Swiss first class review: Is it worth paying $1,000 to $2,000 to upgrade?

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Quick take: Swiss first class is one of the most exclusive airline experiences in the world. While tickets can be expensive, booking a business-class award and using cash to upgrade might be well worth the expense to enjoy the sheer luxury of flying up front with this exceptional airline. 

Pros

Cons

Switzerland is one of the world’s wealthiest countries, and its flag carrier is one of the few airlines that has continued to offer a first-class cabin on all of its long-haul wide-body aircraft. After all, Swiss targets a demographic that can afford luxurious experiences.

Unfortunately for us points and miles enthusiasts, the airline doesn’t make first-class award seats available to members of partner frequent flyer programs (in contrast to its sibling Lufthansa, which opens first-class award space to partners 15 days before departure). However, there is a reasonable way to fly Swiss first class using partner points to book a flight in business class and then upgrade to first class using cash. But the question is: Is it worth the price tag, which can be around $2,000 each way between Europe and the U.S.?

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I’m a big fan of Swiss design (I even used the Swiss first-class cabins and lounges as inspiration to decorate my house’s interior four years ago). I have flown business class with the airline just once from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in 2018 and was impressed by the food and customer service. However, in October 2023, after a 10-day road trip through Oman and a three-day stopover in Zurich, I was offered an upgrade to first class on my flight to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and I took it.

Here’s what my experience in Swiss first class was like, including what to expect when it comes to the seats, the service, the meals and the amenities, so you can determine whether an upgrade is worth it to you.

How much does first class cost to book on Swiss?

There are several ways to book Swiss first class:

The main way most TPG readers will likely book Swiss first class is to use a Star Alliance points currency, such as United MileagePlus miles or Air Canada Aeroplan points, to make a business-class redemption.

Here’s a look at what round-trip airfares were like on my route between Boston and Zurich.

If you book a business-class ticket like I did, you can check in at the airport or online up to 24 hours before departure. When you do, you may be offered a cash upgrade to first class. On routes between the U.S. and Switzerland, you can expect to pay $1,000 to $2,000, depending on the flight duration, the departure airport and the number of seats available.

I redeemed 63,000 Avianca LifeMiles and paid $101 in taxes for a one-way business-class flight from Zurich to Boston in October 2023. When checking in online 24 hours before departure, I was offered an upgrade to first class for 1,680 Swiss francs (approximately $1,860), and I took it.

I used The Platinum Card® from American Express to earn 5 points per dollar spent on my airfare purchase (to earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights with the Amex Platinum, flights need to be booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year). This netted me 9,300 American Express Membership Rewards points, which are worth $186 based on TPG’s valuations — effectively a 10% rebate on my purchase.

Alternatively, if you use cash or Miles & More miles to book your business-class ticket, you can submit a bid upgrade up to 48 hours before departure.

Swiss first class is offered on all the airline’s wide-body aircraft — namely, the Boeing 777, the Airbus A330 and the Airbus A340. The seats on the 777 and the A340 are superior to the A330 one that I flew in several ways, which I’ll get into below.

Swiss — along with Lufthansa — is planning to introduce new first- and business-class products in 2025, but that timing has been pushed back a couple of times and might be again. So, for now, let’s focus on the current product.

First class is available on long-haul routes from Swiss’ hub in Zurich and its focus city of Geneva to major U.S. airports (mainly Star Alliance hubs), including ones in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York, San Francisco and Washington. The carrier also flies to other large international cities, such as Tokyo and Johannesburg.

Checking into and boarding first class on Swiss

The Swiss first-class ground experience is most luxurious when departing or connecting through the airline’s main gateway, Zurich. Swiss first-class passengers can expect the following priority services at the airport.

Departing from or connecting through Zurich

At Zurich, the airline has a dedicated first-class check-in “lounge” — which is more like a compact space — at the Check-in 1 area of the main terminal. It’s ideal for those arriving at the airport by car.

If traveling by train, you can either check your bags and get your boarding pass (if you haven’t checked in online) at the Check-in 3 area near the airport’s train station or walk 10 minutes to the first-class check-in lounge.

I arrived at the airport three hours before my 1 p.m. departure. Even though I already had my boarding pass on my phone and wasn’t checking any bags, I wanted to experience the check-in lounge. Unfortunately, there are very few signs posted for those who don’t arrive by car. I entered the lounge through the back (terminal) entrance rather than the car (exterior) entrance, and the lounge attendants seemed surprised that I was flying in first class but not arriving by car.

