Swiss International Airlines review & opinions

NEWS: Swiss is rumoured to be axing its Paris route shortly.

Swiss International Air Lines (or in it's conventional name, just Swiss) is the principal grandfather airline of Switzerland operating scheduled services in Europe and to North America, South America, Africa and Asia.

The airline had a disastrous press in the early part of the new millennium, thanks to a spectacular crash that lead to it's bankruptcy. However the new version of Swiss continues to forge ahead, it still maintains a free food and bar policy even in economy, and - mainly due to its owner, Lufthansa - serves most major EU destinations at least once a day. It will never be at the forefront of service or quality longhaul, but does act as a flagbearer for Star Alliance operations at the heart of Europe. Or would do - if Switzerland would ever join (Europe, that is).

The airlines main international hub is at Zurich (at Zurich Kloten Airport), although it does have another much smaller hub at Geneva.

A full-service airline, the quality can bit a bit hit or miss: certainly in economy there are certainly better airlines. The soft product - such as the food and the service - can be better than you'd expect, but the hard product - the planes & seats - can be a bit random: often there is no way of knowing if you'll get a new plane with all the frills, or an older version with dodgy seats and entertainment. Up the pointy end things are much better, with a lot of investment by Swiss in seat design.

On board you can can very much feel as if you are flying on Lufthansa. There's a reason for that - the airline has very close links with its effective owner. Reviews and opinions are mixed about this takeover, and the loss of Swiss' own frequent flyer club was felt hard by loyal passengers who were forced into Lufthansa's Miles&More scheme (which Swiss flyers tend to call Miles&Less).

But all in all Swiss is certainly well worth trying, and do so with a certain clean efficiency that is the envy of airlines in less fortunate parts of the world.
Swiss RJ100 at Zurich in special "Shopping" livery

Swiss Air Classes, Seats and Fleet

On the A340's Swiss has made much of the fact that it is reducing by 5cm the thickness of the seat back. It argues that this translates into extra space for the passenger, and while you can't argue with the figures, the seats do feel very firm.

A330 at Zurich terminal E

Swiss International Airlines - Airbus A330/A340

There are 9 Airbus A330-200 and 9 Airbus A340-300 in the Swiss fleet.

Alas, as much as you try to like it, the Swiss cabin will never win any awards either for it's colour, style, or features.

First is of course up the front, where it should be. Seats are in a 1-2-1 pattern with an 83" pitch. The seat is accompanied by an ottoman on which you can rest your legs or invite someone else to join you. As a result the table is designed to accommodate two persons. There are just 2 rows of 8 seats in the A340, however the A330 when used with three classes has 3 rows, giving 12 seats.

A340 business class toilets

Business Class seats feature a 60" pitch (55" on the A330s) lie flat-ish (but with an angle of 13° - that is aligned to the position of an aircraft at cruise altitude). Seats are in a 2+2+2 format. They are in rows 6 to 11 in the A340, plus the perk of the special small cabin in rows 4 and 5. Regular passengers tend to ask for this mini cabin, as it is a lot quieter. In the A330 in three class format it is in rows 8 to 15, or in the two class in rows 7 to 15.

Economy is very much that - seats come in a 2+4+2 layout. It's got a 32" pitch, and not the slightest sign of any frills. In the A340 Row 30 is an exit, while in the A330 it is row 28. The A330 when operating with three classes has a special mini economy cabin in rows 22 to 24 - this is usually reserved for Senators, and people travelling without children. It is much quieter - but can seem crampt.

A320 at Zurich

Swiss Air Airbus A320/A321/A319

Swiss has a large fleet of the generic Airbus A320 type. There are 7 small A319, 14 A320 and just 4 of the large A321. All seats are in a 3+3 layout in business and economy, with a business class cabin which is changed in size by moving a curtain.

Airbus 320 business class seat

The Business Class seat is identical to the economy seat, both in pitch and in width, however if you are in business, and sit on the left, the centre seat is blocked off and the seat arms moved across to give a larger seat - accordingly it is well worth asking to sit in A or C in business. Seat pitch is 32 inches. All models have large 14 inch fold down LCD TV screen under the overhead lockers for both classes,.

