Air berlin Berlin lounge access

[dgoody2]

Hi all,

i thought I'd share some recent experience flying Air Berlin ( recent ONeWorld addition) which may save others time.

I'm a SG. I was flying Air Berlin from berlin Tegel (txl). For those not familiar with Tegel there are 5 terminals with Air Berlin mainly using terminal C.

Upon checking in at the premium desk I asked where the lounge was and was told after security in terminal C. This is not quite correct. The lounge in terminal c (not really a propped lounge anyway) is NOT a oneworld lounge and is available only to AirBerlin Topbonus silver, gold or platinum but not oneworld equivalents. Disappointing. I also noted that Etihad elites also have access to this lounge.

if you are a oneworld status member the lounges available are the BA terraces lounge in Terminal A (pretty average lounge) or the Air France lounge (also terminal A) with which Air Berlin have an arrangement. The problem with this is that terminal A is a 10 min walk outside from Terminal C. Not really an ideal situation when catching a flight from terminal C and needing to allow time to walk, clear security etc. the monitors in terminal A BA terraces lounge also did not list the terminal C AirBerlin flights.

hopefully all are now forewarned. It's a little poor of AirBerlin to not have their own lounge with full oneworld privileges extended especially at their home airport. Hopefully with the move to the new berlin airport these issues will be rectified, but that is still at least 10 months away I am told.

 

[serfty]

Thankyou for the information - it's another cosideration to store away for any future travel.

 

[defurax]

I think AB used to have a "lounge" landside in Tegel, but with the Branderburg airport fiasco I guess they had to activate a PlanB at Tegel. For all I know the AB brand new lounge is ready at Branderburg....

 

[samh004]

Pretty bad form, sounds like something I would imagine BA doing. I'll definitely remember this the next time I'm over that way.

However, if you go to Lounge access - oneworld and type in Berlin, it's noted that there are two Air Berlin lounges in Terminal E opening in March 2013! The one in C doesn't note anything different about it's use.

 

[Jack_OC]

Upon checking in at the premium desk I asked where the lounge was and was told after security in terminal C. This is not quite correct. The lounge in terminal c (not really a propped lounge anyway) is NOT a oneworld lounge and is available only to AirBerlin Topbonus silver, gold or platinum but not oneworld equivalents. Disappointing. I also noted that Etihad elites also have access to this lounge.

That's shocking. I didn't think OW members were actually allowed to pick and choose what benefits they extend to members of other programs in the alliance. Also, it sounds like the person at the check in desk didn't even know that was the case. Just out of interest, did you try to argue the case at the lounge? Any chance that whoever was guarding entry just got it wrong?

 

[dgoody2]

Hi Samh004,

i did notice that too when I was there. I suppose as a positive at least AirBerlin will provide their own lounge at their hub. As a negative, terminal E is even further away from terminal C (which is the main AirBerlin terminal), so does not make the situation I described any better. In fact the BA Lounge would still be the most convenient pick.

The BA terraces Lounge is at least landslide which prevents another round of security. I think from what I saw that at least one of the proposed new Air Berlin Lounges in terminal E are airside and I suspect in the non-schengen area meaning immigration must be completed, effectively preventing its use by someone travelling from the other terminals.

 

[JessicaTam]

I would have thought that admission to One World would have included FULL reciprocal rights to the lounges (based on status, of course). Having to go landside AND to another terminal doesn't seem to fit that criteria.

 

[dgoody2]

?....Just out of interest, did you try to argue the case at the lounge? Any chance that whoever was guarding entry just got it wrong?

Yes I argued the point, but I think they were following the air berlin policy correctly . The lounge is actually unmanned. You swipe your ff card(Topbonus only) to gain automatic access. As I only had a qantas SG card, it wouldn't work. There is a phone for help. I called and was told the lounge was not for other oneworld equivalents. To be fair, the signage did not have any of the usual oneworld symbols and was clear it was for Topbonus and Etihad. I just assumed that they would also honour oneworld equivalents wing they are now part of oneworld.

There are also no other lounges in the whole of terminal c, not even for priority pass/other alliances etc so no real alternatives.

 

[samh004]

The lounge is actually unmanned. You swipe your ff card(Topbonus only) to gain automatic access.

Sounds like they should be giving a swipe card (or key code) to Sapphire and Emerald members at checkin.

