The Tullmann Travels

LAX to Zurich flight, biometric boarding, surprise checked‑bags challenge.

📅 July 5, 2025

Departure Day: Our Carry-On Plan Collides with Swiss Efficiency

On Saturday, we wrapped things up at home, rented a car, and hit the road from Bakersfield to Los Angeles.

With our bags in tow and anticipation high, we made one last American stop at In-N-Out for burgers and fries—a simple tradition before leaving everything familiar behind. One final bite before the big adventure.

Arriving at LAX, everything went smoothly: rental return, shuttle ride, and security. As we had our passports scanned, cameras also snapped our photos—a new facial recognition system that would change the way we boarded. More on that in a bit.

With two hours to spare at the gate, we settled in… only to notice something ominous. A Swiss Airlines attendant was rolling around a luggage scale, eyeing carry-ons and informing travelers that many would have to check theirs. This hit a nerve—we’d intentionally packed light to avoid checking bags and ensure a quick exit upon arrival. We couldn’t risk missing our train.

It reminded me of a blunder that happened the last time we arrived in Switzerland—when a missed train and a sick kid left us stranded in a new country, running through train stations with our luggage in tow.

Read about that misadventure here → Day 2: Arriving in Switzerland – Sick & Stranded

I tried to move us away before we were spotted, but it was too late. He approached, weighed our bags, and declared two of our three carry-ons overweight. We reluctantly parted with our carefully packed suitcases at the check-in counter. Would this derail our whole arrival plan?

At boarding, we got to try the new facial recognition system. Instead of scanning a boarding pass, you just walk through a photo gate—it recognizes your face and lets you through. Surprisingly efficient and very futuristic.

We’d splurged on extra legroom seats, and it was absolutely worth it. Our seatmate, a friendly guy from Chino headed to meet his wife in Switzerland, made the journey even more pleasant with stories of travel, family, and work.

Jonas enjoyed the trip down to L.A., nose deep in his Minecraft book the whole way. On the plane, he loved watching Madagascar and Sonic 3. His least favorite part? The airplane food. (No surprise there.)

After dinner, it was time to attempt some sleep. I followed my curated in-flight strategy:

• Magnesium
• Melatonin
• Earplugs
• Sleep mask
• Travel pillow

With everything in place and weariness setting in, I slipped into a blurry, shallow sleep…🛬

As I dozed off somewhere over the Atlantic, I couldn’t help but wonder:

Would this be déjà vu? Would our checked bags be the domino that stranded us again in Switzerland?