There are fourteen A320 which seat 144, with the variable business class seats extending back as far as row 20, although in normal configuration they are only used with the first 3 rows as business class. Row 11 and row 12 are overwing emergency exits - if you ask to sit here, you will get 2 inches more legroom.

There are only four of the larger A321 which seat 181 and are comfortable and modern. Service can be a bit slow, with only a single isle for service. There are no overwing emergency exits, but there is a proper door at row 9 and row 23, so you can as much legroom as you want if you sit in the row behind it, however you do not get an sort of window, and you are seated next to a member of the cabin crew (in seat D). Row 6 also has a blanker at the window, so is to be avoided. This model has some of the largest loos on an Airbus, with 3 in a cluster at the back, and just one at the front.

There are seven of the rather squat A319s. This variant is smaller, and has only one overwing ejectable windows - sit here, in row 9, and you'll get 2 inches extra legroom.

RJ100 at Dusseldorf

Swiss RJ100/RJ85

Swiss has 20 RJ100s in the fleet, and 4 of the smaller RJ85s.

RJ100 business class seat

All seats are leather, and in a 2+3 layout, giving a slightly wider seat than other airlines which fly the RJs, and the overhead lockers are normal sized, except for the ones in rows 8 to 9 which are half sized. Seat pitch a decent 31". In-cabin engine-noise is another failing of the RJ, so prepare for your ears to bleed before you land.

Views of the ground are a strong point of the RJ, because of the high wing above the cabin, so no seats suffer a wing view. Row 5 gives you a lovely view of the engine cowling, but not much else, and row 7 gets a blanker in the window.

It is also worth noting that although beautiful, with great handling characterists, and it can take off from a handkerchief, the RJs are not the most reliable of aircraft. The older ones tend to go technical just because there is a little rain in the air.

RJ100 economy seats

Swiss onboard inflight experience

Your welcome onto Swiss is the blast of music the airline plays as you board. This can be a bit random - there is a corporate cassette that's got lots of good Swiss music - imagine the horror of cowbells and a soft rock style - but the cabin crew have a habit of playing their own music. So you can wander on to the sounds of everything from Kylie to a military march. Your mileage may vary.

For Long haul:
In Business you also get an amenities kit with socks, eyeshades, toothbrush, toothpaste, earplugs and breath-freshener. If you know to ask for them you can also get a razor, shoe horn, nail file, comb, needle and thread, lip balm, moisturiser, and mouthwash from the cabin crew. In the Swiss Business lavatory there are products from the Swiss company Tribol, with fragrances and hand cream.

In Economy shortly before landing there are hot towels - a perk left in economy with only a few other airlines like Singapore - and the usual miniature bar of Swiss chocolate.

For Short Haul:
In Business you will still be offered a pre-flight drink, even if the flight is short. This will just be water or orange juice. Once in the air service starts at the front on Airbus flights. Each passenger is asked what they want - and it is brought to them on a tray straight from the galley, with their requested drink. This means - particularly on short flights - you need to be at the front of cabin to enjoy your meal unless you like munching on the decent. There are no small bottles - all drinks come from large bottles in the galley - however you can ask for refils when your tray is taken away. There are no towels - it's on the tray. Logoed glass glasses are used.

In Economy there are the usual two trolleys - one has the limited food, and the one following it the round of drinks. You have to press the call button if you'd like any more to drink. Plastic glasses are used.

Swiss Air Inflight Entertainment

You will always get a seatback TV on a long-haul flight with Swiss International Airlines. Long haul in business with the Airbus aircraft gives you a 9" video screen - in economy it is 6.5".

The A330s have poorer entertainment - but better business facilities. If you want to watch a film, it is worth hunting out an A340.

A320 inflight entertaiment - the goodbye

On the Airbus A330 there are 7 movie and TV channels, plus the latest financial news - provided by UBS.

