Zurich Airport

derv

I am looking for a bit of info on Zurich Airport.

What's it like in size and what are the Q's like getting through security etc in January?
Flying there in early January and my return flight leaves Zurich at 9:30 on a Sunday.
I've just discovered that the train back to the airport from the resort (Davos) doesn't get into Zurich until 8:08am giving me very little time.

Is the train station near the Airport?
Anyone got any info or advice based on previous flights from Zurich?

Cheers

cornet

derv wrote: »

I am looking for a bit of info on Zurich Airport.

What's it like in size and what are the Q's like getting through security etc in January?
Flying there in early January and my return flight leaves Zurich at 9:30 on a Sunday.
I've just discovered that the train back to the airport from the resort (Davos) doesn't get into Zurich until 8:08am giving me very little time.

Is the train station near the Airport?
Anyone got any info or advice based on previous flights from Zurich?

Cheers

Depends who you fly with. We flew with AerLingus and the return was a nightmare.
Arrived in Zurich Airport 2hrs before departure. The check-in desks are operated by a third party (e.g. Swissport). Only one desk open - was about 10th in the (original) queue when it opened. Suddenly 3 queues developed in parallel for the one desk (Irish don't like queues) plus they were checking-in non-Aer Lingus flights. Eventually got to Passport control with 45 mins to departure. Passport control was extremely slow (very methodical checking passports & visas) and took a full 40 minutes. Once past that had to get on a shuttle train and leg to the plane. We were convinced we missed the flight but luckily it had been delayed by 10 mins.

Hopefully others had better experiences.

Skuxx

I spent some time this summer working at Zurich Airport as an aircraft mechanic! Such a lovely place! The train station is in Zurich city centre, and there is two ways of getting to the airport from there! They have a metro system much like our Luas which takes about ~40 minutes to get to the airport as it stops a lot along the way....there is also a train (called the SSB) that I know leaves from the station and definetly stops about 5 minutes walk from the airport, however I'm not sure does it stop again at the airport....but it's only about a 10 minute journey to get within 5 minutes walking distance! Any time I was in the main terminal building there did seem to be fairly long que's (sp??) but when I flew home with Swiss I was checked in in about 10 minutes so you might get lucky! Maybe you could use online check in and just drop the bags when you get there?
If I'm honest, I would be very surprised if you made that flight, it will certainly be very tight! But enjoy your trip and enjoy Switzerland, such a lovely place!!

** just after thinking, the train (SSB) does go to all the way to the airport, there is an underground station there!!

derv

thanks for the info guys...

i'm flying with Swiss Air, so i was thinking there might be less of a Q with them V's EasyJet, Ryanair etc?
Am i being too optimistic?

Best case scenario:
I get to Zurich at 8:08
Get the tram to the Airport at 8:20 (realistically a bit later?)
Get to the Airport 8:40

That gives me 50 minutes to get the bag checked in and get thru security.

Does anyone know if a taxi from the train station to the airport would save me time and if that would cost a fortune?

Fattes

derv
Zurich airport is probably the most efficient airport on the planet.

Train station is located in Airport Center in the Check-in 3 area Close to the Starbucks. From the Aer Lingus gate to the Train platform it takes 15 - 20 min including the mono rail to/from the main terminal, your baggage carousel will have train times displayed over it and exactly how long until your bags arrive! Very Swiss. The longest I have ever waited for my luggage is 4 minutes every other trip it has been on the Carousel when I got there.

From the Baggage Carousel you will clear customs, walk 30 feet out a door across a road and in to another building down a set of escolators & you will be in the main Airport Centre right above the tracks. There are timetable screens above ground in the airport for the trains and tons of signs telling you how many minutes you are from it, once you cross the road between the two terminal buildings and into the Airport Centre there are huge billboards with times and platforms and every lift and Escelator has the platform number it leads to on it.

I have never had to Q to check in in Zurich and have gone through the airport at least 20-30 times in the past 2 years; passport control is normally 5-10 min q depending on what flights arrive. Warning there is on occasion a 2nd security point after duty free so if you buy get the bags sealed!

Also book a Swiss Transfer ticket with SSB you can book on line and pick up on arrival if you don’t make the post it’s the cheapest way between two points in Switzerland. Kids under 16 travel free with adults

https://www.sbb.ch/ticketshop/b2c/adw.do?6055

Enjoy Switzeland is an incredible place.

