New Premium Economy for Swiss and Lufthansa Group

Long-awaited, Swiss has finally unveiled its future Premium Economy, a seat that will be found over time on other Lufthansa Group airlines, namely Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines and Austrian.

Swiss’s new premium economy seat

ZIM was chosen to supply the new seat. Unlike many airlines, Swiss has opted for a fixed-shell seat, so that the reclining seat does not encroach on the space of the passenger behind. We’ll have to wait and see, but our only experience of a fixed-shell Premium Economy is Air France’s former premium éco, which wasn’t known for its legendary comfort. To be checked. The seat recline will be 31°.

The seat is also wider than an economy-class seat: between 46 and 48 centimeters, compared with 43.4. Seat pitch has been increased from 78.7 centimeters in economy class to 99 centimeters.

Premium Economy passengers will receive a toiletry kit. They will also receive high-quality noise-cancelling headphones and enjoy a 15.6-inch seat screen. Personal reading lights provide adequate illumination for night flights, and electronic devices can be recharged via the seat’s built-in USB-A socket.

A specific catering offer

Passengers will be offered a refreshing welcome drink made from elderberry and can choose from three hot dishes, all served on porcelain tableware, including a dish from the award-winning SWISS Taste of Switzerland culinary program and a vegetarian dish from Hiltl, the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant.

In addition, the baggage allowance for premium economy passengers will be increased to two suitcases weighing a maximum of 23 kilos each, double that of economy class passengers. They enjoy discounted access to the SWISS Business Lounges at Zurich and Geneva airports, and to the SWISS Arrival Lounge at Zurich Airport. They benefit from priority boarding over economy class passengers.

Reduced number of seats in economy and non-separated cabins

When an airline introduces a premium economy class, it necessarily does so at the expense of another class. Swiss’s 24 premium economy seats will not replace business seats, but eco seats, whose capacity on B777-300ERs will therefore be reduced by 40 seats. In fact, 4 rows of eco seats will disappear in favor of 3 rows of premium eco.

On the other hand, the premium eco cabin, as shown in these images, will not be separated from the economy cabin, which somewhat kills its “premium” character.

Premium economy on 777-300ERs

This new cabin will only be available on Swiss’s 12 Boeings 777-300ER. The A330 and A340 will be excluded, a logical decision given that the A340’s future in the fleet is far from assured, but more surprising in the case of the A330.

It will be gradually installed from the fourth quarter of this year. The new class can be booked today for travel from April 2022 on the entire Boeing 777-300ER network. SWISS currently serves the following destinations with this type of aircraft: Bangkok, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, São Paulo and Singapore.

A harmonized product within the Lufthansa Group

What’s interesting to note is the move towards harmonization within the Lufthansa Group airlines initiated by this cabin. While Lufthansa and Swiss already had a Premium Economy seat, this will replace it over time on future aircraft, notably the German airline’s future A350s and B787-9s.

In exchange, Lufthansa’s long-awaited new business class seat will be shared with Swiss.

Bottom line

We’re delighted to see a Premium Economy seat finally arrive on Swiss, especially as it has a very successful design. However, the choice of a fixed-shell seat and the lack of separation from the Economy cabin leave us dubious. To be tested in flight.