Throughout my downgraded journey to Oman, I had a roughly 12-hour layover at Zurich Airport. I used to be arriving from Montreal in SWISS’ A330 enterprise class, and connecting to Milan in Helvetic’s Embraer E190-E2 enterprise class. Throughout that point, I checked out each the SWISS Arrivals Lounge and SWISS Enterprise Lounge, so on this installment I’ll be reviewing the latter.
Particularly, I visited the SWISS Enterprise Lounge in Terminal E, which is the service’s non-Schengen lounge (which means it’s for flights outdoors the European Union). Regardless that I used to be connecting throughout the European Union, there have been no points with utilizing this lounge.
I’m actually joyful I did, as a result of the lounge was good and quiet within the afternoons, whereas the SWISS Enterprise Lounge in Terminal A (which is the service’s Schengen lounge) was as crowded as a Japanese subway throughout rush hour. In case you’re going to go to a Schengen lounge, I’d advocate testing the SWISS Alpine Lounge.
Anyway, the SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich is definitely a reasonably strong facility, with numerous pure mild, a good food and drinks choice, and maybe the airport bogs with the very best views on this planet. Let’s get into the overview.
SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich location
The SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich in Terminal E is kind of straightforward to seek out. When you’re in Terminal E (which requires going via safety, taking a prepare, after which going via passport management), comply with the signage within the path of gate E36. Close to the gate, you’ll see each a staircase and a few elevators that may take you to the lounge, which is positioned on degree three (one degree above the concourse).
SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich hours
The SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich is at present open day by day from 6AM till 10PM, protecting all departures from the terminal on each SWISS and Star Alliance companions.
SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich entry necessities
SWISS Enterprise Lounges are commonplace Star Alliance enterprise class lounges, so will be accessed by:
- SWISS enterprise class passengers, in addition to enterprise class passengers on all Star Alliance companion airways; no company are allowed
- Star Alliance Gold members can even use the lounge and convey a visitor when flying Star Alliance the identical day; nevertheless, they will additionally use the (higher) SWISS Senator Lounges
- Miles & Extra Frequent Traveller members (which in any other case solely equates to Star Alliance Silver); no company are allowed
Let me once more emphasize that you need to use the non-Schengen lounge even should you’re leaving on a flight departing from the Schengen zone. This does require clearing passport management, however that’s a reasonably environment friendly course of, assuming you have got a passport that may use the automated gates.
SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich seating & format
The SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich is 1,200 sq. meters (~12,900 sq. ft), and it has seating for 200 individuals. This lounge can get completely slammed within the late mornings previous to most transatlantic flights, however then once more, which hub lounge doesn’t get busy throughout peak intervals? Happily for a lot of the remainder of the day, the lounge is pretty calm.
As you enter the lounge, there’s a map of the format, to present you a way of the totally different zones.
Additionally close to the doorway is a machine the place you may scan your boarding cross in an effort to get a Wi-Fi code. This appears a bit odd for a rustic not attempting to trace what you’re viewing on-line, although evidently it is because the lounge makes use of the airport’s Wi-Fi community, so this offers you a free code to make use of it.
Additionally simply inside to the doorway to the lounge are a few seating areas with chairs looking over the apron.
There’s additionally a wall with quite a lot of studying supplies, together with magazines and newspapers.
Then there’s a hallway that stretches a lot of the size of the lounge.
One of many first areas has six workstations which can be fairly non-public, with some having a PC, and others simply having a desk, so to use your personal laptop computer.
I really like when lounges have correct workstations, although the dearth of pure mild made it arduous to remain awake when seated right here!
Previous the workstations and to the fitting is the principle eating space, which has each eating tables and a few high-top seating alongside a desk that stretches the size of the area.
The lounge has a terrace, which is among the coolest lounge options anyplace, although sadly it was closed throughout my winter go to.
Throughout from the eating space, the lounge has a kind of unusual Breitling sponsored show and seating space. Whereas I can admire the need to generate income with a sponsored space, it looks as if a busy lounge can be higher off having extra seating fairly than a show like this.
Within the very again of the lounge is yet one more seating space, with seats organized in rows, dealing with each other.
The lounge additionally has a delegated resting space, with pre-reclined seats. This can be a good place to get pleasure from views of the apron, although don’t anticipate to get a lot relaxation right here, between the dearth of bedding, and the quantity of pure mild. Additionally, the recline of the seat virtually appears like what you’d anticipate in a dentist’s chair, which isn’t precisely identified for consolation.
SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich meals & drinks
The SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich food and drinks choice is totally self-serve. There are a couple of totally different food and drinks service areas, to keep away from crowding in anybody space.
Simply inside the doorway to the lounge is a drink space, with quite a lot of beer, wine, liquor, soda, juice, and water.
Then there’s the principle buffet space with a reside cooking station.
The primary a part of the buffet is the “recent market,” with the flexibility to make your personal salad. It’s all the time good to see a lounge with wholesome choices, since that appears to be fairly uncommon.
Then there’s the “reside cooking” space, which is the place all the new choices are. Nevertheless, this isn’t a kind of lounge reside cooking stations the place they freshly put together issues for you, however fairly the thought is that you just see what’s being ready for the buffet.
Choices included vegetable broth, tom kha gai soup, beef slices in wok sauce, a potato casserole, rice, a few kinds of pinsa, and quite a lot of bread.
Subsequent, there’s a meals show space off to the aspect, with complete fruit, and sweets. The sweets had all the pieces from chocolate, to gummy bears, to marshmallows, to cake, to cream puffs.
Lastly, there’s a espresso and tea station, with a number of machines the place you may make your personal drink.
I’d say the food and drinks choice is adequate, however not terribly thrilling. There’s no correct bar or barista espresso, and the meals choice isn’t terribly in depth. However nonetheless, it’s not a nasty choice both.
SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich bogs & showers
The SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich has bogs within the very again of the lounge. These are fairly particular bogs, within the sense that in addition they have a view of the apron, which you don’t typically discover. The lads’s room had three sinks, 4 urinals, and three stalls, although a few of urinals have been out of service throughout my go to.
The lounge additionally has bathe suites, that are shared with the adjoining SWISS Senator Lounge. In order for you a bathe, simply proceed to the entrance desk, and so they can organize that for you (although throughout peak hours, there could also be a wait). The showers are positioned outdoors the principle a part of the lounge, simply previous the elevators.
The bathe suites are properly appointed, every with a sink, bathroom, and walk-in bathe.
Toiletries are in reusable containers from Soeder, as appears to be the usual product line for the service these days.
Backside line
The SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich is bodily a reasonably good lounge, with numerous pure mild and nice views, plus loads of seating choices, starting from workstations, to nap areas, to a eating space. The lounge has a good food and drinks choice, which is able to seemingly neither disappoint nor delight. In case you’re there when the terrace is open, you then’re in for a deal with, for the reason that aircraft recognizing is superb.
That is positively the higher SWISS Enterprise Lounge on the airport, so I believe it’s value going out of your solution to go to this lounge fairly than the Schengen SWISS Enterprise Lounge. Within the Schengen zone, I favor the SWISS Alpine Lounge.
What do you make of the SWISS Enterprise Lounge Zurich?
