TO cope with the demand for summer offers, Swiss International Airlines (Swiss) has launched a range of holiday offers for this year’s summer season.
The holiday packages’ Swiss Options, from Swiss’ travel partners include a variety of destinations and excursions within Switzerland.
Swiss Options covers a number of holiday packages, for value fare of Dh3,750 ($1021) per person, specifically aimed at families travelling together, including a Disneyland Paris package with return economy air fares on Swiss, two nights accommodation at the Santa Fe Disneyland Resort, with continental breakfast and unlimited access to the Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios, as well as return airport transfers.
Travellers looking for a more scenic option can travel with Swiss to Interlaken and take a full days excursion to the Jungfraujoch, or ‘Top of Europe’. The package also includes two nights’ stay in Interlaken, with breakfast and taxes and two second class return transfers on Swiss Rail from Zurich Airport.
For travellers looking to make their own in-country accommodation arrangements, Swiss has also prepared a car rental package, which includes a free one-week car rental when flying with Swiss. Alternatively, Swiss has negotiated an eight day Swiss Rail Pass package, allowing travellers to make use of Switzerland’s ultra-modern and efficient rail network, post buses or boats, covering 37 cities. Swiss Options packages are valid for travel up to August 31, for a minimum of two people.
In addition to the Swiss Options packages, Swiss also has special Business Class deals for the summer period, with deals starting from Dh8,860 for 17 destinations, including Vienna, London, Milan, Madrid, Zurich and many more.
Switzerland has long been a popular destination with travellers from the Gulf region, and continues to hold a strong attraction, due to a favourable visa situation. Gulf nationals travelling to Switzerland can make use of simple and convenient visa application procedures through our embassies and consulates, while GCC nationals holding a Schengen visa can enter the country without applying for a visa.
Greater connectivity
Swiss now offers a seamless hub system at Zurich Airport, whereby intercontinental Swiss flights arrive at the dedicated Dock E, while Swiss flights to European and North African destinations will depart from Dock A.
The airline offers a comprehensive network of 69 destinations in 42 countries through its summer timetable. The partnership with Lufthansa affords Swiss travellers additional destinations across Lufthansa’s 181-strong destination network in 76 countries, with a single airfare, combined check-in facilities, joint frequent flyer programme and more. The airline recently joined the Star Alliance, which extends to 842 destinations in 122 countries.
Swiss’ many e-initiatives have seen a smoother booking and purchase system for passengers, while the airline has increased its network of e-ticket destinations. The airline has also created country-specific booking engines for the UAE and Saudi markets, which are dedicated to serving passengers directly. Swiss recently launched web check-in facilities for passengers from Dubai, allowing travellers to check-in online and to select their preferred seating from the comfort of their home or office. Passengers holding an e-ticket, those with confirmed reservations or travelling with children above two years can avail of the Swiss web check-in service, which is applicable at Dubai International Airport.
Swiss operates a total of 25 weekly flights from the Middle East, including daily non-stop flights from Dubai and Muscat, five weekly flights from Cairo, three weekly flights from Riyadh and Jeddah.
When travelling for business or pleasure, Swiss offers some of the world’s most impressive travel solutions.
In Swiss First Class, the accent is firmly on providing passengers with maximum comfort and privacy. The generous 203cm x 60cm flat beds seats are the largest in the sky and provide a flexible, spacious table for work or dining. Every seat comes with an ottoman for foot support that can be utilised as a seat for other passengers, enabling work or meals to be shared. Communication facilities comprise laptop power connection and SMS messaging.
The Business class cabin offer seats arranged in a two-two-two configuration, providing wider seats and additional leg space of 55 inches. Swiss Economy class qualifies as practical, elegant and attractive, with seats developed using state-of-the-art technology to make the back of the seats thinner, thus giving more room betweens rows and passengers. SWISS in-flight entertainment also provides Economy passengers with the largest seat-back monitor in the industry, offering a range of movie, television and game options, as well as a host of music options.