On an Airbus A340 there is full AVOD (AV on demand) with 35 video channels, 16 audio channels, and 10 games. You can start, pause, rewind or fast-forward. Plus there are two onboard cameras show you how the world looks up ahead and directly below the aircraft.

All seats in all classes have a telephone. On the A330s you can compose a text on your screen and send it as an e-mail, SMS or fax. The A330s also have laptop power at all seats (also in Business & First in the A340s).

On the Boeing BBJ you also get a library of DVDs at your seat.

Shorthaul there is no entertainment, however on Airbus aircraft the TV screens play continually, with adverts for flights and new routes. At Zurich there is a nice "Goodbye from Swiss" message.

Swiss Airlines the inflight magazine

Swiss Inflight Magazine

The Swiss Inflight Magazine is called, very blandly, the Swiss Magazine. It is rather thin, but very stylishly put together, with good content and some of the best photography of any inflight magazine in the world.

Content is in German, with English as the second language for all articles. The introduction is in English, with German, French, and Italian as secondary editorials. The front content page is purely in English. Further through the magazine, language tends to disintegrate: for example, on the page for charter holiday flights, it is purely in French & Spanish - but the bottom of the page with entertainment is just in German with English in a much smaller font. A bit of guesswork is needed to make sure you get what you want.

A very important page starts the information section at the back - a map of Zurich airport. You'll never find the VIP lounges without it.

The next page has radio channels, three pages of maps of destinations, and fleet statistics. Just before the final page is a charity article - which can make rather disturbing reading.

Swiss Routes

As a result of the addition of 2 Airbus 330 to the fleet from the end of 2006, Swiss will increase long haul service so that Zurich to New York and Zurich to Miami goes daily. Zurich to Riyadh then Jeddah increases 3 to 4 a week, and Zurich to Nairobi then Dar es salaam, and Zurich to São Paulo and Santiago increases 4 to 5 a week.

Zurich Swiss planes line up

Zürich (ZRH) is the main hub. From Zurich there are intercontinental flights to New York daily to JFK at 1000 (arriving 1240) and every day except Saturday to Newark at 1655 (arriving 2000). In the summer there is a third daily flight, leaving at 1300, arriving 1540. You can also connect to JFK via Geneva, or on the Business Jet. There is a daily flight to Boston at 1300 (arrives 1520), daily to Chicago at 1240, Los Angeles daily except Tuesday and Sunday at 1250, Miami daily except Tuesday and Thursday at 1350, and Montreal daily at 1255. There is a codeshare on United Airlines to Washington.

Swiss also has a new all-business-class flight from Zurich to Newark. It leaves at 16:45, arriving at 20:15, turning around in an hour, and getting back the next day at 11:30. It has lie-flat seats with a 60" pitch with six weekly flights using an extended range version of the Boeing Business Jet B737-800, with seating for 56 passengers.

Longhaul from Zurich Swiss fly to Bangkok once a day at 2230 (arriving at 1410 - there is also a Thai codeshare at 1330) and then onto Singapore every day except Monday, arriving 1830. Tokyo daily except Wednesday at 1300, São Paulo then onto Santiago de Chile daily except Tuesday and Friday at 2230, Mumbai daily at 1000, Riyadh on a Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 1245, Jeddah on a Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 1245, Johannesburg daily except Tuesday at 2235, Hong Kong daily at 2235, Tel Aviv daily at 0945, Tripoli 3 days a week, Dubai, and Cairo 5 times a week.

London Heathrow Swiss Airbus A320

From London Heathrow (LHR) there are flights to Zurich at 0620, 0840, 1350, 1715, 1835, 1945. Since BA axed their codeshare, there are no direct flights to Geneva.

From London City (LCY) there are flights to Zurich 0825, 1025, 1215, 1510, 1715, 1830, 1950. And flights to Geneva at 0825, 1300, 1730 and 1950 (all RJ85s except the 1950 which is an RJ100).

Airline schedules change regularly.

This information is intended as a guide, but for up to the minutes timetables, please consult Swiss.