Down South

Fattes

Thanks for that. Flying into zurich in 3 weeks on my way to the Wengen WC. Getting in late so dont want to waste anytime and your tips will be v helpful in getting to the train to interlaken quickly

Fattes

Off to see the Lauberhorn, nice!! Great race to go and see. Good atmosphere at it every year!

You will be fine in the airport one of the better ones

Cool_CM

derv wrote: »

thanks for the info guys...

i'm flying with Swiss Air, so i was thinking there might be less of a Q with them V's EasyJet, Ryanair etc?
Am i being too optimistic?

Best case scenario:
I get to Zurich at 8:08
Get the tram to the Airport at 8:20 (realistically a bit later?)
Get to the Airport 8:40

That gives me 50 minutes to get the bag checked in and get thru security.

Does anyone know if a taxi from the train station to the airport would save me time and if that would cost a fortune?

The tram to the airport takes fupin' ages. Taxi will probably get stuck in traffic in and after the tunnel.

The S-Bahn is by far the quickest way to get there and the stop is at the Airport itself.

http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en?seqnr=1&ident=gh.0528189.1356727173&REQ0HafasScrollDir=1&WT.i_event_cat=fp_resultat&WT.i_event_act=spaetere_vrb

olaola

derv wrote: »

That gives me 50 minutes to get the bag checked in and get thru security.

Hm, you're really pushing it IMO. Can you get an earlier train? I've always found it efficient. But it's still a big airport and it will take time to transit it.

derv

I think there's a train that get's me to the stop at the airport for 7:43
It's going from Landquart earlier that morning.

It means I'll have to leave the resort pretty early (2am) and get a lift to Landquart to make the train.

Still trying to confirm that is the plan. Fingers crossed.


PS - it's snowing there today! Roll on Sunday.

Pending

The other option if it works for you is get train to Zurich airport the evening before and stay overnight at the airport, which is what I usually do. You need to make it to the airport for about 8-9 pm, check in and get though security by 10pm. Rooms are basic but functional, and usually 5 mins from the gate in the morning. Google Zurich Airport Dayrooms.

olaola

How did you get on?

Our bags took nearly 2 hours to come out in Munich airport. And the staff didn't want to have anything to do with it. Had to hunt down a baggage handler who found the cases downstairs and sent them up. Would have been snookered if we didn't have a private transfer sorted!

derv

Everything went soooo smoothly. It really puts all other Airports and public transport systems to shame.

The train got me to the Airport terminal in lots of time.
It dropped me directly under the departures terminal, leaving me with only a 1 minute walk to get to departures.

My bags were out before I was!

PS - Davos is an amazing place, I would recommend to anyone.
A little bit pricey, but worth it.

Fattes

derv: Told you :D Worlds best airport!

I always say visit Geneva Run by the French and Zurich airport Run by the Swiss to see the difference between Switzerland and the rest of Europe!

derv

Fattes wrote: »

derv: Told you :D Worlds best airport!

I always say visit Geneva Run by the French and Zurich airport Run by the Swiss to see the difference between Switzerland and the rest of Europe!

The difference is crazy.... they just ooze with class :-)
I'll definitely be going back to Switzerland!

Fattes

It can be pricey but worth every penny! They know how to treat their tourists. Back out there Thur week after A trip to the Bavarian alps this weekend :D:D


Ebookers do some great deal with Lufthansa and swiss for flights €200 return including a Ski bag and a checked bag. Going out with Lufthansa via Frankfurt and back with Swiss Geneva-zurich Dublin.

Worth the little bit of extra hassle to be honest.

derv

well, think of us poor souls slogging it out in the office!

i'm dying to get away again in Feb for a long weekend.
any chance you could give us a few details of your weekends away on this thread


we need to tap into your wealth of knowledge :-)

CardinalJ

Yea, Zurich airport definitely my fav airport.

They also have oversized baggage collection beside each carrousel which is great. As said when you compare geneva to Zurich it shows what proper planning can do.

I will support anybody with a train that 'moos' like a cow!

Fattes

i'm dying to get away again in Feb for a long weekend.
any chance you could give us a few details of your weekends away on this thread

Ebookers is doing some great deals on flights to get out cheap for weekends