My First Flight: From Zurich to London

_{Written by Elena Alexandra Mihailov
Founder & Luxury Travel Expert
Published: February 2025 • 5 min read}

If you're reading this because you're about to take your first flight, or perhaps you're feeling a little nervous about flying, I'd like to share a story with you.

Not because every first flight is the same.

But because, not so many years ago, I was sitting exactly where you are now.

My first flight was in 2014.

I was travelling alone from Zurich, Switzerland, to Heathrow, London, flying with SWISS Airlines.

At the time, flying with SWISS felt incredibly special. Everything looked elegant, from the aircraft itself to the professionalism of the cabin crew. For someone stepping onto an aircraft for the very first time, it already felt like a luxury experience before we'd even left the ground.

Looking back now, I couldn't have wished for a better introduction to flying.

Travelling alone probably made every emotion feel even stronger.

Everything was new.

The airport.

The departure boards.

The boarding pass in my hand.

Even hearing the announcements over the speakers felt exciting.

There was one thing I was secretly hoping for before I checked in.

A window seat.

I hadn't paid to reserve one, so I knew it would simply come down to luck.

When I looked at my boarding pass and realised I'd been given one, I couldn't stop smiling.

It might seem like such a small thing.

To me, it meant everything.

If this was going to be my very first flight, I wanted to see every single moment of it.

As I walked onto the aircraft, I remember trying to act as though flying was something I did all the time.

Inside, I was probably smiling more than anyone else on board.

Once I found my seat, I couldn't stop looking out of the window.

Then I looked around the cabin.

Some passengers were reading books.

Others were chatting quietly.

A few had already closed their eyes before take-off.

For them, it was another ordinary journey.

For me, it was an experience I'd imagined for years.

The aircraft slowly pushed back from the gate.

The engines became louder.

We started moving towards the runway.

I remember thinking...

"So this is really happening."

As the aircraft accelerated, my heart was beating faster than ever.

A few seconds later, we lifted into the sky.

I gently rested my head against the window and watched Switzerland become smaller beneath the clouds.

I'll never forget that view.

The flight itself lasted only a couple of hours.

The memory has lasted much longer.

That journey didn't make me an experienced traveller overnight.

It simply gave me the confidence to wonder where I might go next.

One flight became another.

A weekend away became a longer adventure.

One country became another.

Today, I've been fortunate enough to visit 29 countries across Europe, Asia and Africa.

I've wandered through historic cities, stood on mountain peaks above the clouds, explored tropical islands, skied through snowy landscapes, learnt to scuba dive beneath crystal-clear waters and met people whose kindness I'll never forget.

Every destination has taught me something different.

Yet no matter how many flights I've taken since, I still remember my very first one.

Perhaps that's because first experiences stay with us.

Today, one of the things I hear most often is:

"I've never flown before."

Or...

"I'm excited, but I'm also a little nervous."

Whenever someone tells me that, I completely understand.

Every confident traveller was once a first-time flyer.

Every experienced traveller has looked out of an aircraft window for the very first time.

Every journey begins somewhere.

That's one of the reasons I enjoy helping first-time travellers so much.

I remember how many questions I had.

What happens after check-in?

How does boarding work?

Will I know where to go?

What will take-off actually feel like?

No question is ever too small.

Helping someone feel relaxed before they travel is just as important as helping them choose the perfect destination.

That's the approach I take with every client at A&A Legacy Travel.

Whether it's your first holiday abroad or your fiftieth, I want you to feel confident from the moment you start planning until the moment you arrive home.

Sometimes clients tell me they're embarrassed because it's their first flight.

I always smile.

Mine was too.

Every experienced traveller starts in exactly the same place.

With one boarding pass.

One seat.

One take-off.

And a world waiting on the other side of the window.

Planning Your First Holiday?

If you're thinking about taking your first flight, planning your first long-haul adventure or simply looking for honest advice from someone who still remembers exactly what that first journey felt like, I'd love to help.

At A&A Legacy Travel, I believe every traveller deserves personal guidance, whether you're heading to a European city, a luxury beach escape or the holiday you've dreamed about for years.

Your first flight is something you'll remember forever.

Let's make sure it's the beginning of an unforgettable adventure.

Enquire today, and let's start planning your next journey together.