In November 2020 it was announced that the airlines in the Lufthansa Group would offer an economy buy-on-board concept for food and beverages on short and medium-haul routes. We had already got to know the details of the new buy-on-board concept from Lufthansa, and now we have got to know the details of the new buy-on-board concept from SWISS.
Basics of the new buy-on-board service from SWISS
SWISS presents its food & beverage concept “SWISS Saveurs” for short and medium-haul flights in Economy Class with a duration of at least 50 minutes (the Business Class service remains unchanged). The concept will be available from March 30, 2021 in Zurich and from April 28, 2021 in Geneva.
The airline had already tested a buy-on-board concept for flights from Geneva, which, according to the airline, has proven to be “so successful”. SWISS will work exclusively with Confiserie Sprüngli on the development of the recipes for the fresh products on the menu. This is a Swiss company that has been around since 1836 and is now in the sixth generation of its founding family.
SWISS claims that it has an emphasis on:
- Offers a wider range of items
- Freshness and quality
- Regional accents
- Sustainable packaging
SWISS introduces buy-on-board service in Zurich
What is on the SWISS menu?
The menu items for purchases on board SWISS include birch muesli, a pretzel with air-dried beef, a vegetable brittle and Luxemburgerli mini macaroons. Prices for fresh options range from CHF 7.50 for a birch muesli or sandwich to CHF 18.50 for a freshly prepared hot meal (although the hot meal is only available on longer flights). The product range is updated every three to six months.
SWISS will supplement its fresh Sprüngli products with other Swiss classics such as Ragusa, Kägi Fret, Zweifel chips and Caotina hot chocolate. In addition, coffee will come from the Zurich-based Café Miró Manufactura de Café, gin from Turicum in Zurich and WhiteFrontier craft beer from Martigny in the canton of Valais. The prices for packaged snacks and drinks are between CHF 3 and CHF 12.
The fresh products from SWISS come from Confiserie Sprüngli
Water and chocolate are still free
SWISS has a long tradition of offering every passenger a free piece of chocolate, and this policy remains in place.
Each passenger is also given a free bottle of water, and the airline is even trying to overdo it. SWISS calls this the exclusive mineral water “SWISS Altitude 1150”, which is produced in cooperation with the water supplier RAMSEIER Suisse AG.
This water is produced exclusively for the airline in the Swiss Glarus Alps. The name is inspired by the height of the spring spring above sea level (in meters).
This water will first be introduced on short and medium haul flights and then gradually on long haul flights as well.
SWISS will continue to offer free chocolate
Bottom line
SWISS will introduce its new buy-on-board menu for all short and medium-haul flights in the coming months.
On the plus side, passengers still get a free bottle of water and chocolate, and the menu looks pretty decent. That being said, no matter how you slice it, this is bad news as you are paying for food and drinks that were previously free.
What do you think of SWISS ‘new purchase on board?
