Air berlin to join Oneworld

[markis10]

They are struggling:

Air Berlin to reduce fleet 10% | ATWOnline

 

[anat0l]

Joachim Hunold, the former AB CEO, was quite a champion in trying to push joining oneworld. I wonder if his departure, coupled with the cutback program, is going to have an adverse impact on the process. And more seriously, we don't want another Mexicana.

Rumour has it that Thierry Antinori is on the market and could be a possible successor in the short or medium term. Antinori used to work for the Lufthansa group and at one point was lined up to be CEO of Austrian. If he takes the reigns at AB that ought to be rather interesting (not all in a positive way)....

 

[drewbles]

Having flown AB 5-6 times, I have to say they're probably one of the best airlines i've ever actually flown.

I've flown on their old bangers (737-300's) and their new A320's.

The service is exemplary (I dropped a coin during take off, and after the seatbelt sign went off, one of the crew came and asked if I was ok as they saw me looking for something), the cabin on the A320's is perfectly comfortable and they even had a complimentary snack, which is unheard of for a LCC.

It's typical German efficiency. It would be a shame for them to go (and a bigger shame if they don't join OW; I am really looking forward to flying them more within Europe rather than BA).

 

[anat0l]

The service is exemplary (I dropped a coin during take off, and after the seatbelt sign went off, one of the crew came and asked if I was ok as they saw me looking for something), the cabin on the A320's is perfectly comfortable and they even had a complimentary snack, which is unheard of for a LCC.

Perhaps silly to ask, but what was the complimentary snack and did you get drinks for free?


LH offer a complimentary snack for intra-Europe flights, albeit it is their tried, true and tired cheese sandwich, with offers of two drinks (alcohol I think is free).


Not much better is BA. Used to get birdseed and drinks; last time I flew BA intra-Euro Y I got a chocolate biscuit instead.


Still, with the world's airlines going the way they are these days, it's better than a slap in the face.

 

[philflyer]

I remember getting a snack (a sandwich from memory) and a drink (I opted for a hot tea) on a short AB flight. I have flown them a few times to and from Tegel. Best LCC I've ever been on. I'm looking forward to them joining OW for a quicker option in to Berlin.

 

[SeaWolf]

I flew them mid last year between Berlin and Cologne. I seem to recall getting a large chocolate cookie and a choice of drink (I got an apple juice). The flight was only an hour so I wasn't really expecting to be fed at all. I wouldn't have described them as a LCC though.

 

[Flashback]

I received a token snack and drink on a crash 8 flight STN-PAD. Note that if planning to use them out of London, most options are from STN.. avoid if you can!

Apart from that, the airline was reasonable. They no longer fly into PAD as of November so that may be a knock-on from the reduction mentioned.

 

[drewbles]

Perhaps silly to ask, but what was the complimentary snack and did you get drinks for free?


LH offer a complimentary snack for intra-Europe flights, albeit it is their tried, true and tired cheese sandwich, with offers of two drinks (alcohol I think is free).


Not much better is BA. Used to get birdseed and drinks; last time I flew BA intra-Euro Y I got a chocolate biscuit instead.


Still, with the world's airlines going the way they are these days, it's better than a slap in the face.

As others have said, a sandwich, and I also had a bagel on one flight. The staff were very friendly (in a German kind of way) and they were all fluent in German, French and English.

Compared with BA, it's chalk and cheese. Even the AF all-Y A320 I flew on was no match for the AB in flight service.

 

[Timba-Jet]

They are struggling:

Air Berlin to reduce fleet 10% | ATWOnline

I'm going to be optimistic and see this as a pro-active move to improve efficiency and setup longterm profitability of AB.

From all the feedback to date, AB seems to offer far superior service to IB, and matches or beats BA for intra-Europe routes.

Hope they are in OW by Euro summer 2012

 

[Sprucegoose]

Joachim Hunold, the former AB CEO, was quite a champion in trying to push joining oneworld. I wonder if his departure, coupled with the cutback program, is going to have an adverse impact on the process. And more seriously, we don't want another Mexicana.

Rumour has it that Thierry Antinori is on the market and could be a possible successor in the short or medium term. Antinori used to work for the Lufthansa group and at one point was lined up to be CEO of Austrian. If he takes the reigns at AB that ought to be rather interesting (not all in a positive way)....

The only benefit I received from mexicana going under was I cruised by immigration in LAX once, as they were always due to land around the same time the aussie flights got in!!

