ZURICH AIRPORT  Passenger Reviews and Customer opinions

ZURICH AIRPORT review :  13 July 2009 by G Jardin   (UK)

Customer Rating :  5/5

Queuing

Cleanliness

Facilities

The model of an excellent airport: excellent public transport, friendly and helpful staff, good places to eat (including the superb Italian Restaurant) and even a monorail with the sound of a Swiss cow mooing as you reach your destination.

ZURICH AIRPORT review :  15 June 2009 : by R Wieland  (Hong Kong)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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Cleanliness

Facilities

Transfer from Long Haul E terminal to B and back both times with a 45 minute connection time. Each time made the flight with time to spare. I haven't seen any airport that could do this yet, just spectacular. Only downside is that the few shops in E terminal close before all the long-haul depart. They could stay open a bit longer but there really isn't much to shop for come to think of it. Excellent airport for transfer, so-so for shopping.

ZURICH AIRPORT review :  14 June 2009 : by Alexander Stare  (Switzerland)

Customer Rating :  4/5

Queuing

Cleanliness

Facilities

Nice Airport, clean, plenty of shopping possibilities and excellent public transportation access with trains, buses and a tram. The airside center is an eye catch with the big windows where you can follow the apron movements. Only thing I miss in many areas of the airport is the air conditioning, that's why I will rate it only with 4 stars. Check out the Hotel Radisson Blu, next to Terminal 1. It has a magnificent wine tower.

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 1 June 2009 : by Sandro Dessi

Customer Rating : 5/5

Clean, tidy, spacious, calm, bright, very easy to navigate and friendly staff including the officers at the pass control. A truly enjoyable experience, 5 stars from my part.

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 7 May 2009 : by M Preston

Customer Rating : 5/5

Having gone through ZRH airport three times in the last few days, why can't all airports be like this? It must have the best rail/air connections of anywhere, it is as spotlessly clean and efficient as one would expect of the Swiss, it has an adequate variety of eating and drinking places, good easy parking, and pleasant staff.

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 5 May 2009 : by Fernando Rezett

Customer Rating : 4/5

A very good experience while we were connecting a flight to ROME-FCO from SAO PAULO-GRU. A very modern, clean and easy useful airport. It's one of the most beautiful airports where we stayed, it has an easy connection between terminals "E" and "A". A modern railway connects two terminals in two minutes, in a train that run automatically. Also, there are many expensive shops, although some of food places are cheap to eat. And staff airport personal is kind and friendly.

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 15 April 2009 : by Roger Egli

Customer Rating : 5/5

I am a United Flight Attendant and give ZRH airport a 10 out of 10. For flight crews as for passengers, this is a very easy to navigate airport. It seems that one has entered a different world because it is so clean, quiet and sophisticated compared to other airports. American airports should study ZRH and see what they can improve. Airport shopping center is amazing and public transport connection very easy. Yes, cost is a bit higher, but you get quality. And for the the E-terminal, the reason why one has to go through anther screening is because the US requires that one goes through the additional security. So, don't blame it on the airport authority.

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 6 April 2009 : by L Tracy

Customer Rating : 4/5

I liked the airport the only time I was there (enroute LAX-BCN) but was disappointed to find I couldn't use any of the vending machines because they only took Swiss francs, not even euros. Who has francs when spending only an hour changing planes in the country?

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 10 March 2009 : by G Sarducci

Customer Rating : 4/5

Very nice, modern airport. Clean and secure with a nice selection of shops and cafes. The only problem I had here was with quick transits. Coming in from madrid, my connecting flight was scheduled to depart 30 mins later. I had to run like a madman while being a bit rude with certain calm and slow Swiss passengers just to make my connecting flight to Montreal. The security personnel can be a bit anal as well. It all make for a clean and safe airport albeit a bit weird in the way the terminals are designed.

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 24 December 2008 : by S Baxter

Customer Rating : 2/5

Disappointing experience of Zurich Airport. Transferring from European flights on Swiss International. Very limited selection of shops in departure lounge, and toilets surprisingly unclean for Switzerland. Strange how they separate gate areas into different sections, each with their own security channels. This also restricts the number of shops you can visit as well.

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 9 November 2008 : by Jason Tottey

Customer Rating : 5/5

Very nice airport, clean and efficient. Transferring between Terminals A and E is extremely easy. On a recent trip would have walked off one plane and straight onto the other had it not been delayed due to fog at London City.

