UK to Zurich

A question about : UK to Zurich

Swiss airlines has just announced a special offer on new business class fares. The results are pretty good, and the discounted fares extend to economy class too.

While the special offer talks about business class fares starting at Ј149, I found them as low as Ј136.

Example of currently available fares (I have checked) in September 2014 include:
Birmingham-Zurich at Ј136 each way (Ј60 economy)
Manchester-Zurich at Ј148 each way (Ј67 economy)
Heathrow-Zurich at Ј167 each way (Ј75 economy)
London City-Zurich at Ј171 each way (Ј73 economy)

A return business class fare from the UK to Zurich at Ј272 (Ј334 from London) is a real example of value. Likewise if you're a budget traveller, a Ј120 economy return with a quality airline is impressive.

Swiss business class includes separate check-in, lounge access, priority boarding, a substantially increased baggage allowance (64kg up from 23kg) and culinary delights (their words).

Swiss is also a member of Lufthansa's Miles&More frequent flyer programme, so make sure you earn miles on all flights with them. On the above business class tickets, you'll earn 750 miles in each direction.

As ever, I have no link to Swiss airlines (I am an independent European travel enthusiast), and there are NO affiliate links in this post.

Best answers:

• TBH though, on such a short flight you've got to be mad to pay any extra at all for business. Especially as Swiss' business isn't really anything to write home about. Unless of course you need the extra baggage, which could well make it good value?
• Last time I went to Zurich, I flew BA from Gatwick. Upgrades to Club (Business) class were offered for fifty pounds: a good deal less than the additional charge here. I did not indulge, for the reasons stated in #2.
  Mind you, anyone who can afford a jolly in Zurich does not need to worry about the cost of a business class air ticket...
• Cost me Ј3 for a bottle of beer in the Nova Park 30 year ago. I dread to think how much it is now.
• Fully agree that unless you're a hardened "I don't fly anything other than business class" flyer, then it's difficult to justify the added spend on business class. But there are a fair few out there...
  That said, the economy class deals flagged (from Ј60 each way) are also very competitive.
  Whether you can afford to then survive in Zurich is another question of course
• I recently booked a return flight from City Airport to Zurich (BA, economy) which cost me a grand total of Ј108. Granted, it's well in advance (going in January!) but as it happens, I need to fly over there at the same time as the Davos Forum is on, so flights are going to get much busier (and therefore more expensive) nearer the time... Mind you most of the people going to Davos will probably be flying business class so I could well end up having the economy cabin pretty much to myself anyway
  I prefer BA over Swiss as the BA hand-luggage allowance is more generous (and you get a Ј10 discount each way for not putting luggage in the hold )