Swiss International Air Lines has given a tantalising hint of its new Business and First Class cabins for the new long haul fleet, as it gets ready for the first of its nine new Boeing 777-300ERs.
The Business Class cabin of Swiss' flagship Boeing 777 plane features a gorgeous interior. Created by Priestmangoode, a British design and brand consultancy firm, the aircraft decor has a luxurious, elegant and timeless feel with a lightness of authentic Swiss touch. Read my review of this Swiss B777 flight experience here: If.
The new Swiss Boeing 777-300ER aircraft has totally revamped cabins in all three classes, and will seat 340 passengers. Eight in First Class, 62 in Business Class and 270 in Economy.
Despite some speculation of a Swiss Premium Economy cabin, there is no middle class between economy and business.
Swiss will start flying the first of nine brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in January, as it phases out its existing fuel hungry Airbus A340-300s, which were obtained second hand by Swiss over a decade ago.
The new cabins were Designed by London based Priestmangoode, and they certainly did a good job.
The cabins look familiar because they are more an evolution from the existing seats, but with more space, more storage and greater privacy. Priestmangoode has built on their long-standing relationship with SWISS and designed the airline's A330 First Class cabin back in 2009.
The colour tones throughout each cabin has been updated to a richer, more sophisticated palette, but it still keeps the same branding so the cabins feel familiar and Swiss.
Starting at the entrance to the Boeing 777, it is more like a reception area.
The Boeing 777 Swiss Air Lines First Class cabin has eight private first class suites right up front, where they should be. There are two rows of 1-2 -1 seating in First.
The seat itself folds down into a two metre long fully flat bed, which has sliding doors on the cabin to give three privacy modes that include fully open, semi-open or fully enclosed.
There's a 50% increase in personal storage compared with the previous first class seat, including dedicated wardrobe for amenities. The Corian cocktail table is covered with a surface called Corian (created by DuPont, derived from bauxite ore) which has integrated mood lighting, just adding to the upmarket feel.
The first thing you notice in the Swiss First Class seat is the 32 inch TV screen, which Swiss claim is the largest in the industry. Swiss also have electrically-adjustable window blinds, and a myriad of many lighting options, from small reading lights to warm overhead cabin lights, which enhances the homely feel of the Swiss frisk cabin. The Swiss tall oblong bespoke reading lamp carries on the design cues from Swiss lounge right through to the cabin.
There is a feeling of a contemporary residence in the First Class cabin, with chunks of wooden veneer, high quality textured fabric, and a deep earthy colour palette.
The same surface carries on into the Business Class cabin, which has a very masculine colour spectrum.
The Boeing 777 Swiss Business Class seat is a very familiar alternating staggered seat, similar to the Thompson Vantage and Vantage XL products, however it was developed from the airline's previous Business Class seat, which was designed as a bespoke model for Swiss Air Lines.
There are 62 Swiss business class seats in the new Boeing 777, with a micro-cabin of two rows right at the front of the Boeing 777-300 ER, and then a huge cabin with no less then eleven rows stretching back halfway along the length of the aircraft. At the front The Swiss Business Class best seats are 3A or 4K if you are travelling on your own.
Each Swiss Business Class seat converts into a fully flatbed that's over two metres long, with enhanced privacy thanks to the partitions between seats.
However with seats in a 1-2-2 layout, alternating with 2-2-1, there are as always a few seats which don't offer aisle access. Swiss Frequent Flyer Senator level members know to ask for what are called the 'throne seats' situated by the windows, which have tables on either side of the seat.
Each seat offers a 16 inch touchscreen, however it is screwed to the seat in front, and as Swiss have fond, some passengers have to lean forward to view it. There is also a small 'micro' screen in the handset of each seat, which displays the channel being watched and flight information, such as how long to go.
Alas, despite the joys up front, Swiss economy class on the Boeing 777 is a major disappointment, and also more cramped than the A330 and A340 which it is replacing. There are 270 seats.
The major problem is that Swiss have chosen to install ten seats across rather than the nine in many other carriers. The 3-4-3 layout is also far from ideal for couples compared to the 2-4-2 on the A330, which offered just a one-step out to the aisle for many passengers. However on the new Boeing, single passengers may have to inconvenience two passengers to get up.
The seats have however been uprated somewhat with light beige fabric, and a self-service kiosk at the back of the cabin. There is a 12 inch touchscreen and a USB charging socket, plus a unique 'high' seatback shelf on which you can leave portable electronic devices to charge.
All Swiss Boeing 777-300ERs have inflight Wi-Fi internet, allowing you to browse on your tablet or laptop.
