sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, RR: 29 Posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 6839 times:
introduction
Transavia Airlines C.V., styled as transavia.com and known as Transavia, is a Dutch based low-cost airline operating as an independent part of the Air France-KLM group. Its main base is at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol while Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM), and Eindhoven Airport (EIN) are its secondary hubs. In France, Paris-Orly Airport is the main base of its French affiliate. Transavia.com chiefly operates scheduled and charter services to leisure destinations, and serves also some popular European citytrip destinations such as Berlin, Barcelona, Madrid, Lissabon,...
For quite a while now I was on the lookout to have a flight with them. Recently the company decided to move their scheduled operation to Berlin (users Roberts87 and Globalflyer know all about this ), from their main hub Amsterdam to the secondary hub of Eindhoven. As I happen to live about a 1 hrs motorway drive from EIN, the temptation to book this new service from EIN to TXL was very high. Timings were excellent for a quick ‘same plane turnaround’ trip to TXL on a Monday afternoon.
Their website www.transavia.com is quite a straightforward affair however be advised that it has a strong holiday and lowcost feel to it, but certainly not as bad as the Ryanair site. Due to the fact that the website doesn’t allow a return booking with a ‘same plane turnaround’, I had to book 2 separate oneway flights for the total amount of € 69. However, as usual I overlooked one thing: apparently OLCI is only available from certain destinations, including EIN, but excluding TXL. No problem at first I thought, I might as well ask at EIN to produce me a boarding pass for the return flight to TXL. More on that later...
To sum things up: a new airline and a new departure airport and something I thought that would be highly unlikely: another (short) visit to TXL after our a.net meet last June: To BERlin? No, To TXL...: BRU-TXL-AMS-TXL-BRU (by Sultanils Jun 4 2012 in Trip Reports)
This route represents a simple line on the map (thanks to the excellent www.gcmap.com, copyright Karl L Schwartz):
on to TXL
After some long and winding hours at the office I pull the door behind me at around 11h30 and drive off to
A little under an hour later, I park my car at the long term car park P3, some 10 mins walk from the terminal. As I close my car’s door, I already see some expected metal taxiing past - mind you, this is not my aircraft to TXL:
A short walk later, I’m at the terminal which is located in the midst of an entrepreneurial area of some sorts. Usually airports are located quite far from any form of human life, but this one clearly isn’t. There’s some construction going on as well:
I follow these green signs which are clearly inspired by the corporate Transavia colours:
The small terminal building certainly has a high lowcost feel
It is quite full with holiday makers and the Ryanair desks have long snaking lines in front of them. Luckily I’m flying just a little more upclass today!
I queue at the Transavia desk and some 5 minutes later I’m served by a rather mediocre friendly agent. What happened here with the always cheery Dutch folks?
I ask for a boarding pass EIN-TXL - which is delivered promptly - and one for the return TXL-EIN to which the agent replies that she cannot give it to me and that I have get that one in Berlin. OK, not impressed.... So now what?
Transavia uses the C gates at TXL - as Air Berlin does - and I’m starting to think about my options on getting checked in and eventually screened in TXL. Now a connection via terminal C should be quite fast and painless according to some experienced Finnish member here on the board but still, when not in possession of that small rectangular piece of paper called a boarding pass, to me it feels very tricky right now.
I prepare mentally for the challenge to perform a proper ‘GO! RUN!’ at TXL and with quite some mixed feelings about this, I make my way to security and airside. Life is not for the faint of heart!
Airside is even more packed with people and the current area indeed seems way to small to cope with todays amount of passengers:
There’s 1 shop, 1 bar annex eatery, some tables and some chairs. It all looks kinda chaotic. Heck this makes even CRL look like a 1st class airport.
The gate for the Berlin flight is not yet listed, in spite of the aircraft having arrived some 10 mins ago:
But don’t always count on the FIDS when you have a PA! Indeed, an announcement is made that the TXL flight will start boarding at gate 5.