I was escorted to the lounge — just a one-minute walk away — by an agent who took my carry-on bag for me. You’ll be allowed two carry-on bags of 8 kilograms (17 pounds) each and two checked bags of 32 kilograms (70 pounds) each. Those traveling on paid first-class fares get an extra checked bag for a total of three.

Swiss first-class lounge access

Swiss has two first-class lounges at Zurich: the perfectly acceptable Terminal A lounge for Schengen-zone departures and the much more luxurious Terminal E lounge for non-Schengen flights, including those to the U.S. When departing from Zurich, you need to pass through the Terminal A lounge to get to the Terminal E lounge.

Upon taking the escalator up to the Terminal A lounge entrance, I was greeted by name and swept through a private security area — just like at the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt — in under a minute.

Then, I was warmly welcomed at the customer service desk, where the agent explained the lounge’s amenities, directed me to the Wi-Fi passcode machine and booked a private van transfer to the Terminal E lounge, which usually runs every 10 minutes, though I had a 15-minute wait. I was asked to be at the waiting area a couple of minutes before departure; a lounge attendant didn’t come and get me when it was time.

Then, I was handed off to a brusque agent at the document check desk opposite the welcome desk to stamp my boarding pass for transfer out of the Schengen zone.

During my 15 minutes in the Terminal A facility, I wandered around the small, quiet lounge, which seemed custom-built for transiting business travelers. Staff told me that passengers usually don’t spend much time here, with only eight dining tables for two people each.

Three minutes before my van departure time, I followed the limousine service signs to the end of a hallway, where I was escorted with one other passenger downstairs to a private passport control kiosk (which took all of 15 seconds for each passenger) and into a Mercedes passenger van. In a nice touch, the van’s seats were the same style as — but much narrower than — the seats on board Swiss’ aircraft.

After a seven-minute drive across the tarmac, we hopped out of the van, into an elevator and were again warmly welcomed by two very professional staff members at the Terminal E lounge entrance.

The highlights of this 2,460-square-foot space were the Champagne bar, its simple but stylish furniture, an a la carte dining section, an open-air terrace for beautiful views of the tarmac and two dayrooms with plush bedding and ensuite showers that you can book at reception. Unfortunately, both dayrooms were occupied during my visit, though my colleague, Zach Griff, was able to snap some shots on a past visit for reference. There are also showers available outside of the dayrooms.

If you have the time, order the five-course “Taste of Switzerland” menu, which changes seasonally. During my autumn visit, there were fried scallops, a potato-pear soup, venison with plum gravy, pumpkin pie with rosehip ice cream and elderberry sorbet on the menu.

If you are short on time (as I was), you can pick from a variety of a la carte options. For breakfast or brunch, available items include a full English breakfast, eggs Benedict and made-to-order omelets. For lunch and dinner, options range from a Caesar salad and beef tartar to Zurich-style sliced veal and Swiss cheese fondue.

While the Champagne bar sounds fancy, most of the Lombard and Bauget-Jouette products can be purchased for $50 to $60 per bottle, so they’re not necessarily that fancy.

If you have the time and interest, ask the reception staff to escort you to the 28/10 Whisky Club in the adjacent Senator Lounge, offering complimentary tastings of over 200 varieties of whisky.

If traveling to Zurich in Swiss first class, you’ll be greeted upon arrival and driven to a private passport control area. If connecting to another flight, you’ll be escorted to the relevant lounge (A for Schengen departures; E for non-Schengen).

If Zurich is your final destination, you’ll pass through customs and can access an arrivals lounge with a buffet and showers. It’s open from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Departing from other airports

If departing from Geneva, you’ll access a compact 650-square-foot first-class lounge with a buffet and no showers.

When departing from most Star Alliance hubs in the U.S., such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington, Swiss first-class passengers have access to United’s Polaris lounges.

In Boston and New York, Swiss first-class passengers have access to a special area within the Lufthansa lounge; in Miami, they can access the Turkish Airlines lounge.

Boarding

First-class passengers must make their own way to the boarding gate (no chauffeur or escort service is available here).

First-class passengers (along with HON Circle elite status members) board as Group 1 after passengers needing special assistance. Boarding commenced five minutes late for my flight.

How comfortable was first class on Swiss?

Swiss first class has eight suites set up in a 1-2-1 configuration. Here are more details on the cabin and seats.

In my opinion, it’s best to choose a seat in Row 2 to avoid noise from the galley in front, which is where the flight attendants work. Immediately behind first class is a two-row business-class section with the business-class galley and lavatories aft of that and the main business-class cabin behind, so you should have very little noise, light or movement between the first- and business-class cabins.

