Swiss International Airlines - A340 and New First

Any news on what will be the first A340 with new First? Looks like Swiss is enjoying a lot more bookings on routes where they operate new F (or have lost less business than competitors). Hence it seems to make sense to speed up the roll-out...

Ahem - if you would have looked a few post down on the first page (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/swiss-international-airlines/988001-a340-new-c-f.html)....

Cheers

Thomas

Ahem - if you would have looked a few post down on the first page (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/swiss-international-airlines/988001-a340-new-c-f.html)....

Cheers

Thomas

That link tells me that one aircraft will be refurbished in September - and First Class will be untouched... Question still to be answered... :-)

Question still to be answered...But it is answered, in that thread where it very clearly says there are currently no plans to refurb F on the A340's,

It's interesting to note that on their website (http://www.swiss.com/web/EN/services/on_board/swiss_business/Pages/swiss_business_intercontinental.aspx) SWISS states:

Refurbishment of SWISS Business on our A340 starts in late 2009 and will be completed by 2011

but there's no mention of any refurbishment of First Class on A340 on the equivalent page (http://www.swiss.com/web/EN/services/on_board/Pages/swiss_first.aspx).

The virtual view of the First Class and the First Class brochure still feature the old First Class seats on A340 which might suggest that they are here to stay.

The virtual view of the First Class and the First Class brochure still feature the old First Class seats on A340 which might suggest that they are here to stay.

It is so sad that we will not enjoy new LX amazing first class suite on the very long flights to BKK, HKG and NRT and PVG :mad:

I always ask myself were LX engineers so stupid not to figure out that the new suites will not fit into the A340 when they ordered them ?

It is so sad that we will not enjoy new LX amazing first class suite on the very long flights to BKK, HKG and NRT and PVG

And GRU :td:

I don't think that the old cabin matters too much as far as most regular F travellers are concerned. My flight to LAX was 8/8 even with the old seats, and the MdC on my flight told me that she generally hasn't seen that much of a drop in F loads considering the recession. (she had not yet flown the A333)

If LH had announced a new F seat and were installing it slowly, I could imagine people really making an effort to fly the new seat since the previous one is really quite antique. But the current LX F seat is still very competitive and actually has many strong points even compared to the latest-gen F seats on some airlines (e.g. the huge table, and the moveable ottoman allowing face to face dining).

I don't think that the old cabin matters too much as far as most regular F travellers are concerned. My flight to LAX was 8/8 even with the old seats, and the MdC on my flight told me that she generally hasn't seen that much of a drop in F loads considering the recession. (she had not yet flown the A333)

If LH had announced a new F seat and were installing it slowly, I could imagine people really making an effort to fly the new seat since the previous one is really quite antique. But the current LX F seat is still very competitive and actually has many strong points even compared to the latest-gen F seats on some airlines (e.g. the huge table, and the moveable ottoman allowing face to face dining).

Absolutely agree. Flew LAX-ZRH 2 days ago and the F Cabin was 7/8 until CI and went out 8/8. Swiss has no problem with the current (I refuse to call it old) F and I still consider it one of the top products above the clouds, if not the top product !

It is so sad that we will not enjoy new LX amazing first class suite on the very long flights to BKK, HKG and NRT and PVG :mad:

I always ask myself were LX engineers so stupid not to figure out that the new suites will not fit into the A340 when they ordered them ?

It really dosn't make any sense that the most advanced F product is not used on the longest routes. Well the new F can be fited in to the a343's LX will jsut need to make adjustments to the F Class galley. THe seats and the refit of the cabin is very costly so I am still very optimistic that F and Y will be upgraded on the A343's however possibly first in 2 years instead of now.

It really dosn't make any sense that the most advanced F product is not used on the longest routes.

I do agree unless LX top management are so stupid to not figure out that fact :mad:

I do agree unless LX top management are so stupid to not figure out that fact :mad:

they better have and just postponed the upgrade due to the economic crisis and wait until business will get better again.

they better have and just postponed the upgrade due to the economic crisis and wait until business will get better again. Are you talking about upgrading the F seat or also about refetting the A340 with the new C-seats? I thought the first refitted A340 is just delayed by one month due to technical difficulties with the C-seat?

Flew First on 343 yesterday (JNB-ZRH) and I agree that the current product is still very good. Not quite SQ, but miles better than LH. MdC told me that 343 will only get refurb in H2/2011, but that they will of course be refurbished.

LX is not like EK, where you have like half a dozen different seat specs in F and C and often do not know what you will end up with on the day!