rorschi

As agreed on the http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...ng-thread.html, you can find here the similar LX-seating thread.

A few notices:

-On all single-aisle-aircraft, there is only one cabin configuration and the class divider is movable. As of March 1st, 2010, empty middle seats are a published benefit on all European flights:

-Equipment-changes can occur any time on any route, except on the "pure" A340-300 longhauls (LAX, GRU/SCL, JNB, HKG, BKK/SIN and NRT -and soon PVG).

-Most informations below are based on my subjective experiences. The planes/cabins which I did not yet try out have a "notice".

-Three regular wetlease-operators for LX are mentioned as well: Darwin, Contact Air and Helvetic. The Privatair-737 is not (yet) on the list, as I have never flown on this bird and have no seatmap. Any help would be appreciated.

Feel free to add your comments on this thread!

rorschi

Fokker 100
operated by Helvetic (4 aircraft) on several European routes
Layout: Helvetic

Seating is 2+3. Middle seats are blocked in C-Class at the right hand side of the cabin.

Seats are being occupied as following:

C-Class: AB - D|F
Y-Class: AB - DEF

C/Y: 1-20, no cabin divider.

Exit rows:

Helvetic:
12+13 (not yet tried out whether 11+12 are reclinable or not).



Best seats:
rows 2-5 extra legspace

Avoid:
20: next to the engines

Embraer E190

operated by Helvetic on several European routes.
Seatmap not yet known.
Business Class layout not yet known (whether all seats will be occupied or not).

Avro RJ100
operated by Swiss Global Airlines.

Planes with refurbished SWISS-Layout (recaro-seats):

Seating is 2+3. Middle seats are blocked in C-Class at the right hand side of the cabin.

Seats are being occupied as following:

C-Class: AB - D|F
Y-Class: AB - DEF
C/Y: 1-21, cabin divider movable

There is more legroom in rows 2-6

Beware: Rows 8...12 have smaller overhead-bins.

Avoid:
row 1: Limited legroom
row 7: No window
row 20 DEF: No recline, limited legroom
row 21 AB: No recline, limited legroom

A319
with refurbished SWISS-Layout (recaro-seats):

Seating is 3+3. Middle seats are blocked in C-Class.

C/Y: 1-16/29-36, cabin divider movable.

Bulkhead-seats (legroom OK): Row 1
Exit-row: 10
No recline: Window-seats in row 9

A320

Planes with refurbished SWISS-Layout (recaro-seats), "LH-style NEK" (HB-JLP/JLQ) and "SWISS SUN-charter"-Layout: (HB-IJU/V/W)- 168 seats

Seating is 3+3. Middle seats are blocked in C-Class.

C/Y: 1-17/25-36, cabin divider movable.

Bulkhead-seats (legroom OK): Row 1
Exit-rows: 11+12

No recline: Window-seats in rows 10+11

Planes with "NEK 2.0" (180 Seats)

Seating is 3+3. Middle seats are blocked in C-Class.
Seatmap not yet known.

More information see here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23936712-post22.html

First 4 rows 32"
5th row 31"
Following 4 rows 30"
1st exit row 34"
2nd exit row 33"
Following 15 rows 29"
Last 3 rows 28

A321
Planes with refurbished SWISS-Layout (200 recaro-seats):

Seating is 3+3. Middle seats are blocked in C-Class.

Seats 1B/E, 2B/E, 3B/E and 4E cannot be occupied and have no seatbelts - for not exceeding a number of 200 seats.

C/Y: 1-37, cabin divider movable.

Bulkhead-seats: Row 1
Exit-rows-seats with more legroom: 10BCDE, 11AF, 25BCDE, 26AF

No recline: Rows 9 and 24

Avoid: Rows 9 (no window and no recline) and 37 (next to the lav)

Planes with "NEK 2.0" (220 Seats)

Seating is 3+3. Middle seats are blocked in C-Class.
Seatmap not yet known.
Inputs concerning legroom in different rows are appreciated.



A330-300

(not yet tried out, source: LX-seatmap and this thread). Please feel free to add your comments!

F: 1,2 C: 4-5/6-14 Y: 22-45

F: Layout 1-2-1
1 passenger can sit on the footrest (ottoman) for a tête-à-tête-dinner.

C: Layout 1-2-1 (A|DG|K, even rows except row 14) or 2-2-1 (AB|DG|K, odd rows + row 14), full flat seats, horizontal
Single seats with one table (either at left or at right side): All right hand-window-seats (K)
Single seats with one table at each side: All pair left hand-window-seats except row 14 (4A, 6A, 8A, 10A, 12A)
Avoid: Row 5 (next to the galley), row 14 (in front of the baby-bassinets in Y)


Y: layout 2-4-2
Best seats: 29ABJK (exit-row)




A340-300

new C-Class layout

F: 1,2 C: 4-5/6-11 Y: 23-45

F: Layout 1-2-1
1 passenger can sit on the footrest (ottoman) for a tête-à-tête-dinner.

