SWISS: flights, cabins and points from Canada

Flying SWISS from Canada means comparing the Zurich itinerary, the scheduled cabin, and the ticket conditions. Membership in the Lufthansa Group does not establish which services a SWISS flight provides.

This guide focuses on SWISS as an airline. Our Miles & More program page covers the loyalty program. Official information checked on October 28, 2026.

SWISS departures from Canada

Start with Montréal–Zurich itineraries marketed by SWISS, then compare your airport and dates. The website also sells partner flights; a route page does not establish SWISS-operated nonstop service.

Read “operated by” on every segment. A SWISS ticket can include Air Canada or another group airline. European connections may also offer a different product from the long-haul flight.

At Zurich (ZRH), check terminals, border controls, and connection time. Compare a through ticket with separately purchased positioning flights. Separate tickets can require baggage collection and additional time, with different consequences if you miss a flight.

SWISS and Lufthansa share a group and program while retaining distinct aircraft and products. Our Lufthansa airline guide helps compare Frankfurt and Munich itineraries.

SWISS cabins and the SWISS Senses rollout

On long-haul flights, check which Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First cabins are actually offered. First Class depends on the aircraft configuration. European Business Class does not necessarily reproduce the transatlantic seat.

SWISS Senses is the airline’s progressively introduced new cabin offering. Aircraft do not all have the same product. An A350, A330, or Boeing 777 label alone cannot guarantee a particular seat.

Before choosing, check:

Configuration: the scheduled seat map and the product you want.
Seat: category, aisle access, space, and possible surcharges.
Itinerary: every segment’s cabin, including any Economy connections.
Changes: check again after schedule or aircraft changes.

Rollout announcements concern particular periods and frequencies. They do not guarantee Senses on every departure to a destination. Historical flight reviews describe the aircraft and product tested at that time.

Baggage and fares: read the ticket conditions

The official SWISS baggage page distinguishes cabin and checked baggage. Allowances depend on the fare, cabin, itinerary, and operating carrier.

Compare prices including your required bags, seat selection, and changes. Check fare differences and refunds as well. An entry-level fare and a more flexible fare can share a cabin while having different conditions.

Do not automatically extend long-haul conditions to a separately ticketed European flight. An Aeroplan card also does not automatically provide a free checked bag on SWISS.

Zurich lounges: which access applies?

SWISS lounge admission rules distinguish Business, Senator, and First lounges. Entry depends on an eligible cabin, status, and boarding pass. Guest conditions also vary.

Premium Economy alone does not guarantee admission. Paid lounge entry may be offered under specific conditions. Compare its cost with your actual connection time.

Do not extend a Lufthansa benefit to every SWISS lounge. Check the specific lounge, opening hours, terminal, and admission requirements.

Book SWISS through Miles & More or Aeroplan

Miles & More and Aeroplan can offer different SWISS seats. Compare the same dates and segments before choosing.

Miles & More: search the current price in the flight award engine. An old award chart cannot establish today’s price.
Aeroplan: SWISS appears among Air Canada’s partners. Check partner seats, cabins, and total payment.
Availability: a cash seat or Miles & More award may be absent from Aeroplan. Do not assume First or Senses availability.

Our Aeroplan program page explains that route. The programs use separate currencies; balances cannot transfer between them. The Miles & More article published in December 2023 provides historical context rather than current booking terms.

Which Canadian cards can help book SWISS?

Cobalt: transfer to Aeroplan

The American Express Cobalt Card earns Membership Rewards. The Canadian American Express program allows transfers of 1,000 Membership Rewards points to 1,000 Aeroplan points.

This books SWISS seats available through Aeroplan. The Canadian partner list consulted does not offer a direct Miles & More transfer. Check availability before transferring; the transfer does not hold a seat.

Compare

American Express Cobalt^® Card

American Express Amex Membership Rewards

Annual fee: $191.88
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $255
Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months: Up to 15,000 points

The American Express Cobalt^® Card is a versatile American Express card, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt^® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer valued at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

15,000 Aeroplan points
15,000 Avios points
15,000 Flying Blue Miles
18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

American Express Cobalt^® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, and home food delivery. A spend cap applies.
3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
Front Of The Line^® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers three kinds of merchants:

Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
Home food delivery.
Convenience stores (Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven): not part of 5X, 1 point per dollar.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt^® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category	Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)	5
Home food delivery	5
Restaurants and bars	5
Convenience stores	1
Streaming services	3
Service station	2
Transport	2
Travel	1
Other	1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt^® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt^® Card fees

Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
Additional cards: $0.
Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
3xStreaming
2xTransit
2xGas
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,675

2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $500

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $500

Travel AccidentUp to $250,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

TD Aeroplan: earn without a transfer

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card earns Aeroplan points directly for the same partner-booking route.

Compare its fees and eligibility requirements. Benefits tied to Air Canada do not become SWISS benefits. The card panels show current welcome offers and their conditions.

FeaturedCompare

TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card

TD Aeroplan First-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $139
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $1,139
Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months: Up to 50,000 points

With this offer for the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 50,000 Aeroplan points^† as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year^†.

Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first Purchase with your new Card^†
Earn 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of Account opening^†.
Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening^†

This card also allows you to enjoy travel benefits, such as a free first checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation^†, as well as a rebate on the NEXUS program application fee (up to $100 CAD per eligible cardholder) every 48 months^†.

With the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points^† per $1 spent on:

Grocery purchases
Gas and electric vehicle charging purchases
Purchases made directly with Air Canada^® (including Air Canada Vacations^®)

You also earn 1 point^† per dollar on all other eligible purchases made with your card.

Legal

^†Terms and conditions apply.

Annual fee

Primary card$139

Additional card$75

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1.5xGas
1.5xGroceries
1.5xAir Canada flights
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,714

2nd Year Value$425

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 4 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,500

Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Buying points: compare the complete cost

If your SWISS seat is available through Aeroplan, our affiliate link to buy Aeroplan points displays the applicable offer. Milesopedia may earn a commission. This purchase does not fund Miles & More.

For Miles & More, the official help page points to options including Bundle&Go travel packages with miles. Check packages and conditions in your account.

Add missing points, taxes, carrier charges, and seat selection. Check currency, exchange costs, posting time, and cancellation terms. Compare with the cash ticket: buying points guarantees neither award availability nor SWISS Senses.

Compare the best credit cards in Canada for your intended booking route.

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Do SWISS and Lufthansa offer the same cabins?

No. They share a group and Miles & More, but aircraft, cabins, and services remain distinct. Check the operating carrier on every segment.

Does every SWISS flight feature SWISS Senses?

No. The rollout is progressive. Check the scheduled seat map and review it after an aircraft change.

Can I book SWISS with Aeroplan?

Yes, when SWISS releases partner seats that appear in Aeroplan. Check each segment’s cabin and the complete cost.

Can Canadian Membership Rewards transfer to Miles & More?

The Canadian partner list consulted does not offer this direct transfer. The route discussed uses Aeroplan to book SWISS partner seats.

Does Premium Economy include SWISS lounge access?

Premium Economy alone does not guarantee entry. Check the eligible cabin, status, lounge rules, or a paid access option.

Does an Aeroplan card include a free bag on SWISS?

Benefits tied to Air Canada flights do not automatically apply to SWISS. Check the ticket allowance and operating carrier’s conditions.

Does buying points guarantee a Senses seat?

No. Buying or transferring points does not hold an award. Both availability and aircraft configuration can change.

Category	Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)	5
Home food delivery	5
Restaurants and bars	5
Convenience stores	1
Streaming services	3
Service station	2
Transport	2
Travel	1
Other	1