Zurich Airport Reviews 

Very rude passport checking agents, literally yelling at you when you tried to figure where is their damn camera. Terrible! Beautiful land, not so good people.

Staff can be great or not great.
We asked for toilet and had such an aggressive response.
We had special assiand what a face on the guy.

We also had 2 lovely special assistance people and great help.

Pity.

Generally Zurich is a lovely airport- very quick and clean. But an hour to get through passport control? I can go somewhere else on holiday next time…

Crapy little airport that easily gets over crowded, and super expensive

Passport control officer gave me a lecture with great pleasure about how I could not use EU queue because Britain voted for Brexit (she clearly never reflected on the fact the Swiss can use the UK queue at London airports). She then went on a completely unprofessional rant about how the British people are treating the Swiss very poorly and she will have to apply for a visa when visiting etc. Totally unprofessional and an obvious abuse of her position of authority.

If you’re a fan of unpleasant experiences, Zurich Airport is a must-visit. I’ve never encountered a more rude and bitter staff anywhere else.

They intentionally trigger false alarms on people they dislike (and don’t even try to hide it), just to act out their power complexes. They bark orders, grope passengers, try to intimidate them, and behave as if they have actual law enforcement authority — when in reality, it’s more the energy of overzealous bus ticket inspectors pretending to be the CIA.

Overall, they don’t come across as professionals, but more like a bitter high school bully gang trying to get revenge on people they envy. Concepts like human rights or basic respect seem completely foreign to them. And when you try to engage them with reasonable remarks or bring them back to the framework of protocol — they just call for backup to escalate the hostility.

And no — this wasn’t a one-off. I travel frequently, and every time it’s the same toxic attitude. Clearly, no matter how many passengers they try to humiliate, their self-esteem issues remain unresolved.

Frankly, I believe the airport administration should consider covering therapy sessions for these staff members — so they can work through their issues like adults, instead of projecting them onto the very passengers who pay to keep this place running.

Such a poorly organised system. Keep left for gates E on entering passport control, which many people did not understand (better signage required)? Then all passports we had an influx of probably 50 people just walk past a blatant queue. Many going to the far end for pre-registered users (whatever that is). Much confusion for all visitors it seems.

I wish I could give it less than one star. The immigration staff are such rude people. The facilities are appalling! The business class check-in counter 3 was in the basement, where there are no wifi signals. You need to go up to level 1 and scan your boarding pass at selected sites in order to get a code for wifi. Talk about modern technology and 2025, and this is what we get! Wheelchair assistance is another nightmare. Upon arrival, the staff left us halfway and told us to complete the trek, and we ended up pushing the wheelchair for our elderly family member. On the return, they also told us to take one of the wheelchairs and push it by ourselves, as they are busy with other matters! Writing to them means notihng and I never got any response to my complaint. They have a high attitude issue and are definitely lagging, and will sink even deeper if they do not change.

It takes about 2 hours to get through immigration area . There was no staff to guide the queue and total chaos was in the airport . One lady also fainted while waiting at the queue. Swiss should be proud of this airport

If I could give zero stars, I would. My experience with this rental location has been the worst I’ve ever had with any travel service. I would absolutely support a class action lawsuit against Enterprise Zurich Airport.

I returned my rental car to their Zurich Airport location in perfect condition. I even documented the return with timestamped photos and a video showing the exact drop-off moment. Everything was clear: the vehicle was undamaged, parked properly, and photographed thoroughly.

Nearly two months later, after I had left the country, I was shocked to find they charged my credit card for alleged damage to the vehicle. Despite sending multiple emails and providing clear evidence disproving their claim, including photo and video proof, they refused to reverse the charge. Their responses were dismissive and repeated the same generic statements about “terms and conditions,” ignoring the evidence I provided.

The timing and handling of this situation raise serious concerns about their practices. If they can charge me two months after my rental ended for something I did not do, what’s stopping them from doing this again months or even years later? There was no phone support, and every interaction was slow and frustrating.

This experience feels unfair, unprofessional, and predatory. I am now disputing the charge with my credit card company and filing complaints with consumer protection authorities. No customer should have to go through this after doing everything right.

Warning to anyone renting from this company or location: document every inch of your rental, because even if you return it in perfect condition, you may still face false charges long after your trip ends.

We waited in line for immigration for 2 hours (longer than the flight time) in totally disorganised queues and with a totally disinterested lady member of staff doing very little to help.

