Travelling over the festive season at Zurich Airport

The days at the end of the year are often used for visits to family and friends as well as for vacation and leisure trips. The peak day with around 94,000 passengers is expected on 20 December.

Tips for travel preparations

To start the journey as relaxed as possible, passengers are advised to prepare well before arriving at the airport. This includes the following things:

• Online check-in or – if possible – check-in the day before and ensure in advance that you are aware of the airline’s regulations regarding bulky baggage, such as skis or musical instruments.
  Information on check-in options
• Self Bag Drop machines are available to passengers of the Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Edelweiss, Austrian, Brussels) and Aegean Airlines, Air France, Chair, Condor, KLM and SAS.
  Information about the Self Bag Drop
• Recommended arrival time: Use the «Find flight» function on the Zurich Airport website to select your flight and then enter whether you have already checked in and/or whether you are travelling with hand luggage only. The recommended arrival time at Zurich Airport will then be displayed.
  To the flight information
• The service of «ZRH Comfort» offers priority line access at the security checkpoint and entry to a separate lounge area in the Airside Center including a premium snack and drink. Further information and prices can be found here:
  Book ZRH Comfort

Can the fondue or a remote-controlled car be in your hand luggage?

During the Christmas season, many travelers bring gifts or Swiss specialties for friends or family abroad. As always, take as little hand luggage as possible and check exactly what is allowed. Some other examples of special items in your luggage and how to transport them:

Culinary products such as ready-made fondue may be transported in both hand and checked baggage. The corresponding rechaud may only be transported in checked baggage and only if it does not contain any fuel paste or fuel liquid and is free of vapors.  A remote-controlled car for the grandchildren may be carried in hand and checked baggage with built-in batteries, provided it meets the conditions: The battery must have a maximum capacity of 100 Wh, the rated energy must be clearly visible and the device must be secured against unintentional activation. The number of electronic devices with batteries is limited. Devices without a battery are freely permitted. Winter sports equipment such as ice skates or gifts with liquid contents that do not contain dangerous goods also belong in checked baggage. Special regulations apply to batteries, lighters, e-cigarettes, gas cartridges and avalanche backpacks. Burning pastes, fireworks, sparklers, paints, acids, toxic and corrosive substances, etc. are completely prohibited in baggage. A search function on the airport website provides information on which items belong in which baggage or whether they need to stay at home.

What is allowed in your luggage

e-Gate use now for passengers aged 12 and over

The e-gates in Local Immigration and Immigration B are now also available to travelers aged 12 and over – instead of 18 years of age as before.

The follow-up checks, which are still necessary in individual cases, will continue to be carried out at the follow-up counters as before. Existing requirements such as a biometric passport, citizenship of Switzerland or an EU/EEA country or a valid Swiss residence permit (C and B) remain a prerequisite for the use of the e-Gates, including for accompanied children.

Shopping and enjoyment at Zurich Airport

Zurich Airport invites you to linger before and during the festive season with a wide range of activities. The Christmas Village in the Circle is open daily from 11:30 to 21:00 and from December 24 to December 30 until 18:00. The Christmas huts around the «Sparkling Tree» offer specialties such as raclette, macaroni and cheese, mulled wine and punch.

If you are looking for the right Christmas gift, you will find it in Airport Shopping and Circle. The shops at Zurich Airport are also open on Sundays and public holidays. An overview of stores and restaurants with detailed opening hours can be found on the airport website.

To the overview of all stores and restaurants

Culinary delights and festive events are also provided. On Thursday, December 26, a seven-course festive brunch will take place at the Sablier restaurant in the Circle. On New Year’s Eve, 31 December, guests can expect a gala dinner followed by a party and live DJ at the Sablier. The AIR Restaurant in Check-in 2 provides a special start to the new year: A speed dating New Year’s Eve party will take place there on December 31 – including live music and New Year’s Eve menu.

More information about Christmas activities at Zurich Airport

Changed check-in due to renovation work

As Check-in 1 is partially closed in the winter half of the year due to extensive construction work on the baggage conveyor belts, passengers are asked to note the check-in changes. The information can be found here:

Airport website