Baggage at Zurich works well, which means most of what you need to know concerns the two occasions when it does not: a bag that does not arrive, and a bag you cannot take through security.
On arrival
Screens after immigration
Belt numbers are on the arrival screens and usually in your airline’s app before you land.
Free at the belts
Available in the baggage hall and usable through to the car parks and the railway platforms.
Separate counter
Skis, bicycles, golf bags and pushchairs come out at the bulky baggage point, not on the belt. Look for it before assuming your skis are lost.
Green or red
After reclaim comes the customs channel — and it applies to every arrival, including from the EU.
If a bag does not arrive
Report it before you leave the baggage hall. This is the single most important thing on this page. Once you have passed customs and left, the process becomes considerably harder.
Go to your airline’s baggage service desk in the reclaim area and file a report. You will be given a reference — a PIR number — and you should keep it: everything afterwards depends on it. Give an address where the bag can be delivered, which for most travellers is a hotel rather than home.
Delayed baggage is usually just that: delayed. Most bags arrive on a later flight and are delivered. Your rights to compensation for expenses in the meantime, and for genuinely lost baggage, sit with the airline under the Montreal Convention — the airline, not the airport, is your counterparty throughout.
Damaged baggage
Report it in the baggage hall as well, and photograph the damage before you leave. Airlines apply time limits for damage claims and they are short. A photograph taken at the belt is worth more than a description given a week later.
What cannot go where
| Item | Cabin | Hold |
|---|---|---|
| Power banks and spare lithium batteries | Yes | No |
| Liquids over 100 ml | No | Yes |
| Sharp items, tools | No | Yes |
| E-cigarettes and vapes | Yes | No |
| Matches and lighters | Restricted — check the airline | No |
The lithium battery rule catches people at the bag drop rather than at security, and it is not negotiable: a power bank in a checked case has to come out before the bag goes anywhere.
Skis, boards and bicycles
Sports equipment is carried by every airline serving Zurich, but the allowance, the price and the packing requirements vary considerably. Declare it when booking the flight, not at check-in — capacity on a flight is finite and a surprise ski bag can be refused.
On arrival, remember the oversized counter. And if you are heading to the mountains, ski carriage in a transfer is included rather than charged as an extra — with the V-Class taking eight pieces of luggage against three in a saloon.
Left luggage and storage
If you need to leave bags rather than carry them — a long layover, a day in the city — storage is landside in the Airport Center. See luggage storage.
Baggage at Zurich Airport — FAQ
What do I do if my bag does not arrive at Zurich?
Report it at your airline’s baggage desk before you leave the reclaim area. You will be given a PIR reference, which everything afterwards depends on. Once you have passed customs and left the building, the process becomes much harder.
Where do skis and oversized items come out?
At the bulky baggage counter rather than on the normal belt. Skis, bicycles, golf bags and pushchairs all appear there, so check it before concluding that your equipment is missing.
Can I put a power bank in my checked luggage?
No. Power banks and spare lithium batteries must travel in the cabin and are prohibited in the hold. This is checked at the bag drop and there is no discretion about it.
Who is responsible for lost baggage — the airport or the airline?
The airline. Your claim, your compensation for expenses and your rights under the Montreal Convention all sit with the carrier rather than with Zurich Airport.
What should I do about damaged baggage?
Report it in the baggage hall before leaving and photograph the damage at the belt. Airlines apply short time limits for damage claims, and evidence taken on the spot is worth far more than a later description.
Are luggage trolleys free at Zurich Airport?
Yes, and they can be used from the baggage hall through to the car parks and down to the railway platforms.
Do I need to declare ski equipment in advance?
Yes, when booking the flight rather than at check-in. Sports equipment capacity on a given flight is finite and an undeclared ski bag can be refused.