Flying High: My First Impressions of SWISS Senses on the A350
There are people who view flying as a necessary evil. I am not one of them. For me, stepping onto a plane is pure joy, a ritual I look forward to the moment I book a ticket. So when I flew the brand-new SWISS A350 to Boston and back to Zurich, I was already smiling before I reached the gate.
The SWISS Senses cabin concept is the airline’s most significant product investment in its history, part of a broader 2.5 billion Euro overhaul across the Lufthansa Group. And Boston holds a special place in this story: it was the very first intercontinental destination the A350 ever served, with flights launching in November 2025. So in a way, flying this route felt like being part of something historic.
The experience begins long before you board. One of the things I genuinely love about flying First Class with SWISS is the ritual of it: dedicated check-in, your own security lane, being driven to the aircraft. It sets a tone. It signals that the next several hours belong entirely to you.
The First Class cabin on the A350 is intimate by design. Just three suites, each a private sanctuary with walls nearly six feet high and sliding doors that close the world away. The bathroom is spacious and offers great amenities.
On my outbound flight I sat in 1K, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The aisle beside that seat sees almost no traffic, which means the privacy feels absolute.
On the return I was in 1A, which sits across from the middle suite. If you are travelling as a couple, 1A paired with the booked middle suite is actually a lovely configuration: you face each other across a natural divide and can keep your doors open to create your own little world within the world.
I would, however, caution anyone against booking the middle suite as a pair without thinking it through carefully. Sharing it means one person must essentially climb over the other to exit. There is only a single screen, so agreeing on what to watch becomes non-negotiable. And the absence of a window makes it feel surprisingly enclosed, almost claustrophobic. Given that it commands a premium over the already premium First Class fare, I struggle to justify the cost unless you are truly content to be in your own cocoon together.
The suite itself is beautiful. Thoughtfully designed, genuinely luxurious in feel. The iPad-based control system is a real improvement over what came before: intuitive, elegant, effortless.
The personal wardrobe with its proper coat hanger is a small touch that makes an outsized difference when you board with a longer jacket and simply do not want to fold it into an overhead bin.
Speaking of which: storage. This is where I must be honest. For a First Class passenger, especially one who travels as I do with a carry-on trolley and a weekend bag, the space is simply not generous enough. The under-seat compartment fits one; the other must find a home elsewhere. On both flights the crew was wonderful and accommodated my trolley in their own storage, but this should not be necessary at such a price point. In Business Class, the situation is even more pronounced because the central overhead bins were removed in the new configuration, creating a genuine shortage of overhead space throughout the cabin. Coats, too, must be managed independently in Business, where there is no equivalent of the First Class wardrobe.
The Business Class cabin is worth a visit, even if only to look. The SWISS Senses concept offers five distinct seat types: the Business Suite, Privacy Seat, Extra Space Seat, Classic Seat and Extra Long Bed Seat, all with direct aisle access. My personal favourite configuration from what I observed is the centre pair with a table on each side. For a solo traveller or a couple who enjoy their own space, it is genuinely excellent. However, if you are travelling as a family or with young children, the layout becomes challenging. Many seat pairings face away from each other into the aisle rather than toward one another, which makes the physical closeness of family travel oddly disconnected. It is one of those things the design did not fully account for.
I also took a brief look at the Premium Economy, and it genuinely impressed me. The value proposition there is real, and I can imagine recommending it without hesitation to someone who wants a step up without the full investment.
The food, as always with SWISS, was outstanding. I will never tire of eating at 35,000 feet. There is something eternally civilised about a beautifully set tray and a glass of wine above the clouds.
Now for two honest caveats. On my return flight, the iPad system failed entirely, which was frustrating in a way that would have been unthinkable in a more established product. We also had overhead lighting that could not be switched off and ultimately had to be covered with tape, which is not quite the first impression this extraordinary aircraft deserves. And the Starlink Wi-Fi, though very much a selling point, dropped in and out on both legs rather than delivering the seamless connectivity promised. These are early days for the aircraft on this route, and I fully expect the teething troubles to be resolved quickly. SWISS is too detail-oriented an airline to let these things linger.
What stays with me is the feeling. SWISS is an airline that genuinely cares about the experience it creates. My SWISS Senator status means I can access better seats without a surcharge and even use miles toward First Class, and I am reminded every time I travel with them why loyalty to a single airline is worthwhile.
The new SWISS Senses on the A350 is not a perfect product yet, but it is a magnificent one. If you have the opportunity to experience it, take it.
And if Boston is the destination, even better: you will be flying one of the most storied new routes in recent European aviation history. Bon voyage.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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