Layover in Zurich: is 50 minutes not enough time?
Oct 31st, 2009, 11:14 AM
#1
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Layover in Zurich: is 50 minutes not enough time?
Hello all,
I need to book my tickets for travel next spring. I'll be flying with Swiss since they are the only company offering good rates for my plans.
I will be flying Montreal-Zurich, Zurich-London Heathrow. I'm offered either a 50-minute layover or a 6-hour layover. I'm very tempted to take the shorter one, since I would be getting in London still early in the morning (around 8am). If I take the longer one, I would get in London at 1pm.
So is 50 minute too short? And does anybody have experience with Swiss flights being late and how they have handled it?
Thank you!
I need to book my tickets for travel next spring. I'll be flying with Swiss since they are the only company offering good rates for my plans.
I will be flying Montreal-Zurich, Zurich-London Heathrow. I'm offered either a 50-minute layover or a 6-hour layover. I'm very tempted to take the shorter one, since I would be getting in London still early in the morning (around 8am). If I take the longer one, I would get in London at 1pm.
So is 50 minute too short? And does anybody have experience with Swiss flights being late and how they have handled it?
Thank you!
Oct 31st, 2009, 02:07 PM
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You won't need to clear customs or even go through passport control if you are on a flight to LHR with the same airline. your bags will be checked through and you will remain airside. You will go through security again. I have no idea if it is doable or not, I am not familiar with the airport, but if the airline are offering it they must consider it a legal transfer time and it is their problem if you get in late and miss the connection.
Only you know whether you can stand the stress of such a short transfer time, and the possible hassle of missing a connection.
Only you know whether you can stand the stress of such a short transfer time, and the possible hassle of missing a connection.
Oct 31st, 2009, 02:17 PM
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The 50 min. change is worth a try,,,,,though sounds pretty tight. ....but IF the airline suggested it then it's a true connection?
If you misconnect then the airline would put you on the next flight,,,,the 6 hour layover one. (IF seats available) , and getting into London at 1 PM is not bad !
Talk with the airline and find out the % on time arrival of that flight,,,, and they can perhaps help you make up your mind.
If you misconnect then the airline would put you on the next flight,,,,the 6 hour layover one. (IF seats available) , and getting into London at 1 PM is not bad !
Talk with the airline and find out the % on time arrival of that flight,,,, and they can perhaps help you make up your mind.
Oct 31st, 2009, 03:12 PM
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As hetismij said, there is NO customs, there is NO passport control. You stay airside, in transit.
There will be many pax traveling from Zurich proper to London who won't arrive much earlier than 50min before departure. The minimum check-in(!) time for European destinations is 40 minutes before departure (and those pax still have to clear passport control and security).
ZRH is not one of these "arrive 3hrs before departure because we can't get anything done" airports.
The only issue is that your incoming plane from Montreal could be late. If so, you should be on the next flight, 6hrs later -- OR: even better: Swiss could put you on an earlier BA flight to LHR.
Why pick the worst case scenario (6hrs wait) if you can do better and when it's given as an option by the airline?
There will be many pax traveling from Zurich proper to London who won't arrive much earlier than 50min before departure. The minimum check-in(!) time for European destinations is 40 minutes before departure (and those pax still have to clear passport control and security).
ZRH is not one of these "arrive 3hrs before departure because we can't get anything done" airports.
The only issue is that your incoming plane from Montreal could be late. If so, you should be on the next flight, 6hrs later -- OR: even better: Swiss could put you on an earlier BA flight to LHR.
Why pick the worst case scenario (6hrs wait) if you can do better and when it's given as an option by the airline?
Oct 31st, 2009, 03:15 PM
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We have flown through Zurich twice, last time was only two weeks ago. The airport is easy to get through. We flew BOS to CDG thru Zurich. We got off our plane and immediately headed for a underground shuttle that takes you over to another terminal. We did have to go through security but it didn't take long at all. We had 1 hour 15 minutes and sat around for awhile waiting for our flight to CDG. I would risk it.
Oct 31st, 2009, 03:21 PM
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British Airways would not sell us a ticket to Bulgaria when we had to change planes at Heathrow and had less than 2 hours.
We have been late so many times going or coming from Europe. There is no way I would attempt changing planes in 50 minutes.
If there are any incidences on the plane, you could be held on board - while someone who is ill is taken off the plane. There are too many variables.
We have been late so many times going or coming from Europe. There is no way I would attempt changing planes in 50 minutes.
