Geneva Airport, Swiss or French side? Meeting your driver and crossing into France
Why Geneva Airport has two sides
Geneva Airport sits right on the border between Switzerland and France. It has a Swiss exit and a French exit, but the planes do not land on one side or the other. They always land in the same place. The two exits only decide where passengers leave the airport.
Since Switzerland joined the Schengen area, the two sides are much less separate than they used to be. Today it is mostly a question of which exit is closer to where you are going.
Which exit will you use?
- Flights from a French airport. Passengers are invited to go directly to the French exit.
- All other flights, including the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe. Almost everyone leaves through the Swiss side. You collect your bags and follow the signs to the arrivals hall.
This depends on where your flight comes from. It has nothing to do with your nationality. French passengers on an international flight go to exactly the same place as everyone else.
Where your Skicab driver waits
Unless we tell you otherwise, your driver waits on the Swiss side near the luggage reception area with a sign showing your name. Three days before you travel we send you the driver’s contact details by email and SMS, so you can reach them directly.
For practical reasons, our driver may sometimes wait in the car park on the French side instead. There is nothing to worry about. When this happens you receive all the information by WhatsApp or email, so you know exactly where to go.
The exception is passengers arriving from a French airport, who are invited to the French exit. We meet them there. This is quite rare with our international clients.
If you cannot find your driver
On busy arrival days the hall can be crowded and it can be harder for a driver to park and spot you. The easiest solution is to go to the Montreux Jazz Cafe in the terminal and send us an SMS or a WhatsApp message. We will help you find each other straight away.
If your flight is late, relax. We track delays and wait for you free of charge for the first thirty minutes. For a longer delay, let us know by email, SMS or WhatsApp and we will adjust.
Can you switch from one exit to the other?
Yes. It is easy. With your boarding pass you can pass from the Swiss exit to the French exit, even after an international flight. Follow the signs inside the terminal. The walk takes about five minutes. It is not a problem, which is why most travellers never think about it.
When the French exit saves you time and money
Here is a case that matters to many travellers. Imagine you land in Geneva the day before your ski trip and you have booked a night at a hotel in Ferney-Voltaire, for example the Novotel. Do not take a Swiss taxi from the Swiss exit. It has to cover more distance and it costs much more.
Walk to the French exit instead by following the signs inside the terminal. Take a French taxi from there. The journey is much shorter and the fare is much lower. This is true for any passenger who is heading towards Ferney-Voltaire, whether or not they travel with Skicab.
The French exit is useful for Ferney-Voltaire and the area around it. For the towns of Haute-Savoie and Savoie such as Annemasse, Annecy, Aix les Bains or Chambery, it is the opposite. It is much quicker to cross through Switzerland than to go all the way around through France, so the Swiss exit is the right choice.
Crossing into France by road
On the way to most French ski resorts you cross the Swiss and French border by road shortly after leaving the airport. Switzerland and France both belong to the Schengen area, so the crossing is normally quick. Border police can still ask to see your documents. Keep your passport or ID card within reach, not in your checked luggage. Entry rules depend on your nationality, so please check the official requirements for your passport before you travel.
When you stay in Switzerland
Not every journey crosses the border. A transfer to Verbier, Villars sur Ollon or Zermatt stays in Switzerland from start to finish.
Travelling with a group
Coaches follow special rules at Geneva Airport. Police regulations mean a coach must first park at P33, some distance from the arrivals terminal and wait for police clearance before it can move to the car park closest to arrivals. On the busiest arrival days this can mean a short wait. While you wait, stay at or near the Montreux Jazz Cafe so your driver can find you easily. For groups of 9 or more passengers we arrange minibuses and coaches.
Questions we often hear
Which exit will I use at Geneva Airport?
Almost every passenger leaves through the Swiss side, where your driver waits. Only passengers arriving from a French airport are invited to go directly to the French exit. It depends on where your flight comes from, not on your nationality.
Where will my Skicab driver wait for me at Geneva Airport?
Unless we tell you otherwise, your driver waits on the Swiss side near the luggage reception area with a sign showing your name. Three days before you travel we send you the driver's contact details by email and SMS.
Should I worry if my driver waits in the car park on the French side?
No. For practical reasons our drivers sometimes wait there. When this happens you receive all the information by WhatsApp or email, so you know exactly where to go.
Can I leave by the French exit after an international flight?
Yes. With your boarding pass you can pass from the Swiss exit to the French exit, even after an international flight. Follow the signs inside the terminal. The walk takes about five minutes.
I am staying at a hotel in Ferney-Voltaire. Which exit should I use?
Use the French exit. Walk there from the Swiss side by following the signs inside the terminal. Then take a French taxi. It is a much shorter journey than a Swiss taxi from the Swiss exit. It also costs much less. This applies to anyone, not only to Skicab clients.
Which exit is best for Annecy, Annemasse, Aix les Bains or Chambery?
The Swiss exit. To reach these towns it is much quicker to cross through Switzerland than to go all the way around through France.
What if I cannot find my driver?
Go to the Montreux Jazz Cafe in the terminal and send us an SMS or WhatsApp message. We will help you find each other straight away.
Do I need my passport to travel from Geneva Airport to a French ski resort?
Yes. You travel from Switzerland into France by road, so keep your passport or ID card within reach and not in your checked luggage. Entry rules depend on your nationality, so check the official rules before you travel.
Does the transfer to Verbier, Villars or Zermatt cross into France?
No. Verbier, Villars sur Ollon and Zermatt are in Switzerland, so the whole journey stays in Switzerland.
What happens if my flight is late?
We track delays and wait for you free of charge for the first thirty minutes. For longer delays, let us know by email, SMS or WhatsApp and we will adjust.
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