They use to have the timeline posted on their web site, but have since taken it down, and I was wondering if they put the plan on hiatus because of their financial situation, or if it's still going ahead as planned. 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? Find the right card for you. Same seating as in the A330, and a new IFE. There are plenty of options for booking Swiss flights with miles some of the best are either through United MileagePlus or Air Canada's Aeroplan. David's radar is spot on. Im afraid I totally disagree re the throne/Kirk seats being the best the foot cubby is incredibly cramped and I found it difficult to sleep as you were unable to just turn over on your side Id recommend one of the side seats instead which isnt so restricted. Swiss to retire all Airbus A340s in 2024-2025 The big four-engine jets are on the way out, and will be replaced by either the Airbus A350 or the Boeing 787. 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 cabin, though not the most updated in Swiss' fleet, felt sleek and classy, and service was impeccable. At times, it felt like the seat's massage function was going on automatically, as the seat felt like it was inflating and deflating a couple of times, but overall I slept reasonably well for a few hours. Oddly the airline isnt saying which aircraft it will retire, even though youd think the choice would be obvious. TOP HOTEL BONUS POINTS OFFERS (MARCH 2023), How to get free hotel elite status from UK credit cards, Get exclusive benefits on luxury hotel bookings via HfP. Traveler photos (1) . The A340s have been recently refurbished. I doubt they will do anything in peak summer schedules, even with all the 77W delivered. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Sorry - just a stylistic point ( the content is really good as always). Link SWISS Airbus A330 300. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. is The Points Guy's Global News Editor and is based in London. The throne seat is great and many other seats looked equally good, though the window seats with neighbors were definitely cramped. 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. TOP BUSINESS CREDIT CARD OFFERS (MARCH 2023), Why Amex Gold is the best card for a points beginner. They also offer far less privacy than many new Business Class seats. Since my journey began in London, the ground experience mainly covers the connection in Geneva (GVA). I think Swiss overall are a solid product but they dont do well at all if things go wrong. Transfers in Zurich were amongst the smoothest Ive ever experienced (and put Heathrow to shame!). 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 route will be operated with an Airbus A330-300 aircraft seating 236 passengers. 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. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. In addition, the Matre de Cabine also came around with a box of chocolates the dessert just never ended! That's it. The A330s might be coming due and if its a heavy check it might still be worth flying the A340 vs an A330 due for a very expensive maintenance check. The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered. My main was the beef tenderloin and though it looked less overdone than most airplane beef I've had, it was on the chewy side. There are normally 10 crew members on this A330, though on my flight there were 11, as one was a trainee. 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. [tpg_rating tpg-rating-score="82" ground-experience="7" cabin-seat="21" amens-ife="10" food-bev="21" service="23" pros="Soothing and stylish cabin, comfy seat, truly great food and exceptional service." However travelling in First to Boston they lost my luggage and werent exactly stellar in their handling of this. Booked mid Dec on LX to JNB in F and it looks to me that it's still the unrefurbished A340-300. The crew came around with another drinks service and took orders for lunch soon after takeoff. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Got any questions? I did notice, though, that a few of the other passengers were struggling with their bags while climbing the steep steps. The maximum flight range is 11 300 km. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. We paid a total of 60,000 miles, and taxes and fees came to a total of $292, which we put on the Platinum Card in order to earn 5x points on the purchase in this case a total of 1,460 points, worth about $28 according to TPG's current valuations. Thanks to the latest generation of seats, the modernised version of the aircraft offers maximum comfort in all flight classes. Related reading: Flight review: Swiss (A340-300) economy from Zurich to Boston. Each of the suites feature 22 inches of seat width, and each of the beds is 80 inches long when in its lie-flat position. Sound analysis. All the A330s have the same seat map: As you can see, there are 8 First Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout across two rows. The "single" window seats on the right hand side are typically reserved for HON Circle and Senator Miles & More members. The hard product is admittedly tired on the A330s the seats are showing their age and the IFE screens are tiny. 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. Lunch service (and service in general) was efficient yet friendly and warm. 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. SWISS have opted for the Thompson Vantage business class seat. The A330s were delivered in 2010 to 2011 or 2012 no? What I had stupidly forgotten in my rush to select them is that there are missing windows in row 9 so that even if you are sat by a window you only really get half a window. But the plane will not be retired anytime soon. 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. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. SWISS International Air Lines thanks you for your understanding. 