televisor

There's no "extra" security going from A to E regardless. It's all the same secured area.

cbourl

OK Pass Kontrolle is bei der FC A Lounge

YuropFlyer

That was me

Good it helped you. Before I noticed that little "trick" I also walked with everyone else (after all, for both the EK and the Panorama lounge this was the right way to go) - then trecking back on ground floor. It's just a few minutes extra, but (especially if you go to E and back because your flight is actually from A/B/D) it saves a little bit time. And honestly it saves a bit of "squeeze on the escalator" when you're getting there during rush hour. I've very rarely seen anyone using the elevator apart from some ground staff.

Will do the same treck tomorrow (departure from A).

The comment from PetzLUX is actually a good suggestion. IF you see there is a lengthy passport queue from one level about when looking down to passport control (due to delays or extreme rush hour) - after all, it can happen even in ZRH - you can still head to FCL A and ask for a limo transfer/personal passport check.

However I can imagine that in case of such extreme queues, all available Kantonspolizei will be staffing the counters at the regular booths, so it might take a bit longer perhaps to get the transfer. Not sure about the exact procedures, but from my understanding it's not a permanently staffed counter like at FCT in FRA..

There is no security from A to E (as others have commented) anyway, and you'll be "dumped" in E just at the ground level, ie having to find your way to the lounge yourself. I'd bet my horse (If I had any) that I'd be faster in the FCL E when we get dumped anywhere in either A, B, D or coming landside by going via Heidi train in 99%+ of all cases vs. going via FCL A, even when asking for an immediate transfer.

Also, you don't get a guaranteed car type transfer - plus you never know, maybe they had some "real VIPs" coming up soon and needed the Mercedes Saloons for them..

PetzLUX

My experience when driven from FCL A to FCL E:
No dumping somewhere on ground level but driven to the elevator going directly up to FCL and driver taking the elevator with me and handing me over to the lounge receptionist.

timol

We checked in recently around 13:15, just after the North American wave of E flights had left/boarded. The lady in FCL A was happy to drive us immediately to E but, for a brief moment, stopped to reflect. I took it as a sign of the FCL A passport counter indeed being not staffed during the quietest afternoon hours. At about 13:30, no such problem in our case.

San Gottardo

Difficult to imagine that the passport counter isn't staffed. Flights to non-Schengen destinations aren't only the ones leaving from E where Heidi is an alternative. There are also flights to non-Schengen destinations where planes are parked on the tarmac, and those happen throughout the day.

NewbieRunner

The passport checkpoint in question at the bottom of the stairs/escalator is usually very quiet and I've never seen other passengers when I was there. I didn't know it was sometimes not staffed but I've sometimes had to wait around in the FCL A before being escorted down the elevator which might explain they were checking that the checkpoint was actually staffed.

Last month after arriving from the US in F I spent a few hours in the FCL E and was told that my connecting flight (from D) would be a remote stand departure and that I should go to A for a ride to the plane. So I went to the checkpoint and was turned away because it was meant to be for groups. I should have realized that every time I went through passport control there I was accompanied by a driver from the FCL. So I had to go up to the FCL A where they were already expecting me.

It was a little strange that from the FCL E, I had to take Heidi's train to A, go through passport control into Schengen and to the FCL A, go through passport control again to be driven to my flight. I suppose it was marginally better than walking the length of A, going through passport control to D for a ride on a bus, or going to D and through security check to a bus.

vantage03

I arrived in F from the US yesterday, then after an hour delay finally had to walk from FCL E to D, go through security, only to find we were leaving from a bus gate. The FCL E dragons didn't warn me about that one or suggest going to FCL A.

I find the whole thing bizarre, why can't they just drive you from FCL E? The LX F ground experience is getting to me, and I'm actively starting to avoid it in favour of LH.

PetzLUX

You get a drive from FCL E to D if you have an intercont. flight departing from D.
Or a drive to A if going to GVA.
At LX they know that the situation is not cool (eh premium) for F-pax/HON arriving in E for the moment (their own words).
For further transfers (+ new F-terminal-in-terminal): the plans are there, things have to be sorted out with ZRH airport. Apparently LH are also putting some pression on it to get that done.

That said, I always prefer to transfer through ZRH than FRA, where you often are on your own too and transfer takes often much more time than the 10-15 min. you generally need in ZRH.

vantage03

Good to hear that they at least want to do something about it. Thanks PetzLUX.

Re: FRA, agree it can take longer but at least I know if I was departing from a bus gate that they would drive me... the melee at ZRH isn't cool.

PetzLUX

In FRA: Due to ID checks within Schengen nowadays, you may not get a limo transfer from FCL to apron. LUX i.e. is such a destination. So better go to FCT.


Sadly, the lounge receptionist forgot to tell you.
In ZRH for the moment, if not sure, better ask if you have a bus gate and then act accordingly (go to FCL A).
But remember, with airlines like OU,... departing from D, you don't get a limo ride to apron.

Bus gates in ZRH are: A50-59, A01-06, D51-58
https://www.flughafen-zuerich.ch/~/m...s_wtt-2015.pdf

However they may use a normal gate (like D38,...) to board a bus if all bus gates are already in use.

Cedos

Thanks for the reply!

I have now the same question for the return.

I fly BOS > ZRH > BRU. What is the best alternative? Using lounge E and then making my way to gates A in time for my flight? But how can I know in advance how long will the queue be for immigration?

PetzLUX

Nowhere they do show waiting times at passport control. It is a bit more crowded when a few longhaul flights arrive at the same time.
I never needed more than 15 min. from E to A, including passport control.
So, let's say you leave the lounge E 30 min. before your flight is boarding you should be fine.

Artemio

Actually, you're absolutely right. Immigration in zhr has an internal rule, which states the waiting line shouldn't be longer than 15 min.

If only every airport had this rule !

Wtravel

The issue in service discrepancy between (no) arrival and departure limo has been there since day one, so for years now, with HONs., etc. continuously suggesting they should do something about it. Given that, I think it is hardly just an issue with the airport, but probably more so with LH/LX's bean counters

As to passport control, ZRH has to be one of the best larger airports on the continent for minimal waiting times. Nevertheless, can't quite understand why the Swiss authorities have been so painstakingly slow in implementing smart gates (I am aware they had a limited test phase a while back and plan a roll out by spring 2018).

And as to the Heidi train: it is generally quite efficient, but at times it seems they don't get the configurations right for extra-Schengen departures and arrivals, i.e., crowded small section of the train for those pax, with the rest empty. If they could also sort that out it is actually a good alternative to the limo, especially during the colder winter months.