Swiss B777-300 First Class ZRH-ORD
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. For a full report on this fabulous lounge see the Swiss First Class lounge report on the home page.
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.
Apparently 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.
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 pod side panel.
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.
The pajamas were nice, but not nearly as good as Lufthansa’s.
Away they go.
Yes please.
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?
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.
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.
Carrier: Swiss
Date: July, 2019
Route: Zurich - Chicago
Flight #: 8
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300 (HB-JNE)
Configuration: F8 / C62 / Y270
Seat(s): 1K
On Time: Yes
Reward Flying Rating: 8.3 out of 10 ✈
Cabin: ✔︎ Swiss first class cabins are beautifully done, understated but elegant. The seats are super comfortable. I did not attempt to sleep on this flight, was having too much fun!
Cabin/Seats Rating: 9 out of 10 ✈
Food/Amenities: ✔︎ This flight had some of the better food ever on an airplane. The main course I can’t rave enough about Then a double dose of Laurent-Perrier Grant Siècle champagne, Château Haut-Bailly Grand Cru Classé, a nice amenity kit, and comfy pjs’, made this a double dose of awesome experience.
IFE/WiFi: ✔︎ The IFE monitor was one of the best I’ve seen in the sky. Wifi a little issue, but at least they gave a voucher.
Amenity/Food rating: 9.5 out of 10 ✈
Flight Attendants: ✔︎ The crew served me well. Did they make a flight special, no. Which is too bad because a great crew would have made this flight the top ranked first class flight I’ve taken.
Flight Attendant rating: 7 out of 10 ✈
Aircraft: ✔︎Boeing 777-300. The long haul aircraft of aviation. It’s amazing the 777 has been around for 25 years now.
Aircraft rating: 7 out of 10 ✈
Swiss ranking against other Reward Flying first class flights.