If there are any incidences on the plane, you could be held on board - while someone who is ill is taken off the plane. There are too many variables.
Oct 31st, 2009, 03:58 PM
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If it's one ticket then you are protected. I think you have a chance of making it if your plane is on time - but don;t be surprised if your luggage doesn't.
If your incoming plane is late they will put you on the next flight out.
Just be positive this is issued as a single ticket - if not the airline has no responsibility to help you at all - and you would have to buy a new ticket at the walk-up price.
If your incoming plane is late they will put you on the next flight out.
Just be positive this is issued as a single ticket - if not the airline has no responsibility to help you at all - and you would have to buy a new ticket at the walk-up price.
Oct 31st, 2009, 08:42 PM
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Thank you for all the replies.
I contacted the company (I have to give them a thumbs up for their customer service) and they strongly advice not to take the 50-minute layover.
I did some more research and found a reasonable fare with Air France that may work better, but I have one more question.
My travel plans are the following:
Montreal - London
Paris, Geneva or Zurich - Montreal
My plans are rather flexible, so I can play around with the city I'm flying home from.
Air France gives me a great fare for a round-trip:
Montreal - (layover in Paris) - London
London - (layover in Paris) - Montreal
(The fare the website gives me for the same flights minus the London-Paris segment is 400$ more...)
Could I just not use the ticket from London to Paris? Is this allowed? Could I just show up at CDG at the time of my flight?
I'll contact the company to be sure, but I'm just wondering if people usually do this kind of thing.
Thanks again, and I hope this is not too confusing...
I contacted the company (I have to give them a thumbs up for their customer service) and they strongly advice not to take the 50-minute layover.
I did some more research and found a reasonable fare with Air France that may work better, but I have one more question.
My travel plans are the following:
Montreal - London
Paris, Geneva or Zurich - Montreal
My plans are rather flexible, so I can play around with the city I'm flying home from.
Air France gives me a great fare for a round-trip:
Montreal - (layover in Paris) - London
London - (layover in Paris) - Montreal
(The fare the website gives me for the same flights minus the London-Paris segment is 400$ more...)
Could I just not use the ticket from London to Paris? Is this allowed? Could I just show up at CDG at the time of my flight?
I'll contact the company to be sure, but I'm just wondering if people usually do this kind of thing.
Thanks again, and I hope this is not too confusing...
Nov 1st, 2009, 02:16 AM
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I traveled swiss airline in May and August LAX-ZRH and the flights were perfectly on time, service was professional, in-flight food actually very good, and my luggages all got to the destination.
The only thing I noticed was that on my flight from ZRH-LAX in August, it was extremely crowded at the swiss airline check-in counters at ZRH. There were long lines of people waiting to check in. Many people opted to use the automated machines to check in, thinking that the machines would be simpler and faster. However, there were lines even for these machines. We had to check ourselves in and print our own luggage tags. Many people were having trouble using the machines and it really delayed everyone's check-in time. So I guess if you had another connecting flight via swiss airline and you were in that situation, you might miss your flight.
The only thing I noticed was that on my flight from ZRH-LAX in August, it was extremely crowded at the swiss airline check-in counters at ZRH. There were long lines of people waiting to check in. Many people opted to use the automated machines to check in, thinking that the machines would be simpler and faster. However, there were lines even for these machines. We had to check ourselves in and print our own luggage tags. Many people were having trouble using the machines and it really delayed everyone's check-in time. So I guess if you had another connecting flight via swiss airline and you were in that situation, you might miss your flight.
Nov 1st, 2009, 04:31 PM
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If you skip a flight, your ticket for subsequent flights on that itinerary will be canceled, so if you skip the London/Paris leg, the Paris/Montreal ticket will be voided and you will have to buy another, probably at a fairly steep price.
I think most airlines offer a stay-over privilege, so you could buy a ticket from Montreal to London, stay over x days in London, then fly from London to Paris (that's your outbound leg), and from Paris to Montreal (that's your return leg), but you have to be certain that your ticket is written to reflect the layover in London. Usually you have to talk to a knowledgeable customer service representative to arrange such a ticket.
I think most airlines offer a stay-over privilege, so you could buy a ticket from Montreal to London, stay over x days in London, then fly from London to Paris (that's your outbound leg), and from Paris to Montreal (that's your return leg), but you have to be certain that your ticket is written to reflect the layover in London. Usually you have to talk to a knowledgeable customer service representative to arrange such a ticket.
