Review: Swiss Arrivals Lounge, Zurich International Airport, Switzerland

Thanks to time zone placement, there isn’t anywhere better in the whole world than the continent of Europe for a well placed Business Class Arrivals Lounge. As a result of many intercontinental flights arriving in the morning, airlines are well poised to offer space to refresh; take a shower or take a breakfast before heading into town. We had an opportunity to take in one of the world’s best Arrival Lounges by exploring Swiss Airlines Arrivals Lounge in Zurich, Switzerland.
This post is one chapter on our trip to South Africa, a Safari in the Maasai Mara in Kenya and Mauritius. This trip was redeemed through Air Canada’s Aeroplan and through Starwood Preferred Guest (Marriott Bonvoy) and Hyatt Gold Passport. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction here. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.
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Read More from This Trip
- Trip Introduction: South Africa, Kenya & Mauritius via South African Airways, Swiss and Air Canada Business Class
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- United Business Vancouver – Chicago O’Hare
- United Club Chicago O’Hare – Concourse B
- United Club Chicago O’Hare – Concourse C
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- Dakar Technical Stopover
- South African Airways Business Class Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport Dakar – O.R. Tambo Johannesburg International Airport
- South African Airways Baobab Lounge – O.R Tambo Johannesburg Terminal A Domestic
- South African Airways Economy Class O.R. Tambo Johannesburg – Cape Town international
- Westin Cape Town
- A Visit to Robben Island: South Africa’s Most Famous Jail
- Exploring Table Mountain by Cable Car, Cape Town
- Where the Two Oceans Meet: Visiting Cape Point at Cape of Good Hope
- The Test Kitchen
- Le Quartier Français – Franschhoek
- Touring Western Cape Winelands in Stellenbosch and Franschoek
- The Tasting Room
- South African Airways – Cape Town Cyobab Domestic Lounge
- South African Airways Economy Class – Cape Town – O.R. Tambo Johannesburg
- Hyatt Regency Rosebank Johannesburg
- Soweto & Informal Settlement Tour
- SAA Baobab Premium Lounge – OR Tambo Johannesburg
- South African Airways Business Class O.R. Tambo Johannesburg – Mauritius
- St Regis Mauritius – A Beachfront Suite
- St Regis Mauritius – Le Morne Penninsula, Iridium Spa and The House Reef
- Air Maurituis Amédée Maingard Lounge
- South African Airways Business Class Mauritius – O.R. Tambo Johannesburg
- South African Airways Business Class O.R. Tambo Johannesburg – Jomo Kennyata Nairobi, Kenya
- Fairmont Norfolk, Nairobi
- Travelling the Gritty Streets of Nairobi, Kenya
- Air Kenya – Wilson Airport – Ngrende Airstrip
- Fairmont Mara Safari Club
- Locating Elephants, Rhino’s and Giraffes in the Maasai Mara, Kenya
- Being Surrounded by Lions in the Maasai Mara, Kenya
- Dancing with the Elders at a Maasai Mara Village in the Rift Valley, Kenya
- Air Kenya Ngrende Airstrip – Nairobi Wilson
- Swiss Air Business Nairobi – Zurich
- Swiss Air Arrivals Lounge – Zurich
- Swiss Air Concourse D Lounge (non Shengen) Zurich
- Swiss Air Business Zurich – London Heathrow Terminal 1
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- Air Canada / SAS Lounge – Heathrow Terminal 3
- Air Canada London Heathrow – Vancouver International
Review: Swiss Arrivals Lounge, Zurich International Airport, Zurich, Switzerland
“The Swiss Arrivals Lounge at Zurich International Airport is the jewel of Star Alliance’s Arrival Lounges. It offers twenty shower suites, a full buffet and an open bar.”
After a fun Swiss Airlines Business Class Nairobi – Zurich flight, it was an amazing and culture shock arrivals experience in Zurich after departing Nairobi. A true example of mature economies that actually have money and resources to build beautiful functional infrastructure, just to move people around.

Locating the Swiss Arrivals Lounge:
We got stamped-in at Zurich immigration and proceeded to the easily marked Swiss Air Arrivals Lounge. The lounge is located after customs on the public side in Zurich International Terminal “A”.
My wife is always commenting that she’s never in my social media world so here she is lookin’ sharp after an overnight flight!!

Accessing the Swiss Arrivals Lounge Zurich:
Access to this Arrivals Lounge is allowed for arriving Swiss long haul business class passengers.
Access is also granted for travellers in First Class SWISS and Lufthansa, HON Circle, Miles & More Senator, Business Class SWISS and Lufthansa, Miles & More Frequent Travellers. There were some isolated reports of Star Alliance Gold card holders obtaining access, it is not a published benefit.
In our case, as Swiss Business Class Long Haul Passengers, a show of the Swiss Air boarding pass at the reception and we were admitted.

Inside the Swiss Arrivals Lounge Zurich:
The Swiss Arrivals Lounge Zurich is a pretty impressive place. It’s among the largest arrivals lounge that I’ve experienced in the world, both inside and outside of the Star Alliance Network.
Over twenty shower suites:
We individually arranged access for a shower since we felt pretty grungy after the trip out of the Maasai Mara yesterday afternoon. An ATM style key card is given which is placed in the door, affording access to the shower room. There were twenty one individual shower rooms, each named after a long haul designation Swiss served; Montreal, Boston, Nairobi, Chicago etc… There was even a water feature in the shower waiting area.



The shower suites themselves were exceptionally clean, well maintained and spotless. They offered a peek a boo shirt pressing service, with a cubby hole to leave garments for pressing.

Our shower room also offered a complimentary pressing service and the nicest hot rain shower we experienced on our trip. Of course, being Swiss, the facilities were immaculately clean.
The Lounge Seating Area:
After we took 30 minutes to freshen up, we headed over to the lounge area of the facility. The Swiss Arrivals Lounge was overall a super nice facility- exactly what an arrivals lounge should be. There was a lot of space to stretch out in, all attired in a sleek and contemporary design.



In addition to the regular seating location, there were some relaxing loungers towards the rear of the lounge space.

Computers available for the internet:
There were a row of computers available to catch up on business or any other use you could imagine.

Food and Beverage in the Arrivals Lounge:
After our freshen up in the shower suite, we enjoyed a light breakfast from the buffet in the lounge. It was very convenient to have this out for us, and to have the ability to leisurely fill up during our connection.

The lounge offered both fresh baked breads, a hot section and a European cold cut section.



There were fresh rolls, an assortment of cheeses, cold cuts, eggs, baked tomatoes, even a variety of complimentary freshly made smoothies were available.
We relaxed over a snacky breakfast here in our newly cleaned state, ready for the next leg of our adventure.
Again, it was pretty shocking to see how far ahead first world countries have gotten in comparison to some parts of Africa. This was made more pronounced by arriving in the beautiful Zurich airport.
The Bottom Line on The Swiss Arrivals Lounge Zurich
The Swiss Arrivals Lounge is a must visit feature if you happen to be lucky enough to arrive in Zurich on Swiss Air. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Our time here was spent in solitude with only 3 other travelers in attendance during our ninety-minute visit. It seems there is little reason to stay here if you are arriving to Zurich as most head onto their final destination. Despite this, everything was super well organized, another stark contrast from our African journey. This facility easily holds the crown for the best Star Alliance Arrivals Lounge worldwide so far to date.
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