C:(not yet tried out)

Please look at f4freeJunior's thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/11754919-post4.html

Y: layout 2-4-2 (not yet tried out, source: LX-seatmap).
Best seats: 30ABJK (exit-row)
Avoid: Row 23 (limited legroom), Row 28 (next to the lav's).

Boeing 777-300ER
operated by Swiss Global Airlines.

Not tried out. Inputs are appreciated.

Edit 08-dec-2007: Removed the Avro RJ85, as these aircraft were sold to Transwede.
Edit 28-dec-2007: Corrected the A340 ("C: 4-5/6-11")
Edit 02-jan-2008: Corrected the A340 again (last row is 45).
Edit 31-mar-2008: Fokker 100 Contact Air ex-Germania added
Edit 23-apr-2008: Removed Airbus and AVRO with Swissair and Crossair/BA-Layouts
Edit 02-nov-2008: Finally tried out the last row on the AVRO...
Edit 21-apr-2009: added A330-300
Edit 07-mar-2010: Blocked middle seats in short haul C now a published benefit
Edit 01-mar-2011: Reference to the "Master Thread new LX Eco Biz & First Class" concernig the A340-300
Edit 04-sep-2011: Removed A330-200 and A340-300 with old C-Class-layout
Edit 26-nov-2014: Removed Saab 2000 to archive, see comments on the last post concerning Dash8-400 and A320 with "NEK 2.0".
Edit 02-jan-2015: Added E190 and A320/A321 with "NEK 2.0"
Edit 03-mar-2016: Added 777-300ER, renamed "Swiss European" into "Swiss Global".

rorschi

Archive:

Saab 2000
operated by Darwin mainly on ZRH-LUG
Layout: Crossair

Seating is 1+2.

C/Y: 1-18, no cabin divider.
Exit row: 10
No recline: rows 9 and 18

Best seats:
any single seat on the left hand side (...A)

Avro RJ85
operated by Swiss European. Will leave the fleet in 2007 (done...)
Layout: Crossair

Seating is 2+3. Middle seats are not blocked in C-Class

C/Y: 1-18, cabin divider movable

Best seats:
rows 2-6: extra legspace

Beware: Row 5 has one window missing. Slightly limited view. Rows 7...10 have smaller overhead-bins.

Avoid:
row 1: Limited legroom
17 D/E/F: Limited legroom, no recline
18 A/B: Limited legroom, no recline

Avro RJ100operated by Swiss European.
Planes with Crossair-Layout:
Notice: Aircraft interiour is being changed until 2008, see below
Seating is 2+3. Middle seats are not blocked in C-Class

C/Y: 1-21, cabin divider movable

Best seats:
rows 2-6: extra legspace

Beware: Rows 8...12 have smaller overhead-bins.

Bad seats:
row 1: Limited legroom
row 7: No window
20 D/E/F: Limited legroom, no recline
21 A/B: Limited legroom, no recline


Planes with British Airways Layout:
Notice: Aircraft interiour is being changed until 2008, see below
Seating is 3+3.

Cabin divider movable

Notice: Rows 1-12 are converted into 3+2 (ABC D|F). E seats are narrowed and are not usable, while the other seats are broadened. B-seats can be occupied in C-Class.

Beware: Rows 8...12 have smaller overhead-bins.

Worst seats:
row 1: Limited legroom
row 7: No window

Rows in the back: Not yet tried out

A320

Planes with Swissair-Layout:
Notice: Aircraft interiour is being changed until 2008, see below

C/Y: 1-16, Y:23-33, cabin divider movable.

C-Class is converted into 2+3 (A|C DEF) on international routes, except LHR. B seats are narrowed and not usable, while the other seats are broadened.
First row in Y-class: B seats are narrowed and not usable, while A+C are broadened.

Bulkhead-seats (legroom OK): 1ABC, 2DEF
Exit-rows: 10+11
No recline: Window-seats in rows 9+10

A321

Planes with Swissair-Layout:
Notice: Aircraft interiour is being changed until 2008, see below

C/Y: 1-17 Y: 18-33

C-Class is converted into 2+3 (A|C DEF) on international routes, except LHR. B seats are narrowed and not usable, while the other seats are broadened.
First row in Y-class: B seats are narrowed and not usable, while A+C are broadened.

Bulkhead-seats (legroom OK): 1ABC, 2DEF
Exit-rows: 9+23 (row 23 has no windows)
Avoid: Row 8: No windows
No recline: 8AF / 22AF

General:
Phrase
-The seating on LX's shorthaul-C isn't as consistent as on LH. On domestic routes (ZRH-GVA and ZRH-BSL) and on some other short-distance flights, all seats can be occupied. Same applies for the AVRO and Fokker-operated flights.
no longer valid as of March 1st, 2010

A330-200

3-class-version
Notice: Will be replaced by new A330-300 and leave the fleet until 2011.