EIN to TXL
HV5001
B738 PH-HZW
STD-STA 14h25-15h45
Y class
seat 2A, changed to 1A
We are let into a holding pen like a herd of sheep and wait some more minutes before we are let out onto the apron. An eclectic mix of exotic airliners is bathing in the sun:
So my fellow passengers and me walk over to our plane, which is parked some 100m away from where we exit the terminal building:
EIN has an ultramodern passenger guidance system installed on the apron. The brown event hall is the bagage claim area:
A young and friendly female FA is at the bottom of the stairs guiding passengers to the right entrance - front or back - a nice touch and a good way of speeding up the boarding. I have 2A, so naturally I board through the front door:
One notices immediately the lush green seats, decorated with jolly designs. This cabin really gets you in a holiday mood right away:
The seat next to me is taken by an older German (?) couple. The legroom is quite surprisingly very much OK:
When the crew shuts the door I ask to switch seats from 2A to 1A bulkhead which is granted promptly:
For sure the very busy airport of EIN attracts visitors from all over the world to spot some. At least you get on for free!
Some 5 mins prior to STD, we push back, which has my spirits lifted for an early arrival and thus a greater possibility of making the transfer in time. The safety demo is played from the folding overhead screens, but as I’m sitting very near to one, the projected image is quite distortionate. Takeoff will be from rwy 22:
But we have to wait some moments for this company traffic to vacate the runway:
We turn onto the runway and rev up immediately:
I do manage to snap a pic of this cute Antonov (I think...) taxiing:
This is actually the first time I can recall myself sitting in the front end of the cabin and I must say that the noise levels here are much lower than further back - which is quite logical at second thought.
We make a steep left turn:
And as anticipated I get a (hazy) bird’s eye view of EIN after departure:
Helmond city, town or village or whatever...
The 1h flight goes by quickly. I decline any BOB offerings but decide that if I do make the connection, I’ll certainly get something on the way back.
The views outside are regretfully covered with clouds:
F/O Overland - yes these guys have a name as well - gives us the latest weather and arrival information and expects us to be on the ground some 15 mins ahead of schedule which sounds as music to my ears.
And indeed, not before long, we initiate the nice approach into the Berliner Flughafen of TXL. Windmills are plentiful in Germany as well:
On the way down, I’m treated to the same excellent Berlin city views as I had on my flights to the a.net meet in June:
Landing is soft and on 26R. I expect this plane to make a full stop at the C terminal but to my absolute delight, we dock into one of the gates at ‘The Hexagonal Ring’
I’m the first one off the plane and right here right now is where the strange layout of the terminal at TXL comes in very handy. Moments after disembarking, I find myself at the checkin desk, where I’m promptly issued my boarding pass for the return flight, inclusive of a window seat. I re-enter the gate area, am screened for explosives and knives again and in all my excitement I forget to take off my watch which of course alerts the metal detector.
On the other side of the glass windows, I can see my fellow passengers who are still disembarking from the inbound. This for sure must’ve been the quickest connection I have ever done.
on to EIN
Time to relax now, and my gratitude certainly goes to TXL gate scheduling or whoever: you saved my day! The slogan on the finger gate is actually quite appropriate now::
After the obligatory visit to the lavatorial facilities, it is time to get on board again:
TXL to EIN
HV5002
B738 PH-HZW
STD-STA 16h25-17h50
Y class
seat 13F
The FA standing at the door is a bit puzzled to see me again. After I settle down in my seat 13F, she comes after me and asks me if something has happened because of the fact that I’m taking the very same flight back. I decide to crack one of the widely used jokes in this case saying that the weather is not the best over here and that I might as well go back to sunny Eindhoven. Her look gets even more puzzled so I just reply quickly that I’m a bit of a plane geek and fly around for fun. She gets it now and wishes me a nice flight. Now don’t tell me you have never ever met the ‘plane geek’ type before
Here’s another look to the colourful seats:
And this is what the seat pocket contains. The ‘Flyer’ magazine is not really a magazine but more a menu annex duty free annex commercial booklet. And it says ‘inkijkexemplaar’ and not ‘your personal copy’:
At around 16h05, everyone is already on board and the door is shut. A few minutes thereafter pushback is initiated, some 20 mins ahead of schedule. Impressive! I overhear the load being 98 pax - the inbound had 125.
This AB is also not in it’s usual parking space? It’ll fly to MUC.
Boy, that turnaround was pretty quick!
On our run to the way (pun intended) the safety demo is played on the overhead screens, now they are perfectly visible. The passenger in the aisle seat meanwhile is happily still using his Ipad. For a moment I think about commenting to him on it but on a 2nd thought I decide not to bother as it is not my job and ICE I will step on it deliberately anyway
See you Tegel, who knows if and when I will be back?
This is the place where I had expected us to park, I’m really glad it turned out for the better today!
Heck, even the Royals make use of the nice terminal C facilities!
