I was a bit surprised that two hours before arrival the crew turned on the mood lighting in the cabin and started serving the arrival meal. 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? That's it. Write review Page 1 2 3. 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. Features of the Swiss Premium Economy seat Width: 46 centimeters. And all for a little stamp on by boarding pass that, as far as I can tell, is only for SWISS use and not for the UAE authorities. Hopefully by then they'll be in better financial shape, too. Related reading: Review: Swiss (A340) first class from San Francisco to Zurich. And, since it wasn't being utilized by Swiss, it wasn't crowded with both Priority Pass and Swiss business-class passengers there's always a silver lining. Business class features an alternating 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 layout on this aircraft. Which new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard is best? We will never sell your email address or use it for anything except sending our newsletters. Click for details. SWISS Airbus A330 300 1 3.5 of 5 based on 36 user ratings. In an era of efficient, twin-engine 787s and A350s, four engine aircraft are on the decline. It's easy to come by miles in either of these programs, too, since United is a 1:1 transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Aeroplan is a 1:1 transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards. Personal reading lamps Headrests have four adjustable settings. As far as I know, a schedule has not been set. Tail and Winglet closeups with beautiful airline logos. The Boeing 777 comes with a private wardrobe equipped with hangers that also functions as a door, completely separating you from the aisle. The 330s will also need a refresh soonits not cheap to refresh a cabin. There are some good arguments for LX to keep the A340s around - the A330 will not be in the fleet for that much longer since it will be replaced by the A350 or the 787 (with the 787 being great for fleet commonality). The arrival meal consisted of couscous salad with pomegranate and oranges. To be fair, SWISS does warn you about this when you select them . Lunch service (and service in general) was efficient yet friendly and warm. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. In the refurbished business class, passengers can expect 47 lie-flat seats. This A330-300 is used on long-haul routes and Swiss is one of the only airlines in the world to offer a First Class product on long-haul flights. SWISS is planning on shrinking its fleet by 15 aircraft, which represents about 15% of its fleet. Regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a credit broker (FRN 690573). 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. 3 0 obj B But the plane will not be retired anytime soon. We detected unusual behaviour from your browser, which resembles that of a bot. Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR, Military Aircraft Swiss Airbus A340-300 - Image, Economy Class and Beyond. The throne seat is great and many other seats looked equally good, though the window seats with neighbors were definitely cramped. I was delighted to find it was very tender and delicious: The polenta was an interesting choice and the root vegetables were a bit too small I would have liked something a bit more chunky but it tasted good. Screen size: 15.6 inches. 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. You then have your console table, which is useful for boarding drinks, amenity kit etc: Inside the console is your tray table which pops out in two leaves. 2023 Head for Points. Yeah, they wouldn't refurbish them for just 6-7 years of service. All . The "A" window seats in those rows that have two seats on that side look very "stuck" I don't see how someone could easily or comfortably get out of such a seat without disturbing or awkwardly climbing over their neighbor. The A330 in question will be stored and not retired. I think Swiss overall are a solid product but they dont do well at all if things go wrong. Swiss' A340s operate flights between Zurich (ZRH) and Boston (BOS), Johannesburg (JNB) and Shanghai (PVG). 58 Helpful votes. Check here before booking an award fare. If it's happening in commercial aviation, you'll get the information and opinions here first. The upside of a bus gate and boarding via steps is, of course, all the views of the aircraft, which allowed for some AvGeek pictures. Now, pax demand close to zero, but cargo is doing well on these very long routes, so the A340 is the best fit. These have consoles on both sides, affording better privacy and more storage. Our large helicopter section. Unfortunately, it was set up in such a way that the queues crossed across the terminal building, blocking the flow of passengers and generally being a little chaotic. By David Flynn, October 14 2021 Share this article: Swiss is set to rid its fleet of the Airbus A340, with the big four-engined jet facing a use-by date of 2024 or 2025 at the latest. For context, currently SWISS operates just over 90 aircraft in its mainline fleet, while Helvetic Airways operates just over a dozen aircraft. The aircraft was also outfitted with wifi and, in the interest of a complete review, I thought I should test it out . The A330s are in storage right now. Sorry - just a stylistic point ( the content is really good as always). Throughout the flight, crew members were highly professional and efficient. 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. