SWISS Airbus A330 Business Class (Zurich – Dubai)

As far as European airlines go, you’ve probably heard of Lufthansa. But have you travelled with SWISS? Like Lufthansa, SWISS is also a member of Star Alliance. In fact, SWISS is a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group itself – which makes it easy to earn and spend miles. That includes Business Class flights on SWISS’ Airbus A330 jets.

Given the similarities, booking SWISS follows much the same process as for Lufthansa. SWISS even has a similar airline code – LX for SWISS, versus LH for Lufthansa. But SWISS’ code heralds back to its regional history under a different name: Crossair. As for today, you could well call the airline SWISS Chocolate. You certainly won’t be left wanting for sweets.

Whether you’re onboard with SWISS Airlines or support that cheeky name change to SWISS Chocolate, here’s what it’s like to fly SWISS Airbus A330 Business Class.

Check-in, lounge and boarding

For me, this journey begins in Hamburg. I’ve just finished up at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) and World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE). Now, I need to whisk my way to Dubai in time for an interview with the CEO, President and Executive Vice President of Delta Air Lines the next afternoon. That leads straight into the International Air Transport Association (IATA) AGM. Safe to say, ‘hectic’ doesn’t begin to describe that fortnight!

With so much happening all at once – and so much to do in between – it’s one of those times where Business Class is an actual ‘need’. Fortunately though, I have a trick up my sleeve that brings the journey in well under budget. The hack? Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program has a handy sweet spot when flying between Europe and the Middle East.

For just 33,500 KrisFlyer miles one-way (plus taxes, fees and charges), you can, in fact, fly Business Class. This even includes connecting flights, allowing me to book Zurich to Dubai, plus Hamburg to Zurich, for no extra miles. To put that into perspective, a one-way Emirates flight from Hamburg to Dubai costs 30,200 Qantas Points in Economy. In Business Class, it’d be 61,200 Qantas Points. But here I am, spending just 33,500 KrisFlyer miles to fly up front on Star Alliance member SWISS. It’s an amazing deal.

I check-in for a connecting flight at Hamburg Airport and get my bag tagged through.

I also receive both boarding passes at check-in.

It’s a rush to make my connection, but I always knew it’d be tight. I make it… just.

It’s a rainy day in Zurich. We’re bound for Dubai – and a little more sunshine.

My flights are both on one ticket, so I receive both boarding passes in Hamburg. My bag is also tagged through to Dubai. This transit in Zurich is a little tight – the only option when booking my reward flights – so there’s no time for a lounge. I have a brief moment during my literal one hour in Switzerland to pick up a few bites of Swiss chocolate, and it’s time to board.

SWISS Business Class seating on the Airbus A330

On the Airbus A330, the seating layout in SWISS Business Class alternates between 1-2-1 and 2-2-1. It’s a design that encompasses 15 solo seats, enjoying window views along with direct and uninterrupted aisle access. There are 20 further seats in the centre pairs, with each of those seats similarly uninhibited with aisle access. This leaves only five pairs of chairs by the windows, where one passenger in each pair needs to step past their seatmate to egress.

Certainly, if you’re booking last minute as a solo flyer and those window-side pairs are all that’s available, you mightn’t be too happy. But when travelling as a couple, the design allows you to sit together without sacrificing access to outside light and direct views. That’s often a compromise that has to be struck when flying up front, as to sit together, windowless seats in the centre are often the only option.

Being a (solo) business trip for me, I opt for one of those solo window seats. I pick 14K for privacy, as it’s away from the aisle and also at the very back of the cabin, which means very few people walk past after boarding is complete. While it takes slightly longer at mealtime, it’s a great pick and I would happily sit here again.

Business Class alternates between 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 on this aircraft.

I plan ahead and choose a solo seat over by the window.

It may not be one of the ‘throne’ seats over on the other side, but this one doesn’t cost an extra fee.

I always appreciate when airlines go to the effort to make cabins more welcoming.

