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At all seats in all cabins you will get a seatback TV on Swiss Air Lines: ... read more about Swiss Air Lines's inflight entertainment and seatback TV.
The pillows, duvet, pyjamas and slippers are all lovely and soft - and decorated with the Swiss logo. There is usually a seven course meal, and Swiss make much of the "à la carte" menus allowing you to dine when you want, although in truth the crew generally grumble if you want it at any time other than when they are preparing the rest of the cabin. Other perks of First include the First amenity kit, and the special limousine shuttle service which picks you up from the lounge and takes you directly to the aircraft. It's not as over the top as Emirates First, and the seats are definately no suite, but it's not bad at all.
 Swiss Air Lines new First Class on the A340 |
The most unusual aspect of it are the large flat surfaces beside the seat, similar to Emirates business seat, only this time they are finished in wood laminate. The seat has air-cushions that can be adjusted for increased or decreased firmness, and the usual built-in massage functions. It is also equipped with power sockets for laptops (for all plugs except UK), a USB port for power, and a 12.1-inch TV screen with AVOD.
 Swiss Air Lines economy class, for the long haul |
First is of course up the front, where it should be. Seats are in a 1-2-1 pattern with an 83" pitch. The seat is accompanied by an ottoman on which you can rest your legs. There are just 2 rows of 8 seats in the A340.
The Swiss A340 Business Class has 47 seats, which feature a 60" (2 meter) pitch, that lie level, but at angle of 13° to the horizontal. The staggered layout means 42 of the seats have direct aisle access. All seats have a 12.1-inch personal screen with AVOD. The Business Class seats are in two separate cabins: there is a small mini cabin at the front, and a larger cabin behind the galley. The mini cabin (row 4 and 5) is a "quiet zone"; children won't be seated here, however it is hard to book, unless you are a Senator. It has nine seats arranged in two rows - one in a 1-2-1 and the other in a 2-2-1 configuration. The main business class compartment (row 6 to row 11) has 38 seats, and features the alternating 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 row configuration.
In economy, on the Airbus A340 Swiss has made much of the fact that it is reducing by 5cm the thickness of the seat back. It argues that this translates into extra space for the passenger, and while you can't argue with the figures, the seats do feel very firm. You do however get a seatback video, with AVOD. Seats are in a 2-4-2 layout, with row 23 a bulkhead, row 30 an emergency exit, as is row 42. Here at the back, there are just 3 rows in a 2-3-2 layout: some people like this mini cabin, however it is near the toilets, and gets a lot of through traffic.
Swiss Air Lines use the A340 on it's longest haul routes, including between Zurich and Mumbai (Bombay), San Francisco , Tokyo, Shanghai and Bangkok.
 A330 at Zurich terminal E |
There are 13 Airbus A330-300 and 15 Airbus A340-300 in the Swiss fleet.
Alas, as much as you try to like it, the Swiss cabin will never win any awards either for it's colour, style, or features.
First is of course up the front, where it should be. Seats are in a 1-2-1 pattern with an 83" pitch. The seat is accompanied by an ottoman on which you can rest your legs or invite someone else to join you. As a result the table is designed to accommodate two persons. There are just 2 rows of 8 seats in the A340, however the A330 when used with three classes has 3 rows, giving 12 seats.
 A340 business class toilets |
Business Class seats feature a 60" pitch (55" on the A330s) lie flat-ish (but with an angle of 13° - that is aligned to the position of an aircraft at cruise altitude). Seats are in a 2+2+2 format. They are in rows 6 to 11 in the A340, plus the perk of the special small cabin in rows 4 and 5. Regular passengers tend to ask for this mini cabin, as it is a lot quieter. In the A330 in three class format it is in rows 8 to 15, or in the two class in rows 7 to 15.
Economy is very much that - seats come in a 2+4+2 layout. It's got a 32" pitch, and not the slightest sign of any frills. In the A340 Row 30 is an exit, while in the A330 it is row 28. The A330 when operating with three classes has a special mini economy cabin in rows 22 to 24 - this is usually reserved for Senators, and people travelling without children. It is much quieter - but can seem crampt. ... read more about Swiss Air Lines's inflight entertainment and seatback TV.
 A320 at Zurich |
 Airbus 320 business class seat |
The Business Class seat is identical to the economy seat, both in pitch and in width, however if you are in business, and sit on the left, the centre seat is blocked off and the seat arms moved across to give a larger seat - accordingly it is well worth asking to sit in A or C in business. Seat pitch is 32 inches. All models have large 14 inch fold down LCD TV screen under the overhead lockers for both classes,.
There are fourteen A320 which seat 144, with the variable business class seats extending back as far as row 20, although in normal configuration they are only used with the first 3 rows as business class. Row 11 and row 12 are overwing emergency exits - if you ask to sit here, you will get 2 inches more legroom.
There are only four of the larger A321 which seat 181 and are comfortable and modern. Service can be a bit slow, with only a single isle for service. There are no overwing emergency exits, but there is a proper door at row 9 and row 23, so you can as much legroom as you want if you sit in the row behind it, however you do not get an sort of window, and you are seated next to a member of the cabin crew (in seat D). Row 6 also has a blanker at the window, so is to be avoided. This model has some of the largest loos on an Airbus, with 3 in a cluster at the back, and just one at the front.
There are seven of the rather squat A319s. This variant is smaller, and has only one overwing ejectable windows - sit here, in row 9, and you'll get 2 inches extra legroom.
 RJ100 at Dusseldorf |
All seats are leather, and in a 2+3 layout, giving a slightly wider seat than other airlines which fly the RJs, and the overhead lockers are normal sized, except for the ones in rows 8 to 9 which are half sized. Seat pitch a decent 31". In-cabin engine-noise is another failing of the RJ, so prepare for your ears to bleed before you land.
 RJ100 economy seats |
Views of the ground are a strong point of the RJ, because of the high wing above the cabin, so no seats suffer a wing view. Row 5 gives you a lovely view of the engine cowling, but not much else, and row 7 gets a blanker in the window.
It is also worth noting that although beautiful, with great handling characterists, and it can take off from a handkerchief, the RJs are not the most reliable of aircraft. The older ones tend to go technical just because there is a little rain in the air.