Introduction

Just after eight in the morning, I catch the Roissyval train from Roissypole to Terminal 1, the flying saucer. There aren’t many people on this train. Most passengers are going in the opposite direction to Terminal 2, which is where Air France’s hub is.

Check-In

The Lufthansa airlines check in their flights in sector 4. There is a dedicated queue for First Class passengers. Although there are hardly any passengers around in general. The young lady is very polite. She checks my bag and hands me my boarding passes. She gives me instructions to the fast track airside access and inquires if I’ll be needing an escort to the gate, which I decline. And then wishes me a pleasant flight.

The SWISS flight to Zürich is leaving from Gate 65, which in the Star Alliance Schengen satellite at CDG1. Security takes place just before you enter the satellite.

Lufthansa Star Gold Lounge in CDG1

Lufthansa operates its own lounges in Paris. They’re in the basement and not overly nice. For one, the Lufthansa lounge design is an acquired taste, and for another, being in the basement, there are no windows.

There’s a separate, dedicated Star Gold area in the lounge. When I arrive, the lounge is looking a bit messy and untidy. There are several tables with empty dishes on them. There’s also an Italian watching football on his iPhone at full volume and an American doing some heavy breathing. I’m not sure if there’s perhaps something wrong with him. But he seems okay.

Boarding

At 09h30, which is the boarding time on my boarding pass, I leave the lounge and head for gate 65, where boarding is in the final stages. The gate agent is on the phone with the lounge, cheching if they know my whereabouts. Apparently, they started early today.

The Cabin & Seat

I’m seated on 1A, the bulkhead. The seat next to me is empty. The seat is a bit more private than the others, because there are no seats 1D and 1F. Instead, there is just a storage compartment. On row 1 the seat pitch is ample and quite comfortable. The only problem on 1A, of course, is that you can’t raise the armrest.

The Service & Crew

I count three cabin crew in total, although it’s mainly the maître de working the Business Class section. The service on the ground starts with the usual packed towel and a bottle of still water. The captain comes on the loudspeaker to introduce his crew, and it’s then that I realise the first officer is one of my former students who has made it into the right seat with Helvetic. I can’t say just how I cool I think it is to see our graduates succeed and pursuing the career of their choice. I ask the maître de to give her my regards, and she returns straight away with the first officer’s regards.

The Meal – Brunch

The flight time is only 55 minutes, so the service starts very quickly. The tray has a plate with balik salmon, a blinis and crème fraîche with herbs on it. It’s a simple but nice dish. There’s also a small Weck glass with Bircher Müsli. The cabin crew pass through the cabin with the bread basket, and also offer butter and jam. With that I have a coffee with milk. The meal concludes with a small piece of SWISS chocolate.

Arrival in Zürich

Very soon we’re starting our descent into Zürich. There are no delays and we’re on the ground right on schedule. We pull onto our stand and the cockpit door opens. The first officer steps outside to wish passengers goodbye. We have a little natter while we wait for the airbridge. And then the door opens, and I disembark and head to the lounge while she prepares the aircraft for its next leg to Budapest.

Conclusion

This was a nice short flight to Zürich, although it felt kind of weird flying back to Switzerland but knowing that I wouldn’t be staying. The lounge in CDG was okay, but as an airplane geek I would have appreciated a few windows, preferably with a view of the ramp.