În Ceasescu's footsteps: Switzerland, Serbia and Romania via SQ346/345

[RedEyeflight]

With a few hours to kill, I take a stroll around Zurich. The weather is gorgeous today.









Stopped by Grossmunster, a protestant church within Zurich's old town, built in phases and first opened in the 13th century.



Grossmunster is an important site in Protestant reformation where Ulrich Zwingli would first preach in his native language instead of Latin in the 16th century. The church lies on the graves of the patron saints of St. Felix, St. Regula and St.Exuperantius. According to legend, after being beheaded by the Romans, these saints calmly picked up their heads and walked to the place where they wished to eternally rest.



'Felix and Regula' relief echoing the aforesaid story.

[RedEyeflight]

Soon daylight streams through the cabin and we begin our descent into Zurich after 13 long hours.


We approach Zurich after a convoluted flight path.



With a smooth landing in ZRH, it is a short taxi pass several North American heavies to our gate at the E satellite pier where wide-body non-schengen flights arrive.

Welcome to ZRH.


I follow the crowds and head towards the Sky Metro, an underground cable-hauled people mover that connects the satellite E gates pier with the main terminal.



After a few routine questions about the address of my hotel, I am stamped into Schengen. Gone seem to be the days when you were stamped into Europe with no questions asked. After retrieving my bag, I head straight for SBB's - the Swiss national rail company - train station. I really love how many major European airports have a large rail station connected to them. It really speaks to multi-modality that you can arrive on a plane and then take a long-distance train at the doorstep of the airport. The station is bustling with the noise of crowds and rolling suitcases. I purchase a half-fare ticket for Zurich HB (Main Station) to wonder around the city before I head off to Interlaken.

Emerging from the train from the airport at Zurich HB.

[RedEyeflight]

Once airborne, dinner is promptly served. It consists of two choices tonight, fish with potatoes or noodles with chicken. I choose the second option.



Main course. I appreciate the moisture of the dish.



Washrooms were well-stocked and were spacious on the 77W. No amenity kits as per usual.



This 17-year old 777 also has a retro feel to it. It's been many years since I've flown the SQ 77W after constantly being on an A359.


I slept for the next 4 hours and awoke over Pakistan, before dozing off again, on and off.

As is usual on red eye intercontinental flights, breakfast is served 2.5 hours before landing in the destined European city.

Breakfast was a choice between applewood sausage and scrambled eggs, and vermicelli noodles with chicken. I chose the sausage.

Tray as presented by cabin crew.



Main course unwrapped.

[RedEyeflight]

I head to gate B5 about 45 minutes prior to departure. There is a bit of a queue to clear security. Once I clear security, I am immediately instructed to board the aircraft.




Headed to the back fo the aircraft to take my seat 55G. A kind steward shows me to my seat once I reach the rear Y cabin.



Seat 55G.



Flight time was 13 hours that evening. Slightly longer than in the past due to airspace constraints.

Hot towels are handed out.



Iconic safety video is shown.



Afterwards it is a quick taxi-off for a north-easterly take-off.

[RedEyeflight]

Flight: SQ 346
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER (9V-SWL)
Origin: Singapore (SIN)
Destination: Zurich (ZRH)
Class: Economy
Date: April 2024

My journey starts at T3, specifically row 7 where I make use of priority check-in for KF members.



The check-in area is mostly empty, thankfully no school holiday crowds to deal with.




Once airside, however, the terminal was bustling with people.



Headed to a pay-per-use lounge at T3 - the Ambassador transit lounge. For 55 SGD you get a 3 hour lounge pass but you have to pay a bit more to use the shower. I haven’t had the time to play the miles game. So I am unfortunately still stuck at KFES. I purchase a pass at the door.



The lounge inside is packed at this hour, with many passengers who appeared to be from Australia and the sub-continent. The lounge is not large. Probably seated around 40 passengers. It had a small but decent food spread.



First round, took a spread.



Went for a second round.



View of the lounge.

[RedEyeflight]

In April 2025, I made a trip to 3 very different countries in Europe - Switzerland, Serbia and Romania. Being fortunate enough to have travelled to most of Western Europe except Ireland and Switzerland, I burned some miles and booked a Y ticket from Singapore to Zurich and stitched the Balkans and Dacia to my travels. I should preface what I had written for my title as I am no fan of Stalinism or Soviet-style communism. Ceasescu a long-time despot indirectly installed by the Soviets as bulwark against the West presided over a Romania deeply suffocated by shortages, fear and cultural genocide. But I cannot help but be fascinated by what life was like in one of mankind's greatest experiments. And being a curious person in general, I foolishly arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 3 signed up for a 12 hour red eye flight.

Trip report components:

1. SQ346 Singapore to Zurich on a B777-300ER
2. Zurich
3. Zurich HB to Interlaken Ost by SBB train
4. Hotel-Restaurant Burgseeli, Interlaken
5. Interlaken and surrounds
6. LX1418 Zurich to Belgrade on a A220-300
7. Belgrade
8. Belgrade to Timisoara by taxi
9. Timisoara, Romania
10. Timisoara to Sibiu via Arad by CFR Calatori train
11. Sibiu, Romania
12. Sibiu to Cluj-Napoca by CFR Calatori train
13. Cluj-Napoca, Romania
14. RO648 Cluj to Bucharest-Otopeni on a B737-800
15. Bucharest
16. LX1889 Bucharest-Otopeni to Zurich (Operated by Air Baltic) on a A220-300
17. Montreux and Bern
18. SQ345 Zurich to Singapore on a B777-300ER