With all the complaints here about Air France I thought I would try someone else for my February trip to China. For the first time in 18 months, (16 long haul returns), I defected from Sky Team to try Lufthansa and Swiss in C.

Below is a comparison between the Swiss and Air France.


Check-in
Check-in at HKG with Air France is far more efficient than with Swiss. My Swiss check-in took nearly 35 minutes. I had arrived too early, it seems, and only one desk was open. By contrast, the AF flight, which leaves about twenty minutes before LX, had approximately nine check-in desks open. By the time I had finished check-in, a queue of twenty people had gathered – many of them travelling in business.

A simple double queue for check-in (Econ and Business) would have solved this issue.

AF 4/5 LX 1/5

Lounges
In Hong Kong LX uses the excellent Cathy Pacific lounge, whilst AF uses a dated contract lounge.

The Air France lounge in CDG is more comfortable than the main LX senator lounge in Zurich. At Zurich, there are only two showers, resulting in a wait to use them. They take your boarding pass and give you a little key to use. No amenity kits were available in Zurich, and you had to ask for individual items like a razor. In Paris, there are plenty of showers, and a proper amenity kit, including deodorant and perfume. Breakfast in CDG is also better than at ZRH.

AF 4/5 LX 4/5

Seating
The new Swiss business class seat is far superior to AF. True flat beds are a pleasure in comparison to the angled AF bed. Although the LX bed is rather narrow, my near 9 hours sleep on LX was as good a night’s sleep one can expect on an aircraft. The LX seat has also a great shelf for storing your IPod and book and plenty of personal space. No middle seat on LX is also a strong selling point.

AF 2/5 LX 4/5

Amenity Kit
I thought the Air France kit was sparse, but the LX kit was even emptier with no creams nor lip balm offered. A real feeling of penny pinching going on with the amenities kit from Swiss. I few out to China on with Air China which offers a L’occitane kit, and sleep suit in Business class. One thing Swiss does correctly is provide cream coloured socks – if anyone has accidently washed the brown Air France socks with other clothes, they will have noticed they aren’t colour safe.

AF 2/5 LX 1/5

Service
I thought that the Swiss business class service was really poor. Swiss cabin crew are nowhere near as friendly as Air France, nor are they as efficient. There was no welcome on-board, my menu was delivered a good 10 minutes later than my fellow seat mate, my first (in-flight) drink was delivered when I had finished my starter and cheese and the cabin was left a mess during the flight, with no attempt to remove the plastic covers or fallen napkins. I left the flight with no recollection of having being served.

AF 4/5 LX 1/5

Dining
Alongside the poor service, the meals were substandard in comparison to Air France. There was no pre dinner drink or snacks, no starter choice, only 3 main course choices, and no desert choice.

Cheese was served with the starter, and with service being so slow, I had finished the starter and the tasty cheese prior to the starter being taken away. The main course (lamb) was insubstantial and not tasty. Service was so slow that I declined dessert, but was prompted to take it by the crew member – “look, it’s so small” – yes it was – a tiny two mouthful dessert – with no choice. Air France offers three deserts – Ice Cream or sorbet, trio of cakes and fruit – with many taking all three.

In comparison to the usual Air France meal quality and choice offered (including the expedited late night departure meals that eliminate the amuse bouche, and pre meal drink), the Swiss main meal offering was very poor in comparison.

One thing that really surprised me was the choice of water onboard – nothing less than Poland spring – which is just treated tap water if I correctly recall. Breakfast on Swiss is very similar to Air France – choice of cold meats or scrambled egg. However they serve it buffet style, and as I was close to the end of the service, only a few leftover cold meats were left – which looked very unappetizing.

AF 4/5 LX 1/5

Transit

Surprisingly, there was no onboard onward gate information given for the LX arrival into ZRH, which is always offered by AF. I know many would disagree with this and maybe because I am used to CDG, but I found ZRH less transit friendly for non Schengen to non Schengen flights than a similar transit in CDG 2 (EF). Cow moos on the transit train in ZRH are a real Swiss welcome I assume!
AF 5/5 LX 4/5

Overall
The Swiss service was only so-so. I had high expectations, and excluding the seat, a lack-lustre product poorly served was presented. If Swiss believes that a new seat alone gives them the right to penny pinch the rest of the service offering they are mistaken. Whilst the hard product was excellent, the Air France soft product is far superior. It’s back to Air France for me.

Overall score:
Air France 4 out 5
Swiss 3 out of 5