UA777222 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3348 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 4666 times:
Quote: Air Berlin is a German charter operation now offering scheduled flights from various German cities to London Stansted and other European destinations. Having used them twice (HAM-STN-HAM) + (HAM-VIE- HAM) in the last couple of months, I have to say they offer a very good product and value for money. Air Berlin uses 737s, offer a small snack and soft or hot drink - alcohol costs extra but at very reasonable prices compared to other "cheap airlines". Seat pitch is average, service is friendly and efficient and they even show a short film, air show and audio facilities are also to hand. You pay for the earphones (€1.50)but you can use them on future flights. All this on a bargain price 90 minute flight. I will use them again.
Leskova From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 6075 posts, RR: 72 Reply 2, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 4626 times:
As far as I know, Air Berlin has a pitch of 76cm, which would be about 29.9in... from memory, I'd also say that's about right, though my last AB flight is a while back....
It's a bit tight, especially if you're tall, but since their flights aren't that long, it's ok.
Jorge1812 From Germany, joined Apr 2004, 3141 posts, RR: 9 Reply 4, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 4588 times:
Last time I flew them from TFS to DRS. Was an 5 hour flight and for me (1,86m) the seat pitch was too small. Service was horrible, but might depend on the crew. And AB is no LCC it's a Low Fare Carrier with full service but low prices.
Which route do you want to fly, and when. Maybe they use a Fokker 100 the seat pitch there will be tighter.
Pelican From Germany, joined Apr 2004, 2530 posts, RR: 8 Reply 5, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 4576 times:
Quoting Leskova (Reply 2):
It's a bit tight, especially if you're tall, but since their flights aren't that long, it's ok.
Generally the seat pitch is okay. But, like Georg said, on longer flights like Germany-Canaries it's too small for us taller guys. They stuff 184 seats in their 738s.
Quoting Jorge1812 (Reply 4): Maybe they use a Fokker 100 the seat pitch there will be tighter.
Quite the contrary, the seat pitch on the Fokker 100s is very generous. I could stretch my legs (and I'm 1,90m) without a problem. Although I thought the seat pitch at the front was even bigger.
Quoting Jorge1812 (Reply 4): Service was horrible, but might depend on the crew.
Ausnahmen bestaetigen die Regel (very unusual for AB)
It's a bit tight, especially if you're tall, but since their flights aren't that long, it's ok.
Generally the seat pitch is okay. But, like Georg said, on longer flights like Germany-Canaries it's too small for us taller guys. They stuff 184 seats in their 738s.
I keep forgetting to not use my own definition of a long flight here - anything that's not 8 hours of more is, for me, a medium lenght flight - with anything below 4 hours being short... that's what I meant with "their flights aren't that long"... ... and at 1cm less height than you, I'm 1.89m tall, I also know that tight seat pitch can make a flight hell.
Then again, if you've been through a two hour flight on one of China Southwest's B737-800s, Air Berlin's seats seem quite comfortable...
Quoting Pelican (Reply 5): Quoting Jorge1812 (Reply 4):
Service was horrible, but might depend on the crew.
Ausnahmen bestaetigen die Regel (very unusual for AB)
Have to agree with Pelican here - on 8 flights with AB, I've not had a single one with bad service...
AirmaxFRA From Germany, joined Jun 2004, 46 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 4392 times:
If you fly on a B738 with them choose row 15 or 16 (where the overwing exits are) as the seat pitch is better there... but this tip is only valid for tall people (like me)
Jorge1812 From Germany, joined Apr 2004, 3141 posts, RR: 9 Reply 11, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 4378 times:
Quoting AirmaxFRA (Reply 10): If you fly on a B738 with them choose row 15 or 16 (where the overwing exits are) as the seat pitch is better there... but this tip is only valid for tall people (like me)
But keep in mind that AB recently added the missing two seats in the one row on the emergency exits. The comfy 2-2 config is now a normal 3-3 with a bit more seat pitch.
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6471 posts, RR: 27 Reply 13, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 4344 times:
Quoting Ibhayi (Reply 12): I saw on their website one can pay 8 Euro and pre book seats, does this include over wing exit row seats
?
These seats are probably blocked, as also AB applies the rule to assign those seats only to pax that are able to operate that emergency exit-door.
Btw: That pre-assignment option on AB´s website more often does not work for me than it does.
Btw2: If one flies AB regularly, but it might be worth to buy that AB-Silver Card (their FF-program) as free seat-prebookings are included as well as 30kg free allowance (instead of 20kg) and changes to the booking are free of charge (you only have to pay the difference in price).
RE: Quality @ AB:
I think AB delivers a bit better product than their code-share partner (on routes to the mediterranean) HF does.
Seat pitch also seems to vary from a/c to a/c - some leased a/c that had a previous owner/operator have horrible seats giving a very bad seat pitch (at least sonsiderable less than those B738s directly outfitted for AB).
Quoting Jorge1812 (Reply 11): But keep in mind that AB recently added the missing two seats in the one row on the emergency exits.
How did they manage that ? IIRC that empty space was due to the fact that only when there´s no seat in that spot, the emergency exit can handle the set amount of pax ...
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
Indio66 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 474 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 4329 times:
I have flown them from NUE to Frankfurt and they are fine. No frills, but the plane was clean and on time and the price was right, and that is all you need for a short flight.
Jorge1812 From Germany, joined Apr 2004, 3141 posts, RR: 9 Reply 15, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 4281 times:
Quoting HT (Reply 13): How did they manage that ? IIRC that empty space was due to the fact that only when there's no seat in that spot, the emergency exit can handle the set amount of pax ...
-HT
I also thought this, but they added the two seats. Now they have IIRC 186 seats, but the 738 can handle up to 189 pax and probably more.
Good site about AB, but not very objective as the guy who runs the site is a F/A for AB and seems to love his airline.
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6471 posts, RR: 27 Reply 16, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 4242 times:
Quoting Jorge1812 (Reply 15): but the 738 can handle up to 189 pax and probably more.
Yes, the 738 is certified for 189 pax - just like the 739. For both types the limitation on pax is due to the "problem" with evacuation, as the -900 shares the exits of the -800.
Sponsor Message: 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3348 posts, 
From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 6075 posts, 
(very unusual for AB)
... and at 1cm less height than you, I'm 1.89m tall, I also know that tight seat pitch can make a flight hell.
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
Printer friendly format 
