We flew back to the USA from Switzerland on a SWISS A330 in economy class, where we enjoyed excellent food onboard, but found other elements of the flight disappointing.
SWISS A330 Economy Class – My First Impressions
My original plan was to spend some time in Copenhagen before flying home, but due to a family obligation in Germany we had to cancel the Denmark part of our trip. With intra-Europe flights booked full for the Easter travel period, buying a new ticket from Zurich to Copenhagen was as much money as a one-way from Zurich to Chicago (LA was a lot more expensive).
As much as I love SAS Business Class, I made the choice to fly SWISS Economy Class instead to review a product I have not reviewed in five years and conserve those SAS miles for future travel (provided SAS does not announce another devaluation of its EuroBonus program…).
First off, I love the SWISS lounges in Zurich, particularly the E-Gates (satellite terminal) lounges…we enjoyed a delicious lunch before takeoff on the terrace overlooking several widebody aircraft. What a treat!
Our flight to Chicago would be operated by an Airbus A330-300.
I’ve reviewed a SWISS 777 in economy before, but never an A330…I’ve flown first class and business class on a SWISS A330, but this was my first time “behind the curtain” on a SWISS A330.
Onboard, we found our seats in the rear economy class cabin. I bought basic economy tickets (because why not when you know 100% you are going to travel…), which meant the system auto-assigned seats during check-in. The A330 has a 2-4-2 configuration (except in the very rear rows) and we were placed in a section of four, with a stranger on one of the aisles. The flight departed with every seat occupied.
This was a long nine hours…the last couple hours were torture, especially because the Wi-Fi did not work (I paid for a Wi-Fi package, but it only worked sporadically and will be requesting a refund). It’s not that the seat is terribly uncomfortable, but legroom is tight and recline very generous which made working on my laptop very difficult. Furthermore, the cabin was very warm and there were no personal air vents…a perennial problem on SWISS.
On the flip side, the catering was delightful. Lunch serve began with cheese cubes (same thing served in business class). They were delicious…I even had a glass of bubbles with while no means Champagne, it wasn’t a horrible sparkling wine…
Lunch choices included a pasta (which my kids enjoyed) or a delicious chicken dish in a creamy sauce with mashed pates and green beans. The lentil side dish was fresh and even the bread roll was very high quality…an absolute 10/10 for an economy class meal.
Even the coffee and cake were excellent…and note the “real” tableware.
Midway through the flight, chocolate ice cream from Mövenpick was offered…bravo.
Two hours before landing, a second lighter meal was served…more excellent bread a delicious bulgur salad.
I really enjoyed the food on this flight. Flight attendants were also excellent…very attentive with beverages refills and gracious.
We hit headwinds, though, and arrived in Chicago about 30 minutes late.
CONCLUSION
So in summary, the service onboard was excellent and the meals were excellent…a truly impressive showing of Swiss quality.
The seat was not horrible, but legroom tight and the recline making any “work” virtually impossible. The cabin was also warm.
Would I fly SWISS again in economy? Absolutely…overall, a very respectable flight.
How were the IFE choices?
Not great. Worse than any US carrier.
10 hours in Economy on any airline and any route is gonna be a ‘drag’
You seemed quite pleased with the meals. Is there any reason to imagine Swiss spends more per meal than US carriers. Or, do they do better with the same cost?
Let’s add that, as of 15 April, 2026, LX has 14 A330-300 in its fleet (with an average age of 15.6 years).
Why do we need to add that?
I flew SWISS from Miami to Zurich and return two years ago in coach and found the experience far superior to any US carrier flying across the pond. Not only was the food excellent, but there was a self-serve snack bar set up for between meal munchies. The seat was very comfortable, so much so I even slept on the way over (a rarity for me). I don’t recall the legroom being a problem, and as I was reading while awake, the recline was not an issue.
Yes, my kids helped themselves to those snacks in the rear galley…probably far too many of them.
Even with LX, a 9.5-hour flight in economy class is truly way too long.
I personally will not fly LX in economy again on long-haul!
Tried it last year to SIN – after years of LX abstinence – and truly regretted!
Tight legroom in Y on their B777, tired seat, lowres screen, awful IFE incl. poor selection (I even ended up as a watching a Swiss-produced TV series, which says it all…), half-hearted crew and every time the manage to bang my elbows whenever they past my aisle seat. Luckily, I’m always ordering special meals.
Highlight was the Swiss-made snacks in the galley and of course the arrival in SIN.
In any case I prefer UA in Y to cross the
Atlantic, and East-bound of course SIN’s home carrier.
Interestingly, OS (Austrian) doesn’t even offer such snacks in Y, at least on my last flight with them to BKK on a B777.
You flew OS from VIE-BKK? Was there a hot pre-arrival breakfast? No mid-flight snack?
Yes, before Easter weekend on OS 7 and its pre-midnight departure in VIE with dinner service once up in the sky and 2.5hrs before arrival in BKK a hot snack.
Seats similar to LX yet tiny better IFE, crew seemed stressed.
I ask because my return ticket to Europe is on Austrian…LAX-VIE…I just decided to try another Star Alliance product in Y. Wondering if a hot breakfast is served on that route…I know, silly to think about now, but I’m thinking about it! 😉
Let’s note that Bottega Brut Millesimato (ABV 11%), a product of Italy, is a charming sparkling wine obtained thanks to a specific oenological technique leading to the creation of bubbles and relevant perlage. Refined and fruity on the nose with aromas of apples and peaches, very soft and harmonious on the palate, elegant and lively with a pleasant spiciness; Bottega Brut Millesimato is versatile and easy to match [Serving Suggestions → Aperitif and cocktails. Caprese salad, pasta with seasonal vegetables, roast turkey, fish dishes.]. Formerly, this Italian sparkling wine was called, Il Vino dei Poeti.
A suggestion for LX → After such a satisfying lunch, Mövenpick Raspberry & Strawberry Sorbet or Mövenpick Passion Fruit & Mango Sorbet would have been a more balanced choice instead of Mövenpick Swiss Chocolate Ice Cream.
Here, I must disagree doctor! I love dark chocolate.
On behalf of all chocolate lovers, one can assume that Swiss Chocolate is the best in the world. It’s even better rippled through a Mövenpick Swiss Chocolate ice cream.
I recently flew from Johannesburg to Zurich (10 hour flight) on a A330 in economy , while service was good as a larger person found the seating to be tight also struggled with the entertainment syatem not very responsive the last couple hours just dragged on , however my return flight on a a340 decided to spoil myself first time ever with an upgrade to premium economy, was the best long haul flight i ever had , super spacious comfy seats fantastic entrrtainment system and the service excellent also as there less people in the area just changed the whole flight experience. I will definetly try travel premium in future unfortunately dont think I will ever experience business.Will definitly fly Swiss again
I’m surprised any airline would want a warm cabin, Sure some people are cold, almost always but when it is warm people usually have more trouble sleeping and some get more nauseous.
I don’t know how you and others do long flights, especially in economy.
We had a great flight from CDG to PHX on Air France in business class but wow, 10+ hrs in flight, another 2 hrs on the ground (delay for alcohol) made it my longest non-stop flight. Coupled with the fact it took off mid-morning made it nearly impossible to get any sleep there are only so many movies you can watch.
One huge positive was that their wifi (free) was excellent but even I can’t do 10 hrs of internet stuff 🙂