Swiss International Air Lines, or just SWISS, is pretty much what you’d hope for from Switzerland’s national airline: punctual, professional, and probably hiding some excellent chocolate somewhere. As part of the Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance, it connects Switzerland with over 110 destinations worldwide, and it’s a solid choice for zipping around Europe or tackling a long-haul flight.
Classes on SWISS
SWISS offers four cabin classes: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First. Economy dominates short-haul flights and comes in three fare tiers: Light, Classic, and Flex (more on that below). Long-haul routes open up Premium Economy and First, the airline’s most premium option, giving you more choices based on your budget and comfort preferences.
First
First is the top-tier offering on SWISS, available on all long-haul flights. You’ll find two configurations depending on your aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER planes feature private suites with lie-flat beds, storage, and 32-inch video screens. On Airbus A330 planes have more traditional first class seats that convert into lay-flat beds and can be separated with privacy screens.
First-class travelers can pre-select their meals up to 24 hours before a flight. The food is generally high-end, with SWISS often teaming up with notable chefs. Vegetarians and vegans are particularly well cared for, with meals created by the beloved Zurich restaurant Hiltl on intercontinental flights from Switzerland.
A ticket in First includes what SWISS calls First Service Benefits. This gets you a separate check-in desk, lounge access, and a generous checked luggage allowance (up to three pieces). You also get pajamas from Zimmerli of Switzerland and a chic amenity kit featuring brands like Rohner and VIU.
Business
The SWISS Business cabin is available on both long-haul international flights and shorter hops within Europe. For short-haul flights, you can expect premium service, extra checked bags, and lounge access. Although the seats are more traditional, no one will be in the adjacent seat when you book a business class ticket.
Long-haul Business seats work as both 6.5-foot lie-flat beds and functional workspaces, with a massage feature built in. The Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A340-300 planes offer more spacious Business seats with extra privacy and storage compared to the Airbus A330-300 planes.
The food and drink selection in Business is good. Just like in First, you can pre-select your main meal online between six weeks and 24 hours before departure on applicable flights, and the vegetarian options from Hiltl are available here too on intercontinental flights from Switzerland. On short-haul flights, a cold or hot meal (depending on flight duration) and a comprehensive selection of drinks, including champagne, are typically offered.
Business class passengers get lounge access, two checked bags (2×32 kg), and priority check-in and boarding. SWISS provides amenity kits from Victorinox, which are nice, just not quite as fancy as the ones in First. Business is a great option for overnight flights, but it’s probably not worth the splurge on shorter journeys.
Premium Economy
Premium Economy is a great choice on long-haul flights and is available on Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A340-300 planes. The seats are comfortable, with about 39 inches (99cm) of pitch, a generous recline, and 15.6-inch entertainment screens. They’re designed with a hard shell, so reclining doesn’t disturb the person behind you, a feature that should honestly be on every plane.
The food in Premium Economy is a step up from Economy with more selection and a welcome drink. Alcohol, wine, and beer are included, and vegetarians can enjoy dishes from Hiltl. The meals are decent, and on flights from Switzerland, you can pick a ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ main course option.
Premium Economy passengers get an extra baggage allowance (two checked bags at 2×23 kg) and a toiletries bag with the essentials including a toothbrush, toothpaste, sleeping mask, and earplugs. Just a heads-up, there are no extra perks like priority check-in or priority boarding, which is something to consider when booking.
Economy
Economy is SWISS’s most basic fare class on both short-haul and long-haul flights. You’ll choose from three tiers: Light (hand luggage only, no advance seat selection), Classic (middle ground), and Flex (most benefits, including 1×23 kg checked bag and advance seat reservation). Each has different restrictions, so read the fine print before booking.
The seats are pretty standard for a European airline and comfortable enough. On the Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A340-300, each seat has its own 11-inch screen and a 31-inch seat pitch. On the Airbus A330-300, seats have USB chargers and personal screens, contrary to what you might have heard.
