Flying Washington, D.C. → Zurich at the front of the plane
Booked well, Washington, D.C. to Zurich in First Class is not an indulgence so much as arithmetic: a flat bed out of Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), hours of genuine sleep, and a first day in Zurich you don't lose to recovery.
Because no carrier flies true First Class nonstop on this pairing, the routing craft matters. SWISS, Lufthansa and British Airways each offer superb one-stop itineraries through their hubs — often at fares below what a nonstop business seat would cost, with a lounge stop that feels like part of the vacation.
Dulles offers a solid premium landscape: Lufthansa operates its own lounge complex, and Etihad, Qatar Airways, and Air France premium passengers enjoy dedicated or elevated partner facilities. There is no standalone international First Class lounge, though Lufthansa First travelers receive enhanced handling when the First cabin operates on the Frankfurt route.
On timing: zurich is a two-season First Class market. December through March feeds the Alps — fares and cabin loads peak around Christmas, New Year, and February half-terms as skiers route through to St. Moritz and Verbier. June through September brings lake swimming and festival season. April–May and October–November are the value windows, with soft fares, open First award and consolidator space, and the city at its unhurried best.