We turn into 22L for take off. There’s a Lufty as well inbound for 22R:
The ‘fasten seatbelt’ sign stays on for quite some time, although I don’t feel any turbulence worth mentioning. When the cart is rolled out for the BOB show, quite some people actually make a purchase and by the time the crew reaches my row, we are already gently descending towards EIN. I buy an egg & bacon sandwich and a soft drink, price € 7,5, which is on the more expensive side. Note to airbuseric: I wanted to try the sandwich of the month but it was sold out!
The weather on the way back did not improve much, au contraire...
The angle of recline is not very generous, this is the best it can do:
Captain Hamstra - you gotta love Dutch surnames - tells us we will be landing in EIN very shortly where the weather is quite nice with some scattered clouds and 22°C. Arrival on stand is expected to be 20 mins ahead of schedule which is really good of course.
As the cabin is prepared for arrival, I finally get some decent views of German and Dutch soil again:
The (military) airport of I don’t know:
We overfly the A58 highway northbound:
And this seems a test track of some sorts, maybe one of our Dutch users can help identifying?
As promised by the folks upfront, we touch down at 16h30 sharp at EIN:
Some medium heavy braking and reverse action follow:
We leave the taxiway to the other side of the terminal. On the top right of the pic you can see a building crane towering in the sky, that’s where the terminal is. We taxi about halfway parallel to the runway, enter it back again and taxi further to the terminal in the opposite direction:
Here we are back again:
Apart from the ‘follow me’ car, the apron is empty:
How to get around at the airport premises - the Dutch way!
We make a halt and some minutes later the doors are opened. A mild summerly breeze urges me to get out but not before taking a last look to the colourful green cabin:
Alright, they have a Transavia car as well!
As was the case on the outbound, the same FA is standing at the bottom of the stairs to say goodbye to the passengers! In some 40 mins time they will be continuing their journey towards even hotter climes by the likes of AGP!
We are guided through the state of the art passenger separation system again towards the arrival hall and a few moments later I’m back landside and on the way to the parking lot to pick up my ride home. But not before going in shock when paying the parking fee: a whopping € 21 for only 6 hrs of parking. What a rip off!
conclusion
Transavia did the job very well! I had a relaxing time on board, well, sort of The crew was a nice bunch and I liked the summery feel to the greenish cabin. The ontime performance was excellent as was the price paid for the flights. As for the BOB prices, they are on the high side but the sandwich I had was substantial, fresh and tasted very good.
Note to self: if the website doesn’t allow you to book a ‘same plane return’ then most likely there must be a reason for that. Well, the stressy situation with the boarding pass and checkin for the return from TXL was only caused by myself due to not investigating the matter thoroughly enough. This time however I was lucky...
EIN is not my favourite airport, it is way too small and very basic. Yes, I know it is low cost but if compared to CRL it fails on quite some points. However, I’m glad to have logged it and hope it will improve once the expansion works are finished.
Thank you for reading and comments welcome as always!
LH4116 From Sweden, joined Aug 2007, 1672 posts, RR: 15 Reply 3, posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 6099 times:
Hoi Nils, nice report! Flew Transavia a lot between AMS and CMN a few years ago, although back in those days the flights were operated on behalf of KLM, and we got full service onboard. But things have changed in 10 years.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): After some long and winding hours at the office I pull the door behind me at around 11h30 and drive off to
Did you at least manage some lunch before leaving?
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): , I park my car at the long term car park P3, some 10 mins walk from the terminal. As I close my car’s door,
CaptainRed From Germany, joined Oct 2010, 578 posts, RR: 19 Reply 4, posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 5810 times:
Hi Nils,
great idea to make another short visit to TXL and a nice story for us. A same plane turnaround without having the second boarding passes is quite an achievement, although this time the special layout of Tegel helped with it. Maybe it wouldn't have been as easy at the new Berlin airport ...
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I had to book 2 separate oneway flights for the total amount of € 69.
That's indeed a good price you got for the two flights.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Airside is even more packed with people and the current area indeed seems way to small to cope with todays amount of passengers:
The terminal looked actually pretty nice landside, but this here definitely is very very low cost.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): This cabin really gets you in a holiday mood right away:
Yoohoo, these are some funky colors ...
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): When the crew shuts the door I ask to switch seats from 2A to 1A bulkhead which is granted promptly:
Nice, congrats for sitting on 1A. Doesn't it feel a little like flying in First Class ?
