Earlier I shared my experience flying SWISS’ Boeing 777 first class. In this post I wanted to specifically highlight something that SWISS will be offering shortly, which unfortunately wasn’t yet available on my flight.
In this post:
SWISS’ limited time first class caviar tasting
Unlike many of the other top first class airlines, SWISS doesn’t consistently serve caviar in first class. Instead, the airline rotates limited time offerings, ranging from fondue, to truffles, to caviar.
I imagine people have mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, there’s not much consistency to what’s offered. On the other hand, if you’re a frequent SWISS flyer, perhaps the variety is nice, as I feel like Lufthansa hasn’t changed up its first class menu in the past decade.
Along those lines, SWISS will soon be offering what’s probably its most exciting limited time first class offering of the year. Between February 21 and March 5, 2024, SWISS first class passengers departing from Zurich (ZRH) or Geneva (GVA) will be served a special caviar tasting.
The first is N°102 – jeune by Oona from Switzerland, which SWISS describes as follows:
First in the selection is the Siberian sturgeon caviar with its exquisite taste, harvested from the warm waters of the Tropenhaus Frutigen in Switzerland. Oona, Switzerland’s sole caviar producer, crafts this delicacy, ensuring utmost freshness with deliveries just days after harvesting.
The second is Prunier Osciètre Supérieur by Caviar House Prunier from France, which SWISS describes as follows:
With the Prunier Ociètre Supérieur, grown in France by the caviar House Prunier, guests can further look forward to a French caviar masterpiece, distinguished by its golden grain, creamy texture and unique, aromatic flavours.
The third is Kaviari Kristal by Sense of Delight from China, which SWISS describes as follows:
With the third caviar of our tasting selection, guests can venture into the heart of the far-eastern waters, as they savor the Kristal caviar by Sense of Delight, a delicacy caviar featuring grains ranging from olive green to gold, distinguished by their roundness and firm consistency.
There’s no easy way to book SWISS first class
Let me of course acknowledge the obvious issue here, for anyone interested in this experience. There’s no easy way to redeem miles for SWISS first class, unless you are a Miles & More Senator member or above.
Your best bet for flying SWISS first class with a decent deal is one of the following:
- Find a good first class fare, which is often available when departing from Europe (particularly Northern Europe), and traveling to the Middle East, India, or to other points in Asia
- Redeem partner points for a SWISS business class ticket, and then buy an upgrade at check-in; on SWISS’ shortest first class flights from Switzerland (like to Boston, Dubai, Montreal, New York, etc.), there’s a chance that the buy up offer might not be too bad
Bottom line
In the coming weeks, SWISS will be offering a special caviar tasting in first class, whereby passengers can sample three different caviar options on flights departing Switzerland. It’s probably not worth going out of your way to fly SWISS first class just for that, but it’s a nice treat to be aware of, should you have such a flight planned.
Anyone flying SWISS first class during the caviar tasting period?
I will actually fly Swiss First doring that time. So now im curious how it will be.
But i also love the Balik salmon because i think it's cool to have something diffrent then the others as there signatue you could might call it?
There was a time (before Covid) when Swiss had an offer for 2 tickets for the price of one in F. My wife and I flew Swiss F for a price lower than a J ticket each. Havent seen this offer come back since.
I experienced LX caviar tasting before - interesting offer and very tasty. Highly recommended
Why bother for two weeks in the office season?
Off*
Sturgeon are endangered and could become extinct. Is it right to eat their roe?
Those are farmed so it has no effect on biodiversity:
„Tropenhaus Frutigen has continued to play a leading role in sustainable fish farming since the first sturgeon were bred at the facility in 2005. Together with the Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health at the University of Berne, it has optimised the fish husbandry conditions and has developed new, animal-friendly methods, such as determining the point in time when the caviar has reached optimal maturity....
Those are farmed so it has no effect on biodiversity:
„Tropenhaus Frutigen has continued to play a leading role in sustainable fish farming since the first sturgeon were bred at the facility in 2005. Together with the Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health at the University of Berne, it has optimised the fish husbandry conditions and has developed new, animal-friendly methods, such as determining the point in time when the caviar has reached optimal maturity. Today around 80,000 sturgeon swim around in the breeding tanks, alongside the perch (picture) and zander.“
The Japanese said the same thing about whales.
on a side note: years ago there was a similar week, albeit with white truffle (around 10'000 USD/kg retail, not less than 4'000 USD wholesale even at the source in Italy). I was flying alone in LX F and the crew just let me grate the whole golf ball sized truffle myself on any dish I wanted to. It was wonderful!
That sounds disguising. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Truffles, like many things, are wonderful in moderation and awful in excess!