Join AXCS
This page was last updated on February 23 @ 10pm.
To pay for transfers for 1 or 2 people, please use drop down menu below and the "Buy Now" button. The price includes processing fees.
Note: If you cannot or do not wish to use PayPal for payment, please see USA email updates for details on mailing a check payable to AXCS to AXCS, PO Box 604, Bend OR, 97709.
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Updates/changes to your ground transfer plans should be emailed to: jd at xcskiworld dot com
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ARRIVAL BUSES PLAN
Where do we go when we arrive at the airport? (this is the same info for all three bus groups)
=> National Director JD Downing &/or one of the drivers from Kessler Betriebe AG bus company (yep, same family as the hotel) will be looking for USA skiers immediately outside the customs & baggage claim exits. The tricky thing with Zurich's Airport is that there are two terminals (1 & 2) -- so there are two security exits! JD and the drivers will try and cover both spots when we have overlapping flights, but if you come out and do not immediately see a driver holding a sign with an AXCS logo or JD himself (wearing a USA masters jacket) -- park yourself & your gear to the right side of the customs exit until one of us can find you. Do not wander off until you make contact with a driver or JD or other USA folks that know the next spot to go to.
=> A USA "wait until the bus loads spot" will be identified between the Terminals on Friday morning. JD and bus drivers will direct folks coming off of planes and those coming from Zurich hotels to this spot. You can park your gear and as long as a few folks watch over the gear, others can get food, visit restrooms, etc.. The handful of folks that have a longer wait for Arrival Bus #3, you can note the location of our waiting spot and then go where you want -- just be back on time for loading!
=> For those spending Thursday night in Zurich, plan to be at the Terminal 1 customs exit a minimum of 15 minutes before your designated bus is schedule to load. So for the early "yellow Arrival Bus #1", you need to be at that Terminal 1 customs exit by 9:30am latest.
=> Loading will actually take very little time and the buses can only park for a short window. So please be aware the load time ranges are wider than we need because AXCS knows it takes awhile to get all of you organized and also time to walk with the bags to the loading location.
=> For everyone on Bus #3, there is no guarantee that hotels will be able to provide dinner on your arrival. At best it will be very tight so you will need to hustle direct to eating after you are dropped off. To guarantee things, it is highly suggested that you quickly try and get some grab-and-go food in the Arrivals area after you meet JD/drivers. Warning to those on the 3:15-3:25pm flights, time could be super tight for you -- so be aware the food equation might be challenging.
The bus load process
-> This google sheet shows all USA skiers under your assigned arrival bus -- the loading time window for each bus -- and then the number of people to be dropped off at our various hotels. The drop offs are in order - Steinbock will be first and Kessler's last. It will greatly help if everyone puts your bags in the bus in "same hotel groups" to speed up unloading.
-> As long as your arrival into Zurich goes as planned, AXCS has set up the buses expecting everyone to actually ride the bus you are assigned on the chart. There are a few skiers with longer waits slated for Bus #3 where (provided you clear bags/customs very quickly) JD might give you the option for your body and lap bags to get on Bus #2. But your big bags would most likely need to stay behind and ride on Bus #3. We have some spare seats on Bus #2, but we cannot guarantee big bags will fit beyond the planned 31 people (they have 1st dibs).
What if my flight arrives late?
-> If you know your flight is leaving a destination very late & likely cannot make up time in the air (thus likely arriving to ZRH late), please notify JD via email at this address: jdxcski at gmail.com just before you take off. Please wait as long as you can to notify me because airlines can shift delay timetables many times over.
-> JD and the Kessler bus drivers will do our best to roll with weird flight situations with Bus #1 and #2. Hopefully it'll all go smoothly. Everything will be done to keep those buses "on time" even if we have to push a few folks to the next bus. But please note that there is a huge difference between having 2-3 people arriving late shift one bus later -- and having 10 people shift later. Sometimes we will have to hold a bus to get to minimum numbers. Everyone's patience and understanding will be appreciated.
-> Bus #3 is the one bus where we will do absolutely everything possible to get 100% of USA arrivals on the bus and to your Klosters hotels. We can hold that bus for a little bit, but if it would mean everyone on the bus waiting past 5:30pm to depart -- we probably will need those arriving late to anticipate having to do "plan B".
Worst case "Plan B" for late arrivals too late for Bus #3
-> If you come out of customs exits later than 5:30pm, we probably will have no choice but to roll Bus #3.
-> You will either need to book a hotel room for the night near Zurich Airport -- or -- you can go to the Airport Train Station and book train tickets to Klosters (see the instructions in the train page here).
-> If you spend Friday night at a Zurich Airport hotel, you will need to ride trains up to Klosters. JD will do what he can to get a refund on your Klosters hotel night -- but please note there are zero promises the hotels will agree. JD will also try and refund at least some of your arrival bus far provided AXCS covers the full bus bill by the end of the trip (there is also no guarantee this will happen). This Plan B scenario is where basic trip insurance really pays off.
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DEPARTURE BUS TRANSFER WORKING PLAN
--> MORE DETAILS FOR THE DEPARTURE PLAN WILL BE POSTED AND HIGHLIGHTED IN GROUP EMAILS LATER IN THE TRIP. ONLY THE BASICS ARE BELOW.
--> The departure plan is in really solid shape. Please see the color-coded groups on the Team USA chart for all those that requested departure shuttles.
--> A small USA bus is confirmed for early/mid evening on Saturday, March 15. The only question with this small bus is whether folks want to attend the start of the MWC2025 Banquet -- or just get on the road to Zurich.
Sunday, March 16 Departure Buses
--> A small USA bus (the #1 "early departure bus") is confirmed for loading start at 4am getting to the airport by 7:30am.
--> A large USA bus (the #2 "middle departure bus") will load between 6:30-7:30am and getting to the airport by 10am.
--> We will finish up with #3-#4-#5 "later departure" buses.
#3 Small Departure Bus: loading 9-10am and getting to the airport by 12:30pm.
#4 & #5 Big Departure Buses: loading 11am-12pm and getting to the airport by 2:30pm.
More info on the Departure Plan coming.
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