Flying First with Swiss from Geneva to New York. Riccardo's trip report
Readers' trip reports In recent months many readers have written to us that they would like to cooperate with our editorial team, [...]
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Readers' trip reports
In recent months many readers have written to us that they would like to cooperate with our editorial staff, we have always said that we are more than happy to publish travel reviews of "regular tourists" and not insiders like us, as well as give space to other dot-com enthusiasts. Now that we have several insights, let's start in the best way, with a trip that is not for every day, a first class with Swiss, one of the 4 European carriers to offer first class cabin on their planes.
Richard's story
In this article:
I traveled by First from Geneva to New York. The trip to the Big Apple was planned a little in advance, so the cost of the tickets was higher than the average cost of this route. After some detailed considerations, I decided to opt for an award ticket, or rather two (one for each passenger).
Before you leave: to redeem or not to redeem (and how)
The best bonuses
One step back: had decided to depart from Geneva, the most convenient option was consequently Swiss, Lufthansa group company, with a direct flight that would allow us to arrive at JFK in time to say goodbye to a friend of ours. As is well known, to redeem an award ticket you can use the loyalty program of any Star Alliance partner airline, as well as that of Swiss (Miles&More, the same as Lufthansa, Austrian and Brussels Airlines).
Thus, there were several options available to achieve my goal. In my case, based on the points accumulated in different programs, the alternatives were:
- miles Miles&More - also taking advantage of the 50% discount on the second award ticket, one of the Senator member benefits;
- points from the Marriott Bonvoy (MB) hotel loyalty program - converting them into miles from a Star Alliance partner;
- American Express Membership Rewards (MRs) points - converting them to miles from a Star Alliance partner.
To maximize the value of redemption points/miles, I chose option 1. Before explaining why I discarded the other two, let's elaborate for a moment on the steps to put the other two paths in place.
Option 2: The MB program enjoys a privileged relationship with Star Alliance's U.S. partner, United Airlines, allowing points to be transferred from Marriott to United getting both a better 10% conversion than other airlines (1.1 UA miles for every 3 MB points) and a bonus of 5,000 points for every 60,000. Among other things, UA's redemption program is among the most convenient (as well as among the most efficient, in terms of research and range of offerings) because it does not apply the cost of fuel surcharges (applied by some carriers, in addition to taxes). As a result, the cost of miles is lower than other partners. For example, Miles&More charges extra miles for not paying surcharges, the cost of which is higher in business than in economy.
Option 3: An alternative is to instead use a Star Alliance partner airline among those affiliated with American Express Italy to convert MRs points, such as SAS or Asia Miles.
The reason I did not opt for either of these, despite having many more MB points and MRs than Miles&More miles, is twofold: for neither of these options would I have been able to use the 50% senator discount on the second ticket; the conversion rates of points to miles are really disadvantageous (a loss ranging from 20% to 66%).
I therefore finally opted to use M&M points for two one-way tickets in Business, Geneva-New York. It was a hard-fought choice because right now the status booster of M&M (until June 30), which gives double Status points on every route and a bonus of an additional 2,000 Status points for each intercontinental flight. So the option that was most appealing to me was to buy economy tickets (cost comparable to the surchages + award ticket fees) and use the points for the upgrade, the cost of which was higher comparable in miles to that of the award ticket. In this scenario, however, I would not have been able to take advantage of the companion discount, which was valid only on award tickets and not on upgrades.
End of strategic digression, we are ready to go.
At the airport
I arrived in Geneva well in advance. Small problem: during online check-in it gave me no option for two seats next to each other: my friend and I would have to travel separately. When I arrived at the airport, I tried to ask at check-in if the situation had changed, as I imagined the answer was negative and I was floated with the solution of checking on board if other passengers traveling alone were available for a seat change. Not to risk it (and mostly out of curiosity about Swiss First), I asked if there were First Class seats instead and if these were close by. So it was: offer of 1,300 CHF per seat for an upgrade to first class, seats next door.
Once I purchased the upgrade and checked in, I waited for security to open (it was 4:30 a.m.). At about 5 a.m. I went through security through the fast track and sat near the Senator Lounge, which would open at 6 a.m. At check-in I had asked if there was also a First Class Lounge in Geneva and was answered in the affirmative. However, the signage at the airport was contradictory and led to either the Business Class Lounge or the Senator Lounge. While waiting for either one to open to ask for clarification, I checked on the Priority Pass app (which I have access to via American Express Platinum) to see if there were any other lounges already in operation: in Geneva, Priority Pass gives access to, among others, the Air France Lounge, the earliest-opening one (it opens at 5:30 a.m.). I entered there with my Priority Pass card, a very small lounge (even the check-in is placed at the end of the lounge, because there is a lack of space at the entrance) and with a poor selection (mostly pre-wrapped food), waiting to transfer to the Lufthansa Lounge.
