Swiss is introducing a fee to pre-reserve the popular solo business-class “throne” seats on its long-haul Airbus A330 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Until now, these single seats — prized by solo travelers for the extra space and privacy they provide — were available to business-class passengers without charge. From the end of March, however, Swiss, a member of the Lufthansa Group, will begin charging a fee to pre-reserve throne seats for most passengers. High-tier loyalty members retain priority access without the new charge.
“With the remodeling of Swiss business class on long-haul routes we have introduced exclusive single seats that are marked by more space and discretion,” said Markus Binkert, chief commercial officer at Swiss. “Due to overwhelming demand for these ‘privacy seats,’ we will give guests the option to reserve them for a fee starting at the end of March. As a token of our appreciation, we are delighted to continue offering these seats at no charge while they are still available at the time of booking.”
The throne seats are located in Swiss’s staggered business-class layout on its long-haul A330 and 777-300ER aircraft. Because only a limited number of throne seats exist on each flight, the carrier gives preference to frequent flyers with HON Circle and Senator status. These elite members will continue to access throne seats without paying the new reservation fee; ordinary business-class travelers who do not pre-reserve will still be able to claim a throne seat, but typically only close to departure and subject to availability.
Swiss will set the pre-reservation fee in a range of approximately $100–$200, depending on the route and specific flight. The change is part of a broader trend toward ancillary revenue generation: it follows the airline’s recent decision to offer economy passengers paid access to its Zurich (ZRH) and Geneva (GVA) business-class lounges.
This update affects long-haul flights where the redesigned business-class cabin features the exclusive single seats. Travelers who value guaranteed privacy and extra space should consider the new pre-reservation option when booking, while frequent flyers with top-tier status will continue to enjoy preferential treatment without the additional charge.