The holidays are traditionally used as opportunities to visit family and friends or for holiday trips. Passenger numbers are expected to peak on 19 December, with the number of travellers expected to reach around 100,000 on that day. Among the most popular destinations in terms of passenger numbers are New York, London, Paris and Pristina. Trending destinations based on seasonal popularity include Miami, the Maldives and Ibiza, as well as Scandinavian cities such as Tromsø and Luleå.

Transporting fondue in your hand baggage – is that allowed?

Over the holidays, people pack along many gifts and Swiss specialities intended for friends and family abroad. We recommend clearing up in advance which items may and may not be carried in your luggage to ensure that you can pass through security efficiently. As always, the following also applies: Only take as much hand baggage as is permitted by the airline. 
Ready-made fondue may be transported in both hand baggage and checked baggage. The corresponding chafing dish, on the other hand, should only be put in checked baggage – and only if it contains neither fuel paste nor liquid and the chafing dish is free of vapours.

When in doubt, use the search function

Electronic gifts such as a remote-controlled car with built-in batteries may be carried in both hand and checked baggage as long as the battery's rating does not exceed 100 Wh, the capacity is clearly declared and the device has been secured against accidental activation. The permissible number of electronic devices with batteries is limited. Loose batteries, power banks and e-cigarettes, on the other hand, are only allowed in hand baggage and are subject to further requirements regarding their quantity and wattage rating. 
Winter sports equipment such as skates or gifts with liquids that do not contain hazardous items should be included in checked baggage. Additional rules apply to certain items such as lighters and avalanche backpacks. Fuel paste, fireworks and sparklers, as well as paints, acids and other toxic or corrosive substances are strictly prohibited and do not belong in luggage. 
A search function on the airport's website shows which items are allowed, which belong in hand or checked baggage and which may not be transported.

What's permitted in your luggage

Passengers are advised to transport gifts unpacked if possible. If the item needs to be inspected in greater detail during the security check, the gift wrapping may need to be opened. 

Getting the Christmas holidays off to a well-prepared start

The following tips will help ensure that the start of your journey is more pleasant:

• Check the airport’s website to find the recommended airport arrival time; do this by calling up your own flight using the «Find your flight» function on the airport’s website.
  To the flight information
   
• Use online check-in or – where possible – the evening check-in and clarify in advance which bulky luggage requirements – for skis or musical instruments, for example – apply to the respective airline.
  Information on check-in options
   
• Self Bag Drop machines are available for passengers of the Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Edelweiss, Austrian, Air Dolomiti and Brussels Airlines), Aegean Airlines, Air France, Air Baltic, Chair Airlines, Condor, KLM and SAS Scandinavian Airlines. Passengers can check their own baggage at these machines. Baggage tag machines are available in all check-in areas, Arrivals 1 and Airport Shopping on the way to check-in.
  Information about the Self Bag Drop

Celebrate and indulge at Zurich Airport

Zurich Airport offers a diverse range of culinary events for anybody spending the festive season at home. On 21 December, the AIR Restaurant in Check-in 2 invites you to a Christmas brunch with a sumptuous buffet and live music. On 26 December, a festive seven-course brunch will be held at Restaurant Sablier in the Circle. 
A special experience awaits you at the turn of the year on 31 December: a New Year's Eve party with speed dating in the AIR Restaurant that combines a New Year's Eve menu with live music.
Further information on the Christmas activities at Zurich Airport