Jump to content

Photo

How is airberlin?


  • Please log in to reply
20 replies to this topic

#1
LJ Aviation

LJ Aviation

    The Official Dabber of AE

  • Member
  • 321 posts

User's Awards

2      

Hi guys,

 

Will be taking an Airbus A330 from LAX-DUS and then A320 to Munich. A few days later A321 from Vienna to DUS and then another A330 to LAX. I read some negative reviews about them. Can someone tell me how is airberlin actually doing? Greatly appreciated


PKInW0N.jpgPgdni23.jpg

 

 

 

 
 

#2
DWProski

DWProski

    AE's (Former) Ambassador to Bosnia

  • Member
  • 403 posts
Hope that it doesn't go bust during your trip.

image.png


#3
KINGXyro

KINGXyro

    OMGZ I LUUUUV AE!!!

  • Member
  • 579 posts

You should check Skytrax. And also make sure to only read the "validated" comments.



#4
LJ Aviation

LJ Aviation

    The Official Dabber of AE

  • Member
  • 321 posts

User's Awards

2      

Its been a while since my airberlin trip, and I would like to write about it.

 

DO NOT EVER FLY WITH AIR BERLIN!!!

 

My route was LAX-DUS-MUC then VIE-DUS-LAX

LAX-DUS: The plane was meh, a A330-200 and I was sitting in the last row so I was sitting next the the crew rest area, which is relatively quiet. I would recommend rows 48-50 if you do not get sick sitting in the back of the plane. Food is also meh. IFE is actually better than what I expected, it is not the worst in the world, but nothing compared to Emirates. Just another economy class long haul airline, nothing special.

 

DUS-MUC: A320, I slept the whole flight, but the seats were standard, and at least they use jetbridge (Ryanair)

However, I was traveling with my instrument and I have a performance in a few days, BUT THEY LOST MY INSTRUMENT. I checked it, and I have never traveled with my instrument before, so I was expecting it to be on the luggage belt when I arrived in Munich. I had to get a rental instrument and it was a pain. I got my instrument back, but my performance was impacted.

 

Return trip:

VIE-DUS: Another A320, and I slept on the whole flight again, so nothing special.

DUS-LAX: A330-200, nothing special, same as the one I came from

 

My recommendation is: unless they have some dirt cheap fares, do not fly with them. Fly with Lufthansa, their service is better, their planes are better, and they lose less luggage compared to Air Berlin.


PKInW0N.jpgPgdni23.jpg

 

 

 

 
 

#5
zortan

zortan

    AE Winner

  • Member
  • 2,515 posts
  • Website:http://aeronauticsonline.com

Its been a while since my airberlin trip, and I would like to write about it.

 

DO NOT EVER FLY WITH AIR BERLIN!!!

 

My route was LAX-DUS-MUC then VIE-DUS-LAX

LAX-DUS: The plane was meh, a A330-200 and I was sitting in the last row so I was sitting next the the crew rest area, which is relatively quiet. I would recommend rows 48-50 if you do not get sick sitting in the back of the plane. Food is also meh. IFE is actually better than what I expected, it is not the worst in the world, but nothing compared to Emirates. Just another economy class long haul airline, nothing special.

 

DUS-MUC: A320, I slept the whole flight, but the seats were standard, and at least they use jetbridge (Ryanair)

However, I was traveling with my instrument and I have a performance in a few days, BUT THEY LOST MY INSTRUMENT. I checked it, and I have never traveled with my instrument before, so I was expecting it to be on the luggage belt when I arrived in Munich. I had to get a rental instrument and it was a pain. I got my instrument back, but my performance was impacted.

 

Return trip:

VIE-DUS: Another A320, and I slept on the whole flight again, so nothing special.

DUS-LAX: A330-200, nothing special, same as the one I came from

 

My recommendation is: unless they have some dirt cheap fares, do not fly with them. Fly with Lufthansa, their service is better, their planes are better, and they lose less luggage compared to Air Berlin.

Well, you won't have to fly them for much longer, they're ceasing ops aren't they. Plus - it doesn't sound as if they're that bad, it's just that they lost your luggage, and that is usually the fault of ground crew, whom are usually contractors which don't actually work for the airline.



#6
LJ Aviation

LJ Aviation

    The Official Dabber of AE

  • Member
  • 321 posts

User's Awards

2      

Well, you won't have to fly them for much longer, they're ceasing ops aren't they. Plus - it doesn't sound as if they're that bad, it's just that they lost your luggage, and that is usually the fault of ground crew, whom are usually contractors which don't actually work for the airline.

actually air berlin is not the worst airline in the world, but they are definitely not a choice. Just do not fly with them anymore, because first they are going on bankrupt, as they are losing their leased A330s, and I heard they stopped operations from LAX to Dusseldorf. Second all aspects of them are behind Lufthansa, from service to equipments. I did flame over them a bit for losing my luggage, but flying with airberlin is not worth it, especially considering they are going backrupt.