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. Does anyone has any update on progress of A340 refurbishment? Each of the seats features 20.5 inches of width and is 79 inches long when in its lie-flat position. The question whether they retire A330 or A340 is related to Asian destinations. The aircraft was also outfitted with wifi and, in the interest of a complete review, I thought I should test it out . My plane for the next seven-hours, a SWISS A330. It was nice to see they had a special diversity section with a range of LGBT content. The oldest 330s are from 2009. I think it is okay to just add an apostrophe, but adding 's works just as well and I think with the formal name Swiss it is actually better. Standard seats can be reserved free of charge, and the throne seats on the left side (being in every other row) can be reserved for the same fee that I paid. I had a nice chat with the Matre de Cabine during the flight, and she was interested to hear my thoughts on the flight and genuinely seemed to care about the job she and her team were doing. Ihr Browser verhlt sich ungewhnlich und hnelt somit einem Bot. Its not great. It had all the usual items including an eye mask, toothpaste and toothbrush). During the ongoing airport refurbishment, it seems that most long-haul flights depart from these types of gates. Once I succeded in sending an SMS. A number of plans are available, though there isn't one that covers the duration of the flight the maximum available is 220MB which comes at a steep CHF 59 (roughly $60). By logging into your account, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and the use of cookies as described therein. Beautiful shots taken while the sun is below the horizon, Accidents The aircraft were given a new lease on life in 2020. They have a much bigger cargo capacity. The A340 will also be deployed on Swisss new Zurich-Osaka (Japan) route, on which service will commence on March 1. Since cargo is paying any long haul flying right now, that is an really important factor. endobj The tray table was of decent size though it was clunky to get in and out of the side armrest -- similar to what you'd find on American Airlines' Boeing 767 business-class product. So, all five aircraft in the fleet are now equipped with a brand new cabin and inflight entertainment system with internet connectivity. I quite liked the glassware that Swiss used, too. 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. Objectively, the 777-300ER is a newer, nicer aircraft. There is actually one more factor; Edelweiss. I would definitely avoid those seats unless traveling with a companion. 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. From 2023, the Lufthansa A350s will also get a new First Class product. Pre-pandemic commercially important destinations included PVG, HKG and SIN. x]k bFIQ`1dvMX5c3,'M{..8t -QOrU6KyU_]_y&E,La"D(ND]~_zN/ It was pretty standard in terms of size although I was surprised with how deep it went: Just to the right is a little storage slot that is also very useful for storing shoes during the flight. I like airlines which have flexible table sizing as it means you dont need to have a massive table out just for a small drink or similar. The crew were very professional throughout the entire flight in a way that some US carriers' crew aren't. What American Express bonuses are you still eligible for? In the end the A340 has space for one extra pallet and a lot of additional MTOW. Which new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard is best? The planes have brand new first, business and economy class seats which now match the airline's Boeing 777s. 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. The best seats by far are the throne seats. Just order more things from the Bistro menu?! Any updated news on the refurbishment schedule? Is IHG One Rewards the best hotel loyalty scheme? Im normally quite sceptical about having steak on flights because Ive had some pretty bad ones in the past but the cabin crew assured me this was their favourite. %PDF-1.5 They have a much bigger cargo capacity. It is used to analyse traffic to determine if it is automated traffic generated by bots or a human user. Each of the IFE screens at the seats measures 11 inches. 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. Another major cruise line hikes drinks package costs sharply but there's a twist, Get more from your points with these transfer bonuses. Swiss chief commercial officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour said, With the completion of our Airbus A340 cabin refurbishment programme 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.. Reviews. I can bet my ass off that LX will keep the A340s and sell a few A330s. Everytime I was in F and they gave me a voucher, it's nerver worked. 14 Airbus A330-300s, seating 236 people each Five Airbus A340-300s, seating 223 people each 12 Boeing 777-300ERs, seating 340 people each Lufthansa Group has ordered some A350-900s and 787-9s and some of those should go to SWISS, but we don't know how many The 777 is currently SWISS' flagship aircraft You also get a set of headphones and a bottle of water in the little cubby hole under the screen: Lets take a quick look at the amenity kit. Swiss chief commercial officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour said, "With the completion of our Airbus A340 cabin refurbishment programme we are further underlining our quality commitment, and now offer . I made my own bed SWISS dont offer a bed making service as far as I can tell and there is no mattress pad or sheet like you find on other airlines, so you make do with your (fairly mediocre) pillow and blanket: At some point a bistro menu was handed out for the optional second on-demand meal service. Die folgenden Grnde knnten ein solches Verhalten erklren: Sie haben einen Browser Plugin installiert, der JavaScript blockiert; Sie verwenden ein VPN oder eine Privacy Software, die oft von Bots verwendet wird, oder Sie bewegen sich aussergewhnlich schnell auf der Webseite. One of the issues are the crew rest containers - or rather the lack thereof on the A330 SWISS have had to block all first class seats on some A330 flights to Asia in order to accomodate the crew. )(V"L'hm&6x_WN_^mnf 9Mc=q^bI"9NKF&'&uS6hkLf}:+)brm3OCUF ^225X/2Jq"Zdn9P5%9nIO8SBLf0*$2.H'{ja'RO')U GS]&sL/4t/U`VLe^iuld)"47QrQf72dR5+e1Y;RFC\|:85Nx$A.