The new Swiss Senses cabin on board the new Swiss Airbus A350 is currently touring around Europe. That’s ideal not only for Swiss cabin crew to get familiar with the procedures, but also for aviation enthusiasts, and therefore also for us, to take a look at the cabin away from big press events.
In this article, we’ll take you along on two flights across Europe aboard Swiss’s newest fleet member: one evening flight from Zurich to Prague and then the return flight the next morning. So please excuse the differences in lighting conditions in the photos.
Table of Contents
The Cabin
Familiar, yet quite different. That describes the cabin pretty accurately. The seat layout is identical to Lufthansa’s Allegris cabin down to the details. Swiss only offers two additional rows in Business and Premium Economy in their Airbus A350-900.
In Zurich, they’ve also chosen a different colour concept, which is implemented differently across the travel classes. Everywhere you can find subtle references to the existing Swiss onboard product, especially in Premium Economy, which in this form has already been used on the long-haul fleet since 2022.
Swiss manages to give a well-known cabin concept a distinct twist and a clear recognition factor. Each of the 243 seats reflects the previously known design language, now complemented by a Bordeaux red colour accent. The cabin layout per class is as follows:
- 156 seats in Economy Class
- 38 seats in Premium Economy Class
- 45 seats in Business Class
- 3–4 seats in First Class
Economy Class
This is the travel class in which most passengers will continue to sit in the future, and compared to older Swiss seats still flying around, it has finally arrived in the present day. That means adjustable headrests, a proper entertainment system, and, unfortunately, still rather narrow armrests.
The design hasn’t changed much. You still get the beige checked pattern seat, likely without the white cloth headrest, in the future. The side padding should increase comfort on longer flights.
The screen now measures 13 inches, offers 4K resolution, and responds quickly via touch. It’s available in four languages and has USB-C, USB-A, and a headphone jack. Bluetooth pairing for headphones is finally possible.
The tray table is no longer foldable in the middle, meaning if you want to place something down without fully opening the table, you’re limited to the cupholder. The table also pulls forward and has a perforation for drinks. Whether this open lock is a good long-term idea, though, is questionable. Crumbs and grains of rice will likely end up in there sooner or later.
Currently, the first Economy row behind Premium Economy is blocked (as was the case for a long time at Lufthansa) because airbags are missing. These would prevent the head from hitting the hard plastic partition. Apparently, there wasn’t enough time to install Lufthansa’s solution before delivery.
What are the best Economy seats in the new Senses cabin?
Assuming the seats directly behind Premium Economy become usable soon, these seats are probably the best choice, thanks to their extra legroom. With only two rows there, it’s relatively private and calm.
Otherwise, I’d recommend seats in row 28 or row 43 on the right-hand side. The first still has decent legroom, the latter is a row of 2 seats by the window, and thus more relaxed than the typical triple rows.
Premium Economy
Most frequent flyers already know these seats, as they are more or less identical since 2022. Due to the hard shell, the seat moves forward inside the shell when you recline, so the person behind you isn’t affected. Tall passengers may find this uncomfortable at the knees, though.
Swiss chose a slightly updated version of this seat. Like in Business and First, you can now wirelessly charge devices under the armrest. Probably only on brand new aircraft, retrofitting the existing fleet would be too much effort.
Another shared feature with Business/First is the three-point belt, which must only be worn during takeoff and landing. The little divider at head level gives a slight sense of privacy.
Under the centre armrest, you’ll find wireless charging, a headphone jack, and USB-A. Two mechanical buttons adjust the seat; however, these are placed awkwardly. On night flights, I’ve accidentally pressed them in my sleep, which then reset the seat position and woke me up. The same happened to colleague Felix, according to his review.
What are the best Premium Economy seats?
There are hardly any differences between seats here. I’d prefer the window pairs, maybe the first row, but comfort differences are minimal.
Business Class
In the previous Swiss Business, you still had a bit of a “choice” between pairs or single seats. Now every seat has direct aisle access, but in return, there are fewer seats ideal for couples. Seat materials are in deep Bordeaux red with black accents and light wood surfaces.
Pros and cons are identical to Lufthansa Allegris Business, and I’m including my Allegris long-haul experience as well regarding space, seating comfort, and sleep comfort (these parameters translate 1:1 to Senses due to identical seat platform).
All Swiss Senses Business seats have:
- seat heating/cooling
- 4K monitor
- wireless charging
- 60W USB-C + USB-A + universal power outlet
- “sink-in” padding for side sleepers
- closing compartment for an amenity kit, etc.
One major drawback across all seats: you still can’t use the tablet and main screen simultaneously. If you open the tablet (e.g. to change seat mode), the main screen switches off.
At the moment, Swiss intends to permanently offer the Classic, Extra Privacy, and Extra Long Bed seats free of charge for all Business Class passengers. Swiss confirmed this, but whether they’ll stick with it long-term remains to be seen.
Extra Privacy Seat (Window)
Probably the most interesting seat type. There are 12 of them, and the two in row 7 offer extra space. Swiss doesn’t charge extra for them.
