SWISS Arrival Lounge

SWISS Arrival Lounge – Zurich (ZRH)

The SWISS Arrival Lounge at Zurich airport offers premium international passengers arriving on SWISS, Lufthansa and United the ability to shower and enjoy breakfast on the ground. The service is especially valuable for customers traveling on short flights from the East Coast of the United States, who can use the lounge to maximize sleep and skip breakfast on board, and freshen up ahead of their day in the city.

You may reach the lounge from Terminals 1 and 2. Hop on the SkyMetro train, go through immigration, pick up your bags, and then exit customs. The lounge is located in the arrivals zone outside customs and clearly marked from the baggage claim area. The arrivals zone spreads across two stories: assuming you end up on the upper level, just walk straight into the lounge; otherwise, on the lower level, ring the bell to enter the lobby, then take the elevator to the upper level. A friendly customer service representative will hand you a key to a shower and provide you with further directions.

SWISS Arrival Lounge – Zurich (ZRH)

SWISS Arrival Lounge ZRH design

The SWISS Arrival Lounge sports the typical SWISS lounge design, with signature accent walls made of Jura stone, elegant hardwood floors, contrasting black and white tones, and designer furniture in a somewhat minimalistic setting.

Located inside the terminal building, the lounge doesn’t have exterior facing windows. The only windows look out on the arrivals zone, and are frosted to enhance privacy. The lack of daylight is unfortunate – a bit of sunlight would go a long way towards helping passengers transition to the local time zone – but it makes sense that a lounge which is mostly intended for short stays would not benefit from a prime location.

Beyond the reception area is a seating area that’s typical of SWISS lounges, with posh Vitra designer furniture and side tables with universal power outlets at every seat. It’s nice and cozy, though perhaps a bit dark.

Immediately adjacent is the dining area with a buffet and a bar. The dining area features high tables, which look good but are a bit wobbly and lack power outlets.

The other half of the lounge is dedicated to showers and a relaxation zone. The design is serene and relaxing with mood lighting and soothing water features. The modern shower suites are spacious, well-lit and spotless.

SWISS Arrival Lounge ZRH amenities

SWISS Arrival Lounge – Zurich (ZRH)

The twenty shower suites are the main feature of the SWISS Arrival Lounge, and you can leave it to the Swiss to run a smooth operation. At checkin, you receive a key card for a given shower, which is identified by the name of a city. You have ten minutes upon receipt of your card to reach your shower suites before the facility is allocated to another passenger – so don’t explore the wine selection just yet. Follow the signs to your shower room, insert your key in the reader, and the door will unlock. The only tricky part: be sure to insert the card in the reader inside the shower suite in order to turn the lights on.

Each shower suite is equipped with a sink, a toilet, a heated towel rack, and a shower cabin with a glass door and rain and handheld showers. The space is smartly furnished, with a table that unfolds above the toilet and extends the counter space, and a storage box for shoes. Fluffy towels and bath amenities are provided. Water pressure and temperature are good and the ventilation system is effective – something that can’t be said of all airport showers.

SWISS Arrival Lounge – Zurich (ZRH)

The SWISS Arrival Lounge features pressing service. Inside the door to each shower room is a “cupboard”, as SWISS calls them, with a double door: open the interior door, hang your shirt or pants, close the door, press the service button, and an attendant will promptly come pick up your items and return them within fifteen minutes through the outside door.

The breakfast buffet offers a selection of Swiss and international fare including multiple types of muesli, ham, roasted tomatoes, scrambled eggs, cold cuts, fruit salad and pastries, along with fresh juices and espresso.

While the spread is hardly decadent – the new SWISS Business Lounge and Senator Lounge in Dock E feature a much more extensive offering – the items are fresh and tasty. In a luxurious touch, SWISS also offers barista service and custom smoothies made to order, although the availability of these offerings varies. Since it’s always five o’clock somewhere, there is also a small assortment of wines, an amenity which is naturally somewhat unexpected from an arrivals lounge.

SWISS Arrival Lounge – Zurich (ZRH)

In the shower area is a small relaxation zone with a few recliners behind privacy dividers. The setup is exquisitely elegant, complete with fancy coat racks and a wall made of Jura stone in the background, but the location of the room next a relatively high traffic area isn’t ideal. The room is a great spot to relax or wait for a shower, but catching up on sleep might be a stretch.

Other amenities include several shared computers with Internet access, a selection of newspapers and magazines, as well as shoe shine machines.

SWISS Arrival Lounge ZRH bottom line

The SWISS Arrival Lounge at Zurich airport is a model of convenience and efficiency, with clear signage from the customs area, a swift checkin process, modern and elegant shower suites, universal power outlets, and a range of services including pressing. The setup is relatively low frills – breakfast is a relatively simple affair overall and SWISS does not offer extravagant services – but the lounge delivers exactly what a business traveler requires. With the airport offering speedy train links to Zurich and virtually all destinations in Switzerland, arriving at Zurich airport is a true pleasure.