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): On the way down, I’m treated to the same excellent Berlin city views as I had on my flights to the a.net meet in June:
Nice pictures, seems like you were lucky with the visibility this day. I have done several approaches to TXL, but each time either I was sitting on the wrong side or the weather was just too bad for these views.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): We turn into 22L for take off. There’s a Lufty as well inbound for 22R:
Actually these are the 26 runways ...
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): a whopping € 21 for only 6 hrs of parking. What a rip off!
Welcome to the wonderful world of airport parking ...
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1409 posts, RR: 17 Reply 5, posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 5705 times:
Hi Nils
Yet another one of your aesthetically pleasing and interesting trip reports. Thanks for that!
I am not quite sure what it is about Transavia. I have to say I haven't really heard anything good about them from the Dutch people I know. I think your's is the first report that shows them sort of in a positive light. But even so, I'd love to try them. I think perhaps it must be the funky green colour everywhere. Looks kind of stylish!
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6080 posts, RR: 56 Reply 6, posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 5668 times:
Hi Nils !
Great to see you out flying again! Great with a new airport as well and not very well covered here before.
Flights looks okay but the colors of the seat in the cabin is a bit much even for me. Don't like that at all.
Looking forward to your next report!
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 8, posted (10 months 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 5591 times:
Hey, Nils,
really good to follow you´re afternoon trip to Berlin.
Nice pictures also. That´s the way to spend some quality time in the air, definitely.
Lucky you, that the same plane turnaround works in the end.
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 3): Did you at least manage some lunch before leaving?
I had my own sandwiches with me and ate them leisurely while driving and listening to some soothing music. The perfect way to prepare for some flying!
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 3): So no 2-wheeler this time?
Nope, I wasn’t sure where I could park it safely and stow all my gear.
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 3): Well I suppose that perk is only reserved for KLM pax, it's a LCC after all.
Hmm, not quite sure of that. I guess the staff will be equally as friendly - or not - to any passenger.
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 3): And luckily it didn't require near as much running as your previous attempts
Not near as much indeed but some...
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 3): "the sandwich is very standard anyway", which must probably have been the case.
I didn’t feel the sandwich was standard, at least the not the sandwich of the month. It looked quite good and it was not your usual ‘ham and cheese’ one.
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 3): Recline however is not very standard, but then again it's for Eric's benefit since he hates overly enthusiastic recliners, and never reclines himself
Well, if the recline is so bad, then I sure think Eric wouldn’t be bothered.
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 3): So Mr Overland was quiet throughout the flight?
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Reply 12, posted (10 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 4972 times:
Hi Nils,
Good to see your same plane turnaround at TXL worked out just fine and that you had a pair of nice flights with The Green Airline.
I flew HV once on the now long gone AMS-CPH route - I found it to be a decent low cost airline with nice crews, quite average LCC/Holiday airline type of seating and okay fares. Had almost my only go-around "lite" on that flight, exciting!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): For quite a while now I was on the lookout to have a flight with them. Recently the company decided to move their scheduled operation to Berlin (users Roberts87 and Globalflyer know all about this   , from their main hub Amsterdam to the secondary hub of Eindhoven.
HV seems to be quite indecisive about these city routes. They seem to keep moving them around, the CPH flight was initially RTM-CPH back in the Basiqair days and only later moved to AMS. I think they've also moved the LGW flight between RTM and AMS a few times.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): As I happen to live about a 1 hrs motorway drive from EIN,
Wow, despite visiting EIN (and the city) last year I never really realized it is that south and close to the Belgian border - I assumed it was somewhat more northern.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I had to book 2 separate oneway flights for the total amount of € 69.
Nice price there!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): apparently OLCI is only available from certain destinations, including EIN, but excluding TXL.
Bugger, this sounds bad. But you know, it is the same plane and it is not Ryanair so things will work out. Relax man.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): To sum things up: a new airline and a new departure airport and something I thought that would be highly unlikely: another (short) visit to TXL after our a.net meet last June:
Hmm, are you like Markus and tracking only departure airports? I think I told you already on that earlier report that never say never .
Well good, otherwise you'd be having a mad dash already here!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): A short walk later, I’m at the terminal which is located in the midst of an entrepreneurial area of some sorts. Usually airports are located quite far from any form of human life, but this one clearly isn’t. There’s some construction going on as well:
That is kinda hard in the Netherlands I guess since there are just too damn many people on that tiny land area... And it indeed is in a middle of a business park which is quite okay as there really aren't people living there, just offices and stuff who don't really complain about the noise nearly as much as residents.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I follow these green signs which are clearly inspired by the corporate Transavia colours:
And what a damn ugly sign that is!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Now a connection via terminal C should be quite fast and painless according to some experienced Finnish member here on the board but still,
You're welcome.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I prepare mentally for the challenge to perform a proper ‘GO! RUN!’ at TXL and with quite some mixed feelings about this, I make my way to security and airside. Life is not for the faint of heart!
