Swiss Air Lines Reviews

NEWS: SWISS will introduce a new Premium Economy Class on its long-haul aircraft fleet in spring 2021. Swiss will first introduce the cabin on their fleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The airline will install a 24 seat premium economy cabin, spread across three rows in a 2-4-2 configuration. Compared to economy, premium economy will offer a 10% wider seat, 20% greater pitch, and 25% greater recline.

Swiss Air Lines classes

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.

Swiss Air Lines international First Class

Swiss Air First Class seats are in a 1-2-1 pattern with an 83" (211 cm) pitch, which goes totally flat. It is in effect a generously large armchair, 22" (56cm) wide. There is also a large 30" long table that pulls up and out from the wall. There is a built-in 23-inch flat screen. 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.

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 First seat July 2009
Swiss Air Lines new First Class on the A340

Swiss Air Lines international Business Class

The Swissair Business Class seat is yet another variant on the lie flat seat, with an unusual alternating pattern, which means the seat is roomier than most. Longhaul aircraft have nine seats arranged in two rows - one in a 1-2-1 and the other in a 2-2-1 configuration, that allows for more legroom and working space. The seat is a decent two meters long and can recline fully to a flat bed, although it doesn't go entirely flat: instead you sleep on a slope. This can be a bit of a nightmare on a long overnight flight, and you end up crumpled on the floor. The only way around it is to reduce the recline of the seat back a little bit, and raise the legrest as much as it will go: it isn't flat then, and you'll have a spine like a banana, but it is slightly more level.

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 international Economy Class

Swiss BAE 146 business seat July 2006
Swiss Air Lines
economy class, for the long haul


Economy on Swiss is just that - plain old economy. There is however a little bit more legroom than on most airlines, at 32", and the seating is always 2-4-2 on international widebodies, which is much better for couples, and gives a width of 17.3" (44 cm). The seat is pretty basic, but does have an adjustable head rest with flexible wings. All Swissair seats have a 6 inch seatback TV, with AVOD (AV on demand, so you can pause, forward or reverse the film).

Swiss International Airlines - Airbus A340

There are 15 Airbus A340-300 in the Swiss fleet. Inflight entertainment is state of the art AVOD, and seats have a laptop power socket (euro style, won't fit UK), a USB charging port, and TV screens with AV on demand.

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.

Swiss A330 ZRH July 2006
A330 at Zurich terminal E

Swiss International Airlines - Airbus A330

NEWS: Swiss has ordered 9 Airbus 330-300 aircraft with three-class seating to replace the existing fleet of A330-200s. As each A330-300 arrives, a A330-200 is retired from the fleet.

There are 13 Airbus A330-300 and 15 Airbus A340-300 in the Swiss fleet.

Swiss A330-300 Seatmap
Swiss Air A330 seat map
Interactive colour seating chart for Swiss A330-300, with pictures of every seat in every cabin layout for the LX A330-300.
airreview > Seatmap > Swiss > A330-300

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. If you are flying on the Swiss Air A330-300 check out the Swiss Air A330 seat map for the best seats.

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.

Swiss A340 July 2006
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.

Swiss A320 ZRH July 2006
A320 at Zurich

Swiss Air Airbus A320/A321/A319

Swiss has a large fleet of the generic Airbus A320 type. There are 7 small A319, 14 A320 and just 4 of the large A321. All seats are in a 3+3 layout in business and economy, with a business class cabin which is changed in size by moving a curtain.
Swiss A320 business seat July 2006
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.

Swiss RJ 100 DUS July 2006
RJ100 at Dusseldorf

Swiss RJ100/RJ85

Swiss has 20 RJ100s in the fleet, and 4 of the smaller RJ85s.

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.

Swiss BAE 146 business seat July 2006
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.

Next page: Swiss Air Lines IFE inflight entertainment >>>
Swiss Air Lines Fleet
rating: 6 out of 10 3 Star Rating: Quite average
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