Review of SWISS flight from Zurich to Chicago in First

After departing LX155 I hustled my way to the Swiss First Class lounge. The faster I got there the better my odds of getting a dayroom I figured. 

The Swiss FC lounge has 2 days rooms. After showing my boarding pass I was given the key to Montreux, my hotel room for a few hours. 

The complete report on this fabulous lounge is here: http://www.rewardflying.com/lounge-reports/2019/12/9/zrh-swiss-first-class-lounge

This Swiss 777 which was a mere 3 years old would be traveling to Chicago this afternoon. 

You have to love the arrows, telling you which way to go.

While the cabin on this Swiss 777 was very similar to the A330, there are some significant differences. 

The suites are similar but have much more space, a larger monitor and electronic window shades.

Notice Swiss kept the bins in first class. The rear bulkhead was was even more nondescript than the A330.

Maybe they felt a little of their signature red would clash with the warm tones of the cabin. Regardless it was eloquent and tastefully done. 

Home for 9 hours. The ottoman acts as a second seat for a dining companion. 

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Excellent privacy divider if you want to get away from your neighbor, or travel partner!

Same seat dimension wise as the A330.

A pull out closet inside the side panel of the pod. 

Complete with a useful mirror.

Some first class cabins allow carry-ons underneath the ottoman. In Swiss’ case there isn’t enough height. But plenty room for small bags and other items.

First Class lavs were fairly well stocked and were a bit larger than the standard 777 unit. A much nicer sink as well. 

Some features of the seat. 

Very nice electronic window shades 

The mini cabin of business class seats. 

Amenities were fairly basic. However a free wi-fi card was offered. I wasn’t able to connect and didn’t pursue it. Preferred the Château Haut-Bailley Grand Cru to doing work anyway.  

Away they go. 

Yes please. 

In the back ground showing on the IFE was a documentary on how Airbus ships parts of aircraft from all over Europe by plane, train, waterway and truck foe assembly in Toulouse. It was fantastic. 

Beverage menu

Lunch Menu

Fully recovered from whatever Singapore brought on, it was time to enjoy. 

A caprese style canapé was offered to start. Very refreshing. (I also suspect this was on the anytime menu.) And served with those excellent cheese sticks. 

While the two Flight Attendants on the previous flight were two of my favorites, the two flight attendants on this flight were not. This was a male and female crew, the female attended the cabin and I think the male made one appearance in the cabin while fulfilling his role preparing the meals. She was an older woman either Swiss or German and didn’t have much of a personality. She came across crassly. I don’t think she wasn’t trying to be cold, it was just her way.

Think of a train conductor walking through the aisle with a raised voice asking “tickets, tickets”. I got the same feeling when she pushed out the appetizer card. “Any salmon for you?” “Any meats?” “Soup for you?” Again, surely well intentioned, just not in a friendly manner.

Also some FA’s don’t like their picture taken which I don’t do anyway, but she was emphatic that I not have her in any photo. 

Round three of Balik Salmon. (The winner is Swiss A330, more and with blinis. ) The Quinoa and Egg mimosa was most interesting. The Scampi salad was good as well. I also had some meats, apparently didn’t take a photo of that. I guess I was too busy with the internet card that didn’t work, or was it my iPhone? 

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The courgette vichyssoise was not my favorite, but it has never been so it might have been fantastic for those who fancy vichyssoise. 

On the other hand the smoked tuna salad with quail egg was most delicious. 

On cue.

This veal tenderloin, while you may think it looks overcooked, it was not. And this meal was worthy of a special restaurant dining experience you wouldn’t forget. To have this on an airplane to me didn’t seem possible. It was simply perfect. 

Too bad the photo of dessert is too dark. Yum.

Huge 25’’ monitor, great clarity. 

Anytime Menu

The finale meal was a little bit of a letdown, of course anything would have been after the earlier main. But the potato and leek quiche seemed very Swiss and a great way to end this fabulous journey.  

Overall it was an incredible experience to take two back to back flights in Swiss first class and spend 6 hours in their incredible home base lounge. While I'd like to say I'll be back, given the Swiss restrictions on reward flying their first class product it seems unlikey to happen again. But there are other reward flying reports coming. As I've been late posting, these which have been flown:

ORD-FRA Lufthansa 747-81 F
CDG-ORD Air France A330 J
SFO-LHR British Airways A380 F
BRU-DXB Emirates B777 F (new cabin)
DXB-HND Emirates B777 F (new cabin)
NRT-ORD Japan Airlines B777 F

And early next year the new A350 routes by:
Air France
British Airways
Virgin Atlantic
SAS
Aeroflot

 as well as ANA's new F product.    

Flight Path