ORD-ZRH has never been a nonstop flight. The only nonstop flight to ZRH on UA is from IAD. UA markets this as a direct flight with one flight number even though there can be and often is an equipment change.

IMHO, I don't think we need to start yet another thread on whether direct flights (w/stops) fall under marketing deception. We can do a search and find a lot of them on FT. Also with miles, direct flights accumulate miles as if ORD-ZRH and not ORD-IAD-ZRH even though there is a plane change. Sometimes it works out in the flyer's favor and sometimes not. There are threads on this as well.

It is unfortunate, but a fact of flying life.