Berlin Tegel Airport

Shabby unimpressive. Lots of signs not easy to follow. Pretty expensive food. Check-in was not smooth.

Check-in was quick and easy (with BA). The nightmare started as we walked away from the check-in desk. We didn't know where to go the security was badly sign-posted and when we did find it we were told to "go and wait outside". So we waited outside of the security area for a few minutes until finally we were told that we could go through - when I say that we were 'told' I mean that a man waved his hand at us to go through whilst still deep in conversation with his colleague. The first security man (quite miserable-looking) asked for our boarding passes then as we were getting them out he continued to shout "boarding passes" at us. He asked us "are there liquids in the bags" to which we replied "no". The bags were then thrown into the scanner and we walked through the metal detector. There was no one there to tell us when to go through as four of them were having a conversation. We then waited for our bags to come out of the scanner. There was a man glancing at the screen of the scanner. He asked us (in German) "who's bag is this?" I sad that it was my bag. He then asked if there was a 'computer' in it - it had my iPad in it. So I was asked to take it out which I did happily. My sister's bag containing her iPad came through after mine he asked her the same questions. He then shouted "you were asked to take the computers out" and pointed to his friend who then appeared and shouted at us. I do not appreciate being made to feel like this by people who are supposed to be in a position of trust and meant to keep people safe.

Has to be one of the worst airports to fly out of. The airport is old inefficient and has no redeeming qualities. I flew an international flight out of Berlin on Air Berlin from Tegel to Chicago. The passport control had a line almost an hour long with one guy checking people in. Once through passport control you go through the electronic screening and then get placed in a holding area which has no bathrooms hardly any seats (probably half of what is needed) and no services. The airport also has not internet access for travelers except expensive paid internets through service providers. Its really a dismal place and an airport to be avoided if at all possible.

As small and efficient as it is it still is a depressing little place. There's next to no food options after security. The duty free is an absolute joke. A city like Berlin the capital of a country like Germany seriously needs a bigger airport. And don't even get me started on the lack of underground to/from the airport. The bus from my hotel was a good twenty minute walk so I ended up getting a taxi. Not good!

Aterminal has been outgrown and appears to be a bit of a relict. Security checkpoints are situated at each gate which means that once you pass through the security queue many of the typical airport amenities are no longer accessible. The common areas appear to be quite crowded and the likelihood of finding a power outlet is very low if you need to charge a device. Seating is also competitive. Lounge access is critical for a comfortable stay otherwise it would not be wise to arrive early. Walking times are very abbreviated but that partly relates to the fact that the terminal is so small and space is cramped. Not a first rate experience for sure and I would recommend minimizing your time here.

TXL is my "home" Airport and therefore I know it very well. It is currently still the main airport for Berlin but comparatively small for the city's size. In short: Positives: TXL has separate "Security checks" for each "Airport Gate" as such waiting time at security is usually very short. All walking distances are very short (between gates parking public transport lounge etc.). Negatives: Offers only few global connections outside Europe. Public transport is limited to buses no direct connection with Berlin's extensive "train/underground" system.

My bags arrived late. Normally not too much problem. However TXL ground staff most unhelpful. Had to ask 3 people to get the full story. There is no obvious place to go with your baggage voucher. We were directed to lost and found and brushed off my a man who just told us to go away. Eventually we found the Globeground office (no signposts) two nice ladies took our details. We tracked our luggage to Berlin through KLM. With our bags at TXL it took over 6 hours for them to make the 20 min journey to our hotel. I travel a lot with work and haven't come across such an epic fail. Last voluntary visit to Berlin as we came to relax not to get stressed.

Berlin Tegel airport is an architectural masterpiece and it's concept is fantastic (round design for short distances). Back in the 1970 and 1980 that worked. But then the number of passengers grew and grew... Until the airport became as overcrowded as it is today. The airport is near the city centre but it lacks a train-connection to it. The staff is friendly and it is doing it's best. But Berlin Tegel during rush hour is a nightmare. The whole place is overcrowded space is limited so are the number of restaurants kiosks shops toilet facilities. I even had problems finding a place to sit down. Most parts of the airport including the immigration counters the airline desks and the toilet facilities still look like they must have looked like in 1985 or so. I like Berlin Tegel airport because it is near the city centre and because it is an icon of airport architecture. But it is good that Berlin is getting a new airport. I will miss Tegel airport but I will not miss the experience.

As a frequent traveler I expect airport security personnel to be surly and poorly trained - that's a given. But the Securitas staff at D terminal exhibited a level of incompetence and indifference to their tasks that was not only disconcerting as a traveler but terrifying as a member of the public. The staff didn't seem to know anything about security topics equipment or procedures and even worse didn't seem to care. It only got worse when some of the passengers were exhibiting more professional and orderly security-oriented behavior than the Securitas staff pointing out bags that were unattended or dangerous material that wasn't handled properly.

Arrival at Tegel was fine. Our baggage arrived very quickly and the baggage hall was only a few yards from the exit. A taxi was immediately available and we were into the city in no time. Presumably what helped was that our flight had been delayed and we were the only flight coming in at that time at that time of night. Departure in the middle of the afternoon was rather different. Signage is not good and even getting into the terminal through the crowds of people outside waiting for public transport into town was not easy. Inside was worse. Just like a prefab shed with hundreds of people standing in queues or milling about. There was very little room for the number of people. After security there was not nearly enough seating for people waiting for flights. The heat was intense and facilities were totally inadequate. I suppose that nothing is being done at Tegel because of the future opening of the new airport but the airport as it is would certainly make us think twice about using it again.