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This SWISS Business Class Review is for an A330 flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Boston (BOS). The flight is 8 hours, 20 minutes, and typically departs from Zurich's E gates, such that passengers have access to the Swiss Business Class Lounge by Zurich's E Gates.
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SWISS Business Class Cabin and Seat
On the A330, there are 45 SWISS Business Class in alternating rows of 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 seats, across a mini cabin of two rows between the First Class cabin and main Business Class cabin, and the main Business Class cabin of 8 rows. We recommend paying to select a “throne” seat in advance, since these have extra space on each side of the seat. I selected “throne” window seat 4A in the mini cabin, just behind SWISS First Class. Noise cancelling headphones and Valser bottled water were stowed just below the IFE screen.
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Each Business Class seat is 20.5 inches wide. A pillow and duvet were at each seat, along with an amenity kit. The amenity kit was very basic and frankly, cheap-looking, a flimsy nylon case that contained only the essentials: toothbrush and toothpaste, socks, earplugs, lip balm, and a sleep mask. There wasn't even moisturizer. That said, I liked that the sleep mask had two straps that attached to each other with Velcro, making it more adjustable and comfortable to wear; many business class sleep masks have a single band such that the sleep mask ends up being uncomfortably tight against one's eyes.
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SWISS Business Class Menu and Dining
Prior to take-off, we were offered a pre-flight drink; I chose orange juice.
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This was the dinner menu for this early evening flight:
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While dinner was all I had room for on this 8 hour 20 min. flight, there as also a Bistro menu with light fare, although it had to be ordered at least 90 minutes prior to landing in Boston.
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And here's the champagne and wine list:
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Prior to the meal, some mixed nuts (room temperature, not warm) were offered, along with a drink.
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I was curious to try the Ticino white Merlot with my appetizer, and the red Merlot with my main, so the crew were happy to give me some of each.
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For my appetizer, I chose the slow-cooked beef with mustard vinaigrette and Grana Padano cheese, since it was a chef special, but I hadn't realized it would come as thin slices that looked similar to roast beef (even if it tasted better). The Grana Padano topping was tasty, but in retrospect I wished I'd selected the eggplant appetizer.
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The Ticino cheeses with “pear bread” (almost like a strudel) were delicious, however:
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A nice touch is the crusty fresh bread offered.
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When I was served my main course, I was confused. It was indeed veal or beef in a Parmesan crust, but the jus wasn't the saffron cream sauce described in the menu, and the asparagus was nowhere to be seen.
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Soon after, a flustered crew member came by and asked if I'd touched or eaten any of it. When I replied that I hadn't, she apologized for the incorrect meal and whisked it away, presumably to its rightful diner. She then brought me my correct main course, the veal with parmesan crust and saffron cream sauce. The sauce and the parmesan crust were delicious, but the veal was a bit tough and overcooked, and the three asparagus spears were definitely overcooked.
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Dessert was better than what I've come to expect for business class desserts: a shortcrust pastry with rich pistachio cream and raspberry gel. Fantastic, although I really wished for some fresh raspberries instead of the gel, to contrast with the rich pastry and cream.
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To finish off, I enjoyed some Sirocco peppermint tea.
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In-Flight Entertainment
SWISS' IFE is okay, but it's certainly no Singapore Airlines KrisWorld. I didn't find any films that were compelling, so watched a 30 Rock episode, then did some work.
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Here's our SWISS Business Class video review:
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SWISS Business Class Bed
All SWISS Business Class seats recline into fully flat beds that are 79 inches long, just over 2 meters in length.
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The pillow and duvet were fine as far as they went, but for an overnight flight, I'd highly recommend bringing a portable mattress pad, such as a ThermaRest.
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The Verdict
If you can get a “throne” seat, especially 4A, SWISS Business Class is one of the best non-suite business class seats to and from Europe. The soft product is unremarkable, with quite standard bedding and dining and a cheaply-made amenity kit, but service was pleasant, even with the meal snafu. It was certainly a good use of 60,000 Aeroplan miles, which I earned mostly at 3X-5X points per dollar spent with my Ink Business and Chase Sapphire Reserve cards.
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