Dualmonitors

On Swiss International Airlines' LX023 JFK-GVA Business Class, Seat 4A, may I ask what the quality of the flight and comfort please?

Their First Class is much more costly, and the next best is this Business Class and in that specific spot (just behind the First Class cabin but in the same section) for an extra charge.

I'm wondering if it's a big step down from various other First Class trips to Europe or is it "almost as good"?

I've never sat in a Swiss flight with those "put your legs in a hole under the seat in front of you" type of sleeping reclining seats.

Is their Business Class at all good or very good or close to First Class? Or is it a huge step down?

Thank you.

Yoshi212

The "Throne seat", which are the solo seats nickname on LX & OS, are preferred by some and not as liked by others. I prefer them for solo travel. You have easy aisle access and room on either side.
Your legs go into an area that doesn't quite "Swallow up" your feet nor legs. If you have large feet like myself you wiggle around until you find a comfortable angle and stick with it. I can say the same for most airline seats.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/...5902504794.jpg

Service will be a solid business class product with attentive but not invasive service. It won't quite comparable to an F product but it's a good experience.

MichielR

First is better than business. But this is a 7 hour overnight flight. I only sleep on such flights and while the F bed is larger than the C flat seat, the C seat (and especially 4A) is perfectly adequate for that purpose. No pyjamas in C though.

The other difference is ground service, no F check-in at JFK and no F lounge.

elitetraveler

LX has or until recently had an F/HON lounge @JFK - left when you walk in.

curt

Which you cannot use when flying C, unless you're HON.

elitetraveler

Understood, I was replying to a comment I read as saying there was no separate F lounge at JFK -

MichielR

You indeed misread my post. I pointed out the difference between F and C ground services when flying LX GVA-JFK.

For completeness and to avoid misunderstandings:

There is a F/HON lounge indeed with about 16 seats, apron view, bar, buffet and limited dinner service (a recent menu was posted in the menu thread). Access isfor F and HON, in practice LX pax only as they are in T4 and there is no terminal hopping at JFK

The F check-in is separate, immediately next to the entrance of T4. LX staff offer an escort to the TSA-pre checkpoint and a pick-up from the lounge is available on request.

worldclubber

C and F are two different ballgames, particularly concerning service on the ground and in the air, but it is a survivable step down, particularly for such a short flight. As a single traveler, the throne seats give you almost as much personal space as the F seats.

Dualmonitors

Thank you all for your valuable comments. Educational!

@worldclubber: your concise comments brought a smile to me. yes, C and F are indeed two different ballgames.

"survivable step down": so clear and concise that I cannot think of a better way to put it. Thx.

Net/net, as I didn't want to step up the price point to F class, and I didn't want to fly United Airlines, Swiss' Business Class is really the only doable alternative for me for a direct/non-stop from JFK-GVA. Furthermore, I thought that with that particular throne seat, it's about as quiet and comfortable as I'd be able to find so, under the circumstances, without stepping up more in terms of price point, a throne seat on Swiss from JFK-GVA is practically speaking, the best doable option.

Thank you all very much. What an invaluable group of experienced folks here.

worldclubber

Glad I could help.

Enjoy your throne! ^

Dualmonitors

Dear Gentlemen:

well, the time has come for me to fly my throne seat very soon.

as my LX23 flight departs at 7:25pm from JFK, non stop to Geneva, may i ask if Business Class will be served a full dinner? if the dinner is not optimal and not a real full dinner (in Business Class), would you suggest that i bring something to eat on board? or, they would serve a plentiful dinner that i would not need to bring anything to eat on board? i was thinking that if the dinner in Business Class were to be sub-optimal and small, i might have to bring a protein bar to get through it.

in my experience, Business Class dinners, in general, are plentiful, they are merely lacking in the luxury items that First Class offers, i.e. caviar, tete-de-cuvee champagnes, and fancy ice cream sundaes, maybe..

thank you again!

Yoshi212

@Dualmonitors
This info is about two years old but you'll see the general outline of what to expect
First Course
Seasonal salad with balsamic vinaigrette

Main Course
Roasted beef tenderloin with red wine sauce accompanied by baked potato, green beans and baby carrots
or
Grilled chicken breast in caramelized onion sauce with polenta and sugar snap peas
or
Seared halibut with herb beurre blanc accompanied by potatoes, broccolini and glazed baby carrots
or
Älper Macaroni — traditional Swiss macaroni gratin with cheese and potatoes

Cheese Course
Selection of Swiss and International Cheese

Dessert
Crème brûlée cheesecake with raspberry sauce
Swiss Chocolates

Breakfast
Passengers select from a menu of choices of cold and hot beverages with a choice of breads, pastries, yogurt and fruit prior to sleeping.

Bringing a snack bar with you isn't a bad idea in case you sleep through the morning service on such a relatively short flight.

NewbieRunner

They will serve a full dinner. Here’s the current business class menu on an evening flight ex-ORD. You can expect something similar. You will also be served breakfast before arrival.

Nic33

If you are hungry, you can ask for more, but the full menu is sufficient for an average eater. The "quicker option" is quite light on the other hand. Food is not the best, but still better than a protein bar or what was being served in 2001 a Space Odyssey.

Dualmonitors

Gentlemen:

very helpful, thank you!

the food in Business Class seems adequate for a plane ride. as you kind folks said, it's sufficient, likely no need for a protein bar though having one isn't a bad idea.

i'd think that in Business Class, if one asks for a little extra of something, they might have a cup of yogurt or similar, even a protein bar, though often, protein bars that we don't select ourselves with great care may have low protein content yet high sugar content. whereas one that i would bring would have say around 20 grams of protein yet around only 2-3 grams of sugar.

so, yes, you guys are correct: it is a good idea to bring one of our own protein bars.

thank you all again! this group is so incredibly helpful and a superb resource!