A word of advice: if you ever think of flying First with Swiss, I recommend you do it from Zurich. In fact, the Zurich airport has a terminal dedicated exclusively to First Class passengers with Swiss (as does the Lufthansa First terminal in Frankfurt); boarding is also provided with a dedicated transfer. In contrast, the experience at Geneva airport (terminal B) is rather disappointing. At check-in I was confirmed that the First lounge was open, but when I asked in the lounge at 6 o'clock, I found that the only lounges operating at the time of the trip (early May) were the Business and Senator lounges. First passengers are restricted to a small area of the Business lounge (not even the Senator), which by the way is far away from the buffet.
Not too bad, one would think, since service is provided that also draws from the buffet area. Nonetheless, the beverage selection here is reduced to three bottles (including a good champagne) and some fruit, and late-morning service becomes more crowded and less efficient; besides, the other lounge areas are nicer and more comfortable.
I spent several hours here waiting for my flight and my traveling companion to arrive. We then went through passport control-as usual, single line for all travel classes-and then arrived at our gate. Here, unlike elsewhere with intercontinental flights (I am thinking of Zurich and New York), Group 1 passengers do not have priority access, but their boarding is handled simultaneously with Group 2 (which is usually the case only on local or international flights). Nonetheless, the ground stewardess who had checked our passports at the gate was careful to let us through.
On board
Boarding procedures for intercontinental flights are often lengthy, so getting on first allows you to enjoy the experience, starting with champagne right away. Here the choice of champagne can only excite admirers: Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle.
The Swiss First Class configuration on this Airbus 330 provides a 1-2-1 formation, for a total of 6 First seats. There is really ample space, with a leather seat in front of the cloth seat, which of course stretches out completely.
The greatest comfort and certainly the scenic detail in an undoubtedly minimal setting is certainly the solid wood table, which is very thick and can be opened in two, allowing even two people to sit facing each other.
If you are also traveling alone, the nearby middle seats have a partition that can be raised for privacy.
Upon entering the ship, we were immediately greeted by the two stewardesses dedicated to First's cabin, who handed us our kit:
- pillow and blanket;
- A water bottle and board socks (dark colored, unlike the red ones in business);
- A welcome kit made in collaboration with Bally (who? Exactly; the one in business is in collaboration with Victorinox) that includes a handkerchief, cosmetics and headphones, a face mask, Elmex toothbrush and toothpaste, shoehorn, comb, and ricola candy inside a necessaire.
- Pajamas by Zimmerli, very nice and comfortable.
- Swiss First branded slippers;
- Headphones;
- A 50 MB voucher to connect to onboard Wi-Fi.
The seat in front of one's own has a space on the left where newspapers, papers or the PC can be placed. Small luggage can be inserted under the front seat. The monitors are large, the quality of the headphones, however, not of particular note-at when headphones with noise cancelling? On the right, a hand control and remote control allow you to control the chair (different levels of recline, hardness/softness of the chair in various parts, massage option) and of the on-board monitor. As I already mentioned, the beauty of the solid wood table, which is also adjustable on an axis at different distances from the armchair, stands out over everything.
The service
The maître d' in the First cabin was exceptionally friendly, attentive but never congealed service. She came immediately to welcome me as a Senator member, specifying that she was happy to give priority to my meal order, being the only Senator in the cabin (no HON member either).
Lunch was served about 45 minutes after takeoff. Details in the dedicated section, but I already make spoilers about the cheeses as the real highlight of the lunch - I enjoyed them several hours after lunch, because I was really very tired and fell asleep between courses.
"It is useless to continue with this torture," the Italian-speaking stewardess told me with gentle kindness, "I'll make her bed and save the cheese for when she wakes up.
I have a different idea of what torture is, but I gladly accept the offer.
I got up and the chair was entirely laid out to include a mattress (not too thick, but comfortable), an additional pillow, and a very comfortable comforter. I woke up several hours later claiming the cheeses I had probably also dreamed about-and again, for several nights to follow
On daytime flights, it is rare for passengers to sleep, so the stewardesses sympathetically joked about this. They were also very kind in answering some of our curiosity about Swiss policies with respect to intercontinental travel (which tends to have shorter layovers than other airlines for cabin crew) and in allowing my traveling companion to meet the pilot once the plane landed.
Food & Beverage
We were also given the onboard menus, food and drinks. Enthusiasm for the Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle was quickly succeeded by disappointment that it was the only champagne option on board-unlike other firsts that allow more choice, such as Paris. Â
Lunch is served in several courses with service that is entirely comparable to a restaurant. The quality of the food is alternate and does not deviate too far from dishes I have also tasted in Business in the past (the raw salmon, always excellent; the beef tenderloin, overcooked this go-round for my taste). Also the risotto more nice than good.
True gourmet touch, on the other hand, is the selection of Swiss cheeses, which are truly sensational.
In conclusion
The experience on the ground with Swiss is certainly not worth it. The onboard experience is superior to business and justifies the cost of the upgrade in my opinion. The curiosity remains to try Swiss First from Zurich, departing from the dedicated terminal.
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