Air Berlin

JFK-DUS-STR Both flights were full. Flight attendants were friendly professional and spoke English and German. Meal choices were fine but not very tasty. My main gripe with the trip was the leg room. I had more leg room on my trip from to STR then I had to DUS. The matter wasn't helped in the fact that the seat in front of me was reclined for the entire trip making it next to impossible for me to reach the carry-on I had put under the seat in front of me. The best part of the trip was the IFE. Probably the best I've experienced in the last year.

WDH-TXL. Flight attendants could be friendlier. Once in Berlin transit security staff in Berlin took me too late to the gate and I stood on the bridge and watched in dismay as my LHR connecting flight departed without me and my young daughter while security staff were busy talking on the ground next to my bumped luggage. 2 hours later security staff demanded USD2000 from me to rebook my missed flights via LHR to Chicago claiming that this was because I had no airport transit visa. When I explained that there was a fax from BA about my arrival and connecting flight and the tardiness of the security staff I was rebooked without charge but no apology. Air Berlin told me that they were not British Airways although the flight showed their name and number as well yet they simply cancelled my Chicago-Des Moines confirmed reservation on American Airlines without explanation. This is extremely poor service from a OneWorld partner.

The seats on our 11 hour flight to Dusseldorf were impossible for someone my size (6 ft 3 in). Legroom is so small that there was no way my feet could go under the seat in front of me. As a result my knees were bent at 90 degrees for the whole flight with pressure on my kneecaps the whole way. This was my most uncomfortable flight in my 3000000 mile flight history.

Took 8.55 am flight Berlin TXL to Frankfurt on a Monday morning. Arrived 2 hours before flight check-in area still not shown. Only shown 1.40 before departure. Get to the check-in area staff says go away. Turns out she is from Lufthansa. So we wait. 10 minutes later staff come along ignore us in the queue chatted with each other take another 10 minutes to set up. Printer not working has to ask neighbour for help. No instructions on where to go next. At 1 hour plus to departure I go to security. They say come back later. Flight itself was ok. FA ok. One drink and a roll. Bus to terminal. Luggage takes ages to arrive. Not pleased. Not recommended.

Flew non-stop LAX to Berlin TXL on May 23 return on May 30th. Our first encounters with AirBerlin began with a series of phone calls to purchase premium seating a fairly common practice with airlines these days. The person on the other end was courteous professional and efficient. Personnel at the check-in counter at LAX were all friendly and helpful. Yes the seats in economy class have poor legroom - but so do AA and British Airways. The plane was spotless the entertainment top-notch and current just remember to have your headphones with you - otherwise 5€ isn't bad for a set. We were served a beverage snack wine or a meal every time we turned around. Our plane left on time and arrived several minutes early.

Miami-Berlin flight was great. Had to buy head sets for $7 I was little surprised. Staff very nice and professional food was great. Kids crying for 9 hrs but it wasn't the airline's fault. Little TVs for every passenger great selection of movies and music. I flew back to MIA with the same airline on the 28th. What a difference! No TV's head sets offered for $5 this time. Food was really bad staff not helpful. I asked for a pen stewardess replied I'm sorry and never came back other one saw a paper napkin on the floor and instead of picking I up she kicked it in the corner. I couldn't believe it was the same airline. Excellent experience on the way to Europe but not very good experience flying back.

MIA-DUS-BER. First impression was new airplane and very clean. Seats ok seat pitch compact. Staff correct but not very attentive and definitively rude when confronted. IFE excellent if you have brought your headphones or pay the €5 charge. The rest of the trip uneventful except for the very tired airport facilities at DUS and TXL. Return flight was nonstop TXL-MIA. Priority access only granted after insisting twice that we were Gold Status or OneWorld Ruby; nobody seems to have been instructed on what that means. Same plane IFE staff with a little better attitude though nowhere be found once they hand out "the bottle of water". Food was above average wine as always: one glass. Luggage handling ok. Rates are ok but same as other main carriers especially those belonging to One World. AB will have to do a lot to take advantage of their recent incorporation.

Copenhagen-Berlin-Frankfurt. Booked so I could accumulate Qantas points. Qantas booked seats for me and all went smoothly. Check-in at CPH was fine priority check-in for Platinum member but staff did not know whether I could access the lounge or not - she suggested I try my luck at the lounge. Lounge at CPH was fine. A319 from Copenhagen to Berlin and 737-700 from Berlin to Frankfurt. Air Berlin cabin looks like a budget airline service was inconsistent. Copenhagen-Berlin flight staff were rude and unprofessional friendly and helpful from Berlin to Frankfurt. No lounge available in Berlin considering that is their home airport. Transit at Berlin airport is a nightmare only 50 minutes between flights. Security staff are slow and rude luggage arrived at Frankfurt airport pretty quickly. Air Berlin still have long way to go to meet the One World alliance standard.

Inaugural TXL-LAX flight Economy Class. Check-in uneventful boarding delayed 30 minutes however nobody seemed to mind since there was plenty of free food and beverages. Each passenger got a little souvenir upon boarding. Flight smooth arrival on-time. New clean cabin with a good 10" touch screen IFE on demand with plenty of movies TV music and games comfortable seats. Attentive crew with plenty of water runs at some point they even handed out water bottles. However seat pitch is impossible. I am 6'3" and if I had to actually sit during the entire flight (I had the entire 4-seat row to myself due to low passenger load) I would have ended with severe pain in my legs. When the passenger in the front reclines their head practically is in your face. Food was tasty but the portions tiny. Beer and wine for sale only except one glass of wine served with the main meal. Headphones for sale only. The crew didn't really care about keeping passengers in line so nobody bothered closing the sun shades after the main meal kids were left playing in the aisles unattended. Overall a good value for the price but still far from LH AF BA or KL standards. Nevertheless a great direct connection from Berlin to LA with a lot of potential.

Our booked trip from Rome to Copenhagen via Vienna with a 55 min transfer window in Vienna. After checking in we went to the appointed gate - we were there quite early so sat waiting at the gate for 1.5 hours. Our flight to Vienna was delayed 1.5 hours but no one could give us any information or help regarding our connecting flight in Vienna. We were told to keep checking the departure list and in the end 2 hours after the original time the departure list said that the plane was now boarding. Eventually 2.5 hours after the original take off time the plane was boarded and ready. When in the air we asked staff about our connecting flight which by now we had definitely missed they were very surprised to hear that there were people onboard who had connecting flights and they knew nothing. In Vienna there was one guy to help all passengers he informed us that we would be installed in a hotel in the airport for the night and that we would get on a plane home to Copenhagen at 6.25 am. Air Berlin had a special little extra surprise for us as this flight was not direct but had a stop in Berlin! Information was close to non existent and staff very unhelpful.