PKInW0N.jpgPgdni23.jpg

 

 

 

 
 

#7
reubin

reubin

    New Member

  • Member
  • 9 posts

Did you actually expect to have the same service and IFE as on a Lufthansa flight? Although they were never really clear on what their actual business model is, airberlin is a low-cost/mixed service carrier, whereas Lufthansa is a full-service premium airline. You are right about the Level of service you've described, but I feel like the comparison is a little out of place.

 

But you are right, don't book airberlin tickets anymore. They've ceased all of their Long-haul operations and are expected to cease the rest of their operations in late October - early November. Most of the crew will switch over to LCC carrier eurowings, which belongs to Lufthansa Group. They also won the bidding process for most of airberlin's cont-fleet. There likely won't be an improvement in the in-flight service though, as eurowings is a pure LCC.



#8
KINGXyro

KINGXyro

    OMGZ I LUUUUV AE!!!

  • Member
  • 579 posts

A news was posted one hour ago and Air Berlin is ceasing flight operations this month... They're talking with Lufthansa and EasyJet on selling few of Air Berlin's assets.

 

Source: http://abcnews.go.co...-month-50366827

 

So do not fly with them anymore! If possible refund your ticket and pick another airline.



#9
zortan

zortan

    AE Winner

  • Member
  • 2,515 posts
  • Website:http://aeronauticsonline.com

Here's another thing: IMO, Airberlin's business class is better than Lufty's, because in Lufty (on the A330), it is 2-2-2, and the middle two are angled towards each other. That way, a lot of people complain about kicking each other. The window pair isn't revolutionary either, many airlines now have direct aisle access from every seat. Then on AB, the middle two alternates between "honeymoon" seats, which are really close together, admittedly not the best, or the spaced out ones which have lots of space. So in the middle at least half of AB's seats are good. Then on the window seats, they only have ONE not TWO, so there is direct aisle access, and half of those seats have the storage cubby blocking out a lot of aisle light, so it's pretty good. On Lufty, there isn't much privacy from your seat mate or from the aisle, so personally, I'd go for AB. Two reasons not to though: I can't ever afford business class, and AB got rid of their A330s, couldn't afford them any more.



#10
Spyrosv

Spyrosv

    AE Addict

  • Member
  • 855 posts

I'm sorry for you instument. Alitalia lost my baggage once and when i found it, it was damaged too. Air Berlin in short haul is just another european airline, nothing special but nothing too bad either.



#11
zortan

zortan

    AE Winner

  • Member
  • 2,515 posts
  • Website:http://aeronauticsonline.com

I'm sorry for you instument. Alitalia lost my baggage once and when i found it, it was damaged too. Air Berlin in short haul is just another european airline, nothing special but nothing too bad either.

Yup. SH Europe is very similar honestly. Sometimes, IDK why I pay more for airlines like BA/AF, when they just offer as much (or sometimes less) for more $$ than other airlines like EasyJet or whatever



#12
LJ Aviation

LJ Aviation

    The Official Dabber of AE

  • Member
  • 321 posts

User's Awards

2      

Here's another thing: IMO, Airberlin's business class is better than Lufty's, because in Lufty (on the A330), it is 2-2-2, and the middle two are angled towards each other. That way, a lot of people complain about kicking each other. The window pair isn't revolutionary either, many airlines now have direct aisle access from every seat. Then on AB, the middle two alternates between "honeymoon" seats, which are really close together, admittedly not the best, or the spaced out ones which have lots of space. So in the middle at least half of AB's seats are good. Then on the window seats, they only have ONE not TWO, so there is direct aisle access, and half of those seats have the storage cubby blocking out a lot of aisle light, so it's pretty good. On Lufty, there isn't much privacy from your seat mate or from the aisle, so personally, I'd go for AB. Two reasons not to though: I can't ever afford business class, and AB got rid of their A330s, couldn't afford them any more.

ya idk why lufthansa is still using 2-2-2 business class in 2017. They even have them on the 747-8 and the A359! wtfff]

but there are quite some carriers still using 2-2-2- even on newer planes, air china, aeroflot, etc

the interesting thing is air china is supposed to be full service while china eastern is supposed to be low cost, but china eastern's business class on 77W is so much better than air china's 77W business class.

like idk why so many carriers are not using the 1-2-1 config, they dont take much more space, and the customers are a lot more happy


PKInW0N.jpgPgdni23.jpg

 

 

 

 
 

#13
zortan

zortan

    AE Winner

  • Member
  • 2,515 posts
  • Website:http://aeronauticsonline.com

ya idk why lufthansa is still using 2-2-2 business class in 2017. They even have them on the 747-8 and the A359! wtfff]

but there are quite some carriers still using 2-2-2- even on newer planes, air china, aeroflot, etc

the interesting thing is air china is supposed to be full service while china eastern is supposed to be low cost, but china eastern's business class on 77W is so much better than air china's 77W business class.

like idk why so many carriers are not using the 1-2-1 config, they dont take much more space, and the customers are a lot more happy

True - but not all 2-2-2 products are equal, remember. Ethiopian's old 787 business class is 2-2-2 angled, and LOT's 2-2-2 business 787 is lie flat. Or take Lufty vs. aeroflot. Lufty has 2-2-2, but the middle seats are angled towards each other, so playing footsy is easy. Aeroflot's 2-2-2 has seats angled away enough from each other to give more privacy, plus they have dividers to put up. But 2-2-2 isn't the worst of it. Emirates is still using 2-3-2 angled on their 777, and BA has 2-4-2 on many planes. El Al also still has the 2-3-2 on the 777 and 747 as well. Thing about China Eastern is that the seat is better, but the service is worse, and sometimes their pilots smoke so...... Also there is a very good 2-2-2 config which I consider the best C class product in the world, the Apex Suite. This is like having 6 open suites per row, and the window seats might as well be closed suites, they're so locked off from the rest of the cabin. The best part? There's a small hallway from the window seat out in to the aisle, so now climbing over ppl and it does have direct aisle access from every seat, making service easier as well.