Passengers in Economy get a choice between two hot meals on long-haul flights (one meat-based and one vegetarian based on a Hiltl recipe), with drinks, wine, and spirits included. You can also pre-order special meals, including for kids and for special dietary needs, free of charge up to 24 hours before departure. I’ve always found Economy perfectly fine for short-haul flights, though it can be worth upgrading on the longer ones.
Seat selection
SWISS makes seat selection unnecessarily complicated, and not all fares include it. First and Business passengers can pick seats free of charge (subject to availability) up to 48 hours before departure. Premium Economy Flex passengers also enjoy free advance seat reservation, while other Premium Economy fares may incur a fee.
In Economy on European flights, Flex and Classic fares can book a standard seat in advance for free, but on long-haul flights, Classic passengers will need to pay a fee—only Economy Flex includes free seat selection on these routes. Light passengers can pay to pick a seat on European flights. Economy travelers can also pay for Preferred Zone seats at the front of the plane.
SWISS also charges extra for certain seat types including Extra Legroom seats. The fees vary based on the route, and Edelweiss-operated flights (LX8000–LX8999) are excluded from some seat options. The best way to figure it out is to check the SWISS website for the specific cost on your flight. If you’re picky about where you sit, I’d recommend avoiding the Light fare.
Entertainment and Wi-Fi
SWISS offers more than 200 films and 250 TV programs on its entertainment system, along with over 100 music playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks, so you won’t be bored. In my experience, the selection is really good, with plenty of new releases. The airline also offers two paid Wi-Fi packages: a “Wi-Fi 4 Hours” option (unrestricted access for four hours) or “Wi-Fi Premium” that covers the entire flight. On long-haul flights, all passengers get a complimentary “Messaging” Wi-Fi package for popular messenger apps like WhatsApp and Messenger without time limits.
Check-in
Online check-in (via website or app) is your best bet and opens 24 hours before departure. You can even print luggage tags at home on selected routes, which I did last time I flew SWISS. At the airport, self-service check-in options are available with agents on hand if you need help. Zurich Airport has particularly efficient Self Bag Drop stations worth using, Geneva Airport also offers this service.
Boarding process
On SWISS, boarding is done by group, with pre-boarding for families with babies and infants under five, unaccompanied children, and those needing extra assistance. There are five groups for Continental (European) flights and six for Intercontinental flights, with the extra group accommodating Premium Economy passengers. Passengers who check in together are assigned to the same boarding group.
Unlike many airlines, SWISS boards are based on your seat position, with window seats boarding first, followed by middle seats, and aisle seats boarding last. I found this stressful when trying to find overhead bin space for my carry-on, so be prepared to gate-check your bag if you’re one of the last to board.
Loyalty program and miles
Miles & More is the frequent flyer program for SWISS. You’ll earn miles through flights and branded credit cards, then redeem them for travel benefits. The program has three status tiers (Frequent Traveller, Senator, and HON Circle Member), each unlocking perks like lounge access and priority check-in, with specific access levels depending on the tier.
Since SWISS is part of Star Alliance, you can use your status from partner airlines like United, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines. If you have Star Alliance Gold status from any member airline, you can take advantage of benefits like airport lounge access, priority check-in, priority boarding, and extra baggage allowance on SWISS, which is definitely worth looking into.
Airline lounges
SWISS has some nice lounges, especially at its hubs in Zurich and Geneva. Zurich Airport alone has nine SWISS lounges, including an Arrivals Lounge. Geneva Airport has three SWISS lounges: the SWISS First Lounge, SWISS Senator Lounge, and SWISS Business Lounge. At other airports, SWISS passengers can use either a SWISS lounge or a partner lounge, like those in the Star Alliance network.
Access is typically for those flying First and Business or travelers with status. Premium Economy passengers can purchase lounge access at a reduced rate with a voucher, and Economy passengers can pay for lounge access, which is a great option if you have a long layover or just want to start your trip in style.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