From Zurich (ZRH) there is a connection to Dusseldorf at 0745, 1230, 1745 & 2040 (plus codeshares operated by Lufthansa at 0700, 0955, 1950 in an RJ).

From Geneva there is a daily flight to JFK at 1215. There is just one direct flight a day to Dusseldorf at 1940 (A codeshare operated by Lufthansa, in an RJ).

Around Europe, Swiss fly from Zurich to Amsterdam, Alicante, Athens, Basel, Barcelona, Belgrade, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Bucharest, Birmingham, Copenhagen Düsseldorf, Dublin Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Hanover Istanbul, Lisbon, Lugano, Luxemburg, Milan, Munich, Nuremberg, Nice, Paris, Prague, Rome, Madrid, Malaga, Manchester, Palma de Mallorca, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Thessaloniki, Vienna, and Warsaw.

Swiss Airlines frequent flyer scheme - Miles&More

Click here for the Star Alliance website

Miles&More is now Swiss' frequent flier programme, and is part of the Star Alliance. It is virtually the same as Lufthansa's & Austrian's Miles&More scheme, and replaces the old Swiss Circle frequent flier scheme, now that Swiss is part of the Star Alliance.

Miles&More, is also just like most of the rest in the Star Alliance. It is however quite hard to even get onto the bottom rung of the membership ladder - you have to fly a long haul flight, to even be allowed to join.

Miles&More - Earning Miles

Every mile flown counts as a mile for destination and status for the Miles&More scheme, at varying rates.

Zurich Swiss planes line up

Worldwide, First Class gets triple miles, Business Class earns double miles, Flexible Economy Class (B,Y) gets a 50% bonus, while Restricted Economy Class (S,W) earns 50% less miles.

Around Europe, there are fixed limits. Business Class has 2,000 miles, Economy earns 1,250 or 750 miles - or the really draconian 125 miles for T class.

A really nasty point is that your Executive Bonus is awarded on flights with Swiss, Austrian, Lauda, Lufthansa and United only. If you only fly Swiss occasionally, you may get miles for free flights, but you aren't going to earn any status, and climb up to silver or gold level.

The Executive miles you have earned between January 1 and December 31 of any given year add towards the status you get.

Miles&More Senator Welcome Pack

Note that if you fly on cheap Swiss economy tickets, Swiss-MilesandMore heavily reduces the number of miles you get, as does Lufthansa-Miles&More, but if you put the points on a bmi card, you get the full number of miles. Oddly, if you fly on a Lufthansa flight, bmi will give you discounted miles, but if you fly on an Swiss codeshare on the same flight, bmi will give you full miles. If you are trying this trick, it may be well worth while trying to book on an Swiss codeshare on Lufthansa metal.

Miles&More - Spending Miles

A flight around Europe costs 30,000 miles (45,000 in business). From Zurich to the US is 60,000 miles (90,000 in business), Asia is 80,000 (120,000 business), and Australia 100,000 (160,000 in business, 240,000 in first).

You can use your miles for upgrades, except of low-cost tickets (L & T around Europe, S & W around the world).

From Economy to Business around Europe costs 10,000 miles, to the US is 35,000, and Asia is 50,000 and Australia is 60,000.

Miles&More Frequent Flyer (Basic)

Once you have flown 3,000 miles, you will receive a regular Lufthansa Miles & More Card.

Miles&More Frequent Traveller (Silver)

Silver level can be achieved at 50,000 miles (or 40 Economy Class round-trips) in the previous calendar year.

You get access to the Swiss Frequent Traveller or Business Lounges all over the world, and check in at the Business Class counter, regardless of class of travel. There is also a 25% mileage bonus.

Miles&More Senator (Gold)

Miles&More Senator Card

Senator level can be achieved at 100,000 miles (or 30 Business Class / 60 Economy Class round-trips), although for residents of Austria it's 150,000 miles or 120 trips. It is (uniquely) valid for two years. To renew it you then need to fly another 150,000 (or 100,000) miles in the two years before your card expires.

