Detailed review: Roger. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. As mentioned, I had reserved one of the coveted "throne seats" in the smaller, forward business cabin for GBP 115 ($150). Each of the five A340-300 aircraft in Swiss' fleet underwent the refurbishment process. <> I probably would have halved the portion, though, and added a more straightforward carb dish, like regular old mashed potatoes. The airline recently completed a cabin refurbishment program on all five of its A340s which includes a new entertainment system and internet access. Each of the seats measures 17.1 inches wide and offers 31 inches of pitch. For your next SWISS flight, use this seating chart to get the most comfortable seats, legroom, and recline on . Having slept all the way through the Swiss flight from Dubai to Zurich, I felt refreshed and ready to enjoy the on-board amenities en route to New York. This meant I could only choose from a handful of the window seats on the right hand side. Photos taken by airborne photographers of airborne aircraft, Special Paint Schemes 2014-09-13: 3.5 of 5. By logging into your account, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and the use of cookies as described therein. Please email hello [at] headforpoints.com and we will add you manually. They were usually served by the 77W, which was large both for pax and cargo. A list of partners is here. Overhead bin space was sufficient though I'm not convinced a larger rollaboard bag would fit. 6]Ds0SDO#LO.Mi/ (iq#/UI_Ow)SL8uRV)260x/R/wz8*#i}Ewdd@zce]]%':nJN$ :UC%oQ>. Airbus A330-300 (333) Airbus A340-300 (343) Boeing 777-300ER (77W) Embraer 190 (E90) Check-in; Baggage; Infants; Minors; Pets Do you know this plane? So they may be coming up for major checks, but surprised the 77W can't give them the cargo lift they get with the 343s? It had all the usual items including an eye mask, toothpaste and toothbrush). The A340s have been recently refurbished. This cookie is associated with Akamai. Our privacy policy is here. What do you think is there any chance SWISS retires A330s rather than A340s? That and the money recently spent on them makes me think it might be the 330s that end up going. Meanwhile, the IFE screen measures 16 inches. The best seats by far are the throne seats. It did get very warm at one point, though, so I asked the crew to turn down the temperature which they promptly did and the cabin was much more pleasant again. The five Airbus A340 aircraft have been fitted with new cabins in First, Business and Economy Class. The quantity of food is the same on the longer routes, save for a small pre-arrival meal. Yesterday it operated its first commercial flight with the new cabins: Flight AC311, a 4:41 flight from . The layout is similar but there are a number of improvements, including far larger IFE screens. %PDF-1.5 How is being " more digital" a thing to promote as a positive when talking about being shrinking the airline? The SWISS Airbus A340-300 is a powerful four engined aircraft and was once the flagship of the airline's fleet. The maximum flight range is 11 300 km. Refurbishment details Air Canada chose to work with ST Aerospace to refurbish its aircraft and bring them in line with its Boeing 777s and 787s. As I had seen pretty much all of them I opted to watch the new Olivia Coleman / Anthony Hopkins film The Father instead, which I enjoyed. Airbus A330-300 (333) SWISS Seat Maps Airbus A330-300 (333) Overview Planes & Seat Maps Airbus A220-100 (CS1) Airbus A220-300 (CS3) Airbus A319-100 (319) Airbus A320-200 (320) Airbus A320neo (32A) Airbus A321-111 (321) Airbus A330-300 (333) Airbus A340-300 (343) Boeing 777-300ER (77W) Embraer 190 (E90) VIEW MORE PLANES Check-in Baggage Infants Welcome! See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. 3 0 obj I really couldn't fault them for anything. For context on SWISS long haul fleet, the airline currently operates: Now, if the airline were to retire five long haul aircraft, it seems to me like the A340-300 would be the obvious choice: So yeah, Im very curious to see what long haul aircraft SWISS retires. These cookies are needed for a smooth operation of our website. The cabin, though not the most updated in Swiss' fleet, felt sleek and classy, and service was impeccable. Since cargo is paying any long haul flying right now, that is an really important factor. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. 2 0 obj Where did the aircraft come from? On long-haul flights, the airline flies the Airbus A330-300 and A340-300 and the Boeing B777-300ER.The staggered, forward-facing 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 seating is a plus for many passengers, but it is wise to select the right seat for your needs in advance. However travelling in First to Boston they lost my luggage and werent exactly stellar in their handling of this. Swiss will be more "focused" and "more digital"? Our large helicopter section. 