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 21 October 2008 : by Michael Kasberg

Customer Rating : 4/5

A nice clean airport with a good mixture of restaurants and excellent shopping facilities. It is not too big, so you don't have any problems to find your way. From the (underground) railway station to the main station it tooks only ten minutes and you can use all trains. The only letdown is, that the "service center", where you can book hotels, trips and the "Zurich card", which allows you to use the public transportation system (also from the airport into the city), is situated on the departure level! After arrival you have to collect your baggage, to go from terminal 1 to terminal 2 and then to the departure level! They should look for a better place! For me as a German after Munich Zurich is the best chance to avoid Frankfurt airport, when I am on transit.

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 19 August 2008 : by M Baughman

Customer Rating : 5/5

Great piece of architecture with fantastic views to the mountains. Terminal E is remote from the main terminal and is connected via underground train. The train takes a few minutes. Terminal E does not have many amenities, so if you have a layover for more than 60 minutes and are out at E, I'd recommend training back to the main terminal to enjoy shopping and restaurants. The shopping is not exceptional, (aside from chocolate), but not bad. The restaurants and bar are pretty good. As others have mentioned here, the security screening is broken down by terminal A, B and the 2 sides of E, which lowers the waiting. Swiss' lounge has more amenities than the Star Alliance.

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 22 July 2008 : by D Scheller

Customer Rating : 5/5

Night stopover between LX flights in the airside Dayrooms - excellent facility for the price paid, located in the gate area. Good service and easy booking. The only problem is you are locked inside after 11 pm with no chance to get extra food or have a look at the airfield. Next morning nice refreshing coffee in the piano bar - good thing about Zurich is that it is less crowded than other big airports.

ZURICH AIRPORT review : 13 June 2008 : by R Riesinger

Customer Rating : 4/5

The concourses were clean and services efficient. The thing that we thought odd and irritating were smoking areas in the terminal - would have been fine, if they had been adequately enclosed and ventilated.

Zurich Airport review by G Jardin

3 June 2008  Customer Rating :

I have travelled through a lot of airports over the last year and Zurich is simply superb. It is really spacious, has good quality shops and excellent transport connections and is kept absolutely clean, including in the toilets. It also has an excellent Italian restaurant with food as good as any I've ever had in Switzerland. Travelling through Zurich airport is a pleasure: if ever an airport could represent what a country is all about, it is ZRH. It puts UK airports to shame.

Zurich Airport review by Mary Vayou

5 April 2008  Customer Rating :

Coming from long business meetings and flying via Zurich airport back home, I was made to exhibit the contents of my travel suitcase to all fellow passengers because a bottle of water was traced in one of the external pockets. When I asked for privacy, the staff were not prepared for that and when I asked for courtesy the answer was 'this is Switzerland" and I was threatened for 'the next time'. Give them 'very poor' and try to avoid them in my next travels.

Zurich Airport review by Dave Jaros

2 March 2008  Customer Rating :

Used this airport many times and always been relaxed, lots of place to sit down or get swiftly in/out the downtown. On Feb 27 6:30 I had some 1 hour to make my connection from E (wide-body plane) to A pier only. As some three long distance flights arrived to the E at the same time, hundreds of pax were packed on the subway-shuttle platform. Suddenly the train stopped operation for about 10 minutes and when finally its door opened, it was to heavy to depart so some pax were forced to wait for next "promised" one. This shuttle runs usually every 2 minutes so I wonder why nobody checked its operability before expected peak ? Security in A sub-level (the old facilities) was breeze, boarding in old fashioned style (boarding passes stamped). Also my baggage made it in time (I was informed by the staff upon request). The only thing missed there was my favourite Framboise in duty free, which runned out. Good place and choose again.

Zurich Airport review by Antony Davies

12 February 2008  Customer Rating :

Great airport to transit through, clean, efficient and the ability to connect from one Swiss flight "B" gates to "A" gates in less than one hour without too much stress. I had a 50min connection that was made with ease. I wouldn't go through security into the B20-B29 gates too soon as only a small duty free, vending machine and seating area. Nice airport nonetheless.

Zurich Airport review by John Oram

23 November 2007  Customer Rating :

ZRH has a quite extraordinary layout with check ins on three levels. I think this benefits some passengers by reducing crowding. We were very well treated at check-in and security. The Bellevue lounge was adequate; the toilets rather dimly signed. The rail services to the airport are excellent. we travelled there from Zurich HB and, later, from St. Gallen. One failing point; exactly as was the case at LGW the airport authority drives the information screens independently of the airline(s) - unless, presumably, advised of a delay - and so has passengers dashing to a gate at which the inbound aircraft has not even arrived. Having said that the trip out to E gates is rather time consuming; flights of stairs and a transit which I thought took rather longer than the posted two minutes.

