SWISS has revealed their new Premium Economy Class product, supplementing the carrier’s existing Economy, Business and First Class offerings. Premium Economy guests will enjoy newly designed seats, a wide range of cuisine, extra baggage and priority boarding.
Today (June 28, 2021), Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) unveiled their new Premium Economy Class product, which will supplement existing Economy, Business and First Class offerings from the fourth quarter of 2021. SWISS Premium Economy Class guests will enjoy greater privacy and enhanced comfort with a newly developed fixed-backshell seat. Customers will also be offered a wide selection of inflight cuisine, double the baggage allowance of Economy and priority boarding. The new Premium Economy cabin will gradually be installed onboard all 12 of SWISS’s Boeing 777-300ERs and is available for booking effective immediately.
In Monday’s announcement, SWISS’s CEO, Dieter Vranckx, 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.”
The Premium Economy Class cabin installations will begin in the fourth quarter of this year and SWISS’s entire fleet of 777-300ERs will feature the new product by the start of the summer 2022 schedules. One-way fares in Premium Economy will be around CHF 250 to 350 (US $272-381) higher than the Economy Class equivalent.
Each aircraft will be equipped with 24 of the latest generation Premium Economy Class seats manufactured by ZIM. The seat is simple to recline and is integrated into a fixed backshell, ensuring zero personal space intrusion on the customer seated behind. While Economy Class seats are 43.4 cm wide with a 78.7 centimeter pitch, SWISS’s new Premium Economy seats are between 46-48 cm wide and offer a generous 99 centimeter pitch, providing substantially more legroom and a greater recline. For added comfort, the seats are equipped with a fold-out leg rest and feature covers by Lantal of Bern, Switzerland.
SWISS's New Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy Class Product - Courtesy SWISS
SWISS Premium Economy guests will also receive a complimentary amenity kit, which has been specifically manufactured using sustainable materials, and high-fidelity noise reducing headphones, to enhance the film or music experience offered via the seat’s 15.6-inch IFE screen. Additionally, personal reading lamps will provide suitable lighting on night flights and each seat includes a built-in USB-A port for charging personal electronic devices.
Further commenting on the debut of Premium Economy, Swiss’s Chief Commercial Officer, Tamur Goudarzi Pour, said,
“Our new Premium Economy Class is tailor-made for our previous Economy Class customers who are looking to enhance their air travel experience and enjoy the benefits associated with higher travel classes. In international comparison terms, our SWISS Premium Economy Class is very clearly positioned as a top travel product. 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.”
As previously mentioned, the inflight cuisine choices have also been specially tailored for Premium Economy customers. Guests will be offered a refreshing elderberry welcome drink, as well as a choice of three hot meals, all served on china tableware. The menu will also include a selection from Swiss’s celebrated and award-winning ‘Taste of Switzerland’ culinary program and a vegetarian option by Hiltl, the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world.
The expanded baggage allowance for Premium Economy customers includes two bags up to 23 kilos each, twice the allowance of Economy. Additionally, guests will enjoy discounted access to the SWISS Business Lounges in Zurich and Geneva airports, as well as the SWISS Arrival Lounge at Zurich Airport. Premium Economy customers will also receive priority boarding over Economy Class passengers and will be able to download two publications from the extensive eJournals portal on their personal device free of charge prior to departure.
Travel in Premium Economy Class is now bookable for flights from April 2022 on the carrier’s entire 777-300ER network including destinations such as Bangkok, Hong, Kong, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, São Paulo or Singapore. As the SWISS Premium Economy Class product is rolled out, upgrade options will be offered for a fee, subject to availability.
Source: Swiss International Air Lines