In the Rough Guide, it has a piece about checking bags from any airport to Zurich or Geneva where the bags can then be sent on to certain train stations. It says we need to obtain a green custom label from Swiss Air or a Rail Europe outlet.
We don’t have either of these where we live. Does anyone know where we can obtain this label? We would love to check our bags at our home airport when we board our flight and then retrieve them three days later before we board our cruise. That way, we can just use our backpacks as we tour around without dragging our suitcases.
Thoughts?? Thanks for any help.
Posted by
Washington DC
27111 posts
I wonder whether the Rough Guide is referring to a postal customs label? I believe those are internationally standardized, so one you pick up at a US post office would work if that is the document they mean. I haven't looked at a customs label for more than 10 years, but there used to be a small green one and a larger white one. I suspect your best bet to find customs labels is to go to a postal facility staffed by USPS employees rather than a little counter tucked away in some sort of store.
If you Google green customs label, you'll get some pictures. I must say they don't look exactly as I remember them, but they may be what you need.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32746 posts
This programme is one of several luggage programmes run by the SBB. This one is pretty clearly aimed at Swiss residents heading off on their holidays and then returning. There is a way for people traveling but it isn't necessarily easy.
The main official webpage about some of the various programmes is at https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/before-your-journey/luggage/flight-luggage.html If you click on the second from left option, "Zurich : flight luggage from your door", then scroll down to the bottom, "Sales Outlets", click that and you will see
"From abroad: This offer can only be booked via a tour operator or Swiss Travel System point of sale".
If you aren't being booked by a tour operator and click through you will be taken a couple of pages later to the providers which in this case are Swisspasses dot com, a UK tour operator.
You may find it more trouble than it is worth....
By the way, read the details, and the green is a special green plastic cover.. not at all a US post office form.
Posted by
OP
Florida
192 posts
Thanks for the info. I think we will just see what they say when we land in Zurich. Hoping we can check our bags from the rail station there on to Basel.
Posted by
Green Bay
20085 posts
Couple of options there, station to station, or station to door. I know station to station takes minimum of 39 hours (in by 6 pm and delivered by 9 am 2 days later) and costs 12 CHF per bag. Read about it here.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/before-your-journey/luggage/luggage.html
Posted by
OP
Florida
192 posts
That’s perfect. We will have it forwarded when we get to Zurich. Thank you!!!!