As you enter the Swiss Boeing 777-300ER there is a great reception area, with an illuminated welcome panel, plus a map of the world in a wood finish which reflects the reception of the Swiss lounges at Zurich airport. Additionally, in First and Business Class, the front bulkhead features a Matterhorn print, reflecting the almost perfect pyramidal peak in the Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps which can been seen as the aircraft approaches Switzerland on a clear day.
The first Boeing 777-300ER in the Swiss fleet will take flight in January 2016, and alternate on routes to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Los Angeles. As more Swiss Boeing 777s are added, they will replace the A330s on shorter flights to Tel Aviv, and replace the A340 to San Francisco and Sao Paulo.
The new Swiss Boeing 777-300ER were ordered in March 2013, and three more were added to the order in March 2015.
The first six aircraft will replaced the six second-hand Airbus A340-300s which were added to the Swiss fleet to launch new long-haul routes to the US in 2008. Three further A340s will be replaced by new Boeing 777-300ERs between 2017 and 2018. The redundant A340 aircraft will be transferred to Swiss Air Lines low-cost offshoot, leisure carrier Edelweiss.
Boeing 777-300 operated by Swiss Airlines may transport 340 passengers in three classes.
First class consists of 8 open suites that have 180 degrees recline. These suites are located in 2 rows per 4 in each. All of them are standard.
Behind the first class seats of business class are located. There are totally 62 flat bed seats here that also have 180 degrees recline. These seats are divided into 2 sections.
First section contains 2 rows of seats that per 5 in each. Extra legroom makes the seats of the 4th row good seats.
The only disadvantage of the seats 5A and 5K are misaligned windows.
The second section of business class seats is located behind the exit row. There are 11 rows of seats here.
Swiss International Air Lines has given a tantalising hint of its new Business and First Class cabins for the new long haul fleet, as it gets ready for the first of its nine new Boeing 777-300ERs.
The Business Class cabin of Swiss' flagship Boeing 777 plane features a gorgeous interior. Created by Priestmangoode, a British design and brand consultancy firm, the aircraft decor has a luxurious, elegant and timeless feel with a lightness of authentic Swiss touch. Read my review of this Swiss B777 flight experience here: If.
The new Swiss Boeing 777-300ER aircraft has totally revamped cabins in all three classes, and will seat 340 passengers. Eight in First Class, 62 in Business Class and 270 in Economy.
Despite some speculation of a Swiss Premium Economy cabin, there is no middle class between economy and business.
Swiss will start flying the first of nine brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in January, as it phases out its existing fuel hungry Airbus A340-300s, which were obtained second hand by Swiss over a decade ago.
The new cabins were Designed by London based Priestmangoode, and they certainly did a good job.
The cabins look familiar because they are more an evolution from the existing seats, but with more space, more storage and greater privacy. Priestmangoode has built on their long-standing relationship with SWISS and designed the airline's A330 First Class cabin back in 2009.
The colour tones throughout each cabin has been updated to a richer, more sophisticated palette, but it still keeps the same branding so the cabins feel familiar and Swiss.
Starting at the entrance to the Boeing 777, it is more like a reception area.
The Boeing 777 Swiss Air Lines First Class cabin has eight private first class suites right up front, where they should be. There are two rows of 1-2 -1 seating in First.
The seat itself folds down into a two metre long fully flat bed, which has sliding doors on the cabin to give three privacy modes that include fully open, semi-open or fully enclosed.
There's a 50% increase in personal storage compared with the previous first class seat, including dedicated wardrobe for amenities. The Corian cocktail table is covered with a surface called Corian (created by DuPont, derived from bauxite ore) which has integrated mood lighting, just adding to the upmarket feel.
The first thing you notice in the Swiss First Class seat is the 32 inch TV screen, which Swiss claim is the largest in the industry. Swiss also have electrically-adjustable window blinds, and a myriad of many lighting options, from small reading lights to warm overhead cabin lights, which enhances the homely feel of the Swiss frisk cabin. The Swiss tall oblong bespoke reading lamp carries on the design cues from Swiss lounge right through to the cabin.
There is a feeling of a contemporary residence in the First Class cabin, with chunks of wooden veneer, high quality textured fabric, and a deep earthy colour palette.
The same surface carries on into the Business Class cabin, which has a very masculine colour spectrum.
The Boeing 777 Swiss Business Class seat is a very familiar alternating staggered seat, similar to the Thompson Vantage and Vantage XL products, however it was developed from the airline's previous Business Class seat, which was designed as a bespoke model for Swiss Air Lines.
There are 62 Swiss business class seats in the new Boeing 777, with a micro-cabin of two rows right at the front of the Boeing 777-300 ER, and then a huge cabin with no less then eleven rows stretching back halfway along the length of the aircraft. At the front The Swiss Business Class best seats are 3A or 4K if you are travelling on your own.