What’s a slight negative: the fixed armrest on the window side restricts sleeping position somewhat, though shoulder space remains fine. Storage and having two windows are big advantages.
Classic Seat/Extra Long Bed Seat
This is the weakest seat type in the new Swiss Senses Business. Most exposed and less foot space. There are 15 of them, so most passengers will end up here.
Rows C and H have a bit more storage than D and G. You can sit closer together here with a travel partner (which is otherwise only possible in Business suites, which are even more expensive).
The Extra Long Bed version adds 20cm more footwell length. There are 5 of them. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really increase usable foot space. Tall people may still struggle sleeping sideways.
Business Suite
My favourite seat in the Allegris/Senses cabin is still the Business Suite, more specifically, the window suites in rows 2 and 8 (A/K). These offer by far the most space and privacy. You also benefit from a larger screen than you get in most Business Class seats. There’s also the most legroom here, as your feet don’t extend under a seat in front.
The middle suites, unfortunately, offer noticeably less space than the window suites. However, you can sit together here and lower the divider across the full length of the seats. All suites have extra high walls and closing doors so you can fully retreat. With reservation fees of up to CHF 690 (~€741) though, the pricing is quite steep, almost outrageous.
Extra Space Seat
The 5 Extra Space Seats will probably be most interesting for business travellers who need to work during the flight. Besides the suites, this is the only Business Class seat type that costs extra. Depending on the route, up to CHF 265 (~€284) can be charged here. After the window suites, these offer the most storage space.
Like in the suites, you also benefit from a 24-inch screen. The footwell, however, is much more restricted, as it disappears into the fairly narrow centre console of the seats in front. Still, thanks to its location, this seat offers a higher level of privacy on its own, even without extra high walls.
Which are the best Business Class seats in the new Senses cabin?
This depends on two scenarios. If the reservation fee doesn’t matter, then the window suites are my clear recommendation.
If you want/need to choose among the three free seat types, the Extra Privacy seats are the best choice, especially the two seats at the back of the first cabin in row 7, which have a bit of extra space. If only Classic Seats are left, then I would choose one of the window seats in row 15.
First Class
The Swiss Senses First Class is structurally identical to the Allegris First Class. Again, there are two types of seats/suites, which I have already tested: the window suite on the way to New York and the Suite Plus on the way back. Swiss actually offers a third seat type: the Grand Suite. This combines the window suite 1A with the double suite 1D/E into a single suite, providing the same setup I had on my way to New York as the only passenger in First Class.
The seats follow the style of Swiss’s previous First and Business Class design, complemented by beige surroundings with black and white accents. I personally prefer the colour scheme in Allegris First, but the rest of the parameters remain very impressive: almost complete privacy, a large 4K screen and plenty of storage space. A second person can sit and buckle up on the ottoman to dine together. The large table absolutely supports this.
Compared to my Swiss First flights on the Boeing 777, the screen in the window suites surprisingly didn’t feel much bigger, but it is noticeably sharper and more responsive now. Again, you have the tablet, and again you can’t use the main screen while adjusting the seat on the tablet. The screen in the double suite is still not touch-sensitive, meaning you can’t even bring up the camera on the large monitor unless you pair your phone.
Whether you want to book the Suite Plus for two people is a personal choice. Like many other passengers on these flights, I still don’t fully understand the added value compared to just booking two separate seats with a discount. But if you have the double suite to yourself, you’ll enjoy a huge amount of space.
Where the Senses cabin will fly next
Currently, Swiss Senses is still operating short-haul within Europe until the end of the year. Destinations served from Zurich include Düsseldorf, Geneva, Hanover, Palma de Mallorca and Prague. All travel classes can be booked, except First Class. To sit in Premium Economy, you must book an Economy ticket and then select/reserve the corresponding seats.
From 20 November, Swiss will also fly the Senses cabin to Boston, its first long-haul destination. This route will operate until 27 March, the end of the winter schedule. Not every Zurich–Boston flight will be operated by the A350, though. Until early January, only flights from Thursday to Monday will feature the new cabin. After two weeks of daily Senses service, the Senses flights will be reduced to four weekly flights (Friday to Monday).
From 23 February, Swiss will also fly to Montreal from Zurich. This route will be operated continuously until the end of the winter schedule. With the low number of Senses aircraft currently available, a last-minute aircraft change to an older product is always possible.
Conclusion
In the end, reviews are always subjective. However, it’s fair to say that Swiss has successfully modernised all four of its travel classes. Still, it’s unfortunate that they didn’t learn from the feedback and issues with the Allegris cabin. Some of the simplest things have not been improved. I personally don’t like the Senses colour scheme as much, but that’s a matter of taste.
What I do see as a clear positive: Swiss in parts avoids the pricing madness of Allegris. Currently, non-status passengers can still select three different seat types, so around 80% of the seats, for free. Senator and HON Circle members can select all seats except the suites at no extra charge. That is something Lufthansa missed, and it makes it easier for me to choose Swiss.