50-Minute Layover in Zurich with Kids: Is It Doable?

Hi there, we’re looking at a flight from Montreal to Zurich, then Zurich to Brussels (final destination). There are two couples and two kids in our group, and the layover is listed as 50 minutes. I wanted to check if this is doable before booking...

Hello,

Zurich Airport isn’t huge—I’ve been through it several times. Immigration is pretty quick; I’ve never had to queue, and transfers have always been really easy.

Plus, you can count on Swiss punctuality! !

Hi there,

Ugh! I bought a ticket with Swiss International Air Lines for Paris - Zurich - Puerto Plata. Paris - Zurich, operated by Swiss: no problem. Zurich - Puerto Plata, operated by Edelweiss Air (a Swiss subsidiary), was canceled due to weather. Rerouting: the airline said they’d handle it. Accommodation and meals in Zurich: "figure it out yourself, you’ll be reimbursed." Rerouting: with no news from the airline days later, I went to the Swiss counter at Zurich Airport to ask to be rerouted on a later Edelweiss flight. They refused because the only seats left were in business class—and I had to pay!!! I said no.

The next day, I went back to the Swiss counter. This time, they offered a reroute 3 hours later with an overnight layover in the USA, but: - I’d have to go back to my hotel to get my suitcase - I’d have to request permission from U.S. authorities to enter the country and get it approved before check-in closed, and the cherry on top: I had to find my own accommodation for the overnight layover!!! Obviously, this reroute—possible if offered that morning—was now impossible. Thankfully, I refused, because otherwise, I’d have been in the wrong from the start!

They then offered a reroute the next day: Zurich - Punta Cana. Arrived in Punta Cana: "figure it out yourself to get to your final destination as stated on your ticket, which is Puerto Plata, 6 hours away by road."

So, I arrived at my final destination 5 days late!!!

The costs added up to 600 €. Reimbursement came more than a month later!

I requested compensation from Swiss, arguing that the weather excuse didn’t hold since I wasn’t rerouted "as soon as possible." Ignoring EU regulations (KLM ordinance and the Ceské ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union), they told me to take it up with Edelweiss.

So, I took legal action against Swiss. Less than 48 hours before the hearing, Swiss’s lawyer admitted I was entitled to compensation. Then the hearing at the Aulnay-sous-Bois court. The verdict is due in June. But it’s already a win. Details of this case: https://retardimportantavion.wordpress.com/2024/01/12/reacheminement-catastrophique-droit-indemnisation-meme-circonstances-extraordinaires-2/

All this to say: don’t count on Swiss to make things easy if something goes wrong.

With its parent company, Lufthansa, it’s no better. See here: https://retardimportantavion.wordpress.com/2024/10/23/lufthansa-championne-du-refus-des-droits-des-passagers/

Back to your situation: if your connecting flight from a non-EU country to the EU is operated by an EU airline or a Swiss airline, EU Regulation 261/2004 applies. I assume it’s Swiss International Air Lines, its subsidiary Edelweiss, or operated under wet lease by Air Baltic (so, in this case, operated on behalf of Swiss, not just a codeshare, which should be noted on your ticket). Therefore, if you miss your connection, they must: - offer you a free reroute to your final destination; - provide free meals while you wait for the reroute and accommodation if an overnight stay is needed. But with Swiss, expect reimbursement instead... The link above will be very helpful if you miss your connection.

Best regards

Hello, experiences vary, but the only time I took Edelweiss, I found it pretty meh for a "sunshine" airline that’s a bit low-cost.

hi there, I’m guessing this would be a Montréal–Brussels ticket with the same airline. In that case, if the transatlantic flight happens to be delayed, they’d rebook you on another Zurich–Brussels flight (so it’s worth checking if there’s a Zurich–Brussels flight after the one you’re supposed to take). Just FYI, if you haven’t booked yet, there are direct flights with Air Transat and Air Canada in the summer!

Right now (December 2025), things are moving slowly in Zurich...

https://www.blick.ch/fr/suisse/zurich-les-nouveaux-scanners-sement-le-chaos-a-laeroport-id21479892.html

Hi,

Normally, yes, 50 minutes is enough—it’s not a very big airport, it’s well-organized and modern... you’re in Switzerland 😉 I think they’re installing the same baggage scanners as in Geneva... if so, once they’re operational, we’ll save even more time and with fewer hassles since you won’t need to empty your bag at security anymore.

Hi everyone,

Great news, of course, about the CT scanners being rolled out everywhere, which means we don’t have to take everything out anymore. And, once we finally manage to twist the arm of certain countries, they’ll hopefully lift that infamous liquids rule. However, depending on how they’re used, the operator’s zeal, and what type of body scanner or metal detector they’re paired with, CT scanners don’t guarantee things will be any smoother.

Michel