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. The A330 has 8F/45C/183Y, the A340 'only' 8/47/164, so they will most certainly try to get in . With the completion of our Airbus A340 cabin refurbishment program, we are further underlining our quality commitment, and now offer all our customers the same premium air travel experience, including inflight internet connectivity on all our long-haul flights, said SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour. Swiss International Airlines A330 Swiss Air Business Class NBO-ZRH (Jomo Kenyatta Nairobi - Zurich International Airport) LX293 - Business Class (I) 12:20 AM - 6:25 AM November 26, 2013 Booked: Airbus 330-200 Flown: Airbus 330-200 On Board Swiss Business Class Long Haul: On board, we turned left to the Swiss Mini Cabin. I can bet my ass off that LX will keep the A340s and sell a few A330s. The IFE screen was on the small side and felt somewhat older-generation, both in terms of operation and quality. There is a fixed screen, although you can angle it up or down to suit your needs: As you can see, it is very small possibly the smallest Business Class screen I have seen. Link SWISS Airbus A330 300. In terms of content the variety wasnt bad, particularly given the dearth of cinema releases in the past year. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Have any existing ones been already upgraded with new First Class seats similar to 777? Aircraft flying government officials, Helicopters The aircraft is roomy. Special features Swiss Business Class cabins feature a designer look with wood accents, logo branding, dark fabric seats, and attractive lighting. There won't be any route cuts, but frequencies will be reduced. There's no shortage of direct flights between London and New York, which is undoubtedly one of the commercial aviation industry's most important routes, but sometimes it pays to consider a connecting flight -- whether that's to grab a deal, travel on specific dates or just to experience a different or superior product. The maximum flight range is 11 300 km. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. As an AvGeek, I was pretty much as excited for the short intra-Europe flight (it would be my first on an A220) as I was for the almost-nine-hour transatlantic flight. 4K, 5K, 6K etc. a refreshed A340 . We pushed back on time at 11:40am and were airborne 20 minutes later. View the current offers here. Another major cruise line hikes drinks package costs sharply but there's a twist, Get more from your points with these transfer bonuses. The oldest 330s are from 2009. There is Wi-Fi on board most of Swiss' long-haul aircraft. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. 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. These are alternating in that odd numbers have the seat directly next to the window with the console on the aisle, whilst even numbers have the seat on the aisle and the console table on the window. . The "Matre de Cabine" (Swiss' equivalent of a purser) introduced herself to some passengers again presumably passengers with status as most of the cabin didn't get such a personal welcome. The A340s have been recently refurbished. 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. [flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Service" tpg-rating="24" tpg-rating-max="25" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="No" turndown-service="No" /]. The boarding experience was, to put it frankly, a little chaotic. [flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Food and Beverage" tpg-rating="22" tpg-rating-max="25" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" meals="2" dine-on-demand="No" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]. Which Way is Luxury Hotel Pricing Going in 2023? Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Currently, the A330s have 28 and A350s 21 Premium Economy seats. (they are happy to give you more once you have used up the initial one, btw). Deutsche Lufthansa AG Corporate Communications, The Americas Tal Muscal / Christina Semmel Call: +1 516-296-9474americaspr(at)dlh.de Follow us on Twitter: @lufthansaNews. our review of the Lufthansa Business Class Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 2 here, our review of the SWISS Senator Lounge at Zurich Terminal E here, Over 500m worth of e-vouchers still unused (IAG). We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. 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. All of Swiss' long-haul aircraft, including these refurbished A340 aircraft, feature Wi-Fi connectivity. Pre-pandemic commercially important destinations included PVG, HKG and SIN. cons="Lackluster ground experience and outrageously expensive Wi-Fi." The plane in question is a 20-year-old Airbus A330-300 with the registration number C-GFUR. Got any questions? The A330 forms the backbone of the SWISS long haul fleet with fourteen aircraft. <>>> It is the third part of our review series looking at the SWISS Business Class experience. The planes have brand new first, business and economy class seats which now match the airline's Boeing 777s. Seat Maps; Airlines; Cheap Flights; Comparison Charts . document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The A340 is already almost 18 years old, older than the A330, but it as better range versus payload. She also said that both Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines have more crew on their aircraft than Swiss, an interesting tidbit given that Swiss is a part of the wider Lufthansa Group. Everything from the Goodyear blimp to the Zeppelin, Night Photos The sooner we can get rid of these ridiculous checks the better, for everyone involved. 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