I can kind of understand the purpose of barriers at Arrivals, but the ones at Departures will really hinder the "kiss and run" drop-offs, and be rather cruel if you have to pay.
Anyone know how it's going to work?
This may be a dumb question (I've been here long enough, so I'm entitled to at least one), but does anyone know how the new barriers on the arrival/departure ramps at Zürich airport are going to function? They apparently come into operation on Monday 19th August.
Ah, okay, I found it hidden in the ZRH Airport website:
I think this 5 minutes is rather optimistic, as it almost takes 5 minutes to drive the length of the ramp even if you don't stop, as you negotiate all the double-parked cars blocking the way. I suppose it does give incentive for people to really be quick about drop-offs.
Departure
In the Departures area a barrier system will be installed on the outer curbside lane for private vehicles as of 19 August 2013. In the specially designated drop-off zones, people will be able to drop off passengers free of charge for the first five minutes (previously CHF 2 for max. 10 minutes). After 5 minutes a fee of CHF 5 per 5 minutes will be charged. For longer stays, e.g. accompanying passengers to the terminals, we recommend using the car parks P1-3.
Arrival
In the Arrival area, a limited number of parking spaces will remain available until October 2013 for people collecting passengers (subject to a fee). People may park here for CHF 2 per 10 minutes up to a maximum of 20 minutes. When approaching the airport, please check the signs "frei" (spaces available) and "besetzt" (full) and use a car park if necessary. As a rule we recommend that people collecting passengers use the car parks P1-3.
The Arrival area will be closed to private traffic as of October 2013 for approximately two years owing to construction work.
Just use the car park and pay they are actually fairly cheap
This is a sad development - screw every penny out of everyone you can.
This kind of system is already in force in the UK. Birmingham International for example has a minimum of £1 to drop off with no free short stay...
For arrivals definitely, but for departure drop-off it is a bit ridiculous.
Still, anything is better than Sydney airport.. 50chf once you exceed 3 hours of parking.
2 Francs for 15 minutes or 6 Francs for an an hour is hardly what I call "fairly cheap".
you get 5 minutes for free! can't say fairer than that. it will certainly help encourage those annoying slow people. honestly, sometimes i wonder whether they set off to the airport 3 weeks in advance judging by how slow they are at the airport...
What I find more annoying - that the arrival zone will be closed for two years from October! So you HAVE to go and park.
Can't you just meet/pick up the person at departures?
It's quite a bit further away and with the five minute rule... the construction in arrivals is probably part of why they are doing this rule - to avoid all the smart Alecs going up to departures. It's already a zoo as it is. Although annoying, this rule is probably a good way to get people out of the habit it clogging up the arrivals area. Also, if you suck at parallel parking, PLEASE don't use the arrival
pick up, you are creating even more mayhem!
Will take it over Sydney any day: http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/go/c.../selfpark.aspx
I think you are 100% correct..there is limited space up and people will often simply double park and spend 30min kissing their loves ones good bye. Add the soon-to-vanish arrival ramp and people will think they are clever doing to the pick-up in departure..only to find 5000 other dumb people have the same idea.
P1-P3 is looking like being the default rule rather than the exception. Just glad I don't have to go there tmw, it will be chaos, especially in the morning!
Good Idea and well overdue which will ultimately improve security within the wider scope of the day to day running of the airport.
Sydney airport makes Zurich airport look like a bargain especially in the first 3 hours where it is around 4CHf an our compared to more than triple that in Sydney