Luxair747SP From Germany, joined May 2010, 449 posts, RR: 18 Posted (1 year 2 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 7664 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW FORUM MODERATOR
BERLIN & THE „RE-OPENING“ OF TXL
Introduction
As soon as the opening date of the new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport was announced, it was pretty clear soon, that we will have a meeting there on June 3rd.
As there were so many a.netters attending, I really wanted to join and started looking for flights.
As the weekend turned out to have quite high fares, so I settled down for a simple SCN-TXL-FRA combo with Air Berlin and Lufthansa.
Unfortunately there is only one flight to Berlin from Saarbrücken on saturdays, and that is at 6:30 in the morning, a horrible time, but what can one do?
For the return, the simple Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt was the easiest and also cheapest option.
Well some weeks before the meeting, it was announced, that there are quite a few problems with BER and the airport will stay closed for another year....really a shame, but on the otherside, i have never been to Berlin before, so it was still nice to see a new city.
With the above mentioned 6h30 departure, it meant that I had to leave home about 5h30, which was still acceptable, as the airport is only about 10min drive away from my home.
Arriving at the airport at about 5h45, I just took a quick terminal picture outside and then went airside.
The terminal in SCN
The AB counters
The terminal
Duty Free shop
As the weather was nice, there was no bus and we could walk to the plan, which is always nice, as it is much easier to get good pictures.
Defunct Cirrus planes
My bird
THE FLIGHT: SCN - TXL
Air Berlin A319 D-ABGN
06h24-07h24
I was the first person to use the rear stairs, but after me, more and more people did it.
The cabin
In the end the flight is completely full, and that also means, no free seat next to me, but on an hours flight, it wasnt really a problem.
Soon boarding was finished and doors were closed.
As the airport is so small, we only taxied for three minutes before rocketing into the sunny morning sky.
Just after take-off there was a beautiful view of Saarbrücken.
Flighttime was announced as a speedy one hour. Also nice was, that the capitain gived us a detailed information about the flight routing, which looked as follow: SCN-FRA-ERF-LEJ-TXL.
Shortly afterwards, the cabin crew sprang into action and the service began.
It wasnt much, but the Laugenstange and a drink was perfectly fine for the early hour.
Also interesting, that AB is now serving free booze again on domestic flights. Sure only to be on par with LH.
Moving map
LEJ Airport
After some more enjoyable views of german landscape, it was already time for our descent into TXL, where we landed after a flight time of 01h06.
BERLIN 02.06.12 ;
Terminal C:
My bird
As I was landing so early in the morning, I had plenty of time before the others would arrive, so I just had a proper look around the terminal and then went up to the viewing platform, which was luckily free, as the machines were out of order. ( Heard, that they have been fixed today, so we were quite lucky and the lost quite a few euros revenue over the weekend ).
And some random spotting pictures:
Gab arriving:
FF arriving:
After some hours of spotting it was time to go back to the famous Essbahn, the most interesting Currywurstbude around.
Soon after I arrived there, the others also started coming in and we had a nice talk before going into town.
There is a direct bus service to Alexanderplatz, which we took, before going to our dedicated hotels. I booked the same hotel as Gab, the ETAP Potzdamerplatz, which was located quite conveniently and close to a bus and U bahn station. After checking in in the hotel, we went out for some sightseeing including Brandenburger Tor and Bundestag. After that we just had a walk along the Spree before going to the interesting DDR museum.
DDR museum:
Ampelman:
Fernsehturm:
Before heading to the Brauhaus Mitte, were we arranged the meet all together, Gab and I went to an nice and not overpriced Italian restaurant, were we had some dinner and drinks. There joined us Marc aka MSS658, who just came in on AB from STR.
Brauhaus Mitte:
After another round of drinks, we went up to the Brauhaus, where already a group of other netters enjoyed some german food and beer.
The evening was just great: meeting 25 other a-netters, having some really good aviation talk and some nice beer.
Was really great to see you all finally in real life and we have to repeat that sooner than later.
After the meet, we joined Eric and Robert to the HolidayInn, where we had a final drink before heading back to our hotel.
My hotel room:
BERLIN 03.06.12
After a good nights sleep and a low budget breakfast, it was time again to head back to TXL airport, where we arrived at about 11h00.