Zurich Airport review by Holger Thiele

17 October 2007  Customer Rating :

My experiences with ZRH are somewhat mixed, varying with gate areas and time of the day. E-gates have their own security check which usually is quite efficient, but options to obtain drinks and/or food there are very limited. If you are hungry, eat at the central Airside Center (restricted area in the main building before security). In contrast to E-gates, security lines for A-gates can be quite long (especially during Swiss' wave of their hub-and-spoke operations, with the 1700h-bank providing quite long queues at security. As connections at ZRH are being sold with quite short connecting times and taking into account that almost all connecting pax have to go through security again, there constantly are pax who are running late for their outbound flights (especially flying out of A-gates). The waiting area for bus gates A1 thru A9 simply cannot cope with pax numbers and once a single flight gets called, pax form a line that extends through half of the building (this is for regional flights with 100 pax or less), but usually 2 or more flights get processed in parallel. For the time being, the extra security check when connecting is a nuisance; it can only be hoped that the airport operator will change the flow of connecting pax significantly when Switzerland joins the Schengen Treaty. Until then allow ample time (I recommend minimum 60 minutes) for any connection.

Zurich Airport review by D Silverstone

4 October 2007  Customer Rating :

While the midfield concourse and main terminal building are very nice and modern, the departure area for regional flights leaves more than a lot to be desired -- it's old, poorly ventilated (and stifling on the warm spring day I was there), small, and utterly lacking in services. Having to cram aboard a bus to go to the airplane stand made it just that much more pleasant. As with most European airports, boarding was done as a mad cattle stampede to the gate, rather than any semblance of orderly boarding by rows. In the main terminal building, I found it nearly impossible to get any vendor to give me change (even with purchase) so that I could use the Euro coin-operated public internet terminals. I speak flawless German, so I have to chalk it up to general lack of service-orientation, rather than xenophobic disdain. Lounging about under the massive glass facade of the main terminal was enough to ease any frayed nerves, however.

Zurich Airport review by S Sindeband

17 August 2007  Customer Rating :

I thought my connection was only 50 minutes and tried to understand the complex layout of the airport ahead of time online and in the plane, and just couldn't. Once at the airport, it was much clearer, although there were still many levels and different walkways going different places that made it confusing. A good transit airport, even though all flights exit into the non-secure area, meaning all passengers must go through security at their gate once again. Security, however, was quick and professional. The most confusing part I must say was the way passport control worked in the lower E gates. About an hour prior to your flight, you must go to the Passport Control desk and have them stamp your ticket and then go sit back down. This was a very awkward way of immigration, and took quite a while, as each flight had a dedicated passport control desk. In the E gates there are not many amenities for a terminal of its size, however for as small as the A gates were, they met my standards. I would transit here again.

Zurich Airport review by A Stubbs

13 August 2007  Customer Rating :

Very Impressed with this light and airy airport. Clear signage to each check in area and departure gates. Good selection of shops, with designer names. A word of warning however, stay in the main departure lounge as long as possible as when you make your way to the gates, As in my case, you pass through security and then there are no shops at all, just a coffee and drinks machine etc. On the whole a very modern, airy, clean airport that puts others to shame.

Zurich Airport review by Jean-Louis Vergaert

9 August 2007  Customer Rating :

Superb transit airport, where at least you don't need to walk miles. The Skytrain is very interesting, watch through the windows for some advertising, and listen to the cows.. (no, I am not joking). The security checks were very well organized, with polite and helpful staff, and dedicated fast-track for F/C-class passengers. One warning is that facilities at the E (long haul) terminal are limited however, so don't rush there - stay in the lounge of the main terminal.

Zurich Airport review by Alberto Pezzotti

20 May 2007  Customer Rating :

Transfer trough ZRH a few times in the last months. Should you arrive at the old terminal by bus you can quickly go trough security and back to A gates. Although quite old and with not a lot of shops and no business lounge after security the old terminal is still clean and user-friendly. However as I often have to use gates A01 to A09 on the new extension in order to be bussed to the planes for short haul european flights I have to admit the situation there is a bit different. The waiting lounge is quite crowded and there are not enough toilets considering the amount of people transiting there. The small bar there has a poor choice and high prices.

Zurich Airport review by Mehmet Kural

5 May 2007  Customer Rating :

Clean, spacious and very efficent airport. Even though the E terminals and the other gates can be a little confusing it is well organized with plenty of signs. Also the coomon area for all 4 terminal passerngers with shops and cafes is pretty.

Zurich Airport review by D Freysen

20 April 2007  Customer Rating :

Transfer and departure out of ZRH. Very modern airport. Had to use the Skytrain to connect from E to A-gates. Got to my departure gate surprisingly fast. My return flight to JNB was slightly delayed. Comfortable and quiet lounge. Enjoyed the longest bar in aviation, or however they promoted it. Internet connection could be better though. Snack and beverage selection ok. Will definitely use ZRH in the future.