On my flight, six of the eight first-class seats were occupied, with all passengers having upgraded themselves. (I found this out by asking them — they were a chatty bunch!)

The 22-inch-wide seats are luxurious, minimalist and comfortable. They have built-in massage functions and memory foam cushions, enhancing the overall sense of elegance and sophistication thanks to the square-patterned upholstery and sleek wood finishes.

There are far more contemporary first-class seats out there, but their sleek design and spaciousness are the main draws.

As for variations between the three aircraft types, the 777 and the A340 are superior to the A330 in three ways — but the A330 wins in one (small) area.

Firstly and most importantly, the 777 and the A340 have sliding screens that almost close completely, giving you a sense of privacy as you can see from my colleague, Zach Griff’s, photos of his 777 experience.

On the A330, you’ll get a sliding privacy partition that extends about a third of the way across the suite’s opening but must be in its retracted position during taxi, takeoff and landing.

Secondly, the 777 and the A340 have a private wardrobe embedded in the seat’s wall, whereas anything to hang on a coathanger on the A330 must be stowed away in the galley by the crew.

Thirdly, there are three windows to each first-class window seat on all three aircraft types. On the 777 and the A340, blackout shades and accordion shades are electronically controlled, as Zach’s 777 shots show.

By contrast, the A330 has regular manually operated window shades. The only area where the A330 wins is having individual air nozzles, which the 777 and the A340 do not, so you can control your zone’s temperature more easily.

A rectangular, dimmable accent lamp adds to the elegant feeling of the seat but is inopportunely placed, as it gets in the way if you want to lean your arm on the side table.

A huge 25-by-24-inch dining table pops out from the side of the suite and is one of the largest tables I’ve dined at while in the air. The seat’s ottoman has a seat belt so you can even dine with a companion.

After finishing my main meal, the crew offered a turndown service while I changed into my pajamas. I returned to a very cozy setup, with two large, soft pillows; a mattress pad; and a thick duvet for the 80-inch-long bed. However, even with the individual air nozzles blasting air on my seat, the duvet was too thick for me to sleep restfully, so I stayed mostly uncovered.

One of the other areas that Swiss’ 777s and A340s beat out the A330 is that their first-class entertainment screens, which are fixed into place on the preceding seatback or bulkhead, are 32 inches, while those on the A330 are just 23 inches diagonally. Even if it were a touchscreen, the suite is too large for you to be able to reach it.

While you can choose from over 200 movies and 250 TV shows, I found the entertainment selection lacking. The new release movies were three to 12 months old, and there were only seven TV series each in the comedy and drama genres, all of which were relatively unknown.

The noise-canceling headphones looked basic but were quite effective and comfortable.

When flying first class, I would expect to find a premium remote control with a touchscreen; in this case, it was the same as you might find in economy, with a few simple buttons. It was located in a small side compartment next to the easy-to-use seat controls, an AC power outlet and a USB-A charging port.

I loved the Zimmerli of Switzerland-branded pajamas featuring a classic design and a red accent button that the cabin crew handed out shortly after boarding. I’ve worn these several times since returning home. They came with a pair of slippers to use as well.

The amenity kit by luxury fashion brand Bally is decked out with Soeder cosmetics, toothpaste and a toothbrush, socks, earplugs and tissues. I appreciated the Swiss touch with the inclusion of Ricola throat-relief drops.

The A330 has only one small bathroom, the same size you’d find in economy, located at the very front of the cabin. This differs from Swiss’ Boeing 777s, which have two bathrooms, one being larger than the other.

Despite the lack of restroom options, I did like that there were reusable towels instead of paper ones. You’ll also find Soeder hand cream, soap and facial spray inside the space.

First-class passengers get unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi as well. I clocked 10 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds. If you want to switch between devices, you must register an account.

How was the food in Swiss first class?

Upon boarding, I was served a glass of crisp Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Champagne, two Lindt chocolates and a small bowl of warmed cashew nuts with basil — what a great welcome.

I was then presented with what I assumed were the full food and beverage menus, but I found out later on that there was a separate prelanding meal menu that would be distributed later in the flight. It’s a minor quibble, but I would have appreciated having all my options at the start to better select my meals.

If flying Swiss first class, you can preorder your meals online up to 24 hours before departure. In my case, I was unable to do so because I was offered and accepted the upgrade to first class after check-in opened at the 24-hour mark.