Each Swiss Business Class seat converts into a fully flatbed that's over two metres long, with enhanced privacy thanks to the partitions between seats.
However with seats in a 1-2-2 layout, alternating with 2-2-1, there are as always a few seats which don't offer aisle access. Swiss Frequent Flyer Senator level members know to ask for what are called the 'throne seats' situated by the windows, which have tables on either side of the seat.
Each seat offers a 16 inch touchscreen, however it is screwed to the seat in front, and as Swiss have fond, some passengers have to lean forward to view it. There is also a small 'micro' screen in the handset of each seat, which displays the channel being watched and flight information, such as how long to go.
Alas, despite the joys up front, Swiss economy class on the Boeing 777 is a major disappointment, and also more cramped than the A330 and A340 which it is replacing. There are 270 seats.
The major problem is that Swiss have chosen to install ten seats across rather than the nine in many other carriers. The 3-4-3 layout is also far from ideal for couples compared to the 2-4-2 on the A330, which offered just a one-step out to the aisle for many passengers. However on the new Boeing, single passengers may have to inconvenience two passengers to get up.
The seats have however been uprated somewhat with light beige fabric, and a self-service kiosk at the back of the cabin. There is a 12 inch touchscreen and a USB charging socket, plus a unique 'high' seatback shelf on which you can leave portable electronic devices to charge.
All Swiss Boeing 777-300ERs have inflight Wi-Fi internet, allowing you to browse on your tablet or laptop.
As you enter the Swiss Boeing 777-300ER there is a great reception area, with an illuminated welcome panel, plus a map of the world in a wood finish which reflects the reception of the Swiss lounges at Zurich airport. Additionally, in First and Business Class, the front bulkhead features a Matterhorn print, reflecting the almost perfect pyramidal peak in the Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps which can been seen as the aircraft approaches Switzerland on a clear day.
The first Boeing 777-300ER in the Swiss fleet will take flight in January 2016, and alternate on routes to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Los Angeles. As more Swiss Boeing 777s are added, they will replace the A330s on shorter flights to Tel Aviv, and replace the A340 to San Francisco and Sao Paulo.
The new Swiss Boeing 777-300ER were ordered in March 2013, and three more were added to the order in March 2015.
The first six aircraft will replaced the six second-hand Airbus A340-300s which were added to the Swiss fleet to launch new long-haul routes to the US in 2008. Three further A340s will be replaced by new Boeing 777-300ERs between 2017 and 2018. The redundant A340 aircraft will be transferred to Swiss Air Lines low-cost offshoot, leisure carrier Edelweiss.
Boeing 777-300 operated by Swiss Airlines may transport 340 passengers in three classes.
First class consists of 8 open suites that have 180 degrees recline. These suites are located in 2 rows per 4 in each. All of them are standard.
Behind the first class seats of business class are located. There are totally 62 flat bed seats here that also have 180 degrees recline. These seats are divided into 2 sections.
First section contains 2 rows of seats that per 5 in each. Extra legroom makes the seats of the 4th row good seats.
The only disadvantage of the seats 5A and 5K are misaligned windows.
The second section of business class seats is located behind the exit row. There are 11 rows of seats here.
Passengers tend to gather while waiting to use lavatories and this may cause discomfort to passengers of the seats 6DG, 7A and 7JK.
Missing windows are the main disadvantage of the seats 8A, 8K and 11A, 11K.
Economy class may accommodate 270 passengers in two sections. Most of the seats in the economy class have 3-4-3 configuration.
The best seats in the economy class are considered the seats 22DEFG, 23BC and 23HJ. These seats offer extra legroom to passengers. However, these seats are narrower than standard as the tray tables are in the armrests making them immovable and have no floor storage during take-off and landing.
Missing windows, reduced width of the seats and lack of floor storage during take-off and landing make the seats 23A and 23K bad seats. On the other hand these seats have extra space for passengers' legs.
The noise that is coming from the lavatories and galleys will represent problem to passengers of the seats of the 36th row – the last row of the first section.
Swiss Air Business Class Seats
The second section of economy class seats contains 14 rows of seats.
Passengers of the seats of the 39th row and 40DEFG will feel comfortable thanks to extra legroom. Among disadvantages of these seats: reduced width as the tray tables are built-in the armrests making them immovable, lack of floor storage during take-off and landing and close location of the galley and lavatories.
The seats 50AB and 50JK have limited legroom, reduced width as the tray tables are in the armrests. At the same time these seats have extra storage space.
Swiss 777 Business Class
Proximity of the lavatories may represent problem to passengers of the seats 51AB, 51D, 51G, 51JK and 52DEFG. Also the seats 51AB and 51JK are less reclining than standard. That is why these seats and the seats of the last 52nd row are considered bad seats.