Zurich Airport review by Stefan Maier

29 March 2007  Customer Rating :

As much as I like flying in and out of Zurich in general, as much must I critizise the set-up they have chosen for the E gates. I was flying on Swiss to Chicago. When I arrived from my connecting gate at the new Terminal where the E gates are located I was not pleased. There is no lounge to start with. Lounge access is the one thing you like to have when travelling long distance. Also the setup of the gates itself is not very well thought through. Zurich must do some serious rethinking should they want to attract transatlantic passengers.

Zurich Airport by Robert Chamerda
26 February 2007

One of the nicest airports I have been to. Very efficient, especially like the train connection to the city center. Other airport designers and operators should be forced to go to Zurich to see how an airport can be done well.

Zurich Airport by Michel La Bianca
2 November 2006

Very modern Shopping Center with attached Airport to it! ZRH is great for transit and it really takes you only approx 30 minutes from gate to the train station in the airport. From there, in another 11 minutes you are in the center of Zurich. Do not underestimate the transit time to Terminal E, where you actually have to take a train to transit you there. Depending when you fly you might loose some time at the security checks on Terminal E. They seem not to have it under control. During other times, you might be nearly the only passenger on terminal E.

Zurich Airport by Xuess Wee
10 October 2006

Bright, airy and very clean. Very Swiss. Biggest airport in Switzerland with 3 check-in terminals. Lots of shopping and lots of cafes by the floor-to-ceiling windows for you to catch come breath, watch some planes while you wait for your flight. Usually there are chances for free chocolate samples from shops selling them. Customs is clockwork efficient and fast. Flights leave on time. Amazing efficiency. No complaints at all. Connected to Zurich by city trains - 5.80CHF one way and takes only 10 minutes.

Zurich Airport by Simon Muggs
13 September 2006

Used Zurich three times in the past four weeks (to Shanghai via MUC, to Oslo via CPH, direct from Paris) - the place changed big time from two years ago. New shopping area, nice bars and restaurants (despite the Swiss prices - still cheaper than London), very nice (closed) smoke lounges. Best of all, out of the airport less than 15 minutes after touchdown every time! Try to beat that. Another 10 minutes on the train (runs every 10 - 15 minutes), and you are in the center of town. Again, that's cool if compared to Tokyo or Paris. Clean, efficient, but a bit dull perhaps - very Swiss.

Zurich Airport by Marybeth Richards
30 July 2006

Transferred through ZRH twice recently, on a LCY-BUD-LHR trip. Was surprised that the coaches weren't in place upon landing to take pax from the planes to the terminal building - but that was the only lapse in Swiss efficiency. Helpful, multilingual staff, efficient, quick Security screening and decent signage made for a pleasant pass through the airport. Prices in the shops were about what I expected - I do hope they don't reflect current high street prices in Zurich, though (4SFr for a 500ml bottle of Vittel - yikes).

Zurich Airport by Alexander Montgomery
5 July 2006

Zurich airport could be so much better if they located the security checkpoints right after the passport check. What use is the wonderful new shopping area if you can't use it because you don't know how long you have to wait at security of your gate area? There's a huge new SWISS check-in area with about 25 counters right above the train tracks which is hardly used while enormous lines form in front of the SWISS economy check-in counters in Terminal 1. So when flying SWISS economy, using the machines is the best bet. Frankly, I have the impression that the airport's management is more interested in running a shopping center than an airport. Airport fees are one of the highest in the world but the money isn't spent on having enough staff. Usually half of the check- in counters, passport control and security checkpoints are closed which increases waiting time enormously. I once arrived in Zurich after midnight on a flight that was delayed because of snowfall. The train and bus service to Zurich had already halted so the only way to get into town was by cab. I had to stand for almost three hours in the freezing cold until it was finally my turn. There wasn't an official in sight who could have e.g. redirected the queue inside the heated arrival area. Apparently the airport has no kind of plans for this scenario, I really felt like I was in a third world country waiting in the cold and nobody attending the unpleasant situation.

Zurich Airport by Peter LaChapelle
1 July 2006

I'm a flight attendant for American Airlines and have been flying to Zurich since 1988. Over the years, the airport I always thought was perfect, has only gotten better. As you would expect from the Swiss, the airport is a model of efficiency - and there's nothing you can't find there: grocery stores, clothing shops, banks, shower and rest areas, babysitting services, a train station, cafes, bars and restaurants, communications/business facilities - you name it! As for connections, this is the place to do it! If I travel as a passenger, I prefer to make my connection at Zurich Airport because of the ease in transferring from one flight to another. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of travellers arriving in ZRH aren't even going anywhere in Switzerland, but rather making connections to other countries. When the Swiss do anything, it's sheer perfection, and Kloten Airport is no exception. My rating: 10/10.