F: 1-3, C: 8-15, Y: 22-42

F: Layout 1-2-1
1 passenger can sit on the footrest (ottoman) for a tête-à-tête-dinner.
Avoid: Row 3 (next to the galley)

C: Layout 2-2-2, old style seats
Avoid: Row 15 (in front of the baby-bassinets in Y)

Y: layout 2-4-2
Best seats: 28ABJK (exit-row)
Avoid: Row 22 (limited legroom), Row 25 (next to the lav's).


2-class-version ex-Swissair
Notice: Will be replaced by new A330-300 and leave the fleet until 2011.

C: 7-10, 11-15, Y: 17-42


C: Layout 2-2-2, old style seats

Avoid: Row 10 (in front of the galley), Row 15 (in front of the baby-bassinets in Y)

Y: layout 2-4-2
Best seats: 28ABJK (exit-row)
Avoid: Row 17 (limited legroom), Row 25 (next to the lav's).



2-class-version ex-Sabena/LH
Notice: Will be replaced by new A330-300 and leave the fleet until 2011.

C: 7-10, 11-14, Y: 17-41


C: Layout 2-2-2, old style seats

Avoid: Row 10 (in front of the galley), Row 14 (in front of the baby-bassinets in Y)

Y: layout 2-4-2 (not yet tried out, source: LX-seatmap).
Best seats: 28ABJK (exit-row)
Avoid: 16DFG and 17ABJK (limited legroom), Row 26 (next to the lav's).

The last flight of an A330-200 was on Sep. 2nd, 2011 (while HB-IQC did not yet left the fleet).

behuman

Great job to list all the LX inconsistencies showing especially their lack of attention towards their C class passengers !

About the Swiss domestic 3+3 layout and the cramped Avros all is clear, BUT where do you have the information concerning the LHR route from ?

I checked seatmaps on www.expertflyer.com and the B and E seats are blocked as usual. Also on the refurbished A321 (often found on this route) it would be impossible to seat 6 abreast as the middle seat of the first three rows of this aircraft have been simply removed and replaced by a hard surface (you can not site there, there are no seat belts too). The reason for this is to limit the maximum passenger capacity in a way to operate the plane with one FA less.

rorschi

This happened to several flyertalkers in the past, and was confirmed at our Q&A-session at ZRH's DO last sunday. On the refurbished A321 it's of course not possible to occupy the middle seats on rows 1-3 (and row 4 on the right side).

ajamieson

Very useful thread, thank you ^

Is it possible to pre-assign seats with LX, by telephone or through a LX ticket desk?

SmilingBoy

yes, but you need to be SEN/HON for exit row (and I think for some "premium" seats that are not actually anything special, too).

Thanks, rorschi, for this thread! ^

SmilingBoy.

LAX21

Thanks for the great compilation ^

One small note - on the 343 C is actually 4-11 with rows 4 and 5 located in the "mini cabin" and usually reserved/blocked just for top elites.

livefromtuscany

Very nice overview indeed - SWISS' product (especially in C-class) is quite a mess with all those different seating arrangments...

I do hope that they start blocking the middle seat in the AVROs sooner or later. On a side note, a decision regarding the renewal of the Swiss European fleet can be expected in the coming months. More and more internal rumours suggest that the AVROS will indeed be replaced by Embraers.

Regarding the ex-Sabena A330s, (HB-IQQ/IQR), they will actually be phased out in Spring 2008 already, with the introduction of the additional A340s (coming from OS and AC).

chumbawumba

Rorschi, good job.

rorschi

Hello,

today I got a few PM's with some more comments - thanks! Will "update" the 2nd post later this week.

Concerning the ASR (and the priority-seating for SEN's/HON's), I have to admit that I'm not 100% sure about the exact rule...

AFAIK, all seats in all classes can be preassigned by the Reservation-centre - theoretically. But: Low fare-classes in Economy seem to be excluded for non-status-passengers.

Does somebody know if this applies also for longhauls, and if there are different rules in this topic for FTL's/other *G than for SEN's/HON's?

And just another subjective side-note: While the European C-Class is indeed sometimes "a bit" inconsistent, the recaro-seats were a BIG improvement in Eco - on all planes.

So long for today!

SmilingBoy

The only thing I know for sure that FTL cannot assign exit row in long haul, and SEN can.

SmilingBoy.

totti

Great job rorschi! Thanks for your efforts.

Just some comments on prefered seats:
on both 332 and 343 I prefer row two in the F cabin. The cabin feels much more spacious compared to row 1.

Jetstreamer

I tried to pre-reserve 7K on the A340 for a ZRH-SCL trip and was told it was not possible as it is a "facility seat". Is this true and what is a facility seat? (pilot rest maybe?)

Another question, the window seats in rows 4-6 are blocked. What kind of status do you need to grab one of these? I guess *G isn't enough? Also I assume the block is lifted once OLCI opens?

rob_sad

What is wrong with seating near galley (we have seats 10 J,K (A332 2c) for our next flight) ?
Is it beter to take row10 in front bussiness cabin or somewhere in rear business cabin (A332 2c)?

Also there is missing window in row12 so it's beter to avoid window seats.

Thanks (I'm new here)
Robert