A balloon:
HBF:
First we had a good look around before meeting the others again at the Essbahn.
After some more nice talk, the group gave me a prize for my winning photo.
Thanks again for that great Zurich aiport branded goods, espacially to Hannah!!!
They will be having a good use here.
After some more spotting time on the Besucherterasse, it was unfortunately already time to head back to the terminal for my flight back to Frankfurt.
Air France
Iberia
Petteri vs Jonas
The Kranich
After the horrible securtiy check, which was cause of this really small room I was airside, or better said in a tiny room with a full load of people.
Boarding was announced about 20min late, which also caused a 20min delay, well done Latehansa!!
THE FLIGHT: TXL - FRA ;
Lufthansa A321 D-AISG
13h51-14h42
This flight was again 100% full in Y and it took ages to finish boarding, but as I wasnt in a particular rush, I didnt really mind.
After doors were closed, we pushed back, and as I looked out of the window, I saw all the others of the a-netters winking, which made me feel like a star, thanks for that great gesture guys!
Sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1211 posts, RR: 29 Reply 2, posted (1 year 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 6520 times:
Hi Johannes,
Nice short report featuring your travels to the Berlin meet. From SCN there clearly is not much choice to fly out. But in fact that AB flight looks not so bad, even not with such an early departure time. Good as well that you were able to visit some Berlin city highlights. I'll do that next time hopefully.
He flew the same plane as me! OO-SSV did a BRU-TXL twice on Sat, I was on the next one.
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): After some more nice talk, the group gave me a prize for my winning photo.
Thanks again for that great Zurich aiport branded goods, espacially to Hannah!!!
You deserved that price Thanks again to Hannah indeed for providing the goodies!
717Flyer From Finland, joined Jun 2011, 303 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (1 year 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 6427 times:
Hi Johannes!
What a nice little report about the Berlin meeting! Despite the simple routing it seems like you had some okay flights and a nice weekend (so did I!). And it was nice meeting you in person!
It might be something with my computer but despite refreshing some pictures are missing - but then again I can see them via Imageshack.
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): Shortly afterwards, the cabin crew sprang into action and the service began.
It wasnt much, but the Laugenstange and a drink was perfectly fine for the early hour.
I'd say that is quite an excellent offering for a flight of only one hour - you know one should be happy to get a glass of water for free when flying domestic in Finland? On the other hand that might have something to do with the many low cost carriers (BE and DY) entering the market and pushing the fares down.
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): There is a direct bus service to Alexanderplatz, which we took, before going to our dedicated hotels.
What bus do you mean? TXL? I took that one on Sunday to the Hauptbahnhof.
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): After a good nights sleep and a low budget breakfast, it was time again to head back to TXL airport, where we arrived at about 11h00.
...the very same minute D-AIBB came to a full stop carrying Jani and me!
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): After some more nice talk, the group gave me a prize for my winning photo.
Oh, I had completely forgotten about that competition. Once again congrats!
CaptainCrackers From New Zealand, joined May 2010, 123 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (1 year 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 6256 times:
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): Also interesting, that AB is now serving free booze again on domestic flights. Sure only to be on par with LH.
My understanding is that AB introduced free booze on all domestic flights when it acquired LTU so as to not degrade the product that LTU's existing customers were used to. I don't know if this was immediate or after the fact, but AB has certainly offered free booze on domestic flights for some years now.
Interestingly, AB introduced free booze on long-haul flights on 1 June 2012; previously, this was limited to a single after-dinner drink, with beer and the rest of the programme offered for sale. As far as I can tell, European and medium-haul flights still have no free booze. Confusing.
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Reply 7, posted (1 year 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 5926 times:
Hi Johannes.
Good to see your account on the Berlin meet. Nice meeting up again - wonder where the next one will be? A shame about Sunday, but hey, c'est la vie and sometimes you just have to do contingency plans. At least I had all day Saturday so all is not lost.
Not much about SCN here so it was nice seeing another report from there as well.
Great pictures from your morning at TXL - looks like the day started off good but shame about the weather getting progressively more worse later on... BTW it was Czar Putin himself onboard that Rossiya Tupolev!