&- 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. Review: EgyptAir Lounge Cairo Airport (CAI), Another Year On The Executive Platinum Hamster Wheel. 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. As part of the refurbishment, each of the first-class suites also features a 32-inch inflight entertainment screen. The A330 doesnt make it with full payload and the 77W is way too big for pax demand. Now, pax demand close to zero, but cargo is doing well on these very long routes, so the A340 is the best fit. Which Way is Luxury Hotel Pricing Going in 2023? Having lived in different countries and with a previous career in financial services, he is an Avios, Oneworld Alliance and general aviation travel expert. 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 next batch of reviews from this trip will look at a variety of Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Dubai. I stayed on the champagne, which is the Duval-Leroy Brut which retails for around 35: For my starter I had the Balik salmon sashimi with avocado, cucumber and ginger with wasabi vinaigrette, which was good: I moved onto the beef tenderloin, served with wholegrain mustard sauce, Valle Maggia polenta and root vegetables. Again, a full bar was on offer. Aircraft painted in beautiful and original liveries, Airport Overviews And, we were held for a while on the bus before we were allowed to board. B Swiss International Air Lines - A340 refurbishment - Originally Posted by NA-Flyer Does the F seat on the A340 match the one on the 777 in terms of size, legroom, IFE? How is being " more digital" a thing to promote as a positive when talking about being shrinking the airline? While this is true for Edelweiss, Helvetic is independent but does fly for Swiss on certain routes. 70,000 bonus points taken away due to refund, get back? Airliners.net is the leading community for discovering and sharing high-quality aviation photography. Certain a343s do not have belts on the ottomans, and the crew would not allow face to face dining on these. Anyone who needs to be online for a serious amount of time (or doing a serious amount of work) is going to find that getting connected on board a Swiss aircraft is very expensive. In total, there are 45 lie-flat Business Class seats. This website uses cookies. The airline, a member of the Lufthansa Group, operated the planes between 2002 and 2011. Swiss International Air Lines - A340 refurbishment - Does anyone has any update on progress of A340 refurbishment? You can see one on the far right here: Second best if you are a solo traveller are the single seats on the right hand side of the aircraft, ie. The new hard product is similar to what passengers can expect to find on the airline's Boeing 777 aircraft a vast improvement over the older, outdated products. Really interested if they keep the A340s or not. Swiss International Air Lines dankt Ihnen fr Ihr Verstndnis. The airline's A330s have an average age of just over 15 years. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. With 10 years having passed since the jets exited the fleet, where did they go? The new flight will bring service on the Zurich-Washington, D.C. route to 14 weekly frequencies provided by SWISS and its joint-venture partner United Airlines. Behind this is a very small Business Class cabin made up of just two rows, followed by a larger Business Class cabin made up of eight rows. The 330s will also need a refresh soonits not cheap to refresh a cabin. I decided to head to our gate about an hour before departure to get some pictures of our plane probably a smart move anyway, as there was another passport check for all C gates, which is where many long-haul international flights were departing from. In terms of content the variety wasnt bad, particularly given the dearth of cinema releases in the past year. Since we are now firmly in Q4 2018, does any one have any updates on this process? The A359 will replace the A340 superbly and the 789 the same with the A333.. although I think the best airplane to replace the A333 would be definitely the A339neo. See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com. Connections: USB A Seat Pitch: 99 centimeters. 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. 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? You can unsubscribe at any point by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. As a result, SWISS now offers its passengers internet connectivity on board throughout its long-haul fleet. Pictures of great freighter aircraft, Government Aircraft Have any existing ones been already upgraded with new First Class seats similar to 777? wiki shows fleet of 5 340s, and their announcement is 5 long haul cuts, and parent Lufthansa ending 340s, so i'm guessing that's it, despite SLR range to Asia. Hopefully by then they'll be in better financial shape, too. Overall, both the food, presentation and general service was of good quality and nicely done. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Since they are keeping A340s anyway, a big chunk of the economics of scale for selling A340s is gone anyway. We apologise for the interruption. Those have two functions: On the one hand they are providing basic functionality for this website. They have a much bigger cargo capacity. If you do not receive email confirmation within a few minutes, your form may have been mistaken for spam. . 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. Here are the best cards for making your trip more comfortable. Please view our advertising policy page for more information.

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