’s the easiest and cheapest way to get there. And it´s just 20 minutes from the Tran Station, so it´s pretty quick.
Peretola Airport Tram Station
Firenze Peretola Intl Airport
When I got inside, I went to the upper floor, where the airlines counters are located. I had previously checked in the day before and I chose seats for the 2 flights.
Today´s departures
LH group counters, I was flying Swiss.
On the counter I showed the agent my virtual boarding pass and he issued me also the BP for the ZRH-EZE flight. I dispatched my luggage and then I went through security check point.
Duty free shop
Then I started walking, looking for my gate. I didn’t like that on the upper floor there are no full windows to see the tarmac and runway movements. I ended up on the lower floor where the gates are located. It doesn’t offer too much, there are a couple of bars, a Fiorentina merchandising shop and a couple of vending machines.
Boarding area
When I got to the boarding lounge there were sill 2 hours to departure. So, I just sat there and read some pages of my book. Every 30 minutes I checked flightradar24 app to see where the aircraft was. Every time I checked it was sopped on ZRH´s tarmac, no moving at all. When there were some minutes for the boarding time printed on the BP, I asked an agent if there was any news, because at 21.30 I was supposed to be in ZRH boarding for EZE. The agent told me to stay calm, because there were many delays in ZRH because some new system they were trying or something. So, my flight to EZE was going to be delayed too.
Later they announced the new departure time, at 20.00.
And then I saw on the app, the flight coming from ZRH had taken off.
At 19.45 the boarding was announced. First status passengers, then the rest. All the passengers of the flight boarded the same bus. Apparently, the payload was low.
We were driven to the position where the A220 (or Bombardier CS100) was located. Then we boarded by stairs.
My seat was 22A so I boarded by the back door. The seat distribution is 2-3 it reminded me of my flight on Austral MD80 to Iguazu, 10 years ago. I still had the whole row for myself.
At 20.10 the crew introduced themselves and the captain apologized for the delay. He mentioned again this new system and promised all the ZRH flights had delays. The 3 FA were very cheerful and nice, there were 2 young boys and an older lady.
At 20.15 we took off. I had amazing views of Florence at sunset. I even could see the Duomo, so beautiful. Quickly we turned north.
Reading material.
Half and hour later, the snack was served. It was a pretzel sandwich with butter, and drinks. Then the chief FA handed some chocolates. After they finished serving all the passengers, they made a second round giving us the leftovers. Very interesting service! Here in Argentina for short flights like this we barely get a glass of water.
Then the flight happened uneventfully. It was very cloudy so I didn’t have any Alps views.
The flight path
At 21 we started seeing Zurich, and the captain announced we were about to land. Meanwhile the chief FA gave information about the connecting flights and their departure gates. I was amazed he gave all the announcements perfectly in three languages (German, English and Italian). And he mentioned a lot of cities. Apparently, most passengers were connecting flights.
Kloten Airport
After some turnings we landed and headed to Terminal B.
Emirates A380 negar Terminal E
Zurich Airport
We got off the plane by jetway and I went quickly towards Terminal E where my EZE flight would be about to start boarding. It was almost 21.30.
I’m leaving a bonus of pics from the last part of my trip to Italy!
Fontana di Trevi, Rome
Piazza di Spagna, Rome
The Colosseum
The best gelato ever! At Giolitti, in Rome (pistaccio e Nutella)
Vittoriano, Rome
Sistine Chapel in Vatican City
Ponte Veccio, Florence
Sunset in Florence
Michelangelo´s David, Florence
The leaning Tower of Pisa
Manarola, one of the 5 towns of Cinque Terre
San Gimignano and Sienna in Tuscany
