Zurich Airport: Emergency pass office saves vacation at the last minute

Almost it would have been nothing with the holidays in Egypt. For example, Kemajl Berisha booked seven nights in a hotel, his wife and sons in the country on the Red Sea. Similarly, With packed suitcases and full of anticipation, the Berishas wanted to check in at Kloten Airport for their flight. However, “Only then did we realize that the pass has expired in one of my sons.”

A little shock right at the beginning of the holiday for the family from Solothurn. For example, Because without valid ID cards, the airlines do not let you fly. Nevertheless, Relaxing in Egypt threatened to fall into the water for the family.

Almost 7000 passes zurich airport: emergency pass office in one year

Performance David Squindo. Similarly, The 56-year-old leads the place where holidays are regularly saved in Zurich Airport: the emergency pass office. For example, “We exhibited 6903 passes last year,” says Sace. Nevertheless, The emergency pass office – which is open seven days a week – thus exhibits almost 19 passports a day. In addition, “But of course there are differences, during the holidays we have significantly more to do.”

The documents, which enable the desired swimming in the sea, are exhibited in a simple, almost barren room. Meanwhile, He is-almost a little hidden-together with the police station next to the Starbucks before the passage of check-in 2 to check-in 1.

It is a functional office space without much decorative. Consequently, Only a large pin board with numerous postcards dances from the series. Furthermore, They come from Spain, Portugal, Mauritius, Indonesia or from Africa. Nevertheless, zurich airport: emergency pass office “Only two came from employees,” emphasizes Squindo. The remaining cards from all over the world actually came from people who would have solved an emergency pass here. «This is certainly a special feature of this job. There are hardly ever any complaints, but we very often get positive feedback and a lot of thanks. »

It’s a kind of “pass light”

In this room. an employee of Squindo starts to exhibit an emergency pass for Kemajl Berisha’s son Edin. As a rule, this is done within a quarter of an hour. “The most important thing is that we can clearly understand who stands in front of us. ” explains the head of the office. This is not a problem with the Berishas, after all, they have the passed pass with them.

However, the driver’s license, bank cards or the Swiss Pass of the SBB are not suitable for identification. «And it goes without saying: Of course we can only issue passes for Swiss citizens. We cannot do a kind of quick naturalization zurich airport: emergency pass office for foreign nationals. »

Since the identification is possible, a photo is taken. This is then printed directly into the emergency pass together with the other personal data. which is clearly recognizable based on a large white bar on the envelope. “Emergency passes differ significantly from normal passes in some points,” says Squindo. Unlike the standard passes, they do not have biometric data and also do not contain a chip. “The production of a normal Swiss passport including a chip with digital signature. carbonized pages is so complicated and complex that this is simply not possible with our devices here in the office.”

Notpass is more expensive. but it can be less

This also means that not all vacation can be saved by an emergency pass. In countries like the USA, entry is only possible zurich airport: emergency pass office with a biometric passport. But there are other restrictions. “An emergency pass is only valid for a maximum of one year and only for a trip,” says Squindo. When returning to Switzerland, the document must be handed over to the border control.

The emergency pass can therefore be less than the normal passport. but is more expensive: you have to pay CHF 15 in the emergency pass office, 50 more than for the emergency pass in a cantonal passport office. This is regulated in the Swiss Ordinance of ID Ordinance. «The emergency pass is more expensive because we are open 365 days a year. And because you don’t want the majority to get their passport over us, »says Satzindo.

Lack of time can become a problem

It worked for the Berishas. Shortly after entering the emergency pass office. son Edin has a valid ID with which nothing stands in the way of the trip to Egypt. “If someone comes to the switch with zurich airport: emergency pass office us, we can usually help,” says Squindo. The most common reason why a trip fails is the lack of time. “In any case, it is advisable to come to the airport in good time.” The emergency passport is quickly issued, but there could still be queue, especially during the holidays. “At some point the time is simply not enough to catch the flight,” says Squindo.

This is not a problem with the Berishas. They came to the airport several hours before departure. had enough time after the detour to the emergency pass office to stroll comfortably on their flight. They experienced the whole procedure positively. «The employee was very solution -oriented and relaxed. Now we are looking forward to the holidays! », Says Kemajl Berisha before walking with his family towards the board check.

There is not much going on that day during the summer vacation. Nevertheless, the employees of the office save two more trips within three hours. Family Kellers enable you to start your vacation in Porto after the six -year -old Ezra has been able. to issue the required document.

The Abbas family wanted to fly even further. Father Khodr Abbas could no zurich airport: emergency pass office longer find his son Daniel’s passport at home. “But we urgently need it. we want to visit our relatives in Lebanon,” he explains in front of the passport office. Because the family has already noticed at home that she was missing an ID card. she came to the airport over six hours before departure. And had over five and a half hours after issuing the emergency pass.

Found error? Report now.

1 comment