Actually if I were you and the plane would've arrived at the C terminal I would've still done the transfer way and asked at the gate for a boarding pass, they can and will do it there.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): EIN has an ultramodern passenger guidance system installed on the apron.
Hahah, yes I remember these fences from my visit. Kinda basic but hey, they work! Ever been to HHN - they have something similar?
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): One notices immediately the lush green seats, decorated with jolly designs. This cabin really gets you in a holiday mood right away:
Oh yeah, I kinda like this seat design. So different from the norm.
Oh I get it - he gets to fly as you are flying overland the whole way. Must be hard for the HV roster department to schedule this guy's shifts - he cannot be on duty on any flights to the Canaries, the Mediterranean islands etc. as they aren't completely overland!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Landing is soft and on 26R. I expect this plane to make a full stop at the C terminal but to my absolute delight, we dock into one of the gates at ‘The Hexagonal Ring’
Oh, that's nice and very civilized!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): After the obligatory visit to the lavatorial facilities, it is time to get on board again:
What, no photo?
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Her look gets even more puzzled so I just reply quickly that I’m a bit of a plane geek and fly around for fun.
Come on, you should've just stuck to your original story. Nothing like confusing the heck out of poor flight crews .
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): This AB is also not in it’s usual parking space? It’ll fly to MUC.
Well thanks to the size of the AB operation there they use whatever gate they can get hold of. I have a feeling that the more "businesslike" destinations tend to use the main terminal gates with jetways more often than the purely holidayish destinations. The morning HEL flight very often arrived here when I was a regular on it. Made connecting to the C terminal a pain.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I buy an egg & bacon sandwich and a soft drink, price € 7,5, which is on the more expensive side.
Hmm, kinda inflated price really, but it looks okay. I think I paid around the same to FR once for a really, really disgusting sandwich.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): How to get around at the airport premises - the Dutch way!
With clogs?
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): In some 40 mins time they will be continuing their journey towards even hotter climes by the likes of AGP!
Ahh, they have to do the rare and stunning (like Markus put it in his trip report title) landside approach to AGP then with Mr. Overland onboard!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): But not before going in shock when paying the parking fee: a whopping € 21 for only 6 hrs of parking. What a rip off!
nipoel123 From Netherlands, joined Jan 2011, 247 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (10 months 2 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 4918 times:
Hi Nils!
Good to see a report on my home airport. When it's quieter, EIN is actually a fine airport. And what's so exotic about Wizzair, Ryanair, some Turks and Transavia?
It's Volkel Air Base, home to the 311, 312 and 313 Fighter Squadrons among others.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): And this seems a test track of some sorts, maybe one of our Dutch users can help identifying?
I believe it's part of an army base, I think it's used for training of army truck drivers.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): We taxi about halfway parallel to the runway, enter it back again and taxi further to the terminal in the opposite direction:
The parallel taxiway is currently closed between intersections A and D. Aircraft have to backtrack from D to B when RWY 22 is in use. It's stage 1 of the maintance work on the taxiways.
Nick
one mile of road leads to nowhere, one mile of runway leads to anywhere
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 2204 posts, RR: 14 Reply 14, posted (10 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 4688 times:
Hello Nils
Great addition to the trip report series. Great that the TXL connection worked out well!
It must have been a funny sight for the same F/A to meet you twice.
Quite interesting to see the different seat designs troughout the cabin.
the EIN parking is a rip-off indeed.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 15, posted (10 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 4672 times:
Nice short trip you took Nils! Transdavia looks perfectly reasonanable
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I ask for a boarding pass EIN-TXL - which is delivered promptly - and one for the return TXL-EIN to which the agent replies that she cannot give it to me and that I have get that one in Berlin. OK, not impressed.... So now what?
Err, could cause some problems. Strange they don't off OLCI from all destinations, especially for Intra-EU flights
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): One notices immediately the lush green seats, decorated with jolly designs. This cabin really gets you in a holiday mood right away:
Not to my taste at all!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I’m the first one off the plane and right here right now is where the strange layout of the terminal at TXL comes in very handy. Moments after disembarking, I find myself at the checkin desk, where I’m promptly issued my boarding pass for the return flight, inclusive of a window seat. I re-enter the gate area, am screened for explosives and knives again and in all my excitement I forget to take off my watch which of course alerts the metal detector.
