Swiss International Air Lines has unveiled its new Premium Economy product, which will be flying in 2022. Let us dive in.
SWISS Premium Economy – Flying from April 2022. Interesting to note there is very little separation between Premium and normal Economy class passengers… Image, SWISS.
Initially, the Premium Economy seating will be installed on the airlines Boeing 777-300ER aircraft – creating a four-class cabin (First Class, Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class).
The Seat
SWISS will install 24 Premium Economy seats from ZIM Aerospace. The seat features an integrated fixed back shell recline to ensure zero intrusion into the personal space of the passenger behind.
SWISS Premium Economy Seat – Image, SWISS
In terms of pitch and with, it will offer a 99cm pitch (39″, from the 31″ in economy class). Seat width increases from 46 and 48 centimetres too (18″ to 19″), compared to 43.4cm (the usual crunch 17″ seat width).
SWISS Premium Economy Seat – Image, SWISS
The new Premium Economy Class seat further features a greater recline and is additionally equipped with a fold-out leg rest. The seat’s covers have been produced by Lantal of Bern, Switzerland.
SWISS Premium Economy travellers will be issued with a complimentary amenity kit that is specifically manufactured using sustainable materials.
In terms of IFE, passengers will be able to use high-quality noise-reducing headphones via the seat’s 15.6-inch inflight entertainment monitor. Personal reading lamps will provide suitable lighting on night-flight services. Electronic devices can be charged using the seat’s in-built USB-A socket.
Food and Beverage
SWISS’s inflight cuisine has been updated for the Premium Economy offering, with the airline planning t a refreshing elderberry welcome drink on boarding the aircraft. Passengers will be able to choose from three hot meals all served on china tableware.
Premium Economy Meal – Image, SWISS.
The selection here will include a dish from the award-winning ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ inflight culinary programme, together with a vegetarian option supplied by Hiltl, the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant.
On the ground and baggage
SWISS Premium Economy customers able to take two bags of up to 23 kilos each without charge – double the economy passenger’s allowance. They can also take advantage of reduced-rate access to the SWISS Business Lounges at Zurich and Geneva airports and the SWISS Arrival Lounge at Zurich Airport.
There will also be priority boarding for Premium Economy Passengers too over Economy Passengers.
Flying from April 2022
The new Premium Economy Class will be gradually installed aboard SWISS’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from the fourth quarter of this year.
The new class is bookable from today (28 June) for travel from April 2022 on the entire Boeing 777-300ER route network. Destinations served by SWISS with this aircraft type include
- Bangkok
- Hong Kong
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- San Francisco
- São Paulo
- Singapore
Depending on the further development of the present pandemic, the new Premium Economy Class may be flying sooner as a standard product on some of these routes. During the introductory phase, upgrade options are offered for a fee, subject to availability.
In Quotes
SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx on the launch said
We are delighted that, in introducing our new Premium Economy Class, we are meeting our customers’ growing demand for more privacy, more comfort and more individuality,”
“And by introducing our new class of travel, we are also further strengthening our premium positioning in the growing leisure travel segment.”
On the catering, CCO Goudarzi Pour explained
Our Premium Economy guests will be able to choose their inflight meal according to their personal wishes and tastes,”
“And we’ll also be able to count on our long-standing partnership with Hiltl for our vegetarian offerings, for which we’re seeing an ever-growing demand.”
Cost
For Premium Economy, there is always an add-on cost. SWISS estimates that a one-way price uplift will be around CHF 250 to 350 higher than its Economy Class equivalent (US$271 to US$380, €228-€319 £195-£273)
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