Berlin Tegel Swiss A320

It is well worth while getting to this level. There is Check-in at a Swiss First Class or Star Alliance Gold Counter, regardless of fare paid. Access to the worldwide Austrian or Lufthansa Senator lounges and Star Alliance Gold lounges with same day Star Alliance ticket. You get an extra 20kg of luggage on all Star Alliance flights (or one more piece on US flights) and an Executive Bonus of 25% on the usual crediting of bonus (and status) miles.

There are two free electronic upgrade vouchers for flights within Europe as soon as you get to Senator level, and two more each time you requalify for this level. Two vouchers are required for an upgrade on intercontinental flights. Note that United refuse to accept these vouchers, and you need to request a paper voucher from Vienna.

On getting to this level you'll get a nice pack with your new card, a booklet with details of the scheme, and two luggage labels. These are made out of red leather with a silver buckle (and say Lufthansa Airlines on one side - implying that they are a dual production to save money) with a plastic slip in card. These act as a priority luggage offload indicator, and means your luggage will come off the conveyor first.

London Heathrow Swiss A320

Zurich Swiss Business lounge - longest bar

Swiss Air Business Class Lounges

Swiss maintains a big lounge at it's main hub of Zurich, and also at Basel, Chicago O'hare, New York JFK and Paris CDG. At Geneva there is access to the Lufthansa lounge, and indeed Swiss business passengers have access to all Lufthansa lounges throughout the network.

Zurich Swiss business Lounge

Terminal 1, A gates, near passport control, on upper floor, after security (pre-UK security) Open 0530-2230

Zurich Swiss Business lounge - main lobby

The new SWISS lounge area groups together all the existing lounges (Swiss TravelClub Lounge, Swiss Business Lounge, Swiss First Lounge and VIP Lounge) under one roof to, as the airline says "enable optimum use of synergies". Basically it's a good place to decide it's time for a beer and check your Emails. It is calmer than the old lounges, but it's still a rambling group of rooms, with worn black leather seats, the poor if not non-existent food selection and the (once smoke filled) "longest airline lounge bar in the world".

Finding the lounge is a bit of a struggle if you are on flights to or from the UK - it's not in the strange EU-non-Schengen area through the separate security. Instead, you have to be in the main part of the A gates terminal, and then head up the escalators, and head into the airport style reception area. Past here you go up some stairs to the central lobby part of the lounge. Here there are lots of loungy - if tired - leather seats to veg out in.

From here you have 3 separate bar areas. You can either head to the small self service bar in the central lobby area, or walk through the arch, and here there is a bar - with barman - who will mix cocktails for you. Most people however prefer to turn around and head up another flight of stairs to the famous "longest airline lounge bar in the world". It's in a room of it's own, and does have a wow factor - particularly if you can get to it when there is noone else there, and appreciate its 28.6 meter length. It has a great view of the airport apron.

Zurich Swiss Business lounge - back cocktail bar

Around the back of the cocktail bar there are several work islands all equipped with PCs with Internet access (but quite a slow connection) and Wireless LAN.

Zurich newspaper racks

On the top floor next to the longest bar there are newspaper racks, however all of these have a big orange sticker on them, instructing you not to remove them from the lounge.

If you are travelling in First you get a special shuttle service to Dock E, and in this class you also have access to special quite area with showers. However now that Swiss has joined the Star Alliance man First and Senator members take the ten minute walk to the Senator section of the LH lounge at pier B, and enjoy the better drinks.

London LHR Business Class lounge

Terminal 1, after security Open 0500-2200
Access to Business class Swiss passengers, and Star Alliance Gold holders.

London LHR Star Alliance lounge used by Swiss

At London Heathrow, Asiana make use of the brand new Joint Star Alliance lounge in Terminal 1, to where Asiana has just moved its 4 weekly flights. It is after security, and then you walk right through the shops, and right again into the main square: the lounge is hidden in the corner, to the right of WHSmiths.