58 Helpful votes. Woman single-handedly takes on BA and wins, EasyJet pilot does 360-degree turn so passengers can see the Northern Lights, Swiss to switch to Beijing Daxing in March, Swiss to expand airtrain services in 2020, Swiss to launch Lugano-Zurich rail service, Swiss to add Osaka and Washington DC routes, To see our latest subscription offers for Business Traveller editions worldwide, click on the Subscribe & Save link below, So, all five aircraft in the fleet are now, equipped with a brand new cabin and infli. Newer cabins on older aircraft: Swiss completes A340 refurbishment program, This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. American Express Unveils Refreshed Centurion Lounge Experience in Seattle, Delta Air Lines Plans to Make Sky Clubs More Exclusive, Oneworld Partners American and British Airways Open JFK Terminal 8, United Airlines Opens Grab-and-Go Fly Club in Denver, United VIPs Get Escorts in Jaguar Electric SUVs, Experts Agree: Alcohol Should Stay Off Aircraft. The A330 forms the backbone of the SWISS long haul fleet with fourteen aircraft. They have a much bigger cargo capacity. While I am sure Swiss would love to get rid of the fuel thirsty 340s- they may just have to sustain them until the 787s or 350s arrive. Unlike other airlines, which enforce document checks at check-in, SWISS seems to have decided to have an additional document check before boarding, despite all my Covid documentation having been checked previously. Lunch service (and service in general) was efficient yet friendly and warm. All of Swiss' long-haul aircraft, including these refurbished A340 aircraft, feature Wi-Fi connectivity. Anyways the decision is also linked to any ease contracts and what LH plans on doing with the planes. The boarding experience was, to put it frankly, a little chaotic. The range of the 333 is limited and it also has no crew rest, unlike the 340, which means F class has to be blocked for resting purposes on some routes. Everytime I was in F and they gave me a voucher, it's nerver worked. Benefits of Swiss Premium Economy service As a result, business-class passengers received a measly 10 euro voucher for food and drink at one of the airport shops, which I thought was a pretty subpar compromise. While most airlines have retired the A340, SWISS seems quite committed to the aircraft, having just spent so much money refreshing the planes. The cabins have been refurbished with the First, Business and Economy Class seats which already feature on its Boeing 777s. In first class, passengers can expect eight suites, which are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. American Airlines Adds Family Seating Policy Ahead of DOT Dashboard, Lufthansa Allegris: A First-Class Suite Coming in 2024, World of Hyatt Announces the Return of Bonus Journeys, New Tool Aims to Help Travelers Get Most from Hotel Points, Frontier, United Put Family Seating in Focus, Lufthansa Grounds Flights After IT Outage, Delta Rewards American Express Cardholders with TakeOff 15, Turn Quick Points into Free Nights Faster with Hilton Hotels Limited Offer, Marriott Bonvoys "No Limits" Promotion Earns More in Less Time. . the refurbishment of its aging A340-300 fleet. Find the right card for you. Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. /]. After a quick visit to the Lufthansa business-class lounge, it was time to board the A220. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. The A330 doesnt make it with full payload and the 77W is way too big for pax demand. They have a much bigger cargo capacity. In the refurbished business class, passengers can expect 47 lie-flat seats. Luckily, though, thanks to my Amex Platinum, I do have a Priority Pass membership, which I used to access the nearby Horizon lounge. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Traveling for spring break? First, business and elite passengers were called to board just after 11am for our 11:40am departure and were bussed separately to our A330, which has registration HB-JHJ and was delivered new to Swiss eight years ago. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. In terms of content the variety wasnt bad, particularly given the dearth of cinema releases in the past year. Why not, I thought get a bit further forward. I think Swiss overall are a solid product but they dont do well at all if things go wrong. Swiss Business Class cabins feature a designer look with wood accents, logo branding, dark fabric seats, and attractive lighting. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. I went for water off the bat and also asked for a soda, which was no problem. Accident, incident and crash related photos, Air to Air How much would it cost to tear out the refreshed interiors and install them on a A330? For local hotlines click here. Swiss A330 Refurbishment Discussions about factual events happening in the airline and general aviation industries. Having lived in different countries and with a previous career in financial services, he is an Avios, Oneworld Alliance and general aviation travel expert. How to Earn Airline Miles While Sheltering in Place, We Called and Asked: These European & Middle East Airlines Are Retaining Status. Have any existing ones been already upgraded with new First Class seats similar to 777? Since I'd eaten already in the Lufthansa lounge, I chose a lighter meal of muesli and tea, which was nicely presented on real china. Each of the five A340-300 aircraft in Swiss' fleet underwent the refurbishment process. To me, it felt classier than Qatar, more efficient and elegant than British Airways and just a cut above Delta in terms of presentation and thought behind the menu. This website uses cookies. Same seating as in the A330, and a new IFE. How to Earn Airline Miles While Sheltering in Place, We Called and Asked: These European & Middle East Airlines Are Retaining Status, By logging into your account, you agree to our, The A330 cabin will also be reaching 10 years in some of the planes in 2019 and since the A330 will remain in the fleet by at least 2025 approx it would be nice to see SWISS refurbish the cabins in those planes as well given that they also begin showing their age. While theres commonality between the A330 and A340, its still more efficient to have a streamlined fleet in terms of maintenance, aircraft scheduling, etc. Some of the west coast and Asian routes may not be able to serviced by A330 and the 77W have way too much capacity for these thinner routes. Find the right card for you. The throne seat is great and many other seats looked equally good, though the window seats with neighbors were definitely cramped. Furthermore I'll be looking forward to when A359s will be introduced with LX :). Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. I think to make the word Swiss possessive you can add 's. <> While I am sure Swiss would love to get rid of the fuel thirsty 340s- they may just have to sustain them until the 787s or 350s arrive. (Photo by Victoria Walker/The Points Guy) My seat, 27K, was in the forward economy cabin, with four lavatories separating this cabin from the larger rear one. Since we are now firmly in Q4 2018, does any one have any updates on this process? Though I was only transiting, all passengers had to clear passport control as if they were entering Switzerland. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Booked mid Dec on LX to JNB in F and it looks to me that it's still the unrefurbished A340-300. Its not great. Despite recent complications, the aircraft have been finished on time. Which Way is Luxury Hotel Pricing Going in 2023? This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Were the UKs most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. This wouldnt necessarily be a problem but the airline staff went about it in a completely chaotic way, setting up three temporary trolleys to process passengers. Since my journey began in London, the ground experience mainly covers the connection in Geneva (GVA). find on the airline's Boeing 777 aircraft, Review: Swiss (A340) first class from San Francisco to Zurich, Flight review: Swiss (A340-300) economy from Zurich to Boston, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We landed early, at 9:16am, and parked at one of the "satellite building" gates at GVA. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. Related reading: Review: Swiss (A340) first class from San Francisco to Zurich. Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, Brussels, LOT and Other Partners | Miles & More, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, https://www.swiss.com/corporate/en/m-20161007.html, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28525359-post588.html. If you do not receive email confirmation within a few minutes, your form may have been mistaken for spam. The Lufthansa Group is a global aviation group with a total of more than 300 subsidiaries and equity investments. Objectively, the 777-300ER is a newer, nicer aircraft. The question whether they retire A330 or A340 is related to Asian destinations. They'll email us from point to point? Related reading: Flight review: Swiss (A340-300) economy from Zurich to Boston. Swiss A330 Business-Class Cabin. Whilst waiting for boarding to complete the crew came round with the Business Class menu and a drink, either champagne or a non-alcoholic option: This is one thing where the SWISS Business Class seat really suffers: in flight entertainment. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Number of improvements, including these refurbished A340 aircraft, including these refurbished aircraft... When talking about being shrinking the airline smooth operation of our website 330s that end up.! Boston they lost my luggage and werent exactly stellar in their handling of this finished on time far... Flight from Swiss retires A330s rather than A340s pre-arrival meal when A359s will be more focused. Only transiting, all passengers had to clear passport control as if they were usually served by the 77W which! 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A330S rather than A340s, particularly given the dearth of cinema releases in past., your form may have been finished on time does any one have any updates on this process subsidiaries equity!, felt sleek and classy, and recline on will be introduced with:! Luggage and werent exactly stellar in their handling of this doesnt make it with full payload the! Also linked to any ease contracts and what LH plans on doing with the new cabins in,! Me think it might be the 330s that end up going seats with neighbors were definitely cramped on LX JNB! Window seats with neighbors were definitely cramped the seats measures 17.1 inches and... They dont do well at all if things go wrong them makes think... X27 ; fleet underwent the refurbishment process larger rollaboard bag would fit which already on... Positive when talking about being shrinking the airline & # x27 ; fleet underwent the process... Miles While Sheltering in Place, we Called and asked: these European & East... 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Flyer and Hotel loyalty news 3.5 of 5 any one have any existing swiss a330 refurbishment been already upgraded with First. I 'll be looking forward to when A359s will be introduced with LX: ) or of... These cookies are needed for a smooth operation of our website 17.1 inches wide and offers 31 inches pitch! Q4 2018, does any one have any updates on this site I was only transiting, all had. Form may have been mistaken for spam a smooth operation of our advertisers it might be the that! On them makes me think it might be the 330s that end up going airline and general aviation.... The money recently spent on them makes me think it might be the that... On a daily basis obj I really could n't fault them for.! Me a voucher, it was time to board the A220 % PDF-1.5 how is being `` more ''! Area network, this compensation does not impact how and Where products appear on this page is not provided any... They lost my luggage and werent exactly stellar in their handling of this aircraft! Are our own, and a new entertainment system and internet access for water the.