The seat has two coat hooks, but the crew will also hang your jacket.

Massage? Yes please!

I mainly spend this flight working, but still put the seat flat for a few moments to enjoy.

This layout allows couples to sit together while still enjoying a window view.

Stretch out and relax. You’re flying Business Class.

To be fair, this isn’t the most modern Business Class seat, but it still ticks the boxes. When you want to doze, it goes fully flat. When you want to work, there’s power for your devices and a shelf to rest them on when you’re eating or relaxing. There’s also a coat hanger ready and waiting upon boarding for my jacket, which is whisked into the closet. The seat’s massage mode also makes for some light relaxation in between busy conferences.

Food and beverage in SWISS Airbus A330 Business Class

I’ve made a dash between gates to make this SWISS Airbus A330 Business Class flight on a tight connection. I just make it by the time boarding starts, so I take the chance to enjoy a non-alcoholic refreshment before departure. I’m quite partial to the Swiss-made Appenzell Flauder elderflower soft drink, which gets my vote.

I enjoy a second after take-off. But I’m also in the mood for a white wine, so I pair that second serve of Flauder with a glass of 2023 Weingut Heidelberg Lampert’s Swiss Cuvée Blanc. It comes with a helping of warmed nuts as we get underway.

Lunch

Continuing with the Swiss theme, I begin the meal with Bündnerfleisch (air dried meat carpaccio). It’s served with a barley and herb salad. There’s also a dropper filled with lingonberry vinaigrette to drench to taste. This meal comes from Sandro Steingruber, Executive Chef of Restaurant Vista – named ‘best golf restaurant’ by Gault Millau (French restaurant guide).

For the main, I see a dish listed on the menu from Hiltl. That restaurant holds the Guinness World Record as the longest continuously operating vegetarian restaurant in the world, opened back in 1898. The dish in question is an asparagus fricassée. Served with fried potatoes, rosemary, cherry tomatoes and a mascarpone sauce, it’s simply scrumptious.

If you see Appenzell Flauder elderflower on your flight, don’t pass it up!

Swiss soft drink and Swiss wine – perfect, when sipped separately.

It’s not every day that you see Bündnerfleisch on the inflight menu. It’s a real treat!

A vegetarian dish designed by the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant. As goes without saying, it’s terrific.

Lattes on SWISS are a little frothy for my tastes. I try again later in the flight for something else.

It’s been a long day of travel so far, so I pause the service for a moment as I sip a latte. It’s frothier than expected, but satisfies my need for caffeine.

Dessert and snacks

On the whole, it’s great to see SWISS embodying its namesake with a focus on food and wine from the airline’s home country. But, as we all know, Switzerland is also famous for its chocolate – and when flying SWISS Business Class on the Airbus A330, travellers certainly aren’t left wanting.

With that in mind, chocolate cake for dessert is a must. To balance out the chocolate, it’s accompanied by cherries drizzled with Röteli (a cherry liqueur). There’s also a little vanilla mascarpone cream, and altogether, it’s delish.

There’s a reprieve from sweets for a while, allowing me to tackle some uninterrupted work. But later in the flight, crew offer a very welcome (and on-theme) snack: Mövenpick crème brûlée ice cream. After the earlier plated desert, the packaged treat is more than enough.

But, this is SWISS Chocolate SWISS Airlines – we’re not done with the sweets. A personal bowl of Lindt makes an appearance later on, for snacking. Yum.

See, you really could call this airline SWISS Chocolate.

Don’t plan on sticking to your diet on this flight.

A personal bowl of Lindt chocolate. Now we’re talking!

Espresso with milk on the side is a much better order on these planes than a ‘latte’.

Just when you think the service has finished, crew move through the cabin to offer one final taste of Switzerland.

After the earlier frothiness of the latte, I try my hand at an espresso instead with milk on the side – much better. Just when I think we’re done on the chocolate front, a basket comes around to offer even more just before we land. This flight really is a chocolate lover’s delight! In a way, I’m glad this isn’t a route that I fly regularly. It’s great for a treat, but doing flights like this again and again wouldn’t be good for the waistline.

