Reviews

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

Matt MoffittContributing editor
Matt Moffitt is a contributing editor and expert in getting the most out of credit cards and points (he carries at least 25 cards in his wallet at any given time). Originally from Sydney, Australia, he won the Green Card Lottery and lived in Austin, Texas for 10 years before relocating to Spain in 2025.

November 2, 2023 • 25 min read

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Quick summary

Swiss first class is among the most exclusive airline experiences, featuring luxurious lounges, attentive service and elegant cabin design.
Booking first class with points is challenging, but upgrading from a business-class award ticket using cash is possible and may cost $1,000–$2,000 each way between Europe and the U.S.
The ground experience in Zurich stands out, offering private transfers, gourmet dining and premium amenities in the Terminal E lounge.
On board, passengers enjoy spacious suites, high-quality bedding, extensive dining options and unlimited Wi-Fi, though the entertainment selection and seat design are somewhat dated.

What to consider

First-class award seats are generally unavailable to partner program members except on select routes or for elite status holders.
Upgrade offers are typically extended at check-in, with pricing varying by route, availability and flight duration.
Swiss plans to introduce new first-class products in 2025, but timelines have shifted and the current product may remain for some time.

What you'll miss from the article

A detailed breakdown of the Swiss first-class experience, including lounge access, seat features, dining highlights and upgrade strategies.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

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

Sleek, comfortable cabin and seats
Luxurious, elegant lounges
Warm, professional service on the ground and in the air

Cons

Difficult to book with points
Outdated hard product
Lackluster entertainment options

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.?

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:

Book a cash fare in first class
Book a cash fare in business class and then upgrade to first class with cash (explained below)
Hold Lufthansa Miles & More Senator or HON Circle elite status and redeem Miles & More miles
Redeem partner points or miles to book business class and upgrade with cash at check-in (explained below)
Redeem partner points or miles, such as United MileagePlus miles, but only on Swiss' fifth-freedom route between Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, Argentina

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.

Swiss business class. MATT MOFFITT/THE POINTS GUY

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

Class	Economy	Premium economy	Business class	First class
Airfare (round trip)	$488-$2,065	N/A on this route	$2,810-$11,060	$10,500-$14,510
United MileagePlus miles	80,000 miles plus $62	N/A on this route	160,000 miles plus $62	N/A
Air Canada Aeroplan points	70,000 points plus $161	N/A on this route	120,000 points plus $161	N/A

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 American Express 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.

Priority check-in and security	Yes
Lounge available	Yes, in Terminal A (Schengen flights) and Terminal E (non-Schengen flights)
TSA PreCheck access	Yes
Boarding group	Group 1

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.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
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Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Pros

Sleek, comfortable cabin and seats
Luxurious, elegant lounges
Warm, professional service on the ground and in the air

Cons

Difficult to book with points
Outdated hard product
Lackluster entertainment options

How much does first class cost to book on Swiss?

There are several ways to book Swiss first class:

Book a cash fare in first class
Book a cash fare in business class and then upgrade to first class with cash (explained below)
Hold Lufthansa Miles & More Senator or HON Circle elite status and redeem Miles & More miles
Redeem partner points or miles to book business class and upgrade with cash at check-in (explained below)
Redeem partner points or miles, such as United MileagePlus miles, but only on Swiss' fifth-freedom route between Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

Class	Economy	Premium economy	Business class	First class
Airfare (round trip)	$488-$2,065	N/A on this route	$2,810-$11,060	$10,500-$14,510
United MileagePlus miles	80,000 miles plus $62	N/A on this route	160,000 miles plus $62	N/A
Air Canada Aeroplan points	70,000 points plus $161	N/A on this route	120,000 points plus $161	N/A

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.

Checking into and boarding first class on Swiss

Priority check-in and security	Yes
Lounge available	Yes, in Terminal A (Schengen flights) and Terminal E (non-Schengen flights)
TSA PreCheck access	Yes
Boarding group	Group 1

Departing from or connecting through Zurich

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