Air Berlin Business Class Review
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Great Service by the very professional crew and a great the IFE system.:
The seat is very good if you are not too tall. If you are over 185 cm the seat is too short and you have to bend you knees. But the seat remains comfortable, but over 185 cm it will never be a lie flat seat.Air Berlin Business Class Review This time we where going to fly with Air Berlin, the latest member of the One World Alliance, from Dusseldorf to New York. Air Berlin is working together with Abu Dhabi’s partner Etihad Airways. Established in July 2003, Etihad Airways commenced operations in November 2003 and has developed into one of the […]
Air Berlin Business Class Review
This time we where going to fly with Air Berlin, the latest member of the One World Alliance, from Dusseldorf to New York.
Air Berlin is working together with Abu Dhabi’s partner Etihad Airways.
Established in July 2003, Etihad Airways commenced operations in November 2003 and has developed into one of the fastest growing airlines in the history of commercial aviation.
Air Berlin is Germany’s second largest Airline and they are not only a low cost carrier.
Air Berlin offers their passengers great prices on short haul destinations, but you will have to pay for your food and drinks onboard.
On long haul destinations, Air Berlin offers their passengers a full service concept, also in Economy Class.
Air Berlin will serve you drinks and meals during the long haul flights.
Air Berlin will increase the flights from Dusseldorf to New York to 14 times a week and Los Angles wil be flown 6 times a week as from the summer of 2015.
Air Berlin offers passengers great specials and prices, and Dusseldorf is a great airport with cheap parking prices.
It was time to check out the New Business Class Service from Dusseldorf to New York JFK
Arriving at Dusseldorf Airport.
The first thing we noticed as we entered the airport, was the advertising for the New Business Class Seat from Air Berlin.
That would be the seats that we where going to sit in for the next 7 hours.
It was time to check in and there are many opportunities to do so.
Quick Check in or a normall check in.
The flights for New York check in at desk 258 till 261
You can also use the web Check in and only drop your luggage at the desk.
This will speed up the process.
We made sure that we registered everything for the USA customs online on the Air Berlin’s website>
The check in was done within 2 minutes because they have all the neccesarry information in their system.
We where invited to visit Air Berlin’s Business Lounge.
If you arrive at the Lounge Desk, you can either go right to the Air Berlin Lounge, or to the left to the Etihad Lounge.
First we went to the right, The Air Berlin Lounge.
Free WiFi, enough to drink and to eat and I love the Germany Frankfurters.
The tables where clean and it was not to busy.
This lounge is also used for the Priority Pass Club Members.
It’s time to see the Etihad Lounge to the left
I think in the near future this will be one big Business Lounge.
There was the call in the lounge, the Airbus 330 heading to New York was ready for boarding.
From the lounge you are at the gate within one minute.
It was time to pass a final security check and off we where to the city that never sleeps, New York.
We where welcomed by the friendly cabin crew onboard.
The stored our jackets and served a nice glass of orange juice to start our journey.
Now we could see the new business cabin onboard the Airbus 330 in real.
The Business Class cabin looks very well organized, a modern cabin layout with large IFE entertainment screens.
The middle rows are arranged 2-1-2 and you will be able to sit next to your partner in the middle rows.
Because of the setting of the seats around you, it feels like you are seated in a private cabin in the middle rows.
Like the luxury First Class cabins on other airlines, but for less than half the price.
The new Business Class seat have all the functions that you want like a lumber massage, power outlet, a great IFE system with lots of music, movies and TV shows.
And it’s a true Lie Flat seat, if you are not taller than 185 cm.
Because these seats are introduced by Etihad, obviously the people in the Middle East are not as tall as the European Traveller.
For me with a length of 194 cm, there was a slight problem.
But after bending me knees a bit, I found a comfortable way to sleep during the flight.
Also if you are seated near a window you will have more privacy than if you are seated in an aisle seat.
Do you travel with your partner, the best option is a seat in the middle row section.
The amenity kit from Air Berlin.
Take off was right on time and we had some stunning views over Germany, just passing the clouds at 3000 feet.
Time for my first drink, a German beer and meanwhile exploring the great Inflight Entertainment System.
The noise canceling headphones worked perfect maybe to good.
I did not notice that it was dinner time and the stewardess was waiting for me.
Appetizer a Fresh Seasonal Salade with Stuffed chicken roulade.
Main Course Beef Brisker with Chanterelle Risotto.
Finishing off with a coffee and a great Apple cake.
Air Berlin offers enough choices as you can choose from 3 appetizers and 5 main courses.
You can also order cheese plates and snacks as well as 4 cold meals.
Dinner was very nice, served at the correct temperatures.
The cabin crew provided the greatest service as possible and we where tampered all the way.
You did not have to ask anything, the glass where kept full and if they noticed that you where looking for something the crew helped you out.
It was time to sleep a bit and while watching a movie, I felt a sleep waking up 15 minutes before landing at JFK.
I asked the cabin crew not to wake me up for the cold meal service.
The flight would arrive at 19.30 in New York, so no need to eat again.
It was great to arrive in New York with no jetlag at all.
The Lie Flat seat has done a great job even for me with my 194 cm.
On the way back to Dusseldorf, I was taking to the Captain and female First Officer before take off and made a photo from them preparing for the flight.
We departed on time at 21.30 and took off to Dusseldorf.
I went for a quick sleep and woke up a few hours before landing, close to to coastline from Ireland.
As the rest of the cabin was still a sleep, I desited to stretch my legs and walk to the galley to get a drink.
There was no need to push the call button for the stewardess.
The Captain was also stretching his legs and he asked how the photo worked out.
I showed him the photo and the Captain asked me: “have you ever made a photo from a sunrise from the cockpit” ?
Many times I stayed as a professional photographer in the cockpit but I never made a photo from a sunrise in the cockpit.
In 15 minutes there would be a great sunrise over the Irish Coast the Captain told me and I was invited to the cockpit to make a few great photo’s
The best view from the plane for sure is in the front, but not many people have the opportunity to visit the cockpit.
A video from my cockpit visit can be found on our You Tube channel http://youtu.be/KRC1wV_VvAI
We landed 35 minutes before our scheduled arrival time at Dusseldorf Airport.
A very strong tail wind, pushed the Airbus A330 to his maximum speeds.
With the priority tags attached to our luggage, the suitcases arrived as first one on the belt.
The 4 day City break to New York had ended, but we very pleased to have flown Air Berlin on this trip.
Air Berlin is not just a Low Cost Carrier but they offer a great Business Class concept for a reasonable price.
The service from the crew can be marked as one of the best in Europe.
The food is very good and the seats are very comfortable, if you are not too tall.
Will I fly Air Berlin in the feature, YES.
Btmagazine.nl ranks Air Berlin as a VERY GOOD Airline.
For more information about Air Berlin please visit Air Berlin’s Website
For more photo’s about Air Berlin can be found on Persfoto.com
Things to do in New York, please check http://www.btmagazine.nl/new-york-things-must-see/