Entertainment in SWISS Business Class on the Airbus A330

For me, this journey in SWISS Airbus A330 Business Class is all about getting work done during a busy week. Thanks to the very usable inflight WiFi, I’m able to do exactly that. I purchase a four-hour pass for CHF 25 (about AU$43), and while it’s a tad expensive, it delivers. A full flight pass sells for CHF 35 (~AU$60.50), but given the cost, I rationalise that four hours is enough on this 6.5-hour jaunt, especially given the time taken out by inflight dining.

If you don’t want to pay to get online, SWISS offers free app-based inflight messaging for all passengers for the entire journey. There’s also plenty to watch on the inflight entertainment. The seatback screen is a little small and not as crisp as newer, more modern screens – but it at least tilts downward to make viewing easier if your seat is in bed mode.

The seat’s biggest detractor is the TV screen. It’s far from the largest or sharpest.

The screen tilts down to face you when you’re fully flat, which makes content more viewable.

Today’s route from Switzerland to the United Arab Emirates.

Other than the airport, this is the only glimpse I get of Switzerland this time.

Ahh, there’s the sun. Hiding in the Middle East.

Knowing that my clothes will be accompanying me for my meetings makes the journey less stressful.

This journey takes us out of Switzerland on a rainy (and bumpy) day, but the Middle East brings more sunlight. I’m lucky that along with choosing one of the best physical seats in the cabin, my place also provides a great view of the sunset – visible towards Kuwait.

I also appreciate the app-based baggage tracking available when flying on SWISS. Short connections and delayed baggage go hand-in-hand, so there was a bit of a panic as to whether my luggage would make it along. After all, I needed my suits and shoes for the meetings and events in Dubai… but I needn’t panic. A quick check of the SWISS app confirms that not only had my bag arrived in Zurich from Hamburg, but that it had also made it onto my Dubai-bound flight. Bliss.

The verdict

Overall, my experience with SWISS is a good one. Cabin crew are polite and efficient, with a splash of Germanic formality reflecting the primary language of the flight’s origin, Zurich. I also appreciate how easy this flight is to book using miles – particularly given the sweet spot that exists within KrisFlyer.

While this route doesn’t feature SWISS’ newest Business Class seat, the product still ticks most of the boxes. Especially so for those intent on working or sleeping. Travellers mostly hoping to watch movies from gate to gate might long for a better (and larger) entertainment screen, though.

SWISS also competes with Emirates between Zurich and Dubai. SWISS flies daily with an Airbus A330. Emirates, on the other hand, is double-daily – split between a daily Airbus A380 and a daily Boeing 777 flight. Emirates’ superjumbo service offers an inflight lounge to Business Class flyers – an amenity not found on SWISS. Complimentary Chauffeur Drive is also included for travellers on eligible paid Emirates Business Class fares.

But for those spending points, Chauffeur Drive is irrelevant as it’s not available when booking a reward seat. In fact, the sweet spot provided for booking SWISS via KrisFlyer tilts points-based bookings in SWISS’ favour. While it might not have all the bells and whistles of its competitor, it’s still an extremely solid offering. Especially when you factor in the strong focus on Swiss food and beverages.

There’s one more competitor between Zurich and Dubai. That’s Beond Airlines, a new entrant to the market – and one that serves Dubai World Central Airport (DWC) rather than Dubai International (DXB). The difference? DXB is roughly 10-15 minutes by car from Dubai Mall. DWC is 35-40 minutes: not to mention that Beond doesn’t have any points partnerships relevant to Australians.

In my book, SWISS is the smartest play on this route – especially when you have KrisFlyer miles to spend.

Also read: How Amex cards can unlock Lufthansa Business and Senator lounges

All photography by Chris Chamberlin, who travelled at Point Hacks’ expense using points converted from the company’s PayRewards account to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.