[Tom Otley]

It seems that this evening Switzerland has added restrictions on several countries

In Tschechien, den Niederlande, dem Vereinigten Königreich, Ägypten und Malawi ist die Variante Omicron aufgetreten. Beim Boarding in ein Flugzeug und bei der Einreise in die Schweiz müssen alle Personen einen negativen Covid-19-Test vorlegen und 10 Tage in Quarantäne.

— BAG – OFSP – UFSP (@BAG_OFSP_UFSP) November 27, 2021

I’m hoping it is referring to the unvaccinated, rather than everyone…

[Tom Otley]

… but it doesn’t look like it does

“Tightening of entry rules: quarantine for arrivals
Since 8pm on 26.11.2021, various countries have been on the list of countries with a variant of concern. Anyone entering Switzerland from these countries must present a negative test result and quarantine for 10 days. This also applies to vaccinated and recovered persons.”

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/empfehlungen-fuer-reisende/quarantaene-einreisende.html#-1046289572

The newly added countries are written in bold in the respective list.

List valid upon arriving in Switzerland from 26.11.21, from 20h00
Countries* with a worrying variant

Belgium
Botswana
Czech Republic
Egypt
Eswatini
Hong Kong
Israel
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Netherlands
South Africa
United Kingdom
Zimbabwe

[Tom Otley]

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland/entry-requirements

From 8pm on 27 November, travellers arriving from the UK must self-quarantine for 10 days on arrival in Switzerland.

Interestingly, at present I suppose anyone flying to, say, Geneva, to visit the French Alps, could still do so, but anyone flying to Geneva to visit the Swiss Alps, would have to quarantine….

[Alsacienne]

Apologies if I’m quoting ancient history but there was a period last year when there was chaos at Gatwick in connection with an Easyjet flight to Basel, which, like Geneva is a shared airport between France and Switzerland.

Only travellers with a Swiss residents’ permit and those with Swiss passports were permitted to board because the aircraft lands in the Swiss side of the airport.

It didn’t matter if you were travelling to France (or Germany) but if you didn’t have the Swiss documentation, you were not permitted to board.

I had local friends who were prevented from taking this flight, hence my offering this post. They had to fly to Paris and then take the train ….

So, please have a plan B, C or other ready!!!

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Tom Otley

[Tom Otley]

Yes, I think you are right with that warning.

Certainly the current advice is that UK nationals are not allowed to transit through Geneva airport into Switzerland without first quarantining for 10 days.

[TimFitzgeraldTC]

Looks like some confusion – but cannot use GVA to enter Switzerland without quarantining. However:

“There is no quarantine requirement for those in transit airside at the airport.”

So ok to transit ZRH/GVA with an onward flight to 3rd country as this wasn’t clear in initial guidance.

[AMcWhirter]

Not forgetting Nightjet.

Its Amsterdam-Zurich service was expected to launch next month but this may not now happen.

A very bad start for the new #ÖBB #Nightjet train Amsterdam – Zürich from December: All travellers from The Netherlands must undergo a mandatory 10-day Quarantine in Switzerland; Expect cancellations soon ! @unsereOEBB pic.twitter.com/nwKxXtBqwh

— doc7austin (@doc7austin) November 28, 2021

[Tom Otley]

[postquote quote=1119157]

Yes, sorry, I meant …”into France”

[TimFitzgeraldTC]

Apparently situation with using GVA to then enter France may be changing. So anyone with the route should hang fire for 24 / 48 hours as travel may be permissible. (To be honest – entry into Switzerland is 10 day self quarantine. Not sure they can stop you leaving the country anyway).

[AMcWhirter]

Inghams today says its ski breaks to Switzerland are now cancelled for December.

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/inghams-suspends-december-ski-departures-to-switzerland

[TimFitzgeraldTC]

So FCDO advice updated today and you can travel to France to ski via Geneva provided you travel straight on and transit time in Switzerland is less than 24 hours and does not involve a stopover.

[Tom Otley]

Yes, I saw that, thank you.
Ironically, as a result of the initial announcement by the Swiss Government, so many people switched their flights from Geneva to other airports (Turin, Milan etc…) using the ability to do so under the new conditions offered by the airline – no fees etc.., that BA cancelled many of its flights to Geneva…
I wonder if it will reinstate them now.

[Alsacienne]

Tim, it probably doesn’t matter what the FCDO says … it’s up to the Swiss authorities – their ball and their turf! LGW–BSL seems very light this morning … seems that the Swiss passport holders or residents’ permit holders rule is in force again.

[TimFitzgeraldTC]

I know it’s up to the Swiss authorities to determine entry criteria. Just the FCDO is a good starting point for advice / guidance though doing what I do you always need to check with relevant countries authorities as it doesn’t always get it right!

But transit of BSL/GVA is possible provided not stopping in Switzerland and leaving for France (or Germany in BSL case) and you can demonstrate this.

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Tom Otley

[Alsacienne]

“”But transit of BSL/GVA is possible provided not stopping in Switzerland and leaving for France (or Germany in BSL case) and you can demonstrate this.””
……….. assuming that the ground staff representing the airline at your airport of origin allow you to board …. GVA perhaps but BSL at the moment, seems to be a no.

[Author]

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