Whereas my SWISS transatlantic enterprise class flight left a bit to be desired, I do have to provide SWISS credit score for having what I feel is the world’s greatest arrivals lounge at its Zurich hub. Admittedly there’s not all that a lot competitors for that title, as a result of not that many airways even have arrivals lounges (you don’t actually discover them in the USA, in South America, or in most of Asia).
Better of all, this additionally has among the many laxest entry necessities of any arrivals lounge I do know.
Why the SWISS Arrivals Lounge Zurich impressed me
An arrivals lounge could be a helpful amenity when touring lengthy haul. The intent is that after an in a single day flight, you will get your day began with a bathe and/or breakfast. It may be helpful whether or not you’re on a enterprise journey and plan to go straight to the workplace or conferences, or whether or not you’re vacationing and may not be capable of examine into your lodge for a number of hours.
Most arrivals lounges are comparable, and have a restricted food and drinks choice, plus plenty of bathe suites. I simply visited the SWISS Arrivals Lounge Zurich for the primary time, and it has all of the facilities you’d count on.
There’s loads of seating…
There’s a self-serve buffet with quite a lot of cold and hot meals and drinks, together with barista espresso…
There’s a leisure space with a couple of chairs for stress-free, with dimmed lights…
There are fairly a couple of bathe suites, every with a walk-in bathe, bathroom, and sink, in addition to with ironing providers…
However right here’s the amenity that impressed me most, and which I’ve by no means seen earlier than in any arrivals lounge. The SWISS Arrivals Lounge Zurich additionally has three bedrooms which can be out there on a primary come, first served foundation. Two of them characteristic single beds, whereas one encompasses a double mattress.
The bedrooms are primary however snug, and get fully darkish, and have a TV. I don’t know of every other arrivals lounge on the planet to supply bedrooms, in order that’s fairly superior. There’s no time restrict on how lengthy you should use them, and the lounge is open from 6AM till 1PM day by day.
So this may be a possibility to get in a nap earlier than getting began together with your day. As anybody who’s jet lagged can attest to, an actual nap can work wonders.
This definitely beats the Lufthansa Arrivals Lounge Frankfurt, Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin, and British Airways Arrivals Lounge Heathrow, that are the three different main airline-run arrivals lounges that I do know of in Europe (the Air France Arrivals Lounge Paris Charles de Gaulle closed years in the past).
Additionally, whereas not of any significance, I discover it cute how SWISS names its bathe rooms and leisure rooms after locations the service serves. So I had a nap in Basel, and showered in Bangkok.
The SWISS Arrivals Lounge Zurich has lax entry necessities
Right here’s one other factor I discovered noteworthy — the SWISS Arrivals Lounge Zurich doesn’t have very restrictive entry necessities. Amongst others, it’s open to all SWISS enterprise class passengers, together with these on brief haul flights.
That is an attention-grabbing alternative, when you concentrate on it. For instance, say you’re touring on SWISS from Munich to Zurich to New York with a six hour layover. If you happen to’re trying to get some relaxation throughout your layover, there’s one thing to be mentioned for visiting the SWISS Arrivals Lounge so you will get in a nap, somewhat than going to one of many departures lounges, which don’t have such amenities (besides the SWISS First Lounge Zurich, which has two rather more luxurious nap rooms).
Traditionally these nap rooms have flown beneath the radar. For instance, throughout my go to that spanned a number of hours, the opposite two nap rooms stayed unoccupied all morning. Fact be instructed, I didn’t learn about them till I deliberate this journey. However maybe they’ll develop into extra in style now.
Backside line
The SWISS Arrivals Lounge Zurich has every little thing you’d count on from such a facility, together with seating, meals, drinks, and bathe suites. What’s most spectacular, although, is how SWISS has three bedrooms within the lounge, for these trying to get some relaxation. I don’t know of every other airline arrivals lounge that gives one thing like this, so it’s value strategically making the most of…
What’s your favourite arrivals lounge? Anybody else admire the SWISS Arrivals Lounge Zurich for having bedrooms?
