Review: SWISS A343 Business Class, Shanghai to Zurich

 

SWISS A343 business class, Shanghai to Zurich

Trip to Cebu flying Lufthansa & Swiss Business Class

Flight: LX 189
Departure time in Shanghai (PVG): 10:05
Arrival time in Zurich (ZRH): 18:15
Aircraft: Airbus 340-313
Seat: 7A
Duration: 14h 5m
Date of flight: July 16, 2025
*This is a revenue ticket, Business Class flight #288

Video on YouTube


Shanghai Pudong Airport T2, Check-in

SWISS check-in desks are located at Area C of Shanghai Pudong Terminal 2. It opened exactly 3 hours before departure so we had to wait for about 10 minutes or so.

There were 3 check-in desks dedicated for business class passengers as well as those with Star Alliance gold status (desks 22-24). Once it opened, we were helped by a friendly agent who issued our boarding passes all the way to Stockholm, and informed us that we could use either the Juneyao Air Lounge or the Air China Lounge.

Fast Track

Immigration control went quickly and I was able to use Fast Track for premium passengers for security check.

Juneyao Air Lounge

First, we visited the Juneyao Air Lounge. It is a really small lounge compared to the Air China Lounge although I personally liked it better.

Air China Lounge

Then, I transferred to the nearby Air China Lounge. The lounge comprised of two floors with a maximum capacity of more than 600 guests.

Boarding, Gate D65

I left the lounge at 9:13am and headed to the boarding gate (D65) which was a few minutes walk from the lounge. At 9:23am, boarding began, with those traveling in premium class getting priority.

Aircraft, Airbus A343

This 21-year old aircraft is called "Schaffhausen".

Business Class Cabin

On this aircraft that was reconfigured in 2023 to add 21 premium economy seats, there are 8 first class seats and 42 business class seats. Rows 4 and 5 comprise the smaller business cabin with a total of 9 seats and is located in front of the galley. The bigger business cabin from rows 6 to 12 (with 2 more seats in row 13) is located behind the galley. The configuration is not standard as there are throne seats here which give more privacy and these are seats 4A and 4K, 6A and 6K, 8A and 8K, 10A and 10K and 12A and 12K. There are 4 seats in these even number rows, while the odd rows have 5 seats.

Seat 7A

My seat 7A is a window seat. It is also the least desirable seat together with 7B when it comes to space. So if you can, try to avoid odd number seats A and B.

Personal screen

Between the personal screens of seat 7A and 7B are the literature pockets.

A small storage below the screen.

Inflight magazine, safety card, wifi card, air-sickness bag

Wifi (messaging is free for the whole flight, 4 hours internet use is CHF25 and for the whole flight, the cost is CHF35.

The pillow and blanket were nice although unlike Lufthansa that offers a mattress pad, SWISS does not have it.


Located to the right of the seat is the reading lamp, headphone socket, headphones, USB and universal power port, and a lamp. There is also a small bottle of water.

SWISS business class headphones

Hanger and bottle of water

Near the seat controls is the IFE controller.

On this aircraft, there are no individual air nozzles.

Amenity Kit

Already waiting at the seat are the Victorinox amenity kit.

Although the case can be re-used for other purposes, the contents left a lot to be desired. It had a dental kit, earplugs, a lip balm, a pair of socks and an eyeshade. I wish they could offer a better content like Lufthansa which offers L´Occitane products. Or why not, some Diptyque products like Qatar Airways!

Pre-Departure Beverage

Moments after settling in, the flight attendant taking care of our aisle came to offer us some drinks. There was a choice between champagne and a non-alcoholic aperol soda.

I had the aperol soda while Mike had the champagne.

Menu Card

We were also offered the menu card.

Menu card

Drinks list

Drinks list

Menu card

Lastly, we were offered some hot towels.

Inflight Entertainment

SWISS offers a good selection of films better than what Lufthansa offers, in my opinion. From the movie selection, I ended up watching Mickey 17 and Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy.

Pushback & Take Off

We began our pushback at 10:02am and 35 minutes later, we were airborne.

Airshow

Airshow enroute to Zurich

Dining

At 11:19am (about 42 minutes after take off), we were served something to drink.

I had a glass of apple juice while Mike had gin and tonic. We were also offered some mixed nuts.

A glass of bubbly (Jacquart Mosaique Brut) for Mike 👍

At 11:48am, we were served the first course. I had the smoked duck breast which was very good. It was served on a tray together with some salads and cheese. Bread was also offered.

Mike had the cherry tomatoes and mozzarella which he thought was also very good.

For my main course, I had the grilled beef tenderloin which was fantastic 😋

Mike´s panfried halibut filet was also very good.

To end the meal, I had the chocolate brownie.

A cup of chamomile tea.

Lindt chocolate 

We were also offered a small bottle of water to end the service. Since the seat turns into a fully flat bed, I was able to sleep for a couple of hours.

Movie Snack

After the meal service, a snacks bar was set up in the galley. It had bottles of water, pop corn, chips and fruits.

Some snacks from the galley while watching a film 👍

About 5 hours before landing, the crew came to offer some sandwich. There was a choice between prosciutto or mozzarella and cheese. I settled for the former and it was very good although I wish SWISS had something like cup noodles or something warm to offer in between the 14-hour long flight.

A glass of apple juice to go with my sandwich.

A Gift from Swiss

Since I collect paper coffee cups, I asked one of the flight attendants if I could have a paper coffee cup from economy class. She came back moments later informing me that they had forgotten to load the economy class cups and then gave me a SWISS tea mug and a SWISS chocolate bar. I was really impressed. Thank you so much 🙏 

Arrival Meal

About an hour and fifty minutes before landing, the drinks trolley came.

I had a glass of Rivella (from the Swiss Senses concept) which tasted like a light ginger ale.

Then, I had the rosemary beef burger instead of the pasta salad. The beef was fantastic 😋 I also had a glass of apple juice when the flight attendant offered refills.

Hot towel

As usual, we were offered some SWISS chocolates to end the service.

Lavatory

There are 2 lavatories for the passengers of the business cabin located between the two business sections (behind row 5 and in front of row 6).

Lavatory

There were refreshing towels as well as products from the Swiss company Soeder (face cream, lotion and face spray).

Landing in Zurich Airport

We landed at 6:18pm and reached our gate about 4 minutes later.
 
Zurich Airport

CONCLUSION

I was really looking forward to this flight as it has been 11 years since I last flew with Swiss in business class. With 42 seats in business class, we ended up choosing seats 7A and 7B which are not the most spacious seats. Still, it was okay if you are slim and not that long. The meals served onboard were very good and the complimentary wifi for messaging use was a big plus. I was also given a Swiss tea mug and a Swiss chocolate bar when they realized the coffee cup from economy class I requested was not loaded, which was a very nice gesture.

Sadly, I thought the contents of the Victorinox amenity kit left a lot to be desired and the Movie Snack offering for a 14-hour flight could also be better. For the price we paid, we can not complain (we paid about $1290 per person during the partner sale for a return flight in business class from Stockholm to Shanghai). Overall, a nice flight.

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