I'm sure by the time I fly, they'll have moved, but it would make me think twice about giving them business to be treated that way.

 

[eosphoros]

I was in TXL in July and this certainly was not the case. I had a mobile boarding pass and swiped it at the lounge entrance (airside Terminal C) and it granted me access without issue.

Were you explicitly told that you did not have access?

 

[Jack_OC]

Yes I argued the point, but I think they were following the air berlin policy correctly . The lounge is actually unmanned. You swipe your ff card(Topbonus only) to gain automatic access. As I only had a qantas SG card, it wouldn't work. There is a phone for help. I called and was told the lounge was not for other oneworld equivalents. To be fair, the signage did not have any of the usual oneworld symbols and was clear it was for Topbonus and Etihad. I just assumed that they would also honour oneworld equivalents wing they are now part of oneworld.

Interesting, yet the link that samh004 provided to the OW website implies that the Air Berlin Lounge in Terminal C is a normal oneworld lounge. I wonder how an EY Gold or Gold Elite member would get in? I'm assuming it would not recognise EY cards either? I know my EY Gold card was issued before they even had a partnership with AB, so doubt very much if it would be coded correctly. Sadly not likely to in Berlin any time soon to try it out!!

 

[elbarto]

Hopefully with the move to the new berlin airport these issues will be rectified, but that is still at least 10 months away I am told.

Seems it will be longer than 10 months.

Opening of Berlin Brandenburg International Airport Delayed to 2014 | Frequent Business Traveler

 

[bobe]

Just a matter of curiosity are QP members allowed in Air Berlin lounges? as we have a flight in Aug from Venice to Nice!

 

[moa999]

QP members - Definite no.
QP only provides access to Qantas, AA and BA (albeit now limited)

 

[docjames]

Interesting as I will almost certainly be flying air Berlin from there in April or May. Thanks.

 

[serfty]

There's a thread or two on FT regarding Air Berlin being stingy with oneworld recognition/benefits.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Yeah, I mentioned this a while ago. Seems like Air Berlin is really a 'half One World member, not a full member'.

 

[defurax]

Yeah, I mentioned this a while ago. Seems like Air Berlin is really a 'half One World member, not a full member'.

They replace Malev as the new half member...

 

[Oneworldplus2]

They replace Malev as the new half member...

LOL.

But...Malev did have a Lounge @BUD which was open to OWS/OWE.

 

[tyrolean]

LOL.

But...Malev did have a Lounge @BUD which was open to OWS/OWE.

No! Malev had no own lounge. The one in BUD was Airport Operated.

AB gives you all priviliges accoring to Oneworld, but has some weired Exceptions.

AB uses Lounges for Emeralds and Saphire Members (AB Gold and AB Platinum).
In TXL you can use the BA or the AF (!!!) Lounge with your QF-Gold card and an AB Flight.
All Lounges (LH as well) are in the central area before Passport and Security.
Usually the Lounges are quite OK. In MUC you have to wander a bit (you can use the Airport Lounge in T1C and use the airside passport control, so you only need to clear security onece, or you can use the BA Lounge, have discussions with the dragon about Oneworld lounge access rules and clear security twice...).

AB has planned an own lounge in BER, which will be delayed a few more years (should have been opened 2011!!!).

They have a few "Exclussive Waiting Areas" - which are not classified as Lounges. They offer a few soft-drinks and newspapers.
Yes, they are no real lounges!
You can access them if
- You are AB Silver (=Ruby) and above
- Hold a Y-Flex Ticket
- Connecting to an AB-C-Class-Service

No Access for Oneworld Elites - they can use the proper lounge. I asked them many times why, because those "Waiting Areas" are usually located very convenient, but offer very limited services. They say that other airlines would not pay for it, as they are no proper lounges.

For other Perks:
You get "Fast Track" Autumatically printed on your BP, which saves quite some time
No Priority Boarding (similar to QF)

But: You get free seat reservations as Elite. I usually can do it online on qf.com on the outbound leg. For the inbound leg you have to call.
Emeralds should get free XL Seating (Emergency Exit Row).

I am usually put in 1C automatically.

I have the choice between LH and AB on many routes. Since they are in Oneworld I usually prefer AB - they are cheaper and offer a better onboard product.
LH has better lounges.