Trip Reports - New Swiss First on the ZRH-DXB route: a pic TR

I flew outbound on the A340 which featured the now ‘old’ style lounger seat in First, and flew back on the new A330-300 which featured the latest ‘suite’-style seat. The latter is now available on the ZRH-JFK and ZRH-DXB routes.
I have previously reported on the ZRH-DXB sector in F on LX so will mainly post pictures on this occasion. A few comments:
1) As usual the dedicated transfer from the FCL to E-Gates was organized way too early. I was asked to be at the reception at 1200 for a 1245 departure: I arrived at the gate at 1215 and boarding had not even started yet.
2) Load was 3/8 so service was attentive during the meal. However after it there was a 1-hour gap during which the cabin was completely unchecked, which was rather surprising.
3) With the shades up you cannot virtually see anything on the PTVs (not even the safety video) because of the bright glare. The maitre de cabine explained that they are aware of the problem and will address it, however didn’t they test it out before installing?
4) I feel more effort could have been put in the design of the single lavatory, which is cramped and not very comfortable
5) Salmon Balik has been replaced by Loch Fyne which was not served from the oval marble platter. It was OK but I hope LX will re-introduce Balik in the future.

Here are the pictures:

FCL in Zurich (buffet area)

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/FCL.jpg

View from FCL

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/FCLview.jpg

FCL room at the far end – much quieter but with fewer drinks and no food

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/FCLroom.jpg

Curtained off views

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/FCLroom2.jpg

Some lounge bites (bresaola and melon, sliced asparagus and salmon crepe) with rosé Champagne

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/FCLfood.jpg

Minivan transfer to E-Gates (was the only passenger but was not offered a limo, not sure why)

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/minivan.jpg

Pulling up at the E-Terminal from the runway underpass

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/transfer.jpg

Driving past SQ 77W about to push back

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/SQ77W.jpg

Boarding had not yet started

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/gate.jpg

The latest addition to the LX fleet: A330-300 HB-JHB ‘Sion’

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/sion.jpg

Only door 2L used

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/sion2.jpg

Its elder sibling: A330-200

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/A332.jpg

Cabin view from seat 2K

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/front.jpg

Compare it with the cabin view from seat 2K on the A340

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/A343.jpg

Gone is the alcove with the bar area, and so is the passage across in front of it. Passengers on the right hand side of the cabin now must walk through the galley to reach the restroom which is annoying

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/cabin.jpg

Seat console which is extracted from the armrest. 4 pre-set position buttons are located on the armrest

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/controls-1.jpg

Seat console is touch-screen. You can select the area of the seat you wish to adjust including the ottoman. The armrest can be lowered fully even with the seatback upright to increase seat width. There is a massage function too.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/controls2.jpg

The privacy screen controls.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/divider.jpg

The ottoman with built-in seatbelt.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/ottoman.jpg

The guest can adjust the ottoman using control bottons on the armest.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/ottoman3.jpg


(to be continued on the next post)

PTV screen. You can see there is some room on the side of the armest however I believe there is a metal grid for ventilation so storing items there may not be a good idea.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/screen.jpg

New graphics for the airshow map.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/airshow.jpg

Our route today (we ended up avoiding Iraq and overflying Iran)

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/route.jpg

The seat in the fully flat position. Even though it is slightly tilted, it is very comfortable.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/seat.jpg

Seat 2K.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/2K.jpg

The armest houses the remote for the PTV and also some lit storage space for personal items.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/remote.jpg

Pre-take off champagne.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/champagne-1.jpg

Amuse-bouche.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/amuse.jpg

Table setting.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/setting.jpg

Bread basket.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/bread.jpg

Hors d’oeuvre (salmon, scallop, pike perch, beef and cream cheese crepe)

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/starter.jpg

Salad

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/greens.jpg

Tomato consommé with basil ice cream and cheese breadstick.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/consomme.jpg

Beef main.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/beef.jpg

Beef main (I had asked the crew to have my beef medium-rare and this is what I got… I wish it had been taken out of the over 2 minutes earlier…) with the addition of fennel out of a choice of veggies

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/beef2.jpg

Cheese with pear bread and fruit

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/cheeses.jpg

Cake

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/cake2.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/cake1.jpg

Nespresso and Sprungli pralines

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/nespresso.jpg

Prior to arrival I was handed out a questionnaire (I gave good marks!). You can see the table is made of real wood, while the armest panel is wood-like plastic.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x206/marcobaghdad/arrival.jpg

Hope you enjoyed this TR.
Cheers,
Hilltopper.

Great picture report, thanks! Looks like Swiss sets the bar very high for first class. The food looks excellent. The seat looks like it might make you feel very enclosed though, was this the case?

Wirelessly posted (Palm TX: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D050; Blazer/4.3) 16;320x448)

Excellent Report !!!

Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences. Nice picturs. It must have been a very enjoyable ride.

Unfortunately I'll still geht the old seats on my next trip to NRT in 2 weeks. But even the "old" F is an excellent product ;).

Hi

Thanks for sharing. The first class of Swiss looks really nice :-)

the new LX F seat looks really nice. Good TR ^

Wow, that looks fantastic! Is the service/food only like this in the new F or is the old F also this good?

Great report, thanks!:)^

Can't wait to try LX new F on ORD-ZRH and ZRH-JFK in August.

Many thanks for the great report! The new F really looks elegant.

Great report and nice pictures.

The new F looks really great.

Thanks for sharing! Longing to try the new LX F.

Wirelessly posted (Palm TX: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D050; Blazer/4.3) 16;320x448)

Excellent Report !!!

I agree. I think he is doing great job for writing the trip reports. I'm glad that he is enjoyable the trip out of ZRH-DXB.

Very nice. Y is another story.

Thanks for this !

Something to look forward to once it is implemented on my routes :)

Cheers,
S

Thanks for sharing! Longing to try the new LX F.

Me too , great pics.

Appreciate this report - many thanks! I think I must try it some time... hopefully the new product will be on the YUL route soon.

Excellent trip report. I like how the styling of the new seats matches the lounge to create an impression of quiet Swiss efficiency. Swiss seem to be getting their end to end branding really sorted.

A question - any news on whether this seat will be the same as the new seat for Lufthansa F?