The lounge is very large, but rather dull. Food is pretty good, with a hot option available for the Swiss flights so you can eat in the lounge before getting on board. Food is often curry, with salads and sandwiches also available.

London LHR Star Alliance lounge used by Swiss

The bar is rather poor, with bottles of Gin, Vodka, VSOP, Bacardi Rum, and Whisky with Jack Daniels, Famous Grouse, and Jamesons. There is just one type of white, two types of red, and a rose wine. Most of these are pretty cheap and nasty versions. There is a beer pump for Grolsh, and - rare for a lounge - Magners cider in bottles in the fridge, along with bottles of Becks and cans of Guinness.

There are showers in the lounge, and free Wifi, but no computers.

Full details of this lounge are contained in the bmi pages, under the Joint Star Alliance LHR Lounge section.

Closed & Abandoned Swiss lounges

Heathrow Servisair Business lounge - right side

London LHR Servisair Lounge

Terminal 2, upper floor, behind pizza express Open 0500-2130
NEWS: This lounge is now closed, and data is retained here for reference only.
This is an airline contracted lounge, which is used mainly by Swiss, Aeroflot and Olympic - although some of the other smaller eastern European airlines also use it from time to time. It is tucked away behind the restaurants on the upper floor of the complete mess that is Terminal 2. It really isn't great - and it is now possible to use the Lufthansa lounge, both of which are vieing for the title of the worst airport lounges I know. At least the LH lounge has a decent view of the planes, and in the Senator lounge, even decent sandwiches. Alas the same can't be said of the Servisair lounge.

Heathrow Servisair Business lounge - left side

It is split into two sides - from the days when there was a first and business class section. Now there is nothing to stop you from choosing the side you prefer best, although as you enter the left hand side has more comfortable armchairs, while on the right there are stiff dining chairs. There is a flat screen TV with freeview on the right, and a small TV with a DVD player on the left. Both sides have the same bar.

And this lounge is all about the bar. It really puts other lounges to shame. In the fridge you have a rack of 6 different white wines, of most of the common grape denominations - and good ones too. Even a decent Rose. There is a Cava too, but you should ask for the champagne. They are more than happy to serve you a glass - it's Piper Heidsieck Brut.

Heathrow Servisair Business lounge

Further down you have the beer selection with cans of Fosters, Stella, and J Smiths, then bottles of Becks, 1664, and Castle lager. There are also lots of mini cans of mixers. On the worktop are 10 spirits (with slightly more in the Right hand side) and four bottles of red.

Heathrow Servisair bar fridge

Food is however very poor. There are only some crisps, nuts, and small slices of fruit cake.

Newspapers are equally basic - there are just two racks by the door, and all are marked "for lounge use only". There are 2 internet Computers however they are paid for, with a coin in the slot - and a basic 50p initial charge.

Swiss History

There are two airlines called Swiss. The old Swissair - and the new Swiss, which is created out of the remains of Crossair when Swissair collapsed.

Crossair at Zurich

Swissair, short for "Swiss Air Transport Company Limited," was Switzerland's national airline for 71 years until 2002. It had IATA Code SR. For most of its lifetime, Swissair's financial stability made it renowned as a national symbol - until it collapsed. Its major hubs were at Zürich and Geneva Airports.

Crossair MD82 at London LHR

It had several serious crashes in it's lifetime, most notoriously in 1998 when Swissair Flight 111 (with an MD-11) on a scheduled airline flight from JFK to Geneva. All 229 people on board were killed, after an inflight fire due to faulty wiring in the cockpit, after the entertainment system in the plane started to overheat.

In the 1990s Swissair initiated a large expansion program known as the "Hunter Strategy" in which it aimed to grow by buying small airlines rather than forming alliances. It acquired 49% of Sabena, and stakes in other airlines like LOT, Air Europe, TAP Portugal, and German holiday carrier LTU. The strategy proved too costly the firm faced a cashflow crisis due to the slump in airline demand following the terrorist attacks in 2001. On October 2, 2001, Swissair's fleet was grounded. When flights resumed, captains had to carry large sums of cash to buy fuel at foreign airports. Finally, on March 2002, Crossair took over most of Swissair. Crossair was renamed Swiss International Air Lines.