Since this experience I have cancelled two future trips to Zurich airport (and stays in Switzerland) as I simply won't repeat this experience.

Switzerland should be ashamed of how it treats its visitors at this airport.

I arrived from Hong Kong after a 12 hour flight, having travelled from Sydney. Passing through to Area D the alarm sounded due to my silver bangles. I was then put through a VERY thorough and unnecessary physical search by your security girl. She was unfriendly and hostile towards me. She made me remove my KNITTED belt from my cardigan and then searched my body including my bosom area TWICE (why?) and my trainers TWICE (why?). I had lip balm in my trouser pocket and had to remove it. Then she picked up I had something else in my pocket. Guess what it was? It was a cotton handkerchief. Hardly offensive weapons. Moreover, having been through security in Sydney AND in Hong Kong I am at an utter loss as to understand why Zurich Airport insists on searching travellers YET AGAIN when there is zero opportunity to buy anything dangerous apart from food and duty free during the journey. The worst part of this search was that YOUR security girl pushed me TWICE backwards in her zeal. Once is careless. Twice is deliberate. Sort her out: she needs to change her attitude to travellers paying a LOT of money to travel long distances and they do not need to undergo this kind of humiliating ordeal. This is unacceptable and I shall never choose to travel through your airport again. I will also post on whatever social media forums available to me that her behaviour overstepped the mark totally. She should be ashamed of herself. And despite her attempt at provoking and riling me during the search, she did not succeed. I have contacted the airport and complained but have yet to hear back from the Swiss Cantonal Police who should deal directly with the security person concerned. I hasten to add that if she felt I should have removed my silver bangle then I have good reason not to. It's too small now to be removed and as I have rheumatoid arthritis in my right thumb it hurts to remove it. Additionally, my platelets are very low and I bruise/cut easily following a bone marrow transplant. I have had numerous MRIs, CT and PET scans and X-rays and have never once had to remove my bangle.

Don't travel via ZRH!
They decided to deorganise themselves. Security checks 2h+, 1h with fast lane. Btw issuing a fast lane bar code takes them 1,5h (!). Useless.
De facto you should come yesterday. Or stay home and watch flight on Internet

This is an awful airport. After my experience in security, I am shaking, shocked and violated by the rude, dismissive, inappropriate staff who lie to back each other up and seemed to take pleasure from others being upset and seemed to enjoy upsetting me, mocking me and laughing a me.
The search they conduct is INAPPROPRIATE and is not in line with all other airports all over the world. Today, I was going through security when my bracelet (which I could not remove), went off. I submitted to a full body search and when the lady prodded my stomach repeatedly, I asked her to stop as she had already searched that area and I was beginning to become uncomfortable. She then took the wand and proceeded to drag the wand all over my body, dragging it down my hair and all over me. In no other country, does the wand touch you. It is hovered over your body but it is not dragged down your body. I got upset and uncomfortable at this stage as to what was happening and I asked her to stop touching me so strongly with the wand. The lady then called her supervisor who dismissed, mocked and laughed at me. Spoke in German in front of me about me and then said that the wand needed to be finished. I said yes, that’s fine but you don’t need to drag it all over my body. I informed them there was no metal in my hair and it was dragged over my hair and head and shook my hair to demonstrate. My jewelley had been separated from me and placed in a box and put under the area where the stuff was held. I asked for my jewelley to be provided to me as it had been put in a cubby hole in a small tray which I found very strange. The male supervisor then ushered me into a curtained area with a separate female security guard and said, we need to continue the wand. I said fine but do not touch me inappropriately with this wand. He laughed and smirked at me. The lady then used the wand to search me and put this wand up my skirt in between my legs and pushed it up towards my vagina. I got an awful fright and cried out for them to stop touching me. I was upset, I felt violated, I was shaking. I travel all over the world and nowhere else does this happen only in your country. You do not and should not put a wand up a woman’s skirt in between her legs and up to her vagina. I was further mocked, laughed at, told I was a liar and that the cameras can see I’m a liar. I said the cameras can record you did this, you pushed this wand up between my legs. At this stage, two police officers came over and I was glad to see them but it was clear they weren’t going to listen to me, support or help - which is their job. One said ‘I saw what happened, she did not do that’. I asked how could she see as there was a curtain around me and she stared at me threateningly. They all stood laughing and mocking me and calling me a liar and I standing there, upset, feeling violated and shaking - and the people who were meant to protect me didn’t care. This team are a disgrace and they had no right to call me a liar or speak to me in that manner. Furthermore, it is NOT appropriate to put a wand between a woman’s legs. Checking for metal can be done without doing this. I am upset, violated and traumatized. I saw multiple examples of bad behaviour from airport staff as I waited in line but this was awful.

