This first class airport lounge has its own ‘hotel rooms’

The swish Swiss first class lounge at Zurich includes private bedrooms with a view over the runway.

By David Flynn, March 27 2024
This first class airport lounge has its own ‘hotel rooms’

Frequent travellers spend plenty of time at airport lounges and airport hotels – but what about an airport lounge with its own hotel rooms? 

That’s one of the rather unique traits of Swiss’ flagship first class lounge at Zurich Airport’s Concourse E.

Of course, the lounge itself is plenty impressive in its own right, with a luxuriously high-end yet restrained (and thus, very Swiss) design...

... with upmarket flourishes including an a la carte restaurant...

... and a fully stocked bar (while the adjacent Swiss Senator business class lounge has its own whisky bar showcasing some 120 drams from around the world).

But the Swiss first class lounge has something few of its rivals can match: hotel-style rooms where weary top-tier travellers can take a break.

Beyond the noise-proofed double-glazed windows is a verandah with views over the gates, taxiway and runway of Zurich Airport.

Those with an aviation bent could be happy just to watch the planes, although more weary travellers will be eager to draw the thick blackout curtains over the windows, don the supplied eyemask and grab some shut-eye.

Each of the lounge's hotel rooms is named for a Swiss landmark, such as the St Moritz and the Montreux.

On the inside, they’re pretty much like any cosy, space-efficient hotel room.

There’s a luggage rack and coat hangar (a playful Hang-it-All designed by Charles and Ray Eames)...

... plus a bathroom and very generously-sized shower suite...

... where you’ll find some appreciated amenities, including a shave kit.

On the bedside table are bottles of still and sparkling water, plus some chocolate. Swiss, of course. 

This panel next to the bed houses a paid of USB sockets plus AC outlets for European, UK and North American plugs so you don’t have to rely on carrying a universal travel adapter with you (even though all savvy business travellers do, right? Right.)

The lounge’s staff can keep an eye on the clock and if you fail to wake to your smartphone’s alarm – or forget to set that alarm in the first place – they can rouse you with gentle rapping on the door.

There’s no room service from the lounge’s a la carte restaurant, but staff are fine with you bringing some snacks – or a drink from the bar – back to your room.

Best of all, there’s no cost to use the two bedrooms and no time limit on your stay: it’s purely first come, first served.

The Swiss first class lounge is available only to first class passengers and card-carrying HON Circle members of the Miles & More frequent flyer scheme.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer P1

23 Aug 2014

Total posts 147

Nice reminder of this perk David

4 visits in 2 years and no one in the second room on any of these visits

The toiletries in the bathrooms are excellent quality 

My suggestion: have a long, long transit, rest in the bedroom and then have a stunning meal on the lounge terrace afterward, where you feel you can almost touch the planes- for an av geek the jet fuel nose and the (Swiss) single mat nose are a marriage made in heaven !!

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

12 Sep 2011

Total posts 335

My usual isLX First from JFK/HKG/SIN to ZRH then day or overnight in ZRH at Radisson Blu ZRH Airport  Spend a few hours sleeping in First E Gates A First for delish lamb cutlets then  downtown Bahnhofstrasse for coffee at Spreungli  Dinner at Odeons Cafe, a spot of shopping at van Laack  then late night flight to TLV in Swiss First with Business service on 777/A330 (although since covid it seems theyve swapped to an A321)

QF

11 Jul 2014

Total posts 1013

Looks like they revamped the old First Class Lounge area where the Longest Bar was located?

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

12 Sep 2011

Total posts 335

The Longest bar in the world was in the Senator Lounge A Gates  Old FC Lounge A Gates is Alpine Lounge   Used to take my champagne into Smoking Bar from FC A Gates and buzz back in after a smoke

 New FC A Gates has a smoking room with cigars (gratis) and small outdoor area was labelled Smoking room now labelled (since 2019) Davidoff Cigar Room

Best lamb cutlets in FC Lounges A+E Gates

QF

11 Jul 2014

Total posts 1013

They wouldn't let me in last year, I only had a business ticket on an alliance airline.

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

12 Sep 2011

Total posts 335

Skytraxx Best First Lounge WORLDWIDE 2019 Have the photo of plaque in lounge to prove itBest lounge worldwide for First (consider CX,UA,QR, EY, EH, SQ etc )  I always choose Genf aka Geneva bedroom, Montreaux has the disabled show, not as good tarmac view)   Lounge usually empty  Ala Carte  BF/Lunch/Dinner as you choos lots of non stop champagne, like the First Lounge A Gates  No smoking/vaping room like F Lounge A Gates, but you can always carry your champagne to smoking/vaping rooms E Gates no problem (you cant do this in germany )  Rooms/beds are super, but remeber Swiss don't use aircon, so you can schwitz in bed room summer/autumn/spring  Toiletries changed from La Prairie to Amman to Dr Rausch over the yeras in this lounge    I even prefer it over the QR Al Safwa First Lounge becasue its all so easy at E Gates to/from TLV,JFK/EWR/HKG/SIN

CX

16 May 2015

Total posts 23

IST TK lounges also have bedrooms (albeit the toilets and showers are just down the hall). However, I think you have to be invited to use them. Last year I went SFO-IST-Asia and had a long ( 7 hour) layover in the late evening before a 2.00 am takeoff. TK let me use the room which was great for a lie down. It had a TV and wifi so I could be entertained as well.

QFF

12 Apr 2013

Total posts 1558

Sweet. Pity that I am not with Star.


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