On long-haul flights departing Zurich, you can choose the five-course, rotating “Taste of Switzerland” dining experience, which features regional and seasonal specialties accompanied by fine wines. You can also enjoy this menu in the Terminal E lounge before taking off.

Service in Swiss first class is dine-on-demand, and you can eat as much as you want whenever you want. On my flight, the appetizers were:

For the main, you could choose from:

I chose four appetizers and a main, and service started quickly (just 10 minutes after takeoff). I felt like I was in a high-end dining establishment. The tableware and plating throughout the meal were set out perfectly, and I enjoyed the bread basket with warm white, multigrain and whole-wheat rolls accompanied by creamy butter.

Next was a delectable amuse bouche of pumpkin cream soup with toasted bread, followed by the incredibly rich salmon sashimi with trout caviar, a light frisee salad with pears and the impeccably presented creamy lobster bisque, which the photo does not do justice.

The only downside to my meal was the vegetarian tikka masala, which lacked protein and flavor.

My main was followed by an artisanal Swiss cheese board and a delicious toasted hazelnut chocolate slice with Tahitian vanilla ice cream.

Finally, I made room to sample a couple of the offerings from the Swiss chocolate box that the crew left by my bedside.

I asked the crew to pair wines with my dishes, starting with a juicy Chablais from Swiss winery Château Maison Blanche for my appetizers and finishing with a spicy gamaret red from Domaine les Hutins near Geneva to pair with the cheeses and dessert.

After a nap, I ordered some potato chips and Movenpick vanilla ice cream from the midflight snack menu — nothing of note, but a little treat.

Then, a lighter meal was served 90 minutes before touchdown. I chose a delicious leek-and-cheese quiche with a green side salad and a berry pastry with fruit accompaniment.

Overall, I absolutely stuffed myself with food in the lounge and with two meals on board. However, I was impressed by everything (except the tikka masala), and my only regret is not having more than eight hours to continue to enjoy the offerings.

How was the service in Swiss first class?

From check-in to deplaning, I found almost every Swiss employee who helped me to be warm and professional. I appreciated the cabin crew proactively offering to pair wines, bringing me chocolates, making my bed and asking whether I wanted to be woken up for my prearrival meal. They also responded quickly to the few times I pressed the attendant button for an extra water bottle or a snack.

The only service downside I’d note was that the pilot did not come through to greet each first-class passenger, as other reports say can occur on Swiss flights.  But since we were delayed departing Zurich, perhaps that was the reason that did not happen on this flight.

The purser rushed through the cabin 15 minutes before landing to thank each passenger for flying with them. It felt impersonal for a crew member with whom I’d had no interaction during the flight to ask me how the flight was. It would have been more intimate for either the purser to have greeted passengers upon boarding or after takeoff or for one of the crew members working the first-class cabin to deliver a farewell message.

Was upgrading to Swiss first class worth it?

This is the million-dollar — or, more accurately, the $1,000 to $2,000 — question. My answer is: It depends on your financial capacity, how much you value a premium flying experience and what flight you are on.

If flying Swiss first class is on your bucket list — as it was on mine — and you’re offered an upgrade, I’d recommend taking it. This is a highly aspirational product available to very few frequent flyers and is a significant upgrade over the airline’s business-class seats and amenities. In short, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Upgrading makes sense particularly when departing or connecting through Zurich, as you’ll enjoy the over-the-top ground experience with a private transfer across the tarmac, a stunning open-air terrace and doting customer service. Even though I arrived at the airport three hours before departure, I wish I’d had even more time in the Terminal E lounge to enjoy a drink on the terrace and shower before boarding.

However, I would be less enthusiastic about paying for an upgrade on overnight flights departing the U.S. to Switzerland. In business class, you might already be able to access a United Polaris lounge (depending on your departure airport) and have a lie-flat seat to snooze for a good chunk of the flight, just as you would in first class. But if the price is closer to $1,000 — or if you’re willing to splurge closer to $2,000 — then what you’ll get is a more spacious seat, plusher bedding and someone to greet you upon arrival in Zurich, which might be handy during transfers.

All in all, I’m thrilled I got to access an experience I don’t have the cash to pay full fare for. As we descended into Boston, my only thought was that the flight wasn’t nearly long enough to thoroughly enjoy everything it had to offer. Here’s hoping that the next time I’m flying Swiss business class, I get offered an upgrade; if it’s closer to $1,000 rather than the almost $2,000 I paid, that would definitely sway me toward saying yes to treating myself to this experience once again.