I headed towards gate E10 at around 3PM, which is where my flight would be departing from.
Miami Airport terminal
The “E” concourse at Miami Airport is pretty drab, without many good concessions or seating options.
Miami Airport terminal
Miami Airport terminal
The plane was at the gate and seemed to be in the final stages of preparation for the flight.
Airberlin A330
Airberlin A330
I stood near the podium, where I swear every other passenger came up to the podium to try and talk their way into an upgrade. In the end there was a German family that was somehow waitlisted for an upgrade, and they got the four remaining business class seats.
Airberlin departure gate
At around 3:20PM boarding was called, starting with those that needed extra time boarding, followed by business class.
Airberlin 7001
Miami (MIA) – Dusseldorf (DUS)
Sunday, May 25
Depart: 4:00PM
Arrive: 7:00AM (+1 day)
Duration: 9hr
Aircraft: Airbus A330-200
Seat: 5C (Business Class)
With a total of just 20 seats in business class, airberlin’s cabin is quite intimate. Per SeatGuru, here’s the business class seatmap (though it’s worth noting that my configuration was slightly different):
As I mentioned in my comparison of transatlantic business class products, this plane features Solstys style staggered business class seats. These are very similar to the seats that Alitalia offers on their longhaul fleet, which I flew earlier in the year from Rome to Boston.
Airberlin recently completed the overhaul of their business class cabin, so this product can now be found on all of their longhaul A330 aircraft.
Airberlin business class A330
Once onboard I quickly found my seat, 5C. I booked my ticket a few days in advance, so was only able to grab an “aisle” window seat.
There are two window seats in each row (one on each side of the cabin), and since it’s a staggered configuration the seat is either closer to the aisle or closer to the window in an alternating sequence. My seat was the one closer to the aisle.
Airberlin business class seat A330
I can’t even begin to say how much better the “true” window seats are, as they’re incredibly private. So if you fly airberlin business class on this plane, I’d highly recommend doing whatever you can to reserve one of the “A” or “K” seats, as they’re truly in a different league than any of the other seats. Beyond that, the “true” window seats have three windows, while the “aisle” window seats have just one window, and you really have to lean to look out of it.
Airberlin business class seat A330
Airberlin business class seat A330
Then there are also the “honeymoon” center seats, where you’re basically seated as close to the person next to you as you would be in economy. That’s great if you’re traveling with someone you want to be that close to, though I wonder what happens when you end up next to a stranger in that configuration. That seems like it could be downright awkward.
Airberlin business class seat A330
Anyway, back to my seat. The tones were very neutral, so I didn’t love or hate them. The seat was definitely a bit on the narrow side, a feeling which was compounded by the fact that you’re basically sitting “in the aisle” when you have a “C” or “H” seat.
Airberlin business class seat A330
Airberlin business class staggered configuration
To the left of the seat were the seat controls, which were reasonably intuitive.
Airberlin business class seat controls A330
Then the seat had an ottoman, with the entertainment screen located at the very front of it. There was a tray table which dropped down from the left side of the ottoman console.
Airberlin business class seat A330
That hook could also be used to hang headphones.
Airberlin business class seat
One of the major limitations of the seat is the lack of storage space. There was a small cubby under the ottoman where you could store shoes, but aside from that there really wasn’t any storage.
Airberlin business class foot cubby A330
I kind of just awkwardly placed my belongings in the “empty area” to the left of my seat, which seemed like the best option.
Airberlin business class foot area A330
That’s also where the safety card and power port are located.
Airberlin business class power port A330
Airberlin business class seat A330
Already waiting at my seat upon boarding was a pillow, and as soon as I settled in I requested a blanket as well.
Airberlin business class seat pillow and blanket
The headphones airberlin offers are okay — they’re noise canceling, though a bit rough on the ears.
Airberlin business class headset and seat controls
Within moments of settling in I was also offered pre-departure champagne, a menu, and an amenity kit.
Airberlin business class menu, amenity kit, and beverage
Airberlin business class pre-departure champagne
The amenity kit was fairly nice, and consisted of Institut Karite toiletries. The amenity kit featured socks, eyeshades, a toothbrush/toothpaste combo, and enough body lotion for a sperm bank. Then there were also slippers, which I appreciated (and aren’t offered on nearly enough airlines, in my opinion — I’ll actually take slippers over an amenity kit any day).
Airberlin business class amenity kit and slippers
There was also a bottle of water waiting in the cup holder by my seat.
Airberlin business class water bottle
Shortly before pushback the crew came around with some hot towels.
Airberlin business class pre-departure hot towel
At that point the purser also came around the cabin to introduce herself, welcome everyone aboard, and take drink orders. I thought that was a nice touch for business class.
At around 3:45PM the captain came on the PA to add his welcome aboard. He advised us of our flight time of 8hr45min, which he expected would put us into Dusseldorf on-time.
The crew was super-friendly, and I could tell right away that service would be good. As they made the welcome aboard announcements, it’s interesting that they said “welcome aboard your return flight to Dusseldorf.” Airberlin is clearly primarily targeted at Germans (and I’d say 90%+ of passengers were German). It’s not often you hear them phrase it that way…
Airberlin business class cabin
We pushed back 10 minutes ahead of schedule, at 3:50PM, at which point the safety video began to play.
Maybe it’s just me, but I find the 3D person they use in the safety video to be creepy.
Our taxi to runway 8R took about 15 minutes, and at around 4:05PM we were airborne.
Miami Airport on taxi
Taking off from Miami
It was a gorgeous afternoon in Miami, so as usual the views were stunning, especially as we climbed out over the coast.