My message sent to their feedback form:

Dear Zurich Airport Customer Service Team,

I am writing to report an upsetting encounter with one of your staff members before the security checkpoint during our recent connection from Zurich to Helsinki via Munich.

I was traveling with my husband and our three-month-old baby, carrying six boarding passes. When a Filipina staff member asked for them, I laid them out neatly. Without provocation, she reacted harshly, saying in an irritated tone, “Jesus! Why are you giving me so many of these? I only need the first leg.” Her tone, expression, and body language were angry and demeaning.

As a new mother traveling with an infant, I was shocked and distressed. I calmly approached her afterward to suggest she could speak more kindly, explaining that travelers might be tired or stressed. Instead of listening, she raised her voice repeatedly, saying, “Am I rude? Am I rude?” in a confrontational way.

As I walked away, she continued to mock me — waving her hands and smiling sarcastically. Such behavior was unprofessional and unnecessary. If there are security cameras in that area, they should clearly show her gestures and conduct. I kindly request that the footage be reviewed.

I also tried to speak with her colleagues, but they seemed unsure how to respond. One suggested filing this report, while the staff member continued mockingly saying, “Yes, yes, report me.”

This experience was disappointing and not reflective of Zurich Airport’s excellent reputation. I hope this matter is taken seriously and that your staff are reminded to treat passengers — especially families with infants — with patience, professionalism, and empathy.

Photos (taken from a distance) and the approximate time and date of the incident are attached for your reference.

Thank you for your attention and understanding.

Arrived at Zurich on a transfer. Arrived promptly at the transfer desk to be told that they'd decided to shut early. This mattered to me as I had no way to know whether I could get accomodation for a 10 hour layover or leave the airport and re-enter to get seafarers accommodation that I'm entitled to or pay for a hotel. Noone around except a few other stranded passengers. I spent 10 hours in the freezing cold airport trying to sleep. When I mentioned it in the morning I was told it was my fault for being too slow. No compassion for the reasons I was traveling (sudden family illness) and I was blamed for every difficulty with my ticket which was booked for me by my employer. Exhausting!

When flying Home via Madrid (from monthly work Trip to LATAM) the First thing I get to see in Zürich Airport Are stuffed trash bins. This is the very First Impression people get, when arriving in the morning to Zurich, Switerland!
I cannot imagine any reasonable justification - it is every time (around 10am, Saturdays) ehe I arrive from Madrid on Air Europa Flight. Overfilled trash bins with a the dirt on the floor!!!!

As a paying Customer and Swiss (tax paying) citizen I feel ashamed of arriving Home and see the trash around all these bins. Maybe - Next time i share some Pictures with Blick or 20Min… so that the Management gets to see the mess in their own spot (where they have the responsibility!!).
I fly many places, but these overfilled trash bins welcoming arriving passangers is a Unique thing of Zurich Airport. Well Done in the Management team - Worst Cleanlyness in world!

Maybe this gives you a Little wake up call! WHEN WILL YOU FINALLY DO YOUR JOB??

I have dyslexia and difficulty of understanding signs and letters sometimes and this passport control staff personel shouted at me. After passport control, I got confused where to exit. I asked this passport control staff who was also escorting a guy where Gate B is. She led me in the middle of a the hallway and said, "Madam, we are a very well signed airport. Can you see the letters on the sign because I can definitely see them it's not hard! Just follow them!" I just wanted to cry because other passengers were behind me too. I feel so embarrassed. Well mind you Madam, if you just told me the direction of the exit door, I could then follow my destination using my AI app and won't bother you. Yes, I can see the signs and letters but before my brain could process what they are, they are just shapes with no sense at all. My brain is slower to make up words than others and shouting at me wouldn't even make it faster. You may have all the signs in the universe and beautiful airport but surprisingly you lack hospitality for someone in that line of work. Zurich airport should not only invest in beautifying their confusing airport but should also invest in training their staff in customer service!

Pathetic immigration staff work like snails.
Tighy connections and airport is a maze. Good luck in making your flight on time.
Should learn some management from the nieghbouring Countries.

Appalling but earns one star for consistency with a big shout out for rudeness to BA@ZRH