Luxair747SP From Germany, joined May 2010, 449 posts, RR: 18 Reply 8, posted (1 year 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 5872 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW FORUM MODERATOR
THE FLIGHT: TXL - FRA 6>
Lufthansa A321 D-AISG
13h51-14h42
This flight was again 100% full in Y and it took ages to finish boarding, but as I wasnt in a particular rush, I didnt really mind.
After doors were closed, we pushed back, and as I looked out of the window, I saw all the others of the a-netters winking, which made me feel like a star, thanks for that great gesture guys!
The a-netters!
Soon we arrived at the runway and we departed into the cloudy sky.
My view for the flight:
The service on this flight was just a chocolate bar and a drink.
As I was quite thirsty, I just ordered a sparkling water.
Way too soon we started our decent again, and we landed in Frankfurt, where nasty weather welcomed us.
FRANKFURT & THE WAY HOME 6>
Luckily we got a gate at the new part of the A pier, where I have never been before, and I have to say, its a huge improvment over the older parts of the terminal, for me the first time, where I liked something in Frankfurt.
After some quick lunch at McDonalds, it was time to get my train back to SCN, where I arrived some 2 hours later.
CONCLUSION 6>
I never thought, that so many of us come together at the same time and place, but it was a blast meeting you all.
I must say, it was an awesome weekend, which has to be repeated.
Thanks again all for the great talk.
Special thanks to Eric, who first organized my hotel at BER.
Also thanks to Gab, who spent the sightseeing with me.
But anyway thanks to everyone for coming to Berlin!
Another person has to be mentioned as well: William, who flew many 1000 miles over the ocean just to attend the meeting, that is what I call enthusiasm.
For the flights, AB and LH were both pretty similar, but the FA on LH were a bit more friendly and customer orientated.
Both offered a snack and a drink run which was just fine for the length of the flight.
Thanks a lot for reading everyone.
Comments and questions are very welcome!
Cheers and thanks again for the great meeting
Johannes
jwhite9185 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 746 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (1 year 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 5760 times:
Feel like i really know my way round TXL now with all the pics and reports I've seen the last couple of days!!
Air Berlin looks like they have a decent product - they're definitely on my to do list. I notice you saw G-DBCA at TXL too - seems to be a one off that it was on the NCE route the other week when i was on it.
SloAir From Slovenia, joined Jul 2010, 336 posts, RR: 6 Reply 10, posted (1 year 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 5669 times:
Hi Johannes,
great report, always nice to relive the nice weekend we had at Berlin.
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): After some more enjoyable views of german landscape, it was already time for our descent into TXL, where we landed after a flight time of 01h06.
stipica From Croatia, joined Feb 2011, 408 posts, RR: 8 Reply 11, posted (1 year 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 5629 times:
Hi Johannes !
nice to read for the first time your report ...hmmm I think so ... and report from SCN ...this "small" airport looks nice ... very simply approach , functional and readable ...so made in Germany ... must visit ...hmmm 2h from FRA ...
may I ask one ignorant question ... LG have a flight for Luxemburg ? wow
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): we could walk to the plan, which is always nice, as it is much easier to get good pictures.
the only proper way
glad that you had a great time in the BER and that you become a real star of the meeting the departure delegation and other protocol activities hehehe ...thanks stipica
initious From Singapore, joined Dec 2008, 1011 posts, RR: 16 Reply 12, posted (1 year 1 week 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 5249 times:
Greetings Johannes!
Sorry to hear that the a.net meeting could not take place at Brandenburg Airport as scheduled, but great that you guys met up eventually! Interior of SCN looks beautiful, guess it is calling me to go for a visit soon.
Nice spotting pics at TXL! I'm sure the fellow a.netters will appreciate the picture you got of them arriving. Regarding the picture of currywurst, you are so gonna bring me to have some when I fly over!
CaptainRed From Germany, joined Oct 2010, 586 posts, RR: 19 Reply 14, posted (1 year 1 week 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 4870 times:
Hi Johannes,
great report, nice to read about your view of the events. Fully agree with you, it was an awesome weekend, let's do it again sometime.
Also some nice pictures. You can expect to see a few very similar ones on my report from the approach into TXL, although it seems you had a bit more sunshine.
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): Also interesting, that AB is now serving free booze again on domestic flights. Sure only to be on par with LH.
True. Unfortunately I have missed that on my flight. Once I realized it they were already past my row ...
