SWISS First Class Miles & More Awards: Last 5 Weeks for Non-Elites to Book

SWISS First Class Miles & More awards are going the way of the dinosaurs, at least for non-elites. As SWISS announced back in September, starting January 1, 2014 you'll no longer be able to redeem Miles & More miles for a SWISS First Class award ticket, unless you're an Hon Circle member or Senator (and even they have to call in–first class award availability won't be displayed online).

So, if you've accumulated Miles & More miles, you have ~5 weeks to book your 2014 SWISS First Class award.

Is it worth it? Here are the pros and cons as I see them:

Pros

• Great food (especially departing Switzerland): Hot Amuse Bouche even before take off, Taste of Switzerland menus, Balik salmon, Nespresso espresso
• Excellent bedding and pajamas
• Arrivals service in select cities, such as Bangkok (met and escorted through customs and baggage claim)
• Ideal if you want to fly non-stop to or from Switzerland (Zurich or Geneva)
• Last chance (for non Miles & More elites) to fly this product

Cons

• Ground services not as good as Lufthansa: SWISS' Zurich First Class Lounge can't compare to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt
• Service can be inconsistent: sometimes great, sometimes mediocre (in the context of other airlines' first class)

As with other Miles & More awards on Lufthansa, Miles & More awards come with significant fuel surcharges, although these are lower if flying one way from Europe to the U.S.