- Review: Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver Airport
- Review: Lufthansa First Class 747-400 Vancouver to Frankfurt
- I’m Just Here For The Caviar: A (Less-Biased) Review of Lufthansa First Class
- Review: Sheraton Frankfurt Airport
- Review: Airberlin Economy Class Frankfurt To Catania
- Observations From Spending A Week In Sicily
- Review: Air Dolomiti Business Class Catania To Munich
- Review: Lufthansa First Class A330 Munich To Washington Dulles
While airberlin is about as “no frills” as airlines get, I do find them incredibly convenient for getting around Europe. Since they joined oneworld it’s great to be able to redeem British Airways Avios for travel on them, given that their availability is generally excellent and you can book last minute.
After flying Lufthansa first class from Vancouver to Frankfurt and spending the night at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport, we had a pre-dawn flight to Catania.
We redeemed 7,500 British Airways Avios per person for the flight, and on account of our oneworld Emerald status were able to get seat assignments in advance for free. We assigned seats 4A & 4C, with the hope of getting an empty middle seat, given that it was a pre-6AM flight on a Sunday morning.
Frankfurt to Catania map
Airberlin operates out of Terminal 2 in Frankfurt, while Lufthansa and some of their partner airlines operate out of Terminal 1. The Sheraton is connected to Terminal 1, so we had to take the train over to Terminal 2.
Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1
Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 train station
Once at Terminal 2 we cleared security, as we had checked in online and had mobile boarding passes.
As you’d expect, the terminal was dead at 5AM. Airberlin uses the Iberia Lounge in Frankfurt, though it doesn’t open until 6AM. So we just grabbed some seats and used the free terminal Wi-Fi for about 20 minutes.
Frankfurt Airport Terminal 2 airside
Our flight was departing from a remote stand, so at our departure gate (E21) all boarding passes were scanned and then everyone was in the “waiting room.” Boarding began at 5:30AM, and as you’d expect it was a total free-for-all.
Airberlin departure gate
We proceeded onto the bus, which they certainly maximized the capacity ofl. From there it was just a short drive across the tarmac to our A320.
airberlin 8884
Frankfurt (FRA) – Catania (CTA)
Sunday, May 4
Depart: 5:55AM
Arrive: 8:20AM
Duration: 2hr25min
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Seat: 4C (Economy Class)
Boarding was done through both the forward and rear doors. Since we were in row four we boarded through the front. At the door we were greeted by two cheery flight attendants holding baskets of candy.
Airberlin’s A320s are what you’d expect from a low cost carrier, with 174 seats, each offering 29-30″ of pitch.
Airberlin A320 cabin
Airberlin A320 cabin
Airberlin A320 cabin view from 4C
Legroom was limited, as you’d expect, though not uncomfortably so. Each seat has only 29-30″ of pitch, but since they’re slimline seats the legroom isn’t that restrictive.
Airberlin A320 legroom
Boarding was efficient, and a few minutes before our pushback the captain came on the PA to inform us of our flight time of two hours (or as I like to think of it, roughly two episodes of Real Housewives), which he anticipated would put us into Catania early.
Our taxi to Runway 25 took about 10 minutes, so we were airborne shortly after 6AM.
About 30 minutes after takeoff the beverage service began. Airberlin isn’t ultra-low cost in the sense that soft drinks are free.
Airberlin beverage service
We were also offered the choice between a cheese sandwich and a ham sandwich. I selected the former.
Airberlin snack service
Airberlin snack service
Airberlin has a really good buy on board food menu. On my airberlin flight from Catania to Munich last year it sure felt like business class between the food and drinks I was able to purchase!
Airberlin buy on board options on flight last year
As it turns out they didn’t have any food for purchase available on this flight, given how early it was departing. Wish I had known that in advance, as I was quite hungry.
Usually I like to work on planes, though the legroom was so limited that I couldn’t really open my laptop screen without it being in my face. So instead I just caught up on a couple of TV shows.