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): After doors were closed, we pushed back, and as I looked out of the window, I saw all the others of the a-netters winking, which made me feel like a star, thanks for that great gesture guys!
It was a pleasure. All the other passengers on your flight must have thought 'what are all these crazy people doing there' ...
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 25113 posts, RR: 60 Reply 15, posted (1 year 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 4818 times:
Hi Johannes ,
Was great to read your side of the meeting
I loved your pics of Berlin . A city I have never been to and really want to visit sometime. Id love to see that DDR museum it looks very interesting .
I love the AB livery on the A330s .
Glad you had a good trip .
Regards
Philip
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
CARST From Germany, joined Jul 2006, 711 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (1 year 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 4740 times:
Nice report, SCN seems totally out or proportion for the number of flights it gets. I was there once, when an Cirrus flight in MHG got canceled and the building looked as deserted as in your photos.
Luxair747SP From Germany, joined May 2010, 449 posts, RR: 18 Reply 17, posted (1 year 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 4720 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW FORUM MODERATOR
Hi signol,
Quoting signol (Reply 1): nice report, and again nice to read another view of the meeting! A shame I didn't get the Saturday night party, but Sunday was good too!
Thanks, was nice to meet you!
Quoting signol (Reply 1): Looks like you had good, solid flights on the 2 main German airlines. Not much to differentiate between them these days!
Yeah pretty much the same service it seems.
Hi Nils,
Quoting Sultanils (Reply 2): Nice short report featuring your travels to the Berlin meet. From SCN there clearly is not much choice to fly out. But in fact that AB flight looks not so bad, even not with such an early departure time. Good as well that you were able to visit some Berlin city highlights. I'll do that next time hopefully.
Thanks,
yeah SCN only has a handful of flights to choose from.
Quoting Sultanils (Reply 2): Too bad to see these lovely Dornier's doing nothing...
Indeed...hope they will fly again.
Hi PH ,
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 3): nice report about your journey to/from TXL. It was good to meet you again, but I'm sure we'll finally have more time to talk during our third meeting.
Definately! Next time we will have more time.
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 3): But you have to pay for it on European flights...I guess the reason is the high amount of typical holiday destinations.
Yeah, thats for sure the main reason behind it.
Hi 717Flyer,
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 4): What a nice little report about the Berlin meeting! Despite the simple routing it seems like you had some okay flights and a nice weekend (so did I!). And it was nice meeting you in person!
Thanks a lot. Was nice to meet you too.
Sometimes even the simplest flights are nice to take.
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 4): What bus do you mean? TXL? I took that one on Sunday to the Hauptbahnhof.
Yes exactly, the TXL line.
Hi Daniel,
Quoting LH4532 (Reply 5): nice to see another TR about the A.net meeting in Berlin. Good to know that many people could attend the meeting.
Thanks, yeah was amazing, that so many came in the end.
Hi P.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 7): Good to see your account on the Berlin meet. Nice meeting up again - wonder where the next one will be?
I hope somewhere down south where its warm
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 7): Not much about SCN here so it was nice seeing another report from there as well.
Thanks, but also not many routes to fly..
The ones they offer at the moment, I already did all of them.
Nope he took the ICE to STR and flew out from there
Hi James,
Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 9):
Feel like i really know my way round TXL now with all the pics and reports I've seen the last couple of days!!
Yes and there are a lot more to come
Hi Blaz,
Quoting SloAir (Reply 10): great report, always nice to relive the nice weekend we had at Berlin.
Thanks, was a great meet!
Hi Stipica,
Quoting stipica (Reply 11): may I ask one ignorant question ... LG have a flight for Luxemburg
Yes many flights are routes via SCN.
Hi Daniel,
Quoting initious (Reply 12):
Sorry to hear that the a.net meeting could not take place at Brandenburg Airport as scheduled, but great that you guys met up eventually! Interior of SCN looks beautiful, guess it is calling me to go for a visit soon
You're always welcome here!
Hi Eric
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 13): great report. good pix and a fantastic weekend we had in Berlin!
Thanks, was great meeting you again, already looking forward to the next a.net meet.
Hi CaptainRed,
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 14): great report, nice to read about your view of the events. Fully agree with you, it was an awesome weekend, let's do it again sometime.
For sure, It was amazing!
