Swiss unveils full details of brand-new premium economy product

Swiss has revealed the full details of its highly anticipated premium economy product.

In addition to the airline's existing economy, business and first-class cabins found on Swiss' flagship Boeing 7777-300ER aircraft, all 12 of these 777s will now be fitted with 24 premium economy seats from seat manufacturer ZIM. The premium economy product will be available on select route as of 2022.

Arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, the new premium economy product will feature:

• Two 23 kg checked bags;
• Priority boarding;
• Discounted rates for purchased lounge access at Swiss business-class lounges in Zurich (ZHR) and Geneva (GVA);
• 39 inches of legroom, compared with 31 inches in economy;
• Between 18 and 19 inches of seat width, compared with 17 inches in economy;
• Fold-out leg rest;
• A fixed backshell seat design, meaning the seat in front cannot recline into the personal space of the seat behind it;
• 15.6" inflight entertainment screens;
• Personal reading lamps;
• USD charging at every seat;
• High-quality noise-canceling headphones;
• Amenity kits with sustainable materials;
• Non-alcoholic welcome drinks; and
• A choice of three hot entrees on china tableware, including a vegetarian option from Hiltl, the "world's oldest vegetarian restaurant."

"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," said Swiss CEO Dieter Vranckx. "And by introducing our new class of travel, we are also further strengthening our premium positioning in the growing leisure travel segment."

Swiss is owned by the Lufthansa Group and is the last full-service airline in the group to receive premium economy — Lufthansa, Austrian and Brussels Airlines have all operated this class of service for several years.

From the photos supplied by Swiss, it appears the airline has taken an unusual choice to install the seats in the economy cabin. Most other airlines that operate premium economy have fitted their seats as a separate cabin for a different, more premium experience.

Related: The top 5 premium-economy cabins in the sky today

Also, some airlines like Air France, Cathay Pacific and China Southern that have previously chosen fixed backshell seat designs in premium economy have been met with complaints from passengers as a result of the awkward recline, where the seats slide down towards the seat in front of it, rather than reclining into the unused area behind.

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Related:

• Not-So-Premium Economy: China Southern Airlines (777-300ER) From New York to Guangzhou, China
• Nothing premium here: Review of Air France premium economy on the A380

The seats will be retrofitted in each Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from late 2021, and is bookable now for travel from 28 June to destinations including Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Miami (MIA), Hong Kong (HKG) and more from the airline's dual hubs in Zurich and Geneva. Swiss says premium economy pricing will be around CHF 250 - 350 ($270-$380) more than economy, each way

Due to the continued COVID-19 disruption and challenges to the global travel industry, these routes and dates are subject to change.

Where economy passengers are booked on an aircraft fitted with premium economy seating before the official June 2022 launch date, they may choose to select a premium economy seat for a small fee, though will receive economy service.