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SWISS refreshes inflight service in Business and First Class

A SWISS A350-900 on the ramp at Boston, illustrating the Swiss Senses cabin launch and the refreshed SWISS inflight service.
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5 min read

SWISS has overhauled its long-haul inflight service for premium cabins, adding new dining courses, upgraded bedding, and refreshed amenity kits. Business Class gains a soup course, expanded cheeses and desserts, dessert pralines, and a fresh savory bite with the pre-meal nuts. First Class adds a pre-flight pastry and welcome drink, French-inspired appetizers, a seasonal sorbet palate cleanser, and an expanded bread selection. New VIU amenity kits, higher-quality headphones, and an Alpine Valley signature scent round out the upgrade. The carrier will pair the service refresh with its Swiss Senses cabin rollout on Airbus A350-900s this winter.

Key Points

  • Why it matters: SWISS raises premium-cabin standards with multi-course dining, better bedding, and brand-partner amenities.
  • Travel impact: Business flyers get richer meal pacing and improved sleep sets; First adds Sisley kits, Zimmerli pajamas, and slippers.
  • What's next: Swiss Senses A350 cabins begin long-haul on Zurich to Boston from January 1, 2026, following European familiarization flights.

Snapshot

Business Class travelers now see restaurant-style sequencing with a soup course, broader cheese and dessert choices, and new pralines. Service begins with nuts plus a fresh savory item, such as olives. At lights-out, new linens arrive; on flights longer than 10 hours, bedding adds a seat cover and a sleepshirt. First Class layers in a pre-flight pastry and welcome drink, French-leaning canapés, a sorbet between courses, and a larger bread basket. Comfort upgrades include co-developed VIU amenity kits and higher-quality headphones; First adds Sisley care items, with pajamas and slippers by Zimmerli. Hot towels and pillow sprays carry the Alpine Valley scent.

Background

The refresh arrives as SWISS prepares to introduce factory-fresh Airbus A350-900s with the Swiss Senses interior program. The first aircraft is due in October 2025 for European proving flights, then Zurich to Boston long-haul begins January 1, 2026. Swiss Senses introduces enclosed First suites, multiple Business seating options, improved lighting, and upgraded screens. The design aligns with Lufthansa Group's next-gen Allegris architecture, while keeping distinct SWISS finishes. For Adept readers tracking the cabin rollout since July, see our coverage in Swiss Senses Cabins Elevate Zurich-Boston A350 Flights.

Latest Developments

Business Class adds soup course, richer desserts, and better bedding

SWISS has stepped up Business dining with a new soup course and wider cheese and dessert choices, plus dessert pralines to close the meal. Service now starts with warm nuts and a fresh savory bite, such as olives, to pair with aperitifs. Sleep quality gets attention through refreshed linens; on flights exceeding 10 hours, travelers receive a mattress-style seat cover and a new sleepshirt to complement the duvet and pillow. The airline is also touting higher-quality headphones to match its upgraded entertainment catalog. These adjustments aim to slow the pacing, elevate presentation, and reduce mid-flight service interruptions for better rest on overnight sectors.

First Class leans into French-inspired courses, Sisley kits, and Zimmerli sleepwear

First Class introduces a pastry and welcome drink before boarding or soon after, followed by French-inspired appetizers. A seasonal sorbet now cleanses the palate between courses, and a broader bread selection accompanies main dishes. Amenity kits in First feature Sisley products, while pajamas and slippers come from Swiss underwear maker Zimmerli. The airline's Alpine Valley fragrance threads through hot towels and pillow sprays, adding a subtle brand signature. Together with improved tableware touches, these changes push the service closer to fine-dining rituals, while preserving the carrier's emphasis on Swiss hospitality and craftsmanship.

Amenity kits co-developed with VIU, ahead of A350 Swiss Senses debut

Both cabins receive new amenity kits co-developed with Swiss eyewear brand VIU. SWISS says the kits, headphones, and bedding upgrades are timed to complement the Swiss Senses interior arriving on the A350-900. The A350 will fly European training sectors in late 2025, then inaugurate long-haul on Zurich to Boston on January 1, 2026. Multiple outlets confirm the Boston selection and timing, and note the kinship between Swiss Senses and Lufthansa Allegris, with SWISS-specific décor and finishes. Expect staggered expansion to other U.S. gateways once more frames arrive.

Analysis

For premium travelers, the most tangible change is pacing. Adding a soup course, clarifying appetizer structures, and closing with new pralines yields a meal flow that feels deliberate rather than compressed, a common complaint on overnight Atlantic crossings. The >10-hour bedding set, including a seat topper and sleepshirt, should meaningfully improve sleep, particularly on westbound daylight returns or eastbound overnights longer than Zurich to New York. Brand partnerships carry credibility: VIU aligns with Swiss design values, Sisley offers luxury-skincare cachet, and Zimmerli solves the recurring pajama quality gap.

Strategically, SWISS is smart to sync service upgrades with the Swiss Senses cabin, letting soft-product changes shine on familiar seats now, then mature with the A350 hardware. Boston as first long-haul A350 route fits the carrier's premium mix, with biotech and finance demand that supports First and Business sales. The Allegris adjacency reduces development risk while keeping brand distinction. If execution matches the pitch, SWISS closes the gap with peers that already offer restaurant-style pacing, door-equipped suites, and upscale amenities, without overspending on gimmicks that do not convert to sleep or satisfaction.

Final Thoughts

SWISS is tightening its premium game where it matters most, meal pacing, bedding, and thoughtful amenities. As Swiss Senses arrives on the Airbus A350-900 and expands across the fleet, the combination of refined service and new hardware should resonate with corporate buyers and leisure travelers alike. Watch Zurich to Boston for the earliest look at the complete package, then expect a careful ramp to other U.S. gateways. If consistency holds, the upgrade will be a quiet but real win for SWISS inflight service.

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