I just tried to get a price from CityJet to go from Zurich to London and there is no more a direct flight!!!

So now there is a duopoly of BA and Swiss, and duopolies breed ruiness competition..

So now the cheapest flight I can find is now 30 quid up... 160GBP vs 130GBP just a month ago...

Have you considered rail? TGV/Eurostar is from £91.50 though you may be able to improve on that. Depending on your final destination in relation to station or airport, rail may work out as quick due to the much lower check in time.

I prefer this route as I am close to Ashford International Station. I find it a more relaxing journey.

Rod

Did CityJet ever do London? There's still Easy Jet Zurich to London (OK Luton)

Yes, they will stop this route on Sept. 7.

Are you sure they are stopping this route as they are still selling tickets for it for November and December?

Aha - this is the Air France thing....

Whenever I checked them in the past they were always way more expensive than Swiss or BA. Just checked for October and still bookable. Nothing in their news either.

They stop flying at the end of this year's summer timetable which is 07 Sep 08. Only possibility with City Jet after this date is via PAR.

Zoom Airlines, the airline I took originally from Toronto to Paris for 325 CDN, the stop off before I took a train here, just suspended operations yesterday citing unprecedented increases in aviation fuel.

Now I'm no Economist, but to be an ass and assume the obvious, it really sucks for the little guy (me) when idiots who destroy the economy of their country, greatly affect the people and businesses within my own.

What is the change over like at Gare du Nord and what does the total journey time equate to?

I've often considered this since I'm rather spend an extra few hours in the comfort of a train rather than 6 dead hours flying.

Where is the best place to book this?


That's sad news, Cityjet are easily the best short haul airline

A quick check with SBB came up with various option for ZH to LDN including 2 to 4 changes of trains and journey time varying from 8:54 to over 10 hours. Price for the least number of changes was CHF 570 but that's without any reductions. I'm sure it could be had for a lot less and I'd be interested to hear if anyone has found a cheaper rail option. I travel to London regularly and hate flying - not because I'm scared of flying but I object to being treated like cattle.

I think if you are able to book way ahead it would be an option., but I got a single ticket with a few days notice from Yverdon - Ashford and it was £250.00!!!
I thought it was a first Class ticket but it was not. It was interesting that the fare from Yverdon to Paris was about £51.00 and the part from Paris - Ashford was the £199 part.
The lady at the SBB even questioned the price.
Incidentally - the journey for me was quite stressful as you were always rushing to make sure that you did not miss the connection. Remember that if you go to Ashford I believe that only 3 or 4 trains from Paris stop there daily. They are reintroducing the Ashford - Brussels train in December if any one is interested

It hadn't occurred to me to check SBB, but as you point out it suggests several changes. This can't be the best way of doing it, TGV direct to Paris then Eurostar should be doable.

570 CHF ! Even if not with reductions still way too much ! considering the duration of the journey when compared to flying, Swissair is for 290.5 CHF Zurich-Heathrow or City airport!

Rail is SOOOO not an option. Door to door from my work to my home via city airport is like, 4 hours, most of that time spent on London's public trans

Getting into St Pancras would be awful. And the eurostar has slower security and passport control than city airport... Not to mention i seriously doubt I can get a train ticket for less than the cost of the flight.

I can't beleive they pulled the cityjet route... The cabins were full every time I used them unlike swiss...

Do you fly by private jet? The flight + 45 minutes + 15 minutes alone means it take me close to 3 hours airport to airport, and that's assuming I am cutting it really fine.

Zürich Kreis 4 > St Johns Wood via City took me close to 6 hours.

zurich ->(30min) flughafen bahnof->(20min) gate + waiting ->(1hr 30min) flight ->(10 min) plane to dlr ->(40min) tube to bank ->(10 min) pub

with a little more slack in the time here and there that's still under 4 hours.

Frankly, I'm at a loss to understand how it took you almost 6 hours for that journey as well. A few weeks ago, we went from Kreis 2 to Marylebone in about 5 hours, but our flight was also 1 hour late. Not saying it didn't happen, just that is seems odd it took you 6 hours.

Depending on the route, the connection across Paris will be via Gare de Lyon or Gare de l'Est. For Zurich the connection is Gare de l'Est. This is almost next door to Gare du Nord.

From St. Pancras to Zurich is around 7hrs to 7hrs30mins overall journey time. With only 30 mins check in time at Paris or UK, the overall time becomes more competitive.

For me, the train journey is a definite saving in time as I can get a train from Hastings direct to Ashford International. Compared to going to Gatwick or City with the additional check in time.

There are additional benefits by train: No luggage restictions, more space, leisurely travel, better food, border check on the train without stopping, no waiting for baggage retrieval.

If you are travelling light with hand luggage only and within easy access of airports at each end, air travel is probably the best option.

As with most travel, the cheaper the ticket, the more restrictions apply.

I have booked through Switzerland Travel Centre in the past including Swiss Pass and hotel at the same time:
http://www.stc.co.uk/

You could try TGV: http://www.tgv.co.uk/index.asp

Here is another site, but I am sure that there are many other options if you search. http://www.seat61.com/Switzerland.htm

Rod

Bus to HB 15 mins
Wait for train 10 mins
Train to airport 15 mins
Check in 10 mins
Pass passport control etc 1 hour
Flight 1 hour 30
Get off plane and get bags 20 mins
Wait for DLR 5 mins
DLR to Canning town 5 mins
Wait for tube 5 mins
Canning town to St John's wood 35 mins

15+10+15+10+60+90+20+5+5+5+35 = 270 minutes (4 and a half hours). This is the absolute best you will do it in, any delay getting on the plane, getting off, buying tube tickets etc and it easily adds up.

If you get the 19:30 flight out you only just catch last orders in my experience.

If you go to London with any regularity, it's worth having an Oyster Card to speed things up. You don't have to live there to have one.