Connecting in Zurich [ZRH]
Jul 8, 2018, 10:38 pm
#811
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 466
I think it's related to the new automatic gates (great thing, actually)
They work very smoothly (I found them to be much faster than their counterparts in HKG or FRA), but it seems most CH / EFTA / EU passport owners don't really want to use them..
So, basically they reduced the number of manned booths, as they thought most people will be using the automated gates - but I guess it takes some time for people to realize it's much smoother to use them.
Anyway, take down the elevator, in case there is a carnage at the escalator. You'll pass by from the "arriving" side that way, and are easily able to use the automatic gates (As long as you're holding a CH / EFTA / EU passport)
They work very smoothly (I found them to be much faster than their counterparts in HKG or FRA), but it seems most CH / EFTA / EU passport owners don't really want to use them..
So, basically they reduced the number of manned booths, as they thought most people will be using the automated gates - but I guess it takes some time for people to realize it's much smoother to use them.
Anyway, take down the elevator, in case there is a carnage at the escalator. You'll pass by from the "arriving" side that way, and are easily able to use the automatic gates (As long as you're holding a CH / EFTA / EU passport)
Should I expect it to be as bad going home? I've got about a 75 minute connection (though there are a lot of ZRH-GVA flights so if I miss the connection, it isn't a big deal).
Jul 9, 2018, 12:51 am
#812
Moderator: SAS
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: BLL & CPH & ZRH
Programs: LX, SK EBD (*G)
Posts: 3,152
Sadly, I'm not. I was flying on a UN passport and have a Swiss Carte de legitimation, but no EU/CH passport. But the elevator plan is still a good one.
Should I expect it to be as bad going home? I've got about a 75 minute connection (though there are a lot of ZRH-GVA flights so if I miss the connection, it isn't a big deal).
Should I expect it to be as bad going home? I've got about a 75 minute connection (though there are a lot of ZRH-GVA flights so if I miss the connection, it isn't a big deal).
PS: Out of interest, what is a UN passport? UN as in united Nations?
Jul 9, 2018, 4:01 am
#814
Moderator: SAS
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: BLL & CPH & ZRH
Programs: LX, SK EBD (*G)
Posts: 3,152
Jul 9, 2018, 5:56 am
#815
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,162
Jul 9, 2018, 6:17 am
#816
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,038
I think it's related to the new automatic gates (great thing, actually)
They work very smoothly (I found them to be much faster than their counterparts in HKG or FRA), but it seems most CH / EFTA / EU passport owners don't really want to use them..
So, basically they reduced the number of manned booths, as they thought most people will be using the automated gates - but I guess it takes some time for people to realize it's much smoother to use them.
They work very smoothly (I found them to be much faster than their counterparts in HKG or FRA), but it seems most CH / EFTA / EU passport owners don't really want to use them..
So, basically they reduced the number of manned booths, as they thought most people will be using the automated gates - but I guess it takes some time for people to realize it's much smoother to use them.
Jul 9, 2018, 6:38 am
#817
Moderator: SAS
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: BLL & CPH & ZRH
Programs: LX, SK EBD (*G)
Posts: 3,152
One of my parents used to work for the UN, but I don’t think they ever had such a passport.
I want one! XD
Jul 9, 2018, 6:54 am
#818
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,213
Indeed I think most people just don't know to use them. A couple of weeks ago I passed through - sadly I didn't have my passport with me, had to go to the booth on national ID - and the automatic gates were deserted. However when the first person came in to use the gates, and people saw how fast was he through, a line immediately formed.
Jul 10, 2018, 10:32 pm
#819
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 466
). The big thing is that it saves my national passport from stamps (as it is, my ten year passport will probably last around four). And reduces the number of visas that I need to get (plus, if I do need a visa, I send the UNLP off to get it so I'm not left without my national passport (since I don't live in my home country, I always worry when I'm without my passport - though it's never actually been an issue).Back on topic. I'll report back about the E to B connection (I think I leave from B - might be A). To see if that is as bad as the other way was last week.
Aug 1, 2018, 10:22 am
#820
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
I'm debating booking BOS-ZRH-VIE for a morning meeting with a 55 minute connection in ZRH with no checked bags.
LX55 BOS-ZRH arriving 06:15
LX1574 ZRH-VIE leaving 07:10
LX3550 ZRH-VIE leaving at 7:40 (operated by Austrian)
The next flight is at 7:40 which bumps it up to 1:25 connection time but will make me late (but so will a missed connection and then having to hope there's room on the next flights).
Does the BOS-ZRH flight arrive at a remote stand and require being bused in? I will need to clear customs and immigration to get on the VIE flight as well I assume?
LX55 BOS-ZRH arriving 06:15
LX1574 ZRH-VIE leaving 07:10
LX3550 ZRH-VIE leaving at 7:40 (operated by Austrian)
The next flight is at 7:40 which bumps it up to 1:25 connection time but will make me late (but so will a missed connection and then having to hope there's room on the next flights).
Does the BOS-ZRH flight arrive at a remote stand and require being bused in? I will need to clear customs and immigration to get on the VIE flight as well I assume?
Aug 1, 2018, 10:35 am
#821
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 466
I'm debating booking BOS-ZRH-VIE for a morning meeting with a 55 minute connection in ZRH with no checked bags.
