Review: Airberlin Lounge Berlin Airport

Actually I have never used this "Exclusive Waiting Area" since there is a British Airways Terraces Lounge and Air France lounge in the Terminal A which is a short walk from Terminal C. They are pretty decent for such a small airport. And they both are landslide, so you don't have to clear security twice, but you have to leave the lounge early to clear security in Terminal C before departure.

The "warehouse" feeling probably is a result of the fact that the whole airport should already be out of service for several years now (the opening of the new airport should have taken place more than three years ago, on June 3, 2012, and was postponed only 26 days in advance). But as the new airport's inauguration date is still very much in limbo, some of the old airport's facilities had to be "renewed" or at least redesigned according to current security and fire prevention regulations; and as the remaining lifespan should be limited, most of this was done in a kind of provisional / makeshift way.

From what I remember, I thought that oneworld elites were NOT allowed in these waiting areas, as these areas aren't deemed as lounges (which was why I thought airberlin was being so clever). Did the policies change?

I frequently use these exclusive waiting areas. As most of my work travel is intra-european economy, I rarely hit more than OW ruby status (although I'll hit BAEC silver next month), which is enough to enter these "areas". I've been in them in Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin (both of them, there's two!) and most frequently Dusseldorf. I like the no-staff and paper-cup/bottle concept, which allows you to take a drink with you when in a hurry. It is also enough to swipe your member-card for access, even when you're flying on a non-oneworld carrier. This also means you can enter the waiting areas on arrival. My routine when returning to Dusseldorf is to get off the flight and grab a free coffee and water for the drive home. And the coffe is even decent quality (esp. the Cappucino)!

@ betterbub I'm airberlin silver and BA bronze atm, will try to enter with my BA status the next time...

There's also a "exclusive waiting area" at Stuttgart airport now, it opened in July.

Agree, the name seems appropriate and I think it's a decent concept for their market. Hopefully the new Berlin airport will finally open soon!

I've made the experience betterbub descriped several times in Munich (just again last week). Booked on AB flights I've got no access as BAEC gold to the exclusive AB waiting area which goes in line with the conditions on their website ( http://www.airberlin.com/en-DE/site/landingpages/waitingarea.php). But at least in Munich it' not a big loss, as its just a separated area in the general waiting area ( )
If I have enough time, I go to the BA lounge in T1B (clear security also T1B) and then via T1C back to T1A, where Schengen AB flights depart. The disadvantage is 5min walk and 2x passport control (1 x leaving Schengen area and 1 x entering Schengen area).
I never tried to enter the exclusive waiting area Berlin, Stuttgart and many other airports as in most cases there is a much better BA lounge

I visited the Munich EWA in August--it's just an area with tables separated from the surrounding area by a table-height glass barrier, with a boarding card reader for admission. The coffee machine was out of order, so I just grabbed a bottle of water and left. The AB status flyer I had commiserated with during the overlong wait for security couldn't get the reader to recognize his boarding pass. Overall I wasn't terribly impressed.

For my connection at Dusseldorf I could use AB's non-Schengen lounge, but it's pretty basic. At least the coffee machine worked.

It's a bit ironic that AirBerlin has these 'Exclusive Waiting Area" at their main hub in Berlin for elites, while Lufthansa offers free hot beverages and newspapers (so basically all that Air Berlin offers there minus soft drinks) to all passengers in Frankfurt and Munich (and of course has decent [for short haul flights] lounges at all German airports for elites).

Gosh you really hit the nail on the head when you said the terminal looks like a Costco warehouse.

Reminds me of the old AQ "lounges" in HNL and OGG -- a place to get away from the madding crowd but not much else. Well, ok, have to admit the free-flowing POG was pretty danged good...

Don't forget that Tegel is an Airport that should already be closed since years. AirBerlin has an own Lounge at BER - which might open in a few years. So for AB it doesn't really make sense to open an own Lounge at TXL (also there's not really space for it).
Also the Exclusive Waiting Areas have benefits:
- TXL has no Lounges within the Security Area. Not even Lufthansa's lounges are within the Security Area. AB's Exclusive Waiting Area is in the security area.
- at some Airports the Exclusive Waiting Area is next to AB gates.You even hear the Boarding calls there.

No access as a owe. Denied. Don't know how you got in. Tried both my card and boarding pass. Swiped my etihad gold and doors opened