On the other side of the glass windows, I can see my fellow passengers who are still disembarking from the inbound. This for sure must’ve been the quickest connection I have ever done.
Wow, good for you. I guess with the early arrival, they wouldn;t have wanted to wait for someone without any checked bags...you're really lucky!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I buy an egg & bacon sandwich and a soft drink, price € 7,5, which is on the more expensive side.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 12): I flew HV once on the now long gone AMS-CPH route
I remember that. Days long gone...
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 12): HV seems to be quite indecisive about these city routes.
Apparently so. I wonder for how long the Berlin route will stand ex-EIN. The loads on that day were surprisingly good however. Not full, but rather good. But with such cheap fares... The same fare I booked was still available 2 days prior!
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 12): Actually if I were you and the plane would've arrived at the C terminal I would've still done the transfer way and asked at the gate for a boarding pass, they can and will do it there.
I know I know, but still it feels much more comfortable if you already have that piece of paper in your hand.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 12): Oh I get it - he gets to fly as you are flying overland the whole way. Must be hard for the HV roster department to schedule this guy's shifts - he cannot be on duty on any flights to the Canaries, the Mediterranean islands etc. as they aren't completely overland!
Now I can ask you the same question: Petteri, what have you been smoking?
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 12): Ahh, they have to do the rare and stunning (like Markus put it in his trip report title) landside approach to AGP then with Mr. Overland onboard!
Widebodyroga From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 472 posts, RR: 4 Reply 17, posted (10 months 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 4510 times:
Great report Nils. I used to fly with Transavia back in the day (2001/02) before they turned into a LCC. Back in those days one would get a full meal on a 2h flight with them. A lot has changed since then, not just for them but for the industry in general. I'm glad to hear that you had an overall good experience with them despite the stress associated with your return. And you gotta love that interior. It improves your mood just by looking at it. Very "refreshing", so to speak.
Nice to see some photos of EIN, not an airport we see here all that often.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I’m the first one off the plane and right here right now is where the strange layout of the terminal at TXL comes in very handy. Moments after disembarking, I find myself at the checkin desk, where I’m promptly issued my boarding pass for the return flight, inclusive of a window seat. I re-enter the gate area, am screened for explosives and knives again and in all my excitement I forget to take off my watch which of course alerts the metal detector.
On the other side of the glass windows, I can see my fellow passengers who are still disembarking from the inbound. This for sure must’ve been the quickest connection I have ever done.
You gotta change your name to "FlashNils" after that. Haha
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): The FA standing at the door is a bit puzzled to see me again. After I settle down in my seat 13F, she comes after me and asks me if something has happened because of the fact that I’m taking the very same flight back
How nice of her to show some interest and come to talk to you. That shows both professionalism but also some genuine human concern. Thumbs up!
Thank you for this (literally) very colorful report
WBodyroga
Visit my aviation page: http://widebodyroga.weebly.com/
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): A young and friendly female FA is at the bottom of the stairs guiding passengers to the right entrance - front or back -
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): As was the case on the outbound, the same FA is standing at the bottom of the stairs to say goodbye to the passengers!
It reminds me of my own experience with AirAsia. You just feel welcome this way.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): When the crew shuts the door I ask to switch seats from 2A to 1A bulkhead which is granted promptly:
Quoting akhmad (Reply 18): Thank you for sharing insight review of Transavia. I just love the easy going attitude of the crew members.
No problem! The crew was quite easy going - like most Dutch people - but professional and strict on safety as well. I got a full explanation about where to stow bags on the 1st row
Quoting akhmad (Reply 18): You just feel welcome this way.
Yes, it’s a different and good way to host the pax. But I guess the main reason was the referal to which door they had to enter the plane to speed up the boarding.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 18): We did get on in TXL for free. Remember?
infodesk From Switzerland, joined May 2006, 1241 posts, RR: 34 Reply 20, posted (10 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 4280 times:
Hi Nils,
Good to read about another one of your jaunts. I bet you breathed a big sigh of relief that it worked out!
I've looked into HV a couple of times, mainly on the INN route. It would have been an option of last year's day trip there, but the simplicity of AB won in the end. I really don't like the psychedelic green seats, it's all a bit too OTT.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I follow these green signs which are clearly inspired by the corporate Transavia colours
Signage only in English? Would be nice to see some Dutch on there as well.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I prepare mentally for the challenge to perform a proper ‘GO! RUN!’ at TXL
I remember your previous one (was it in MAD?)