Taking off from Miami
Taking off from Miami
Taking off from Miami
The seatbelt sign was turned off about 20 minutes after takeoff.
Leveling off
Airberlin airshow
Our flight path was fairly easterly, in that we weren’t “hugging” the coast all the way up to St. Johns and then starting our Atlantic crossing.
Airberlin airshow
Airberlin airshow
Once leveled off drinks were served, along with a ramekin of nuts. At this point dinner orders were taken as well, and at the same time I was asked what I wanted to drink with my dinner.
Airberlin beverage and nuts
I took the opportunity to browse the entertainment selection, which was fairly extensive.
Airberlin entertainment system
Airberlin entertainment system
Airberlin entertainment system
In the end I decided to watch “Anchorman 2,” which was an acceptable airplane movie. As much as I love comedies, Will Ferrel doesn’t do it for me.
Airberlin entertainment system
At that point tables were set. The dinner menu read as follows:
And the wine and drink list read as follows:
While service is done on trays, I have to give them credit for the fact that they don’t use carts in business class, which Lufthansa does (and it’s always a pet peeve of mine).
The first course consisted of a salad with balsamic dressing, as well as a choice of appetizers. I selected the marinated shrimp with guacamole, cilantro puree, roasted pepper puree, and fried tortilla strips. It was also served with a white roll.
Airberlin business class appetizer and salad
The salad and appetizer were edible though forgettable, so acceptable for transatlantic business class, in my opinion.
Airberlin business class appetizer
Airberlin business class salad
For the main course I ordered the crab cake with red pepper sauce, asparagus spears, yellow pepper julienne, and red skin mashed potatoes. Again, it was edible but forgettable.
Airberlin business class main course
After that I was offered my choice between cheese and fruit. I find it interesting that they don’t have a real dessert option, which I’m sure my mother approves of. I ordered the fruit, and also asked for a cappuccino to go along with it. I was kind of surprised they had cappuccinos, but I’m 99% sure they actually use a powder mix for them, since they were super sweet.
Airberlin business class dessert and cappuccino
Airberlin business class fruit
The meal service was done at a leisurely pace, which was fine by me given that I wasn’t planning on sleeping. My body clock is very much on Pacific Time, so a flight leaving at 1PM PT doesn’t exactly lend itself to maximizing sleep. Beyond that, I found the seat to be quite narrow, and the lack of privacy in the aisle seat really made it tough for me to sleep.
Airberlin airshow
Airberlin airshow
After dinner the cabin lights were dimmed and most passengers dozed off a bit. I decided to play around with the entertainment selection a bit longer. When I started watching Taylor Swift music videos on the entertainment system I knew it was time to switch to my iPad.
Airberlin entertainment
On my iPad I watched a couple of episodes of my preferred shade-throwing TV shows.
Airberlin business class cabin
My one complaint about the business class cabin is that there’s a single lavatory for 20 passengers. Now some mentioned that there’s another bathroom behind business class and to the right, though I didn’t see that on this particular configuration (as there were other subtle differences between this configuration and the SeatGuru one I posted above). To me that’s just not enough on a transatlantic flight.
Airberlin business class lavatory
Before I knew it I opened the window and the sun was already rising over the Atlantic just west of France, which is always a glorious sight. I should also note that the crew was incredibly attentive throughout the night, and must have been through the cabin every few minutes to see if anyone wanted anything.
Sunrise over the Atlantic
Airberlin airshow
Airberlin airshow
About 80 minutes out of Dusseldorf the cabin lights were turned on and breakfast service began.
While I didn’t partake in it, the snack menu read as follows:
And the breakfast menu read as follows:
Service began with hot towels and a tray of orange juice being brought around the cabin.
Airberlin business class orange juice
There weren’t any choices for breakfast, though for such a short transatlantic flight that’s perfectly fine, in my opinion. For breakfast they had cold cuts (smoked turkey and salami), fruit, cheese, bread, and croissants. I also ordered another deliciously sweet powdered cappuccino to go along with it.
Airberlin business class breakfast
Then about 30 minutes before landing the purser came around again to thank each passenger for flying airberlin, and to offer them a chocolate heart.
Airberlin business class pre-landing chocolate
25 minutes out we began our descent, which was smooth. As usual, the descent into Germany was gorgeous, as I just love the scenery.
On approach into Dusseldorf
On approach into Dusseldorf
On approach into Dusseldorf
We landed on runway 5L at 6:40AM, and had roughly a 10 minute taxi to our arrival gate.
Taxiing at Dusseldorf Airport
Already on stand was the Lufthansa A340 which arrived from Newark less than an hour prior.
Taxiing at Dusseldorf Airport
Taxiing at Dusseldorf Airport
Taxiing at Dusseldorf Airport
We followed a “follow me” car to our arrival gate, C4, where we arrived at 6:50AM, about 10 minutes ahead of schedule.
Pulling into the gate at Dusseldorf Airport
Bottom line on airberlin business class
Airberlin offers a perfectly functional and pleasant business class product. The service was good, food perfectly edible, and hard product also quite good for a European airline. If you can snag one of the “true” window seats then the hard product is excellent.
Of course when it comes to travel on a German airline I still have a love affair with Lufthansa first class, but it’s also not fair to compare a low cost carrier’s business class product to Lufthansa’s first class. And to airberlin’s credit, they now have fully flat beds throughout their longhaul fleet. Meanwhile many of Lufthansa’s planes still feature their old business class product. So all things considered airberlin is doing a better/more consistent job with business class than Lufthansa.
Certainly a great use of miles, especially factoring in that there are no fuel surcharges for transatlantic award redemptions on them, whether booking through American AAdvantage or British Airways Executive Club.
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