Zurich Airport by Bob Taylor
26 April 2006

I spent some happy hours in Zurich on my way to and from India in February. The shops were very attractive and the service efficient. The subway linking the two terminals was well designed and comfortable. Altogether a good way to kill time between flights.

Zurich Airport by René Garrand
20 April 2006

Transferred lately through ZRH from NCE to DME. Was positively surprised. Open, wide spaces, easy to navigate, efficient. All in all typically Swiss - many international departures that period (around 10 o'clock) and quite crowded, but not more than 10min for security in the new Dock E. Been through CDG and LHR many times, ZRH is a totally other atmosphere so this is a great alternative to other airports.

Zurich Airport by J Bertani
6 February 2006

I recently transited in Zurich airport and found the new shopping area in the airside wonderful. Seats are one of the most comfortable I've used in airports. It's bright with one floor, plenty of open (and smokers) bars and restaurants, shops, with a great view. That new area links terminal A and B which are, on the contrary, old, dark, tired with few shops and snack corners. The Terminal E is nice too though it feels like being in a giant big grey box. The "Bellevue " club lounge there (not for SWISS passengers though) is great, plenty of reading materials, food and the best coffee. Would be great if non smoking.

Zurich Airport by F Resh
3 February 2006

As someone who flew for years JFK-ZRH, I could get out of the plane, through customs, and into the train station in under 15 minutes. The luxury chocolate stores are wonderful, and the airport is one of the most tranquil in the world. Passport control is a mere formality, and the luggage carts which have been in use there over 20 years can be taken on escalators with no problems. Zurich remains ahead in design when it comes to airports. Some of the comments strike me as odd or incorrect; for example, contrary to a post below, smoking is not allowed everywhere in the airport. The train station is extremely convenient, only 10 mins to central city/railway station. I know of very few cities in the world that offer these amenities.

Zurich Airport by Mike Preston
15 January 2006

Like most things Swiss, it's functional and efficient and rarely gives the feeling of being busy, something important for people like myself who suffer from fear of large crowds. My biggest gripe with this airport is the fact that smoking is allowed everywhere, even in the dining areas, which by the way offer a rather poor selection of overpriced food and are thus highly unattractive. I often transit ZRH and find it best to either take one of the quick connections, or allow a few hours, giving myself time to go into either Zurich itself or one of the other nearby towns, have a decent meal in pleasant surrounds or a walk by the lake, and then get back to the airport, using the very efficient public transport system. I'd say this is probably as good as AMS for transits and certainly far better than any other West European hub. (I'm excluding my other favourite, VIE, as I don't consider it West European).

Zurich Airport by Chris Seal
16 November 2005

Must agree about the distances you have to walk – we flew with BA whose check-in desk is the furthest from the train station. If travelling business class you have to collect a pass for the lounge. BA no longer have their own lounge so you have a choice of two. The first (nearest to the check-in desk but furthest is from the gate) is shared with Swiss and Lufthansa and is functional but busy with little atmosphere. It is much better to use the Bellevue lounge which is by the gate – but to get to it you have a long walk followed by a transit journey and then security – allow 15 minutes (or longer if busy – to get through security). The lounge has a view over the airport and (allegedly) towards the mountains but it was night-time so I can’t vouch for that!

Zurich Airport by Sascha Menzendorf
9 September 2005

Stopover in ZRH a few days ago on my way from TXL to DXB. ZRH is a very clean and up-to-date airport. The previously mentioned circuitousness is nice. Lots of natural light, comfy seats, cafes and panorama windows. very clean toilets and friendly airport staff. The distances between the terminals can be bridged easily with the trains and the various opportunities to take a rest. This was my 5th experience in ZRH and I have to say that it is definitely one of my favourite airports in the world and one of the very few that can keep up with Asia's modern hubs such as INC and SIN. Hence I rate ZRH 8 out of 10!

Zurich Airport by John Doe
25 August 2005

Must agree with some others here - Zürich is big, obviously much bigger then needed. Lots of empty space, hardly any passengers and some seriously long distances from check-in area to some terminals. It takes 20 minutes and more and that is including the little train. Leaving the airport may take a while too as you first have to walk quite some time from the arrival terminals, then go through border control and customs, then take a short trip by train and only after that you can finally pick up your luggage and try to find a way out.