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I’m the first one off the plane and right here right now is where the strange layout of the terminal at TXL comes in very handy. Moments after disembarking, I find myself at the checkin desk, where I’m promptly issued my boarding pass for the return flight, inclusive of a window seat. I re-enter the gate area, am screened for explosives and knives again.
Boy, were you lucky. That set up at TXL is one of the oddest things, so I really pleased it worked out for you.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): But not before going in shock when paying the parking fee: a whopping € 21 for only 6 hrs of parking. What a rip off!
Wow! That almost beats Swiss prices!
Happy flying
Infodesk
"Do nothing in haste, look well to each step and from the beginning think what may be the end" - Edward Whymper
Quoting infodesk (Reply 20): I bet you breathed a big sigh of relief that it worked out!
big time, yes
Quoting infodesk (Reply 20): I've looked into HV a couple of times, mainly on the INN route. It would have been an option of last year's day trip there, but the simplicity of AB won in the end.
Oh yes, the famous INN route. That's one of my targets for next year I guess. HV flies year round to INN from AMS and I recently noticed Niki also connects PMI to INN. And the latter flight is well timed as well (pun intended). I smell some opportunities here!
Quoting infodesk (Reply 20): Would be nice to see some Dutch on there as well.
You have a point.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 20): I remember your previous one (was it in MAD?)
I remember that vividly, my MAD dash! Actually it was at BCN
Quoting infodesk (Reply 20): Wow! That almost beats Swiss prices!
RvXKaz From Singapore, joined Apr 2011, 182 posts, RR: 3 Reply 22, posted (10 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 4133 times:
Hi Nils!
Thank goodness I did a check on a.net! Else I would have missed your TR on this very exotic airline (well, by Asian standards at least)!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): For quite a while now I was on the lookout to have a flight with them.
Any particular reason you were quite determined to fly with them?
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Timings were excellent for a quick ‘same plane turnaround’ trip to TXL on a Monday afternoon.
I know that feeling! If the timing's great, the temptation to book is heightened! Was it the same price to book in separate one-way tickets or in a return ticket?
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I prepare mentally for the challenge to perform a proper ‘GO! RUN!’ at TXL and with quite some mixed feelings about this, I make my way to security and airside. Life is not for the faint of heart!
I seem to clearly recall this isn't the first time you have done this and certainly I'm sure its not gonna be your last!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): So my fellow passengers and me walk over to our plane, which is parked some 100m away from where we exit the terminal building:
Cool! Is EIN photo-friendly or did you have to take the photos discreetly?
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): One notices immediately the lush green seats, decorated with jolly designs. This cabin really gets you in a holiday mood right away:
Very, very nice cabin indeed! Kinda reminds me of a funkier version of Aer Lingus' cabin. I quite like the soothing green colours actually!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): When the crew shuts the door I ask to switch seats from 2A to 1A bulkhead which is granted promptly:
Score!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): The 1h flight goes by quickly. I decline any BOB offerings but decide that if I do make the connection, I’ll certainly get something on the way back.
haha, you don't sound quite optimistic using the word if! What would you have done had you not made the connection?
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): . Moments after disembarking, I find myself at the checkin desk, where I’m promptly issued my boarding pass for the return flight, inclusive of a window seat. I re-enter the gate area, am screened for explosives and knives again and in all my excitement I forget to take off my watch which of course alerts the metal detector.
Phew! The connection did sound very seamless indeed! Glad everything went great once again for you! You've escaped through more tighter connections than Houdini in his escape stunts!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): The FA standing at the door is a bit puzzled to see me again. After I settle down in my seat 13F, she comes after me and asks me if something has happened because of the fact that I’m taking the very same flight back. I decide to crack one of the widely used jokes in this case saying that the weather is not the best over here and that I might as well go back to sunny Eindhoven. Her look gets even more puzzled so I just reply quickly that I’m a bit of a plane geek and fly around for fun. She gets it now and wishes me a nice flight. Now don’t tell me you have never ever met the ‘plane geek’ type before
haha.. Well, now she have. Thats quite a good story to tell the FA! And great that she recognised you. I've been on turnarounds where the crew didn't even notice I was on the outbound as well!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I buy an egg & bacon sandwich and a soft drink, price € 7,5, which is on the more expensive side.
haha. You deserve that self-indulgence after your little connections fiasco! The sandwich looks good!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): How to get around at the airport premises - the Dutch way!
haha, the Dutch way indeed!
