Review: Swiss Business Class Lounge Zurich

On a recent United Polaris Business Class flight out of Zurich to Washington D.C., I got the opportunity to check out the Swiss Business Class Lounge Zurich.

Although I optimized my time to spend in the city center before the flight and did not have too much time to enjoy the luxuries of the lounge, I wanted to make sure to have a quick peek inside before boarding my first ever Polaris flight so I could write up a review. 

This article is part of my Trip Report: Skiing in Switzerland including:

• Lounge Review: United Polaris Lounge IAD
• Flight Review: TAP Air Portugal Long Haul Business Class Flight IAD-LIS
• Flight Review: TAP Air Portugal Intra-Europe Business Class Flight LIS-ZRH
• Lounge Review: TAP Premium Lounge Lisbon
• Hotel Review: Moxy Bern Expo
• The Trains of Switzerland: My Thoughts
• Hotel Review: Hotel Schweizerhof of Zermatt
• Skiing Zermatt in March: My Thoughts
• Going to Italy for Lunch
• Hotel Review: Sheraton Zurich
• Lounge Review: Swiss International Lounge Zurich
• Flight Review: United Polaris Business Class ZRH-IAD

Swiss Business Class Lounge Zurich Location and Access

The Swiss Business Class lounge is located near gate E36 in the E gates. You can take the elevator or stairs up to the lobby to access. However, the elevator was giving us quite some trouble during our visit and would not allow us to select the floor we needed, so we opted for the stairs. 

There is also a Swiss Senator Lounge, which is directed for Miles and More Senator Members as well as Star Alliance Gold members (status based lounge access), however as we fell into neither of these categories, we went to the Business Class lounge. 

You can access the Swiss Business Class lounge 1) with a Star Alliance Business or First Class ticket, 2) if you are a Miles and More elite member, or 3) you are a Star Alliance Gold member.

If you are not flying a premium cabin and do not have Star Alliance status, there is a nearby Aspire Lounge in the E gates that you can gain access to through credit cards. 

The Lounge

Upon entering the lounge, it is beautiful to see just how much natural light shines in from both sides of the lounge, which has massive glass windows. This was definitely one of the highlights for me. 

Just inside to the right, there is the buffet and other food selections, but more on that later. On either side of the lounge, there is a wide variety of seating options facing the windows.

From proper tables and chairs for eating a pre-flight snack to seats and couches, there are many different seating choices. 

In the back of the lounge, there is a quiet resting room. While not the private suites of Swiss first class, this is a great place to catch some sleep in between flights. In order to avoid disturbing other guests, I did not enter to take a photo. 

The windows in the lounge are so massive that even the majority of the light in the bathroom comes from the floor to ceiling windows adjacent to the sinks.

Lastly, one of the highlights of the lounge that I did not get to experience is the outdoor observation deck. With plenty of widebody aircraft, this is the perfect place to watch planes surrounding the Zurich airport. Unfortunately, it was closed during my visit.

Swiss Business Class Lounge Zurich Food and Beverage

The lounge has a variety of food from which to select- eats, cheeses, fruits, and many hot options. At this point in the morning, there is a chef making ready-to-order fresh eggs, which is a nice touch in a lounge without an à la carte section. 

Since I was saving room for the recently reinstated sundae onboard my United flight, I did not want to eat too much in the lounge, but I did have some fruit, and of course, more Swiss chocolate. 

There are plenty of drink options from which one can select. Of course, there are plenty of wines and spirits, but at this time of day, the fancy coffee machines and caffeinated beverage selection are quite a big hit. 

The Last Point

I really enjoyed this beautiful lounge, especially given its minimalistic Swiss design and bright windows throughout. Much better than some of the basement lounges I have visited.

The food selection is great. It is not over the top and it does the trick. For sure, this is a great place to rest before getting on a United flight back to the U.S. or any international flight for that matter. I will gladly visit the Swiss Business Class Lounge Zurich again next time I am at the airport.