An Atlantic Crossing with Swiss Air: A350 Business Class Review
I recently embarked on a journey from Zurich to Boston, flying with Swiss Air's brand-new A350 business class, known as Swiss Senses. This trip was the return leg of a more extensive adventure that took me to Bangkok via Paris. Having flown with Lufthansa's A350 business class, which is essentially the same product with a different finish, I was eager to compare the two and assess Swiss Air's latest offering.
Booking the Journey
The entire return journey was booked as one ticket, utilizing 87,500 Air Canada Aeroplan points and a modest fee for taxes and fees. This redemption is an excellent value, especially for those seeking a stopover in Europe, which can be achieved for just 5,000 extra points. Aeroplan points are readily available, partnering with most major transferable points currencies, making this a very accessible option for many travelers.
The Lounge and Boarding Experience
Due to a canceled flight from Milan, my layover in Zurich was brief, and I proceeded directly to the departure gate. The boarding process was slightly delayed, but it was well-organized, with first and business class passengers invited to board first. Swiss Air offers three lounges in the terminal—the Swiss First Lounge, Swiss Senator Lounge, and Swiss Business Lounge—which I have reviewed separately.
The Business Class Cabin and Seats
The Swiss Senses business class cabin on the Airbus A350 is a spacious affair, featuring 45 seats spread across two cabins. The forward cabin has 20 seats, while the rear cabin has 25. The standout feature is the eight business class suites, which offer exceptional privacy with a door, ample personal space, and higher partitions. These suites are ideal for solo travelers or those seeking a premium experience.
Swiss Air and Lufthansa pride themselves on the flexibility of this cabin design, with five different types of seats. However, the pricing for seat selection can be steep, with the best seats commanding a premium. The solo window seats are excellent for those traveling alone, while the pairs of center suites are the only option for those wishing to sit next to a travel companion.
The center 'throne' seats offer novelty and counter space but feel cramped due to the surrounding walls. The seats in the center rows are best avoided unless traveling with a companion, as they are spaced far apart and lack window views. The window seats, particularly 7A and 7K, offer a sweet spot in terms of comfort and privacy without an extra charge. These seats have extra space due to their intended use for bassinets, making them a great choice for those seeking more room.
In-Flight Entertainment and Amenities
The in-flight entertainment system has seen significant improvements, with a better interface and a more extensive selection of movies, TV shows, audio, and games. The size of the 4K OLED monitors varies depending on the seat, with the business class suites boasting larger screens. Bluetooth audio pairing is available, allowing passengers to use their own headphones.
The highly customizable map feature and tail camera are standout entertainment options. Each seat also has a large tablet for controlling various functions, although I encountered some technical issues with this. The cooling and heating feature, akin to what you'd find in a car, was underwhelming, with minimal temperature difference.
Swiss Air's Wi-Fi is currently paid, with pricing options ranging from a free messaging pass to a premium plan for the entire flight. The speeds were excellent, but the pricing is steep. Fortunately, Swiss Air plans to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi soon, which promises even better speeds at no cost.
The amenities in Swiss Air's business class are somewhat basic. A pillow, blanket, amenity kit, headphones, and a bottle of water await each passenger. The amenity kit is minimal, containing only socks, earplugs, and a toothbrush, and there are no slippers provided. The headphones are of average quality, but Bluetooth audio allows passengers to use their own.
Dining and Service
The meal service began soon after takeoff, and while the food was reasonably good, it was not exceptional. The slow pace of service was noticeable, with tray tables cleared around three hours after takeoff. The appetizer, soup, and main course were all served with a leisurely pace, and the dessert trolley arrived a full 2 hours and 40 minutes after takeoff. The cheese course and dessert wine were highlights, and the crew offered a box of chocolates after the meal.
The catering is slightly above average, and recent overhauls to the business class catering have resulted in minor improvements. The crew's service was mixed, with some attendants being friendly and others seeming less engaged. With the new service concept and a full cabin, the crew appeared busy and sometimes stressed, which impacted the overall service experience.
Lavatories and Comfort
The business class lavatories are a weak point, with only two available for 45 passengers and crew. They are standard A350 lavatories, not particularly spacious, and they lacked cleanliness later in the flight. The seat comfort in bed mode was impressive, with a large footwell and a sufficiently wide bed. The seat reclined easily, and the extra storage compartments were handy.
Arrival in Boston
The flight across the Atlantic was swift, and we landed in Boston a few minutes behind schedule due to congestion on the ramp. The overall journey was an enjoyable experience, offering a competitive business class product. However, it falls short in certain areas, such as amenities and meal service speed. While I would choose Swiss Senses over other Swiss Air planes, it does not surpass competitors like Air France in terms of overall experience.
In summary, Swiss Air's A350 business class is a solid offering, but it does not revolutionize the transatlantic business class experience. It provides a comfortable journey with some excellent features, but it also has room for improvement in certain areas. Personally, I believe that while Swiss Senses is a welcome upgrade, it may not be the game-changer that some travelers are seeking. The competition in this market is fierce, and Swiss Air will need to continue refining its product to stay ahead of the curve.
