Swiss Senator Zurich Lounge Concourse A
The SWISS Senator Class Lounge Concourse A near the Schengen gates is one of the nicest lounges at Zurich.
The lounge has a great bar, open kitchen, a quiet area and views over the airport.
However, the facilities are nearly identical to the neighbouring Business lounge, with which the lounge shares many similarities, catering, and bar.
Zurich Swiss Senator lounge Concourse A review
The Swiss Senator Lounge Zurich A gates is the latest Swiss lounge at the Zurich hub, and one that is well worth while visiting, as it is spread over three levels with a great dining room, a lovely bar, and good views. If you can see it through the crowds of people, that is.
The Zurich A gates Swiss Senator Lounge is brand new, having been opened in the summer of 2018 when the whole of the Airside Centre was revamped. It was also split into two - so you get the feeling of visiting 'half' a lounge, and seeing the other half, the Business side, through a glass wall. Even the central circular balcony area has been split: it's rather like a Berlin Wall of Zurich.
The main Swiss Lounges at Zurich are located in the middle of the building, and are shared between the Swiss Business and Senator Lounges, with the Senator level lounge on the right, although the entrance is a little confusing, with many passengers mistaking taking the Business not the Senator side, and indeed if you accidentally wiggle right at the turnstiles you can head into Senator while having been admitted to Business.
In theory the Senator lounge is the better lounge, but that's really more of a theory, with identical seating, and the food is pretty much the same too, with just a couple more salad dishes in Senator, and an extra bottle of wine. You wonder why Swiss bother having the two.
In any event, when you walk up the stairs, you are presented with an OK, if fairly bland Swiss lounge, all bleached wood and fairly unremarkable hygienic chairs, The buffet is directly ahead of you, with the bar slightly to the left. Continue left, and there is the unique Senator feature: the raised deck, which is really like an elongated pentagon, which juts out into the Business side: however as it is only about 18 inches higher, a glass screen has been erected to stop Business from stepping over the bench into Senator. It is that ridiculous.
Upstairs again is the TV viewing deck, into the area that was once, but is sadly no longer, once the worlds longest airport bar. Instead it is rather an odd area, with a combined Snooze area, viewing deck, and TV room in one, with the TVs placed just where you could gaze down into the Business area. On the other side used to be the most amazing view of the airport, but this is now full of snooze booths; both useless as you get blinded by the light, and taking away the view.
Finally, up here, is the most classic airport lounge part of the lounge, with black leather sofas arranged around a square. This too seems to have been a great design concept, badly let down in the implementation, and it is rarely used.
Food
The Zurich A gates Swiss Senator Lounge has a "front-cooking" concept, with hot dishes prepared on demand in an open kitchen. This looks great, but certainly adds to the noise in the dining area. Often there is a dish of the hour, and you can see what's on the menu for the period of your visit by looking at the blackboard.
There is a bread and bakery section next to the fridge, which has a buffet with pasta, cold cuts of meat, cheese, olives, and dips.
There is also one hot soup of the day.
Dessert is the usual Swiss freezer filled with Movenpick ice cream, and next to this is a gummy bear bowl. There is also a small fridge with some desserts on plates.
Bar
The bar in the Swiss Senator Lounge Zurich A gates is very good indeed, mainly thanks to the excellent choice of beer and wine.There is plenty of Swiss and German beer: wheat, dark, all the usual variants, it's all here.
Wine is more basic, and there is an Italian sparkling Spumante, which isn't quite so good.
The range of spirts is equally good, and all free pour sitting on the counter.
There are plenty of soft drinks and juice in the fridge too.
Business Facilities
The work area has three semi enclosed work areas right at the back of the lounge, plus a strange semi-circle of working benches, in the far corner of the lounge. Why odd? Well, you can see straight into the Business Lounge next door, but not enter it.
All of these benches have mains power sockets, with international outlets which will take UK plugs. USB sockets are here too.
There is also a bookable meeting room at the back of the lounge.
Wifi comes from the airports main supply, and is very fast indeed.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are in the lounge.Showers however are shared with the neighbouring Business Lounge.
Access
SWISS and Lufthansa first and business class, Miles & More Senator, HON Circle frequent flyers departing on a Lufthansa, Star Alliance or eligible codeshare partner flight and Star Alliance Gold cardholders departing on a same-day Lufthansa or Star Alliance flight.
Video: Swiss Senator Lounge A
Dishes cooked to order
Not that many seats
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