SWISS has announced some updates to its premium inflight catering as of September, and there’s one change that I’d consider to be particularly substantial.
In this post:
SWISS’ new dine on demand concept
SWISS is launching a new service concept in long haul business class, which includes the introduction of a new dine on demand option for both meals.
For the first meal, business class passengers can choose to dine in one of two ways:
- They can enjoy the traditional “restaurant-style” service, in which meals are served one course at a time, typically at the beginning of the flight
- They can enjoy a new “casual dining” option, whereby they can receive a starter, main course, and dessert, together at the time of their choosing
- Previously the airline only served the main meal shortly after takeoff, with the choice of enjoying a full meal one course at a time, or an express meal, with everything served at once
SWISS has also reimagined the second meal in business class (historically served pre-arrival), with the introduction of the new “SWISS Bistro” concept:
- There will be a menu with a variety of options, including hot items, cold items, and light snacks
- Guests can order these any time after the first meal, so it doesn’t just have to be before landing
- As a point of comparison, previously the airline had a simple pre-landing snack, with no flexibility on when it was served
These changes are intended to better enable guests to tailor their inflight experience to their wishes and needs. This is an awesome step in the right direction for SWISS.
I’d say that this is kind of a dine on demand concept. However, it’s not quite to the level of the likes of Qatar Airways, where you can choose to have a course-by-course meal at any point in your flight, and there are no pre-determined times to serve meals.
SWISS is the first Lufthansa Group airline to introduce a dine on demand service in business class.
SWISS’ “Taste of Switzerland” menu
In addition to the new dine on demand option, SWISS is also rolling out a new “SWISS Taste of Switzerland” menu in long haul business class and first class. This is available on flights departing Switzerland for a period of six months, starting in September.
In SWISS first class, passengers can expect dishes like the following:
- A starter of marinated lobster with pecorino cheese and cauliflower panna cotta
- A main course of veal tenderloin with black truffle sauce, or sautéed cod with seafood nage and potato and fennel brandade
- A dessert of blueberry slice with chocolate crumble and Appenzeller beer ice cream
In SWISS business class, passengers can expect dishes like the following:
- A starter of beetroot tabbouleh with green pea guacamole, or a Balik salmon sashimi with avocado, cucumber and wasabi vinaigrette
- A main course of “Meat Love” meatloaf with morel sauce
- A dessert of cheesecake with chocolate sponge and citrus fruits
Bottom line
SWISS is making some positive updates to its long haul dining concept. In addition to introducing a new “Taste of Switzerland” menu, the airline is also introducing a dine on demand concept in business class.
You can have your main meal served on a single tray at any point in the flight. Furthermore, rather than there being a specific pre-arrival meal, you can instead order from a “bistro” menu anytime after your main meal, giving you a lot more flexibility.
Well done, SWISS — here’s to hoping that other Lufthansa Group airlines match this change.
What do you make of these SWISS catering changes?
I am sorry, I know I am not making myself popular here. I hate the dine on demand concept, as it can prolong noise of talk, ordering, serving and clonking of cutlery and tableware throughout the flight. I experienced this on the ultra long AUH-MEL and SYD routes, where there was never any real quiet. In smaller cabins this could be even more of a nuisance. I much prefer to have one main service (full...
I am sorry, I know I am not making myself popular here. I hate the dine on demand concept, as it can prolong noise of talk, ordering, serving and clonking of cutlery and tableware throughout the flight. I experienced this on the ultra long AUH-MEL and SYD routes, where there was never any real quiet. In smaller cabins this could be even more of a nuisance. I much prefer to have one main service (full or express) and then let the cabin come to rest. I like having an order any time bistro menu though…
Time for AA, DL, UA to wake up and stop cowtowing to the unions holding back proper service over 'health' concerns
Great to see the full 'restaurant' style service available and nice quality on those Taste of Switzerland dishes even for biz
Well done SWISS
So first of all, taste of Switzerland has been available for quite some time now, it's not new and certainly not kicking off in September, what may be kicking off in September is a new canton, they change where which region the food originates from.
Secondly dine on demand has been available in first class for quite a while as well, you can literally always eat what you want whenever and they try to...
So first of all, taste of Switzerland has been available for quite some time now, it's not new and certainly not kicking off in September, what may be kicking off in September is a new canton, they change where which region the food originates from.
Secondly dine on demand has been available in first class for quite a while as well, you can literally always eat what you want whenever and they try to stuff you like a pig and you're hard pressed to refuse trying every item on the menu throughout the flight.
Even throughout covid this was the case and I just got off a two flights with then in June.
Some decades ago I took an Economy flight with Swissair and they served me a portion of salmon sashimi, delicious, unforgettable! I was born in Brazil but my surname is Japanese, could not imagine that would be gifted with sashimi in the Economy seat! Thanks Swissair!
"taste of Switzerland" menu includes lobster for a landlocked country.
Have so much money that you can afford impractical niceties? That checks out.
I'll be flying swiss later this month, assuming restrictions for entry into Switzerland don't change, and look forward to trying this out. Have always been impressed with their product.
Swiss is one of my favorite airlines and the meals are often a highlight, but lobster with pecorino and panna cotta sounds absolutely revolting.
Not only that but with Switzerland being a landlocked country, how does lobster fit into the “Taste of Switzerland” concept?
HAHAHA - my thoughts exactly!
I miss traveling oh so much that you can even give me an AA lasagna and I will feel happy about it.
I won't eat it. But I will be happy lol