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Zurich Airport Connection Time

Posted by (Los Angeles) on

I’m flying CPH (Copenhagen) – ZHR (Zurich) – LAX (Los Angeles) on SWISS in October. I understand that in ZHR, as a US passport holder, I’ll have to go through passport control (basically exit the Schengen flight area to get to my returning International flight.) Is this correct? The connection time is just 1 hr 10 minutes, arriving Terminal 1 and departing Terminal 2. I usually give myself much more time for connections, but I grabbed this flight since it is fully refundable and was offered at a great last-minute points redemption.

I’ll be in Business class so I’ll be fast to deplane, have carry-on only, so I won’t have to collect luggage and recheck, and the flights are on one ticket. What has been your recent experience going through passport/customs in ZHR?

I continune to look for other options but so far nothing has come up. I'm eyeing some connections that go through AMS (Amsterdam) but knowing that large airport, I would give myself 2 or more hours for connection.

Posted by
2275 posts

I don’t think you’ll have a problem. We had a flight from Denver-Zurich-Athens two years ago. A delayed departure left us with 32 minutes (!) to connect in Zurich but we made it in plenty of time. The pilot made up some time in the air.

It’s a small airport. And by the way, we loved Swissair business class and were also doing carry-on. So you should be fine.

Posted by
22501 posts

I am showing 1 hr 30 min connection time on Swiss. 9:40 dep from CPH with a 11:35 arr at Terminal 2 at ZRH, then a 1:05 dep from Terminal 1 (remote concourse B).

In January, we found the connection time of 1 hr 45 min very comfortable going from Nice to Chicago through ZRH on Swiss.

You will have to make your way from arrival to the entrance to the underground train to the remote concourse B. In the process, you will go through passport check, then board the train to Concourse B. All flights to USA will pass through a separate check point where they will stamp your boarding pass and you may be randomly selected for secondary security.

Posted by
3875 posts

I have a 70 minute connection in Zurich in September, then onward to Paris all on one ticket.
Zurich appears to be a very efficient airport so I’m sure we will all make our flights.
I think both of my flights are in and out of Terminal 1 from what I can make out, so if so, that will be easier.
If I miss it, they’ll get me on the next available flight.
I’ll let you know!

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