Lounge Review: Aspire Lounge Concourse E – Zurich International Airport (ZRH)

Airports & Airlines, Europe, Switzerland
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There are two Aspire Lounges at the Zurich International Airport besides a few other lounges. I visited the Aspire Lounge in the Satellite-Building with the E-Gates for Non-Schengen flights. The Schengen-Area is an area compromising 26 European states that have officially abolished passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. I was departing Zurich on an American Airlines flight to JFK.

Entrance to the Security Checkpoint

After check-in and security, I headed towards the E-Gates and head to pass through passport control and taking the automated people mover to the satellite building. Once at the main level follow the signs for the lounge, which is located above Gate E45. The lounge is easy to find and you can take either the elevator or stairs. From the upper level, you have access to a few lounges like the Emirates lounge. As American Airlines doesn’t have its own lounge at ZRH, they have an agreement with the Aspire Lounge that Business and First Class customers can enter the lounge. I am sure American Airlines is not the only international carrier which has this kind of agreement. Just check with your airline and see if they offer any lounges in ZRH.

Aspire Lounge Entrance on Level 3.

Besides that, you can access the lounge if you purchase a day-pass for CHF35.- or have a Priority Pass membership.

Once you arrive at the E-Gates follow the signs to Aspire Lounge. Take the elevator to Level 3, near Gate E45.

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  • Day Pass (CHF 35)
  • Business and First Class Passengers of participating airlines
  • Priority Pass
  • Diners Club
  • Dragon Pass
  • Complimentary WiFi for up to 2 hours
  • Complimentary Snacks and Beverages
  • Open Air Terrace with view of the Tarmac
  • Flight Monitors
  • Newspapers and Magazines

daily from 6:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.

Location

Once you arrive at the E-Gates follow the signs to Aspire Lounge. Take the elevator to Level 3, near Gate E45.

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Access
  • Day Pass (CHF 35)
  • Business and First Class Passengers of participating airlines
  • Priority Pass
  • Diners Club
  • Dragon Pass
Amenities
  • Complimentary WiFi for up to 2 hours
  • Complimentary Snacks and Beverages
  • Open Air Terrace with view of the Tarmac
  • Flight Monitors
  • Newspapers and Magazines
Hours of Operation

daily from 6:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.

Guests can choose between light snacks and throughout the day and breakfast in the morning. They have a variety of beverages ranging from soft drinks, coffee, beer, wine, and spirits. Everything in the lounge is complimentary and self-served. Compared to other international lounges, especially for long-distance flights, the offerings here remind me more on a domestic lounge.

Food and Beverage Buffet

Food and Beverage Buffet

If you want WiFi access let the agent know during check-in and they will print you a 3-hour pass with a unique code. Free WiFi is handled a little differently in Europe as you are used to in the States, where you can find pretty much everywhere free WiFi with unlimited access and a shared password. If you don’t have any internet capable device with you, you can use one of their workstations to connect. If needed they also provide LAN ports without WiFi capability.

Work Desk

The lounge has plenty of seating options, from chairs facing the big floor to ceiling windows, all the way to dining tables near the buffet. A great benefit is for sure the open-air terrace which gives you an uninterrupted view of the planes parked at the terminal and tarmac. You can also see the main airport building from here as well. This is one of a kind, which I haven’t experienced anywhere else. I have been to Delta Airlines lounges, with a terrace, but they had big glass walls all around. Along this terrace is only a railing for your safety and that’s it. This is truly awesome and if you have your camera in your carry-on bag, make sure you use it.

Aspire Lounge

Dining Tables

View from the Terrace

View from the Terrace

View from the Terrace

Up to date flight monitors are also located in the lounge. Check them regularly to make sure your gate hasn’t changed and you can pocket enough time to make it there on time. There is a newspaper and magazine corner right at the entrance. You can find local and international newspapers as well as magazines.

Newspapers and Magazines

The restrooms are located outside the lounge itself, but on the same level and just around the corner. Make sure the agent on duty sees you leaving or let them know you are using the bathroom to make your re-entry into the lounge as smooth as possible.

Overall the experience was great and I only had about 45 minutes to enjoy the lounge. I used the time mostly for plane spotting, as this kind of opportunities are rare. Unfortunately, it was too early in the morning and besides seeing a Qatar airlines flight take off it was a pretty quiet morning on the tarmac.

American Airlines, Lounge Review, Priority Pass Lounge, Switzerland, Zurich
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