Review Swiss International, Joburg - Zurich, Business Class
Paul‘s Flight Report for
Swiss International Air Lines
Flight: LX289
ZRH - JNB / Airbus A340
Flight Time: 10 hours 40 minutes
General Impression: 
Before the Flight :
Check-in Process:,
Security:
Lounge:
Information:
Boarding @ Gate:
Staff @ these points:
Boarding in Cabin:
Welcome Drinks:
Punctuality: , pushback 15min early!
, pushback 15min early!
During the Flight :
Food presentation:
Food quality:
Drinks:
Service Procedure:
Amenity Kit:
Entertainment System:
Seat Quality:
Legroom:
Lavatories:
Cleanliness:
General Atmosphere:
Announcement Pilots:
Announcement Cabin:
Cabin Crew:
After the Flight :
De-Boarding:
Baggage Delivery:
On the Ground:
Our flight was scheduled to depart at 23:55 LT. We arrived at the airport at 20:00. Unfortunately the check-in for our flight was still closed. Staff was sitting around because of the
previous flight but they told everyone that they will only start to accept passengers at 20:30 LT so we went for a drink first.
As Swiss has two flights within 4 hours going to ZRH, it would have been nice if at least 1 Economy and 1 Business/First/Prio Counter would have stayed open.
As we are returning from vacation we had to check in some bags.
When we returned at check-in at around 20:30, there was a very short queue at the Business Class Check-in. The security Agent checking the passport was a little grumpy but the check-in agent
was friendly and attentive. The process was done quick.
After check-in we went straight to the security check. There was a very short queue of around 2-3 minutes waiting time.
Some staff at the security check were very friendly and talkative, whilst the others behind the security line and doing the checks were unfriendly, grumpy and unprofessional.
Emigration only had two counters open. Luckily it wasn't rush hour and waiting time was around 5 minutes.
Our flight departed from Gate A15 at O.R. Tambo International Airport.
So we headed to the Aspire Lounge. The Aspire lounge in Johannesburg is new as a brand and the lounge was a rebranded recently. The furniture is still from the old provider.
The lounge has a very nice and fully equipped bar which is served from staff. Softdrinks and coffee can be taken in self service.
The food buffet looked amazing and the offering was huge.
They had 6 different hot items, a massive salad bar, cheese, fruits, sandwiches, nachos and a dessert buffet. The presentation was top and the food was good too.
We arrived at the Gate 20 minutes prior the indicated boarding time.
There was another passport check at the gate from an even grumpier agent than at check in. If people walked by her she just yelled at them passport check get in line! There was no signage or
other indication that she would be doing a check.
Staff at the gate was, let's say present. Nothing special at all.
The gate signage with flight and flight number was not even on. No indication at all.
Boarding announcements were made and priority boarding was conducted.
At the aircraft door we were greeted by the Maitre de Cabine.
The seats were fully prepared with a fluffy blanket, a pillow, headphones, an amenity kit and a water bottle.
The cabin crew then passed with the welcome drink. You had the choice of champagne or Flauder, which is a typical Swiss Elderflower drink.
Once everyone was on board, the cabin crew distributed the menu followed by hot towels.
On the ground it was a huge mess with the cabin crew and they were running around like headless chickens. The left aisle didn't know what the right aisle did and vice versa. The crew on the
right hand aisle was much much better than on the left hand side.
The flight attendant on the left hand side had absolutely no idea what she did and was highly "überfordert" with the Business Class service.
Inflight:
The seats are very comfortable and okay considered the older product Swiss is now offering and the legroom is good.
The Airbus A340 has a staggered 1/2/2 or 2/2/1 seating configuration with 5 abrest in Business class.
The hard product isn't the newest anymore but still okay. The update of their product is coming this year with Swiss Senses. So let's see!
After take off, the cabin crew came to take the order for dinner.
As we departed at midnight, we skipped dinner completely.
You would have had the choice of 2 starters and 4 mains accompanied by salad and cheese and followed by dessert.
Dear Swiss, departing at midnight and making dinner the main service is not at all the way to go.
Around 50% of the passengers skipped dinner and went straight to sleep at around 00:20 when the fasten seatbelt sign came off.
On this flight dinner should be a quick option for everyone or just a cold meal and make a nice breakfast service with a nice hot meal in the morning. The breakfast or at least the hot item
on this flight would not even have been to be called as such.
Around 2,5 hours prior landing the crew started with the breakfast service.
Breakfast was served like ordered the evening before on the menu on a full size tray.
My breakfast tray looked disgraceful. It seemed the crew has just thrown everything on it. Nothing appealing or nice.
The Cabin Crew on this flight was so so.
From a cabin attendant on the left hand side which was completely "überfordert" with the service and not having any idea what she did to a super welcoming and friendly cabin crew on the right
hand aisle which at least tried to make up on the middle seats for her colleague on the other side to a Maitre de Cabin who was running around like a headless chicken.
No real interaction with customers, no passion and no pride.
Compared to the outbound flight, this crew was a mess.
On this flight the amenity kit was a tinbox from victorinox which can be reused as a Pencil box.
The kit contained some socks, ear plugs, eyemask, toothpaste and brush as well as a lipbalm.
IFE was okay but nothing special. The screens are good and touchscreen. The choice of films etc. is on the lower side.
WiFi was working on this flight and simple communication such as whats app etc is free of charge.
Regular internet however is tremendously expensive on Swiss. A 4 hour pachage costs 28 US$ and for the full flight it would have been 39US$.
Communication has improved tremendously at Swiss. They push messages via app and email and inform you about every change or new info on your flight. That is simply great.
Announcement from the flight deck were very good. They were clear and understandable.
The announcements from the cabin crew were good too.
We arrived at Terminal E in Zurich. As we landed some minutes ahead of schedule, we had to wait 10 minutes on stand until a ground crew was available to dock the aircraft.
Immigration wasn't Swiss like at all, as all automated gates did not work and only one counter open for Swiss / EU passports.
Baggage delivery was okay. First bags arrived on the belt 25 minutes after arrival and priority bags were delivered first.
Our summary:
A very solid and good business class hard product on this flight with Swiss international Air Lines.
The seats are not the newest model but still very comfortable and in good conditions.
The crew and inflight service were below average and definitely not "premium" airline like.
The flight attendant on my side had no idea what she was doing. Someone like that should not be allowed in a premium cabin. She was hopeless "überfordert" with the service and product.
The inflight service and the products itself do not match the times of this flight. Serving dinner as main meal at 00:30 in the morning is not professional and just a mediocre breakfast at 9:00
AM either.
It just showed once more, that the crew does the biggest difference to a product and flight and they simply failed on our eyes on this flight.
Notes:
- Paul the Sheep does not get any benefits from the Hotels/Airlines etc.
- Paul will always pay for the services in order to be able to rate freely and truly about the experiences.
- If you a jre interested in more details, please send me a private message and I will be happy to share.