Swiss Air vs British Airways

[benlee]

Anyone here tried Swiss Air regional flights before? Most importantly, how's their punctuality? I will fly from Geneva to London. Since Swiss Air is Star Alliance, can the miles be credit to Krisflyer directly?

Alternatively, I also have a choice of flying British Airways. How does it compare? Or basically the same?

[milehighj]

Have flown both. Basically the same.

Yes you can credit your LX flights directly to KF.

IMO J is definitely not worth the often huge premium over Y, as you effectively get the same Y seat, albeit with the middle seat empty. As such I'd go with LX especially if you have *A status.

[nickbot]

+1 to milehighj's comments, route dependent of course I actually found BA to be cheaper than the *A option and the onboard service was basically identical in Y - haven't tried BA J, but as per comments above LX regional J is nothing earth shattering by way of experience.

My personal preference would be for LX because of mileage accrual, but this was significantly more expensive for my last trip - seeing as BD might be merging into the whole Avios caper I wasn't too worried about banking to BA for once

With regard to punctuality, from the small sample of under 20 regional LX flights I've taken over the past few years I've never had any problems IIRC, but might be worth checking one of the many flight tracker engines on the net for punctuality ratings in order to get a better impression.

[jhm]

I'd choose based on schedule and price and forget about the onboard experience (much the same) and miles (it's a drop in the ocean).

I have no evidence but I think LHR rather than BA is a bigger factor for punctuality so this would equally affect LX to LHR.

Finally, a factor may be simply to try something which you haven't before ? For example, LHR T5 may be worth a go if you haven't been there before (preferable to T3 for me but YMMV). T5 is usually pleasant enough even if travelling in Y without status - not cluttered like T3, Fast Track security sometimes take longer than the regular lines, the terminal eating options are decent (e.g. Plane Food, albeit not cheap) and AFAIK the walk to the HEX is easier at T5.

[StarG]

Service wise they are almost the same.
If you are buying one way ticket, BA is better as they have special one way & round trip fares, whereas on LX they only have special round trip fares.
BA also occasionally offers very cheap upgrades to J when checking in online, based on availability of course.

[jhm]

If you are buying one way ticket, BA is better as they have special one way & round trip fares, whereas on LX they only have special round trip fares.
BA also occasionally offers very cheap upgrades to J when checking in online, based on availability of course.

Just to clarify that (ex-LHR at least) BA's discount (as opposed to full) one way fares are only available in Y. If J, a one way will always price up to be full fare J.

Paid upgrade offers (POUs) can be available as soon as you've booked a ticket - i.e. before check-in - just go to Manage My Booking (MMB) on ba.com and have a look.

GVA will be something like £100 each way to upgrade to J. With status (check-in and lounge), I wouldn't take that unless I'm desperate for miles/tier points (£100 for such a short flight is not worth the slightly more room you get and the meal).

[StarG]

Thanks for the clarifications, jhm.
Not having OW status, the upgrade was very attractive. The extra luggage allowance and Fast Track in LHR arrival immigration came in handy too!

[SQflyergirl]

Swissair (SR) doesn't exist anymore. Just to be correct about things.

Swiss air lines (LX) does

[SQflyergirl]

On another note: if you're really heading to the east side of London , skip LHR and fly into LCY on LX. The average immigration queue time for me there the last 6 entries has been about 5 seconds.

[jhm]

On another note: if you're really heading to the east side of London , skip LHR and fly into LCY on LX.

I don't know about the frequency compared to LX but BA also fly from GVA to LGW and (through its subsidiary, CityFlyer) LCY.

[benlee]

Thanks guys for your replies.

If they are basically the same, I think I will go with SwissAir Y. Will I be able to choose seats when booking online in SwissAir? Also, for some reason, round trip ticket is significantly more cheaper than one way ( CHF209 both sectors vs CHF1059 one way ). Any problem if I just fly the onward sector? Bec from London, I will fly back to Jakarta via SQ.

Also, will I be able to access SwissAir Star Alliance lounge at Geneva airport flying Y?

There's also the choice for either flying into LCY or LHR with same arrival timing. So the immigration queue at LCY will be faster? BA only flies from Geneva to LHR.

[9V-JKL]

Are you stopping-over in London or just connecting? If stopping, then LCY....no need to think...

Buy return and dump the retutn sector.

[QSG]

Just beware the booking codes "K","L", should they be part of the journey you might be in for a mileage surprise.

[MAN Flyer]

Another vote for LCY over LHR here, whatever airline it is. Of the two I would pick LX over BA every time.

For example, LHR T5 may be worth a go if you haven't been there before (preferable to T3 for me but YMMV). T5 is usually pleasant enough even if travelling in Y without status - not cluttered like T3, Fast Track security sometimes take longer than the regular lines, the terminal eating options are decent (e.g. Plane Food, albeit not cheap) and AFAIK the walk to the HEX is easier at T5.

I have to say while going outbound through T5 is bearable, coming back from abroad and onto BA up to MAN is a PITA at T5. The BA lounges are OK though, particularly the one near the domestic gates.

BTW, LX fly from T1 not T3.

[SQflyergirl]

So the immigration queue at LCY will be faster?

Queue? at LCY that word has no meaning at immigration.