For the past 9 years Swiss has only made its first class award space available to top elite members of the Miles & More frequent flyer program. So if you have United, Air Canada, Avianca or other Star Alliance miles you’ve been shut out from redeeming for this product.
While Lufthansa, which shares common ownership with Swiss, has been opening up award space in first class to partners within 14 days of departure, even that wasn’t an option with Swiss. However there have been some exceptions:
- Swiss first became bookable with partner miles briefly in 2016
- And in early 2017
- However later in 2017 when this happened again Swiss cancelled Aeroplan-issued tickets as a mistake
- But they do make partner first class awards available on their fifth freedom São Paulo – Buenos Aires route.
Now there’s been same day/next day space available for Newark – Zurich and Boston – Zurich and connecting space onward Zurich – Singapore.
This has been bookable. It is not phantom space. And since it is last minute only there’s no reason to think it is a mistake. They’ve been willing to open space on a limited basis in the past (and even currently, with fifth freedom routes) without calling it a mistake and even without closing off the option. Note that this space doesn’t appear to be bookable using Air Canada Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles points at the moment. I haven’t checked redemptions using other Star Alliance programs.
(HT: cfischer via Dan’s Deals)
@ Nice to have as a backup with some LH F routes returning to no-F this fall.
Nice but of very limited utility.
I like Swiss but there are two silly issues that keep me away from them:
1. WARM cabins… more like hot cabins. I do not care how good the food is. Warm cabins ruin the flight.
2. Seats that feel like a bad air mattress. These are the worst seats in the Industry in my opinion.
for these Reasons, I’m out.
Brought back memories with the reference to the cancelled award tickets for Aeroplan bookings a few years back. I was upset my trip was downgraded to business, but Aeroplan (mistakenly?) refunded me 100% of the miles for my ticket instead of just the difference between business and first, so its hard to complain about a free bed across the ocean.
Most interestingly it‘s not even bookable for it‘s own Miles & More members, at least not online. Wouldn‘t count on it lasting for too long.
How quickly to United MileagePlus purchases post? Could be a great last minute arbitrage.
And ever since its inception literally one of the worst Swiss flights in the entire world has been EWR-ZRH. No wonder first is available on that route. Back in the day when it was first introduced literally everything was shut down at that part of EWR as it was the final flight of the night. Plus how much first class will you actually enjoy when wheels up aren’t until 10pm. OK shoot me down for saying all this.
I agree with much of @Steven M has to say but I don’t really think 10 pm is all that late compared to many other TATL flights from various airports in the USA.
This is interesting but very limited application and even then can you trust that it will stick.