Zurich Airport

✅ Trip Verified | A simple transfer is not an easy experience. Forget about Swiss precision. Nonsense after nonsense. We flew with Swiss Air from India to Brussels with a transfer in Zurich. The first flight from Mumbai was delayed, so after spending over 10 hours on the plane, we hoped for a smooth transfer. And here in the corridor, just like that, three policemen were waiting, checking tickets and passports of several hundred tired people. Many people counted on an efficient transfer (1.20 hours for us), so the unexpected inspection, with all its slowness and rudeness, started to cause frustration and nervousness. But that was only a beginning. After the policemen, the security was checked as it is always done before the flight. I have never been checked after a flight before. Only two lines for checking were available for several hundred people. Passengers were checked very thoroughly and turned back, regardless of their discomfort after a long flight and the lack of an available toilet. The fact that many passengers were just passing through at this airport did not play any role for the staff and, as I know, many people missed their transfers. When I asked if the flight to Brussels would be delayed because we were being held too long, I heard a short 'no'. After reaching the plane in sprint style, we were graciously allowed to board, but there were passengers (from another flight) who were 90 seconds late and this is where Swiss precision worked: they were not allowed to board. It is not the end. Our plane didn't leave as planed but was considerably delayed because they were looking for some suitcases. Maybe ours because they didn't reach Brussels. The last time I had such a circus was in the 1990s, when I was flying through Turkey to the Balkans and my luggage constantly landed in Moscow. I haven't seen such nonsense in a long time. In addition, the rudeness and haughtiness of the Swiss. Therefore, I definitely do not recommend Zurich airport or Swiss Air when it comes to large transports. They better stay a local airport because they have neither the skills nor the infrastructure to handle flights with large numbers of passengers.

✅ Trip Verified | Airport is great but the whole security and passport control desk situation is horrendous, never experienced anything like it. Staff are rude managing the queues. Vast majority of people late for the flights.

✅ Trip Verified | We stayed overnight in Zurich between flights, involving an evening arrival, airport hotel and early morning departure. Our experience of an overnight stay in Zurich was much more positive than our similar experience in Frankfurt a month ago. Exit from aircraft went smoothly, with short walks from gates to airport exit. Signage throughout the airport was clear, and included both abundant fingerposts and an airport plan. As passengers arriving tired in the evening, we especially appreciated not having to hunt for the hotel shuttle bay. Departure process the next morning similarly went smoothly. Security screening went quickly, and was helped by friendly security staff. One negative: food outlets near the gates are sparse and expensive.

✅ Trip Verified | The staff is very welcoming and competent, but the distances between international gates maybe too long. 4 items need urgently to be improved - the reception of passengers in transit and/or waiting for boarding : unless you travel on business class, you'll hardly find decent chairs to sit and wait sometimes for several hours. How can it be in such a strong traffic airport? Lack of free spots to charge devices : as we use more more devices event to use boarding passes, etc, how can you manage if your device needs to be charged. Free WIFi : OK, but without limits of duration would be bes. Cleanliness att 7.00 AM, papers and stains on the soil, not to be expected here.

Not Verified | The airport lacks of proper cooling in basically all parts of the airport. Even during winter time, the airport is too warm. This is an absolute unacceptable situation. Waiting lines: Too long at security and immigration checks, especially during peak hours. Security used to be good for years in ZRH, but since Covid this has changed. Slot delays: Departing in ZRH during rush hours, especially after noon time has almost a guaranteed delay. Positive I can rate the public transportation access and the large choice of restaurants, bars, stores and the hotels at the airport or close by.

✅ Trip Verified | I live here in Zurich and have seen the airport overall deteriorate specially in the last five years. The key issue is arrival and departure specially for Non-Swiss/EU passport holders. It seems like the airport is able to handle the traffic effectively and adequately staff immigration counters. Today on September 22nd arrived from London City at 12.00 Noon and the immigration counter backup was all the way from inside or Terminal D and I passed through immigration at 1:20. This kind of immigration wait is not at an acceptable level and this was at a non peak time in the middle of the day. I fly globally and looking at the list of airports definitely do not think the rating of the airport is low enough as a key factor should be clearing immigration in reasonable time.

Not Verified | I have not visited Switzerland for about seven years and was shocked at the shortage of staff at the airport. Long queues, total disorganisation, and very unhappy passengers.

✅ Trip Verified | The worst arrivals experience outside of New York. Just atrocious. 2 immigration desks open out or 10. Queue filled the immigration hall and spilled over. This is now a regular occurrence. Every inbound trip. Zurich airport know incoming demand but they just don't care.

Not Verified | 27 degrees outside, almost the same temperature inside, I expected at least not to sweat as staying seated. Business lounge toilets were really dirty.

Not Verified | At a peak hour - 8.20am - there were only three queues open for visitors without Swiss/EU passport. I have been queuing for 1h20 min and still nowhere near the front of the queue. There was no attempt to increase the number of immigration officers at the counter during this period. Apart from telling us to ‘stand on the left’, there was no other communication from the immigration staff on duty. I have been to Zurich airport a few times and the experience is getting increasingly worse, which is a pity. This is a lovely country and unfortunately the first experience for visitors is not a pleasant one. Please do something about this. Thank you.