On the Ground: Check-in was efficient and friendly, with no wait, so my baggage was quickly processed and I was on my way to the security checkpoint within minutes. Even during a busy period there was no line in the dedicated premium security lane, and I was seated in the lounge with a glass of wine less than 10 minutes after leaving the limo. The lounge, shared with Lufthansa, is compact and unadorned but quiet once the Lufthansa flight boarded shortly after my arrival. The self-service bar was well stocked and offered sandwiches and a good selection of fruit juices. (28/30)
Pre-flight: Boarding through the dedicated lane, I and several other passengers discovered we had been upgraded to first class because business class was full. A flight attendant promptly took my jacket and placed it in the closet before I could hang it on the seatback. I was offered a glass of well-chilled Brut Mosaique while I familiarized myself with the seat controls. The seat settings were straightforward, with three presets (lounge, sleep and landing) as well as full manual adjustments; I fine-tuned the lumbar support and firmness to suit my comfort. Menus were handed out and, before I finished reading, we were airborne on schedule. (29/30)
In-flight: The new Swiss business cabin features an attractive 1-2-1 staggered layout that provides foot space when seats are fully reclined. I had a single seat with ample surface area for books and a laptop while using the tray table for dinner. A recessed shelf in front housed my personal AV monitor. Lighting options were thoughtful: an overhead light, a flexible crane-neck reading lamp and a recessed mood light that provided enough illumination to find glasses when the cabin was dimmed. Dinner options initially seemed modest, but my salmon starter was moist and paired well with artichokes. For the main course I chose a mushroom and pumpkin ragout with spaetzle, a creation from the renowned Zürich vegetarian restaurant Hiltl — it was delicious and made me reassess my first impression of the menu. Dessert was Limoncello cream with biscotti, followed by classic Swiss chocolates. The wine selection was excellent: a dry Chasselas from the Vaud region accompanied the salmon and a deep red Grand Cru from Vaud paired with the ragout. Unfortunately, when the cabin was full and staff were busy, my glass of the red was not refilled. After dinner I watched a light film and reclined the seat to a fully flat 180-degree position, falling asleep almost instantly. The bed felt a bit narrow but offered enough room to move and a comfortable firmness for sleeping. At breakfast, my tea arrived piping hot and the breads were served warm. (38/40)
The Experience: Aside from the missed wine refill, the cabin crew remained attentive, cordial and available throughout the flight. I was among the first to disembark and found my luggage on the belt when I reached baggage claim, reflecting the consistent efficiency of the journey.
Total Score: 95/100