Airberlin inflight entertainment
Airberlin airshow
Soon enough we began our descent into Catania. We flew out over the water, and then landed into the East.
View on descent into Catania
View on descent into Catania
View on descent into Catania
We had a smooth touchdown and quick taxi to our remote stand. Grrr!
On the plus side, there were nice views of Mount Etna on the taxi in. The traffic at Catania Airport really cracks me up. It’s one of the few airports where Alitalia would be considered the “premium” carrier.
Taxiing at Catania Airport
Taxiing at Catania Airport
Taxiing at Catania Airport
Taxiing at Catania Airport
Airberlin A320 upon arrival
Bottom line
Airberlin is a perfectly pleasant way to get around Europe. It’s by no means luxurious, but the employees are friendly and you can’t beat the ease with which you can redeem points for last minute travel on them. Even though they might not be the most “full service” airline, I love when airlines like airberlin join an alliance, so you have additional benefits for travel on them that you didn’t have before.
Seems like a great way to use Avios. Paying double the points to fly in business can make sense if you need higher baggage allowance or if OW airline actually has true J. I know that S7 does but not sure what other Eropean OW airlines do.
P. S. Curiously, S7 actually upgraded my dad from Y to J on an Avios award last year. Not sure why but he wasn't complaining :)
Excellent timing! I booked a very similar flight CTA-MUC, with 7500 Avios/pp and ~50 bucks in taxes for 2 tickets. It was really the best option to get from CTA-MUC without a connection, and also good value of points as it would have been 400-500/pp cash value.
Nice to be prepared for what is to come.
It's safe to say Lucky, you are missing NOTHING! I would love a free drink and some in-flight entertainment on airasia. Oh well at least it's cheap!! You should give the Airasia X "flat bed" a bash some day though, a review of that would be hilarious!
Lucky, did AB weigh your carry on luggage in either direction of the trip? What airlines in Europe tend to weigh carry on luggage?
@ chitownflyer -- They didn't. In theory most European airlines do, but it really comes down to the agent. And in this case they didn't seem to care.
"While airberlin is about as “no frills” as airlines get [...]"
Well, I don't really agree with wou there, especially since you're reviewing an intra-Europe product. In terms of economy class in Europe, it's actually one of the better. (not including TK lol, they're in a league of their own)
Intra-Europe travel is very different from domestic flying in the US.
Wish I had some OW status. It would make Avios awards much more stomachable.
Hey Lucky,
If you think this was no frills I need to know if you've ever had the pleasure of flying airasia?
@ Michael -- Hah, nope, and as I acknowledged in the review, there are definitely lower frill airlines that even charge for soft drinks.
Lucky, how did you get free seat assignments? The AB website didn't recognize my OW Emerald status and wanted to charge me.
@ Mike -- I was able to assign them by phone.
FYI first classhttp://centreforaviation.com/analysis/etihad-residence-highlights-the-uae-airline-ascension-in-first-class-travel-while-others-cut-back-167636
What exactly are you missing to declare AB as a non full service airline ?
@ Ben -- Being a low cost carrier has nothing to do with the services provided. Just look at the US, where Southwest and JetBlue are undeniably more "full service" than the legacies. Instead being a low cost carrier is more about the business plane/approach to fares, and airberlin self identifies as such, as far as I know.
Lucky, what was the baggage allowance on an avios economy ticket on Air Berlin ?
@ Varun -- That's a great question, though I'm not positive, to be honest. I know my baggage allowance as a oneworld Emerald, though am not sure what it would have been if I didn't have status.
So was the middle seat empty? Wondering how well that ploy works? I'm thinking not too well most of the time in the US.
@ Mike Palmer -- Yep, middle seat stayed empty.
Haha. There are MANY airports like that in Europe. This month I've been in FAO, VCE, MLA, GDN. All airports where locos reign supreme!!
OMG;
you flew like a true commoner in a 29" pitch seat.