Air Berlin

Salzburg to Berlin and Berlin to Dusseldorf and extremely impressed. I paid very cheap rates for European flights (only about 90 euros per person) but got very good treatment - from newspapers and magazines to a nice snack and drinks. Seats comfortable. I couldn't get over the fact that this was supposed to be a low cost airline.

Business Class DUS-BKK. No separate boarding line. A330 business seats ageing do not recline more than 150° but comfort was better than feared. IFE not AVOD and only small screen. Food was ambitious and tasty. Wine list was short but okay (no Champagne). Value for money was okay on the edge to slightly overpriced. Due to the outdated cabin frequent travellers may find better options in other airlines.

HAM-FRA-HAM. Best price on this route also good service including drinks and snacks. Ground service was okay flight was on time.

Will go back to LH for my next domestic flights in Germany. Very uncomfortable seating on old looking B737 HAM-MUC. Flight full and was very annoyed when gate agent decided my carry-on suitcase was too big to go onboard but had to be gate checked. Bag is/was well within size limitations but I was being penalised for boarding as one of the last passengers as previous passengers were allowed to carry 2 bags on board. Was very inconvenient to carry laptop travel documents and other valuables as lose items while carry-on was gate checked. Should have done what majority of late boarding passengers did and simply ignore the tag and take the bag/suitcase on board.

TXL-MIA-TXL. Staff though not as professional as Lufthansa were polite and present - drinks given out regularly restrooms checked. Seat comfort great we paid for bulkhead XL Seats (highly recommended). Food was good. IFE was dated (wall/ceilling mounted monitors) the movie choice was entertaining. Amenity kits distributed so no reason for complaint whatsoever. Looking forward to the makeover of their A330-200s with new seats and IFE.

ZRH to DUS and back on a day-trip. Flying Air Berlin is a bit like taking the regular bus- service. Nothing is outstanding or done in a personal way. Staff doing their job without any kind of special attention. Cabin usually clean and flights on time. However you get what you pay for and this is okay for the flights in Europe below 2 hours. Air Berlin has developed a product that is by far better than many low cost carriers but does not match the legacy carriers.

HAM-VIE-HAM. The staff at check in friendly and gave desired seat. Flight boarding started in time announcements in German and English. Food satisfactory for a low cost airline. The flight back was also satisfactory with 3 rows empty from behind so had much space.

Cologne to Hamburg Lufthansa flight was cancelled and I was rebooked on Air Berlin. Everything was okay flight on time on a new 737. TV screens show flight routing and got coffee juice and a warm roll for breakfast on a 35 minutes flight. Bags arrived on belt in normal time.

Business class Berlin - Bangkok. I am surprised about the airport which really needs a re-vamp but I am sure that will happen. After check we were given vouchers to go to the BA lounge in the connecting arrivals terminal which was nice. Business class passengers boarded the bus 1st and then called all the other passengers onto the same bus - so we got off last. Large and comfortable seats flight attendants came around with welcome drinks. The only problem was the inflight entertainment - not much choice and a lot of interference. Apart from that very impressed and would choose this airline again. Also the price we paid was excellent!

DUS-PUJ-DUS. The on time schedule was ok but I have never experienced such an unfriendly and unprofessional cabin crew with really poor language skills! Aas I was about to change the position of overhead luggage to get the lighter one in the less strong compartment I was told to remove it immediately. Even after explanation the answer was she would not care as this compartment was not for me. When requesting a new blanket as the one on our seats were obviously already used the same person told us that this was not her job the cleaners should have fixed this but if we want new ones we should get up and look for it ourselves.