Icelandair vs SWISS
On the best documented aircraft, Icelandair scores 0/10 for the business seat and SWISS 5/10. The aircraft on your booking decides whether those seats apply.
By Jon Miksis · comparison updated
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What matters for your booking
Business fares
Of 28 shared business routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 28, SWISS on 0, and 0 were the same price.
Economy fares
Of 24 shared economy routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 20, SWISS on 4, and 0 were the same price.
Start with your route and cabin. A fare advantage in economy does not establish a business-class bargain, and a better seat does not establish that a connection or a higher fare is worth it for your trip.
The business seats being compared
These are each airline’s best-scoring documented business aircraft. The fare grid does not identify aircraft, so the seat below is not promised with any fare in the table. Service and food require a separate firsthand review.
Icelandair
737 MAX / 757 (Saga Premium)
- Seat layout
- 2-2
- Fully flat bed
- No
- Direct aisle access at every seat
- No
- Privacy door
- No
- Seat score
- 0/10
- Wi-Fi
- Paid in the recorded product
- Lounge access
- Included in the recorded fare
- Checked bags
- 2
Cabin checked .
Recorded source: Icelandair fare-type pages, Saga Premium reviews.
SWISS
A330-300 (legacy staggered cabin)
- Seat layout
- 1-2-1 / 2-2-1
- Fully flat bed
- Yes
- Direct aisle access at every seat
- No
- Privacy door
- No
- Seat score
- 5/10
- Wi-Fi
- Paid in the recorded product
- Lounge access
- Included in the recorded fare
- Checked bags
- 2
Cabin checked .
Recorded source: SWISS long-haul fleet pages, seat maps.
Seat scores describe bed, aisle access and privacy door only. Read the scoring method. A tie does not compare comfort, food, service or reliability.
Check the aircraft on SWISS
A330-300 (legacy staggered cabin): 5/10 for the seat. This legacy A330 seat map alternates 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 rows: some window seats have a neighbor, while solo seats reach the aisle directly. It does not describe the newer A350 SWISS Senses cabin, which is not yet scored in this table. Confirm the configuration and exact seat on your flight. Recorded August 30, 2026.
Compare the fares and the routing
Each row compares the same airports, cabin, travel dates and observation date. It can still compare a nonstop against a connection. Journey times, aircraft, baggage allowances and change rules were not recorded with these fares; check those before treating the price difference as a saving.
Showing 12 of 28 matched business routes. Round trip per person in USD, for travel November 8–14, 2026.
| Route and observation date | Icelandair | SWISS | Price difference |
|---|---|---|---|
New York (JFK) → Dublin (DUB) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,283Connects via KEF | $3,991Connects via ZRH | Icelandair was $1,708 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,292Connects via KEF | $5,971Connects via ZRH | Icelandair was $3,679 less |
New York (JFK) → Manchester (MAN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,418Connects via KEF | $4,675Connects via ZRH | Icelandair was $2,257 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Barcelona (BCN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,500Connects via KEF | $5,981Connects via ZRH | Icelandair was $3,481 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Rome Fiumicino (FCO) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,530Connects via KEF | $4,604Connects via ZRH | Icelandair was $2,074 less |
Boston (BOS) → Copenhagen (CPH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,619Connects via KEF | $4,369Connects via ZRH | Icelandair was $1,750 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Copenhagen (CPH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,642Connects via KEF | $5,637Connects via ZRH | Icelandair was $2,995 less |
New York (JFK) → Zurich (ZRH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,666Connects via KEF | $5,685Nonstop | Icelandair was $3,019 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Manchester (MAN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,691Connects via KEF | $7,160Connects via ZRH | Icelandair was $4,469 less |
Boston (BOS) → Zurich (ZRH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,717Connects via KEF | $5,982Nonstop | Icelandair was $3,265 less |
Miami (MIA) → Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,731Connects via KEF | $6,259Connects via ZRH | Icelandair was $3,528 less |
Miami (MIA) → Dublin (DUB) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,734Connects via KEF | $5,601Connects via ZRH | Icelandair was $2,867 less |
Your airport missing? Check the full route tool for the airlines we observed there. Confirm current fares, journey time, baggage and ticket rules before booking.
Before paying for the ticket
- Check the exact operating airline and seat map on every long flight, including the return. An airline name or business-class label alone does not guarantee a flat bed or aisle access.
- Compare total journey time and connection length. A lower fare may buy a much longer trip.
- Reprice with your bags, preferred seats and change rules included. These observations do not establish that the tickets have identical restrictions.
- Check other airlines on the route. Being cheaper than the other airline on this page does not establish the cheapest fare in the market.
Common questions
- Is Icelandair or SWISS better in business class to Europe?
- On the best documented aircraft, Icelandair scores 0/10 for the business seat and SWISS 5/10. The aircraft on your booking decides whether those seats apply. Of 28 shared business routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 28, SWISS on 0, and 0 were the same price. Service and food are not scored in this comparison. These are observations for travel November 8–14, 2026, not current quotes.
- Which is cheaper, Icelandair or SWISS?
- Of 28 shared business routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 28, SWISS on 0, and 0 were the same price. Of 24 shared economy routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 20, SWISS on 4, and 0 were the same price. Both counts refer to travel November 8–14, 2026. A cheaper fare may involve a connection; compare the itinerary as well as the price.
- Will I get the business seat shown here?
- These cards describe the named aircraft in our cabin records, not a seat guaranteed on every flight. At least one of these airlines has a recorded aircraft or cabin variation. Check the operating airline, seat map and aircraft for every segment before paying; equipment can change. The fare observations do not record the aircraft.
- Has Jon flown these business cabins?
- Icelandair business class is not on Jon’s confirmed flown roster. SWISS business class is on Jon’s confirmed flown roster. That records the airline and cabin, not every aircraft or itinerary. This page compares documented specifications and dated fares.
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