After a rocky start, things have quieted down around Lufthansa’s new Allegris cabin. Lufthansa now operates ten aircraft with the new cabin and is steadily expanding the route network.
In 2023, Swiss also announced plans to install the same seats as Lufthansa. While Lufthansa calls its product “Allegris,” Swiss has branded it as Swiss Senses. The original launch was planned for 2025, but there’s now an update: the official market launch will take place in January 2026 on the Zurich–Boston route, and flights are already bookable.
The first Airbus A350 with the new cabin is expected to be delivered to Swiss in October 2025, so it’s quite possible that the aircraft may operate some scheduled flights before the official launch.
First Bookable Flights from January 2026
According to communication with sales partners, the Airbus A350 with the Swiss Senses cabin will be deployed starting January 1, 2026. However, the Swiss website only lists this information for select dates, first appearing on January 2. In January, the A350 is expected to operate on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.
However, there is no guarantee of the new cabin. Customers are not entitled to rebooking if there is a last-minute aircraft change.
The Airbus A350 will have the following seating configuration:
- 3.5 First Class seats
- 45 Business Class seats
- 38 Premium Economy seats
- 156 Economy seats
This layout is significantly more premium-heavy than Lufthansa’s configuration, which features 38 Business, 24 Premium Economy, and 201 Economy seats. The seat types themselves are expected to be the same, just in different colours. Like Lufthansa, Swiss will offer five different seat categories in Business Class, most of which will require a surcharge.
At launch, the usual surcharges for most seat types will be waived:
No Extra Charges for Most Seats During Launch Phase
Normally, as with Allegris, only Classic Seats (aisle seats with limited or no window access) in Business Class are free to select. Senator and HON Circle Members enjoy access to a wider seat selection.
During the introductory period, Privacy Seats (window seats) and Extra Long Bed Seats (aisle seats with ~20 cm longer beds) will also be free of charge. Only Throne Seats (extra space seats) and Business Class Suites at the bulkhead will still incur a surcharge.
Pricing and Award Tickets
As mentioned, flights are now bookable on Swiss.com and Lufthansa.com. Prices are steep. Round-trip Business Class tickets currently cost:
- €2,320 from Barcelona
- €2,935 from Berlin
- £2,784 (~€3,190) from London
- €4,118 from Zürich (nonstop)
At least these prices aren’t higher than similar Lufthansa Group alternatives (e.g., via Munich). However, First Class prices have doubled with the new Swiss Senses cabin and now exceed €10,000.
Business Class can also be booked using Miles&More miles, which offers slightly better value. Some example one-way redemption rates:
- Spain–Boston: 36,826 miles + ~€503
- UK-Boston: 37,782 miles + ~£762 (~€873)
- Germany–Boston: 51,622 miles + ~€574
- Switzerland–Boston: 51,622 miles + ~CHF 498 (~€533)
For Senator and HON Circle Members, the Companion Award also applies, offering a 50% discount on the mileage portion for a second passenger (surcharges remain unchanged).
Translated and edited by Ditmar
Cover Picture: Swiss Senses Business Class | © Swiss
Comment (1)
Monthly Trips to the US: Review of Lufthansa Allegris. I travel to the United States on a monthly basis and currently prefer using Lufthansa flight LH466/467 nonstop from Munich to San Diego. Until the end of summer, Lufthansa is operating the Airbus A350 on this route with its new Allegris cabin concept. I regularly travel in both Business and First Class. After five flights with the new Allegris product, here is my conclusion: Allegris – marketed by Swiss under the name Senses – is, in principle, a step forward compared to Lufthansa’s outdated previous product. However, for business travelers or discerning private passengers, it is practically unusable. To put it kindly, the marketing claims are wildly exaggerated. One example from First Class: Passengers seated in the middle (1D/1E) have to share a single screen – yes, really: one monitor for two passengers! If a solo traveler wants to book one of these middle seats, an additional fee of around EUR 2,700 is charged – yet you still get only half the space, as a deep central console separates the two seats, making full use impossible. Moreover, the middle row is accessible from only one side – a wall blocks access from the right-hand side, where seat 1K is located. So, if you’re seated in 1E, you literally have to climb over the legs of the passenger in 1D to reach the lavatory. But the most bizarre aspect is this: First Class passengers have no proper place to store their allowed carry-on luggage – the relevant storage space appears to have been completely forgotten. The compartment at the seat is far too small. While the friendly crew tries their best to help, they end up storing carry-ons in the Business Class cabin. Seriously? For a product that calls itself First Class – and is priced accordingly – this is unacceptable. It is simply not worth the price.
The Business Class also comes with significant shortcomings: As already reported in the media, seat sizes vary widely. Families with children are essentially excluded from Business Class, as there are hardly any family-friendly seating configurations. On two of my flights, families were not allowed to remain in Business Class for safety reasons, despite having printed boarding passes – because no suitable seats were available. Travelling with a partner? Nearly impossible. Out of five flights, I only managed to sit next to my travel companion once – there are just too few double seats available. Solo travelers with a larger build should avoid the extra-charge middle single seats (e.g., 3E/5F). The access is extremely narrow, and in case of emergency, the crew can barely assist.
Final tip for frequent flyers: Do not pre-book a seat on Allegris flights. Why? At check-in, the extra-fee seats in the front rows of the two Business Class cabins (approx. EUR 690) are often still unassigned. Under its duty of carriage, Lufthansa is obliged to allocate these seats if needed – so the chances of getting one of them at the gate for free are actually quite good. Or maybe I was just lucky. :-))