I have a choice of two flights from Zurich; which would you recommend? 1. Through Frankfrurt or 2. Through Munich? Both same wait time between flights.
I know there is a non-stop but we have to get from Lucerne to Zurich Airport for a 9:40 Departure which would mean getting to the airport at about 6am leaving Lucerne earlier...Not.
Just want to know which airport to connect through.
Many thanks,
Jean
I acknowledge your preference to not climb out of bed early on your last day, but if it were me, I would make the sacrifice to avoid changing planes.
Just so you know, with a 9:40 departure to Toronto I would expect that 3 hours ahead would suffice, and there is a train from Luzern direct to Zurich airport, no changes, at 5:35 which gets to the airport station, right at the airport, at 6:44 giving you just about 3 hours for check-in.
I haven't been through either of the airports you propose for many a long year.
I would spend the last night in Zurich to catch that direct flight rather than risk a connecting flight in these days of frequent cancellations.
I hate early morning departures too. But for a direct flight vs a connecting one, we usually suck it up, and sleep on the plane. Lola's suggestion of sleeping in Zurich (at an airport hotel) has merit. But to answer your question, I'd rather go through Munich than Frankfurt any day, and twice on Sunday. It's so much smaller and just easier to get through passport control and on to connecting gates.
+1 to CJean's response. I've transited through both Munich and Frankfurt to and from Calgary. Munich all the way.
(but a nonstop is lower risk, I agree.)
You don't say when this would be, but given the situation in the world these days, take only nonstop flights that do not stop in other countries.
I am not usually an advocate for airport hotels, but in this case it would be the best way to minimize snafus on your trip home, and not have to rise before dawn.
We stayed at the Radisson Blu inside the airport on one trip, and all we had to do in the morning was get dressed and head downstairs for our flight. But we did not spend time at that hotel in the evening—it is only a 12-minute ride by train or tram to downtown Zurich, and a short walk from there to the old town area with a nice pedestrian zone. There is a small restaurant, with tables on a small patio, that we like very much.
You do not say when this trip is, and maybe if it is a summer trip all the current problems with flight cancellations and delays will have cleared up by then. But I would not count on that for a spring trip, which is why I and others are suggesting you opt for the direct flight.
We are booked into a hotel in Lucerne the night before our flight so don’t want to pay for another as it’s very expensive in Zurich so I guess I’ll wait and see how this Covid goes before I book our early October flights..
Thanks all,
Jean
You booked a non-refundable hotel in Lucerne? Ouch. Are you sure they won’t budge?
Well, were booked as part of a tour so I could leave Lucerne a day early and stay in Zurich but Switzerland is very expensive and I’d hate to pay twice for the same night! I have time to book my flights it’s just if a seat sale comes up I’ll have to decide then. If I do take a connecting flight, I’ll go through Munich.
This Covid Political football better end soon and open up the World and let us live as we choose to! As retired seniors I don’t want to sit at home waiting to die…let me out!
Thanks,
Jean
I'd definitely stay at the airport itself (I think there are 2 hotels right in Zurich airport). Direct flights always over connections.
I've been through both Frankfurt and Munich several times each and I think they are both fine, but others' comments preferring Munich do make sense
The train trip from Old Town Zurich to the airport is about ten minutes, and there are trains frequently, which are dependable and on time. I don't think that staying at the Zurich airport is that important.
Safe travels!
The train trip from Old Town Zurich to the airport is about ten
minutes, and there are trains frequently, which are dependable and on
time. I don't think that staying at the Zurich airport is that
important. Safe travels!
You're absolutely right, and I've done that trip early in the morning, in winter, and all was painless.
That said, I stayed at the Fairmont at the Vancouver Airport before an early flight, and it was absolutely luxurious to just go down the elevator and walk 5 min indoors to check in for my flight. Plus I got to watch them line up the airplanes at night (I didn't want to sleep, it was so interesting!). So when I have an early flight in the future, I will look for a hotel at the airport.
But no, not necessary in Zurich.
I appreciate all your suggestions and will now try and change my last hotel in Lucerne to Zurich and get the non-stop flight home!
Thanks all,
Jean
