avaratoth

Hi, Ive a flight booked on 25th August from Prague arriving in Zurich 16:05 with a 1:10 minute gap before my connecting flight to Birmingham BHX. at 17:15. Im flying with Swiss.

Ive never been to ZRH before and this is my first time making a connecting flight, assuming my flights are on time is the connection time feasible?

Thanks in advance

JayEX35

Hi guys. first time here as I have never flew on Swiss.

But when checking for a last minute flight home on united.com from PEK-YYZ, the only Business class award travel available was PEK-ZRH (on LX) and then ZRH-YYZ (on AC), more or less a long way home.

I will have 1hr and 30min to make the connection. From reading here, I figure it should be enough time, so I booked the ticket. But after booking it and reading a bit more about ZRH, I find myself drawn in all the terminal/Schengen/non-Schengen information.

Can anyone tell me if arriving from PEK, which terminal will I be arriving on LX and which terminal will I be departing for AC?

Furthermore, will I have to clear immigration/custom? If so, does ZRH have priority lines from business class pax? So maybe I can still have time to buy the chocolate I promised my nephew.

Any comment is greatly appreciated.

NewbieRunner

Both your LX flight from PEK and AC flight to YYZ use E terminal/gates. You will need to clear transfer security but there's no need for passport control or customs. 1 hour 30 minutes should be more than enough and you will have time to buy chocolate!

hwmorth

Enjoy the flight - they´ve got a very nice product in business

NewbieRunner

Welcome to FT, avaratoth!

1 hour 10 mins should be fine for this connection. Your flight from PRG will arrive at an A gate, and your flight to BHX will depart from a D gate. From your arrival gate just follow the signs for D gates. The route will take you through passport control but no security.

JayEX35

Thanks! That's great news!!! Well, not so much for my brother as he has been trying to keep the sweets away from his kids!

Thanks. I have been always flying with either United or AC because they are usually the fastest one. But, there's a first for everything and I can't wait to try some Swiss service finesse!

avaratoth

Thanks very much for your help - you've certainly put my mind at rest

TRAVELSIG

You will be absolutely fine and as you are in transit without entering a Schengen country there is no passport control nor customs.

You will both arrive and depart from Terminal E.

90 minutes will give you some time also at the Panorama Lounge which you can access due to your business class ticket and which is located on the top floor of Terminal E

gnaget

NRT-ZRH-ARN (Stockholm) with 45 minute connection. I did the reverse (50 min) with no problem and the flight was 10 min late. However, here I have to go through security? If I understand the new system correctly an "approved" country allows connecting in Europe without security. So USA-ZRH-XXX does not require security in ZRH. What about Japan?

NewbieRunner

Japan isn't one of the approved "safe" countries, so you will have to clear security before boarding Heidi's train. You will also go through passport control on arrival in Pier A.

In my experience (admittedly only once) arrivals from the US cannot escape transit security either unless the flight arrives at a D gate.

specialeffects

I just wanted to chime in my recent experience. 50 mins was enough to transit for me but not for my bags.

dgilman

Did you arrive and depart from E?

Anyone else have data points on this? I have a 45 minute connection EWR(UA)-ZRH(LX)-NBO and as I'm headed to JRO to climb Kilimanjaro I'd hate to lose my luggage.

David

MichielR

45 minutes should be fine, also for luggage, but things can occasionally go wrong, with any airline or any airport. Therefore, as always, bring critical ie non-replaceable items on board. Bring your hiking/climbing boots as hand baggage or wear them on the plane...

OT: I saw someone wearing full skiing gear on a flight to GVA last winter. He did take his helmet, goggles and ski boots off when on board!

DUS

Yes, thats true for 99.99% of the flights so the OP will be fine!

Just out of curiosity: my flights from the UK to ZRH all arrived at the D-Gates. Well, with the exception of my flight from LHR last weekend when much to my surprise the A319 docked at the far end of the E-Gates opposite SQ's A380.

Does anyone know why they have an LX flight from Heathrow dock at that terminal rather than at B/D?

SR116

Hard to say, but it's been done in the past, when the inbound flight is running late and is carrying several transfer passengers with a long-haul flight departing from E. The times I've seen it happen it was with one of the evening LHR or MAN arrivals.