A320 at Zurich

The new crossair - uses the IATA Code LX, which it inherited from Crossair. It was finally accepted in the oneworld alliance in 2004, after having been blocked by British Airways, with which Swiss competes on many long-haul routes. However, in 2005 Lufthansa confirmed its take over of Swiss, and as a result Swiss joined Star Alliance in April 2006, and transferred all it's members to Lufthansa's Miles & More frequent flyer program.

Swiss Hints & Tips

Swiss upgrades at checkin

Swiss often sells upgrades at the airport for upgrades on flights from outside Europe to Switzerland on the day of the flight, however you need to buy these at the ticket offices before checkin Miami to Zurich costs about US$500, and from JFK for about US$666. It's not a particular bargain, but is worthwhile having .

Operational Upgrades

One of the common questions is "How do I get an upgrade on Swiss to Business or Club class?". Alas, getting upgraded to business class on Swiss really isn't that easy. The airline has the Western, rather than American, model for upgrades longhaul. Which is to say you'll only get an upgrade if your paid for class is full, and then upgrades are processed accordingly to a pecking order of elite frequent flyer status. You are very unlikely to ever get an upgrade unless you are at least a Gold Star Alliance member.

To start with, make sure you are a frequent flyer, and you do fly frequently: after all, if Swiss are going to upgrade anyone, they will upgrade those passengers who fly with them pretty regularly, and hence will enjoy the upgrade enough to put more business Swiss's way. Then if the flight is full in economy, and someone needs to be moved up, the check in staff will first look at Senator Miles & More members, and then Silver level, and then at other Star Alliance members at the equivalent levels (Gold, and then Silver). Another thing that Swiss look at is how much you paid for your ticket: it's much more likely to happen with a full fare ticket (although occasionally you can get lucky with a discounted economy ticket). On Swiss the airline has heard - probably hundreds of times a day - requests for an upgrade: the general consensus seems to be that if you ask for an upgrade, you're less likely to get it, although opinions differ on an upgrade strategy for Swiss.

As always, my advice on dressing properly in the pages on how to get an upgrade applies.

Swiss website

The website has a major bug in that it is virtually unuseable from a dial up connection or Internet cafes with poor connections (such as from Asia). Frequently you will get as far as being able to put in booking dates, but the website will freeze with a "Gateway Timeout" message. If you get to a screen with red and grey boxes (but, usefully, no "please wait" message, you've got past this stage).

Booking flights is pretty intuitive. You get the cost of each flight option, or pair of flight options if you route via Zurich, although the website annoyingly (but not illegally) will only add in tax at the last part of the bookng process.

RJ100 at Zurich

If you select the Swiss+Lufthansa selection screen you will get many more options, but you loose the ability to see what each flight will cost. Instead you are offered the "cheapest option", which may include Lufthansa codeshares on Swiss flights - this may actually be cheaper (particularly for business class flights) than the option you had originally planned to take, on the same plane. If you do this, it will also show pairs of flights, and indicate how many economy (Y) and business class (C) seats are left on the plane.

You can't book out in economy, and back in business - to do this, find the base business class fare for the leg you want in business, then return to the economy booking, and select the flights at this price.

One way flights work out ridiculously expensive - to get a one way flight, book a dummy return flight - the flight will still work out just as cheaply.

If you are looking to maximise your frequent flyer miles, in Business, it costs the same to connect in Zurich, as it does to connect in Zurich to Geneva, and then get an onward flight from there. This give you 6 flights for a return flight to your destination.

You can check in online from pretty much every Swiss destination except from London.

Main website: www.swiss.com
Entertainment
Online checkin

Swiss two RJ100s at Zurich

Note that all reviews and opinions on Swiss (LX) food, service, seats, planes, upgrades, lounges, Miles & More, and the Frequent Flyer scheme is soley at my judgement. No legal liability is accepted if you take my advice.