#14
LJ Aviation

LJ Aviation

    The Official Dabber of AE

  • Member
  • 321 posts

User's Awards

2      

True - but not all 2-2-2 products are equal, remember. Ethiopian's old 787 business class is 2-2-2 angled, and LOT's 2-2-2 business 787 is lie flat. Or take Lufty vs. aeroflot. Lufty has 2-2-2, but the middle seats are angled towards each other, so playing footsy is easy. Aeroflot's 2-2-2 has seats angled away enough from each other to give more privacy, plus they have dividers to put up. But 2-2-2 isn't the worst of it. Emirates is still using 2-3-2 angled on their 777, and BA has 2-4-2 on many planes. El Al also still has the 2-3-2 on the 777 and 747 as well. Thing about China Eastern is that the seat is better, but the service is worse, and sometimes their pilots smoke so...... Also there is a very good 2-2-2 config which I consider the best C class product in the world, the Apex Suite. This is like having 6 open suites per row, and the window seats might as well be closed suites, they're so locked off from the rest of the cabin. The best part? There's a small hallway from the window seat out in to the aisle, so now climbing over ppl and it does have direct aisle access from every seat, making service easier as well.

True there are some good 2-2-2 and some really bad 2-2-2, or like BA, 2-4-2. Air China has the same business class seat as Aeroflot, and I think they are one of the better 2-2-2. They have lie flat, seats are not pointed in the middle (they are all tilted slightly either to the left or to the right depending on where you sit) and have good pitch. Yes, the Apex 2-2-2 is the best in the world, and I think I have taken one (Asiana). No idea why Emirates is still using 2-3-2 on 777 thou... they are supposed to be some premium airline right?


PKInW0N.jpgPgdni23.jpg

 

 

 

 
 

#15
zortan

zortan

    AE Winner

  • Member
  • 2,515 posts
  • Website:http://aeronauticsonline.com

True there are some good 2-2-2 and some really bad 2-2-2, or like BA, 2-4-2. Air China has the same business class seat as Aeroflot, and I think they are one of the better 2-2-2. They have lie flat, seats are not pointed in the middle (they are all tilted slightly either to the left or to the right depending on where you sit) and have good pitch. Yes, the Apex 2-2-2 is the best in the world, and I think I have taken one (Asiana). No idea why Emirates is still using 2-3-2 on 777 thou... they are supposed to be some premium airline right?

yes, everyone thinks emirates C class is really good because it's emirates, but it isn't tho. Some of them are still angled, and the rest are still 2-3-2, which is ridiculous. Asiana doesn't have the Apex. Korean does tho. Some JAL does as well and so does Oman Air. They're the only ones who fly it. I think it's an expensive seat to install.



#16
Tesla

Tesla

    Inactive

  • Member
  • 2,392 posts

yes, everyone thinks emirates C class is really good because it's emirates, but it isn't tho. Some of them are still angled, and the rest are still 2-3-2, which is ridiculous. Asiana doesn't have the Apex. Korean does tho. Some JAL does as well and so does Oman Air. They're the only ones who fly it. I think it's an expensive seat to install.

Very true. Emirates business is s*** in every way except service. Not worth it.



#17
zortan

zortan

    AE Winner

  • Member
  • 2,515 posts
  • Website:http://aeronauticsonline.com

Very true. Emirates business is s*** in every way except service. Not worth it.

yes it is. Once my mom was in the left most seat in the center section on EK in business, and she said that the person across the triple started complaining about her reading light!



#18
LJ Aviation

LJ Aviation

    The Official Dabber of AE

  • Member
  • 321 posts

User's Awards

2      

Very true. Emirates business is s*** in every way except service. Not worth it.

their 777 business is s*** but their 380 business is not bad.


PKInW0N.jpgPgdni23.jpg

 

 

 

 
 

#19
Tesla

Tesla

    Inactive

  • Member
  • 2,392 posts

yes it is. Once my mom was in the left most seat in the center section on EK in business, and she said that the person across the triple started complaining about her reading light!

Spoiled or what! But then you'd expect stuff like that to be working when you pay that much



#20
zortan

zortan

    AE Winner

  • Member
  • 2,515 posts
  • Website:http://aeronauticsonline.com

Spoiled or what! But then you'd expect stuff like that to be working when you pay that much

 

i'm not spoiled. i've never been in business class, and my mom was only in it because her client paid for it.






0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users