This is my final email to Swiss Air, which captures their business model. Bear in mind the flight was never taken due to a medical emergency:
“My refund is now complete after 41 weeks (more than 3/4 of a year) and I am finally done forever with your absolutely pathetic airline. In my particular case, not giving passengers who provide proof of medical emergencies immediate and complete refunds is flat out wrong. Astonishingly, a simple search will reveal the horrific treatment that I experienced at the hands of Swiss Air is not the exception but rather part of a larger pattern of corporate abuse. I feel sorry for elderly or otherwise compromised passengers who may not have the stamina to fight for what’s rightfully theirs. I travel frequently in any given year and have never come across an airline such as yours and truly believe I would still be fighting for my money had I not gotten the Department of Transportation involved. I strongly suggest you go on TripAdvisor, read the Swiss Air reviews, and inform your CEO that your company needs some major restructuring and training.”