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 14): It was a pleasure. All the other passengers on your flight must have thought 'what are all these crazy people doing there'
Could be the case, but anyway a nice gesture!
Hi Phil,
Quoting OA260 (Reply 15): Was great to read your side of the meeting
Thanks a lot.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 15): I loved your pics of Berlin . A city I have never been to and really want to visit sometime. Id love to see that DDR museum it looks very interesting .
The DDR museum is for sure an interesting place, and was totally worth the visit.
Parton87 From Sweden, joined Sep 2008, 525 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (1 year 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 4637 times:
Hello Johannes!
Thanks for the good report. Nice to see some more reports from the meeting last weekend. It was nice to meet you and all the others.
Like the pictures from the DDR museum. Went there in 2008. Like the place but I find a little small. Really packed when I was there. Me and my friend had to cue a long time to get into the Trabant hahaha!
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6114 posts, RR: 56 Reply 19, posted (1 year 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 4548 times:
Hi Johannes !
Nice report with nice pictures !
Good that you could fly nonstop at least in one direction! Flight on AB looks okay for such a short flight. LH flights look okay too.
Very nice pictures from TXL and the meeting with the other A.netters. Too bad I couldn't make it but the flights were too full for me get on standby on the return.
Great picture of the A.netters waiving to you!
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
infodesk From Switzerland, joined May 2006, 1256 posts, RR: 33 Reply 20, posted (1 year 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 4419 times:
Hi Johannes,
Good to see your report of the Berlin meet on here. You certainly put the weekend to good use, what with all the sightseeing. Well done. I like your photo of all the AB aircraft lined up at TXL.
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): I was the first person to use the rear stairs, but after me, more and more people did it.
I can just hear them: "Hm, there's a clever guy going for the rear stairs, why don't we follow him?"!
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): After some more nice talk, the group gave me a prize for my winning photo.
Thanks again for that great Zurich aiport branded goods, espacially to Hannah!!!
They will be having a good use here.
My pleasure.
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): After doors were closed, we pushed back, and as I looked out of the window, I saw all the others of the a-netters winking, which made me feel like a star, thanks for that great gesture guys!
You must have felt like a filmstar!
Nice to have met you and put a face to the name,
Happy flying
Infodesk
"Do nothing in haste, look well to each step and from the beginning think what may be the end" - Edward Whymper
rogerbcn From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1140 posts, RR: 19 Reply 21, posted (1 year 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 4383 times:
Hola Johannes!
Great Report on your short visit to Berlin, it was a fantastic meeting, being able to see the people behind the reports we read here.
SCN looks one of those small airports where you can speed your way up to the plane without many distractions, I like those.
You had great flights to and from Berlin, and good to see AB give out free beer on their German flights, a good way to compete with LH.
You had a great visit to the city, although I have been to Berlin many times I have never been to the DDR museum, it looks interesting to say the least, have it on my agenda for next time.
Sorry I missed you on Sunday, at least I was able to be on the terrace when you were passing by on your flight to FRA.
Salut!
Roger
"At reise er at leve" H.C. Andersen (Travelling is Living)
roberts87 From Netherlands, joined Dec 2011, 675 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (1 year 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 4185 times:
Nice report and an interesting comparison between LH and AB on the domestic. I guess there really isn't anything that differentiates them in terms of product.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the meet, hope to be there the next time!
deltamartin From Sweden, joined Dec 2010, 1059 posts, RR: 9 Reply 24, posted (1 year 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 3766 times:
Hi Johannes!
Nice report! Good to read how you experienced the Berlin meet, too bad I couldn't join you guys.
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): After some more nice talk, the group gave me a prize for my winning photo.
Oh yeah, congrats!
Quoting Luxair747SP (Thread starter): Luckily we got a gate at the new part of the A pier, where I have never been before, and I have to say, its a huge improvment over the older parts of the terminal, for me the first time, where I liked something in Frankfurt.
During my recent (first) two visits to FRA I had one departure and one arrival on that pier, it was indeed a very nice pier.
Martin
25 MSS658: Hi Johannes It was great seeing you again in Berlin, just to bad the time was so short over there. I must say I was pretty impressed by AB as well, fr
26 akhmad: Hi Johannes, It was great to meet you again after our FRA meeting last year! What a luxury! Did you like being the leader? Too bad, I was late for the
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