Sorry way off topic here!

 

[QF10]

An interesting move, I'm sure I've read some where Air Berlin has recently consolidated their services because of financial problems, letting a few routes go? they would need to step up to the plate, not sure if they are in the same class as QF, CX and BA

 

[drewbles]

An interesting move, I'm sure I've read some where Air Berlin has recently consolidated their services because of financial problems, letting a few routes go? they would need to step up to the plate, not sure if they are in the same class as QF, CX and BA

IMHO, their Y service leaves BA and QF for dead (not flown CX for many many years so can't comment there). They only have J on their A330's iirc, but have never been on board to compare. Any airline that still has staff wearing hats and gloves still believe in some 'glamour' that has long since gone from flying

 

[Flashback]

IMHO, their Y service leaves BA and QF for dead (not flown CX for many many years so can't comment there). They only have J on their A330's iirc, but have never been on board to compare. Any airline that still has staff wearing hats and gloves still believe in some 'glamour' that has long since gone from flying

They wore gloves/hats when I flew with them.. but rightly so, outside was layered in inches of snow

 

[QF10]

IMHO, their Y service leaves BA and QF for dead (not flown CX for many many years so can't comment there). They only have J on their A330's iirc, but have never been on board to compare. Any airline that still has staff wearing hats and gloves still believe in some 'glamour' that has long since gone from flying

All things being equal, not sure when the last time you flew long haul Y with no personal seat TV entertainment?

The last time I did it was in the early 2000's flying MEL - FRA via SIN on SQ then LH for SIN-FRA leg. I can tell you the absence of in seat TV on LH at the time was not fun.

Even if you said Air Berlin's "service" was the better than QF, BA or CX no in seat TV is a major draw back. No way I'd book a long haul flight knowing no personal TV available.

Refer to seatguru airberlin for more information

 

[clifford]

All things being equal, not sure when the last time you flew long haul Y with no personal seat TV entertainment?

You could always try UA SYD-LAX, should bring back a few memories.

 

[drewbles]

They wore gloves/hats when I flew with them.. but rightly so, outside was layered in inches of snow

I thought it was brilliant that the crew looked on-board as they do in their ads/signage. Was a great touch!

 

[drewbles]

All things being equal, not sure when the last time you flew long haul Y with no personal seat TV entertainment?

The last time I did it was in the early 2000's flying MEL - FRA via SIN on SQ then LH for SIN-FRA leg. I can tell you the absence of in seat TV on LH at the time was not fun.

Even if you said Air Berlin's "service" was the better than QF, BA or CX no in seat TV is a major draw back. No way I'd book a long haul flight knowing no personal TV available.

Refer to seatguru airberlin for more information

Fair call I'll pay that. Although I very rarely use IFE for long haul (I try and have a few bevvies in the lounge prior to boarding and sleep as much as I can to adjust to the new time zone i'm headed for) as I tend to take iPad full of content I wish to consume during the flight. Failing that, I have laptop.

I appreciate not everyone travels with these devices though, and the little LCD's in the seats can be a godsend with ankle biters around

 

[pauly7]

Heard a lot of good things about Air Berlin.

As they are joining oneworld in April I've booked a few flights in July/Aug with them.

Look fwd to trying them out!!

 

[Flashback]

Air Berlin still joining Oneworld?

Just received this from Air Berlin:
airberlin and Etihad Airways, the World's Leading Airline*, have started a strategic partnership. And that's great news for all our guests! We now offer you a combined network of 239 destinations across 77 countries, including 48 destinations in Europe! One network. One ticket.

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
Bookings for the new airberlin route Abu Dhabi - Berlin will begin on Wednesday.
And from 15th January 2012 airberlin will commence flights from Abu Dhabi to Berlin, four days a week. To celebrate the launch of our new route, we offer return flights starting from only € 199** in Economy Class, from € 999** in Business Class.

At the same time we will also be introducing a cooperation between both frequent flyer programs, topbonus and Etihad Guest, with the following benefits: [/FONT]

• [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] Collect and redeem topbonus award miles on all flights with Etihad Airways[/FONT]
• [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Collect topbonus status miles on all flights with Etihad Airways
  [/FONT]
• [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Priority check-in for top tier members[/FONT]
• [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Excess baggage allowance for top tier members[/FONT]

 

[pauly7]

They are set to join OW in March.