LX55 BOS-ZRH arriving 06:15
LX1574 ZRH-VIE leaving 07:10
LX3550 ZRH-VIE leaving at 7:40 (operated by Austrian)
The next flight is at 7:40 which bumps it up to 1:25 connection time but will make me late (but so will a missed connection and then having to hope there's room on the next flights).
Does the BOS-ZRH flight arrive at a remote stand and require being bused in? I will need to clear customs and immigration to get on the VIE flight as well I assume?
LX55 BOS-ZRH arriving 06:15
LX1574 ZRH-VIE leaving 07:10
LX3550 ZRH-VIE leaving at 7:40 (operated by Austrian)
The next flight is at 7:40 which bumps it up to 1:25 connection time but will make me late (but so will a missed connection and then having to hope there's room on the next flights).
Does the BOS-ZRH flight arrive at a remote stand and require being bused in? I will need to clear customs and immigration to get on the VIE flight as well I assume?
Aug 1, 2018, 10:51 am
#822
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
Cannot help you on the remote stand, but yes, you will need to clear customs/immigration in ZRH. What class are you flying? As I (and others) noted earlier, I had hit a massive line doing Schengen to Non-Schengen (apparently there's been chaos recently), but most reports are that the other way isn't so bad. Coming from Boston, I don't think you have to do security. I was going home from Tanzania and did, but ended up in F and was on LX, so ended up with their new arrival process, so I'm not sure of the timing in the "normal" lines. I noticed that the people on the Boston flight (which arrived at the F area at the same time as my flight) skipped the security check, which is where my assumption on that comes from.
Aug 1, 2018, 11:14 am
#823
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Geneva
Programs: LX SEN, AFKL Platinum, BA Bronze,
Posts: 5,627
Coming from BOS, you will have close to zero chance of an apron position. You will not have to clear security, but will have to go through passport control to enter the Schengen area before going to the A terminal for your VIE flight. Technically you’ll go through customs in VIE but that’s only an issue if you have goods to declare.
The BOS flight arrives with the wave of early morning arrivals, both a positive in that passport control will be fully staffed and a negative in that you won’t be the only one.
if LX sell you this connection then go for it, in all likelihood you will be fine and make it. Try to grab a seat in the front of the Y section if you can, though.
If you want to be even safer, book a flight BOS to JFK and connect to JFK-VIE direct.
The BOS flight arrives with the wave of early morning arrivals, both a positive in that passport control will be fully staffed and a negative in that you won’t be the only one.
if LX sell you this connection then go for it, in all likelihood you will be fine and make it. Try to grab a seat in the front of the Y section if you can, though.
If you want to be even safer, book a flight BOS to JFK and connect to JFK-VIE direct.
Aug 1, 2018, 12:51 pm
#824
Moderator: SAS
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: BLL & CPH & ZRH
Programs: LX, SK EBD (*G)
Posts: 3,152
I'm debating booking BOS-ZRH-VIE for a morning meeting with a 55 minute connection in ZRH with no checked bags.
LX55 BOS-ZRH arriving 06:15
LX1574 ZRH-VIE leaving 07:10
LX3550 ZRH-VIE leaving at 7:40 (operated by Austrian)
The next flight is at 7:40 which bumps it up to 1:25 connection time but will make me late (but so will a missed connection and then having to hope there's room on the next flights).
Does the BOS-ZRH flight arrive at a remote stand and require being bused in? I will need to clear customs and immigration to get on the VIE flight as well I assume?
LX55 BOS-ZRH arriving 06:15
LX1574 ZRH-VIE leaving 07:10
LX3550 ZRH-VIE leaving at 7:40 (operated by Austrian)
The next flight is at 7:40 which bumps it up to 1:25 connection time but will make me late (but so will a missed connection and then having to hope there's room on the next flights).
Does the BOS-ZRH flight arrive at a remote stand and require being bused in? I will need to clear customs and immigration to get on the VIE flight as well I assume?
If you arrive in Terminal E (most likely) you'll exit the plane and take a train to Terminal A/B, where you will clear passport control. The only thing that bothers me a bit is that at this time all the early long hauls arrive, so passport control might be busy, but busy in ZRH usually means 15 mins waiting time max. Once you cleared passport control you can proceed directly to your gate, which will most likely be in Terminal A. I'd even be comftable to grab a quick 5 minute breakfast in the lounge. If there is no exceptional waiting time at the passport control I'd say it'll take you at max 30 minutes out of the plane to the gate of your connection flight.
If you are flying F you will be picked up at your airplane and driven to Terminal A where you'll have a private passport control.
If you were to miss your connection due to late arrival of your BOS-ZRH flight or some unfortunately long lines at passport control you'll be rebooked on the next ZRH-VIE flight by Swiss. (if both flights are on one ticket that is)
But I'm pretty confident you'd make the connection. I'd be comftable doing 20 minute connections in ZRH even. LX and Swissport staff are usually very good at handling close connections.
(Just recently I made a 20 minute connection in GVA having arrived late and at a remote stand, whole process was extremely fluent)
Last edited by Nick Art; Aug 1, 2018 at 12:57 pm