Zürich airport/rail connection

Will your Eurail pass be validated before you arrive?

Yes, thanks

Where are you heading? You do not need reservations on Swiss trains so you can just board the first train going that direction from the airport. It you want a direct train to Luzern or another city without changing trains at the Zurich main station, consult the schedule at SBB.ch
I like to have a printed copy in hand on arrival, covering the hour or so after arrival.

Thanks, I am headed to Munich

https://www.sbb.ch/en/buying/pages/fahrplan/fahrplan.xhtml

Direct (no change) departs Zürich Flughafen 18:14 to München Hbf

One change train departs 18:56 Direction Basel SBB to Zürich HB, then ICB 42232
Direction München ZOB (Hackerbrücke)

You can find all of your Swiss Train connections at www.sbb.ch/en from Zurich Airport (Flughafen) -> Munich

ICB 42232 is a bus, but that's just about your best (only) option to get to Munich that day.

But, if you want to go to Munich, why are you flying to Zürich?

Is a Eurail pass valid on that bus?

Both the 18:14 and the 18:56 arrive in Munich just before 11pm. The bus involves a walk in Zurich and then depending on where in Munich may be more or less convenient than the Hbf. There is an S-Bahn station a few minutes walk up from the ZOB.

If your plane is at all late or you take a while getting through the airport the next pair leave at 19:16 and 19:23 and get in just before one am. They are the last ones until the morning.

Thanks folks. I appreciate the info. Going back to my original post, all I really want to know is how long will I need to get off the plane and on to the train?

how long will I need to get off the plane and on to the train?

If all goes well, you will be on the station platform within 1 hour after landing. Zürich is an efficient airport. But things can go wrong.
I too think it is curious why you are flying from Paris to Zürich when you want to go to Munich. Zürich to Munich by train is neither fast nor frequent.

elrodj, at which gate do you arrive? Without that info it makes it impossible to guess the distance you will have to walk in less than + or - 15 minutes accuracy.

I’ll be arriving on Air France from CDG, so likely not on E. Thanks!

If arriving from Paris, no immigration needed, and customs is, as always, just a "walk through" without stopping.

As soon as you have walked out through customs, look for signs "Bahn Railway". These will direct you to the building across the road (undercover), and then down to the underground station.
See photo here: https://www.watson.ch/imgdb/9e71/Qx,A,0,0,1300,867,541,361,216,144/8571728675583538

I have flown into Zurich a few times and headed for the trains. It can be a hike to the train station. The last time we parked on the tarmac and had to be bussed to the terminal. (This past October.)

Assuming your flight is on time, give it a minimum of 45 minutes. One hour to be safer.

Thanks Frank II. Any chance I could make a train that leaves 30 minutes after my flight lands? I would make a beeline directly to the train.

30 minutes? No, because you don’t know that your plane will land on time, and there is also a chance you will be on a remote stand rather than a gate, and have to take a bus to the terminal. We have had that several times.

Lola, thank you. I enjoy pushing the envelope. I think I can do it.

I couldn't find an AF CDG to ZUR arriving 5:45 pm, but AF 1814 is scheduled to depart at 4:15 pm ET and arrive at 5:30 pm CET. Looking at AF 1814's 10 day history:
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AFR1814/history/20181223/1525Z/LFPG/LSZH

The outliers were the Dec 20 AF 1814 late arrival at 7:07 pm CET and the Dec 10 flight early arrival at 5:17 pm CET with most arriving close to on-time (5:30) or early. Of course, with CDG departures, anything goes.

But, if you want to go to Munich, why are you flying to Zürich?

Not the original poster, but I've seen some really good transatlantic pricing this year, both cash and award ticket, for flying into Switzerland instead of adjacent countries. Enough so that a train ticket upon arrival can make sense.

I got an amazing Black Friday deal using sky miles. The plan is to fly in and out Zurich, where I intend to spend time before flying out. Open jaws tickets were three times as expensive so this makes sense.

Nobody got back and replied if the Eurail pass is good on the Zurich - Munich ZOB bus.... I don't think it is, others may know that it is. I would be difficult for Elrod to count on doing that (it leaves later than the train after all and gives a bit extra opportunity when trying for the extremely tight connections) and then have the bus not accept his pass.

The plan is to fly in and out Zurich, where I intend to spend time before flying out.

Why not spend at least a day (or two) of your planned in Zurich on arrival and not fuss about missing the direct train to Munich?

Thanks Frank II. Any chance I could make a train that leaves 30 minutes after my flight lands? I would make a beeline directly to the train.

If I was in Vegas, they'd have to give me amazing odds to take that bet. The gods would really have to be on your side.

Since you have a railpass you could give it a try but I would suggest having a backup plan.

Nobody got back and replied if the Eurail pass is good on the Zurich - Munich ZOB bus.... I don't think it is, others may know that it is.

Like Radio Jerewan used to say: in principle yes, but ...

Quoting the respective DB site: "Passangebote (InterRail, German Rail Pass, Eurail) können im IC Bus genutzt werden, sofern eine Platzreservierung vorhanden ist" - Passes (InterRail, German Rail Pass, Eurail) can be used on the IC bus, provided a seat reservation has been made.

Oh that's great... I really didn't think it would be....

Thanks Edgar. I am a big proponent of speed travel. If I have any down time, I really get anxious.