Thanks Nils for sharing your experience onboard this very unknown airline, especially for someone who's residing in Asia. Really quite interesting about their unique cabin colours and they seem cheap as well. Were announcements made in Dutch and English? Great that you've 'conquered' this airline you've been wanting to fly and it seems like you had a nice time despite the little apprehension about making the connection!
Anyway, it was a great read and I enjoyed looking at your comprehensive photo coverage. I wonder what more day adventures you have up your sleeve and what more tight connections you have as well - you seem to be becoming very skilled in making tight connections already! haha!
Best regards,
Gavin
They say that I'm a dreamer. But I'd only Dreamt Skyward.
deltamartin From Sweden, joined Dec 2010, 1059 posts, RR: 9 Reply 23, posted (10 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 4087 times:
Hi Nils!
Nice report, just as usual!
Great idea to do a little daytrip! Always nice to sample a new airline! HV doesn't look to bad, but I don't really fancy that interior myself. Still, I wouldn't mind trying them myself one day.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter):
EIN has an ultramodern passenger guidance system installed on the apron. The brown event hall is the bagage claim area:
Haha, lovely!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter):
Landing is soft and on 26R. I expect this plane to make a full stop at the C terminal but to my absolute delight, we dock into one of the gates at ‘The Hexagonal Ring’
I’m the first one off the plane and right here right now is where the strange layout of the terminal at TXL comes in very handy. Moments after disembarking, I find myself at the checkin desk, where I’m promptly issued my boarding pass for the return flight, inclusive of a window seat. I re-enter the gate area, am screened for explosives and knives again and in all my excitement I forget to take off my watch which of course alerts the metal detector.
On the other side of the glass windows, I can see my fellow passengers who are still disembarking from the inbound. This for sure must’ve been the quickest connection I have ever done.
Wow, lucky you! That sure must have made the connection very simple, fast and seamless.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): Thank goodness I did a check on a.net! Else I would have missed your TR on this very exotic airline (well, by Asian standards at least)!
Ha ha, it’s not a ‘must read’ you know but I appreciate it anyway of course!
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): Any particular reason you were quite determined to fly with them?
Well I wanted to fly out of EIN and HV have quite a sizeable operation there - as does Ryanair. Prices are good if booked well in advance.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): Was it the same price to book in separate one-way tickets or in a return ticket?
Yes, luckily the price was exactly the same.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): haha, anything's better than Ryanair!
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): I seem to clearly recall this isn't the first time you have done this and certainly I'm sure its not gonna be your last!
Ha ha, you’re quite right. I had another MAD dash in BCN (pun intended ) in the beginning of this year!
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): Is EIN photo-friendly or did you have to take the photos discreetly?
I had no problem whatsoever in taking photographs, so yes, EIN is photographer friendly!
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): I quite like the soothing green colours actually!
Me too.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): What would you have done had you not made the connection?
Well, I guess I would have had to buy me a quite expensive ticket on SN and fly to BRU and pick up the car later. I know my wife would’ve not been so happy about that...
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): You've escaped through more tighter connections than Houdini in his escape stunts!
Apparently so but I guess one day my luck with short connections will fail miserably.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): I've been on turnarounds where the crew didn't even notice I was on the outbound as well!
Really? Even not when you addressed them? Then again, you fly these magnificent widebodies almost all of the time so there’s lots more people that pass by the FA’s.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): Were announcements made in Dutch and English?
Yes both languages and those languages only.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 22): I wonder what more day adventures you have up your sleeve and what more tight connections you have as well
I have some ready and booked but no more tight connections. Wait some more weeks and I’ll be on an Air Berlin A330 intra-Europe hopefully!
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 23): That sure must have made the connection very simple, fast and seamless.
Thanks to good ole’ Tegel.
Sultanils
Make some noise Rolls Royce!
25 PlaneHunter: Hi Nils, nice report with good pictures! That was a very quick visit, exactly what I like, too. The journey is the destination. I really like these se
26 roberts87: Great report on a for me very familair experience! The weater did look a lot better in EIN. How did the sandwich taste? I still have that E7,50 vouche
27 sultanils: Hi PH, thank you very much. You have a point there! Yes me too, the cabin looked really pleasant. Ha ha, I knew you would Hi Robert, thank you for yo
28 adamspotter: Hello Nils, Nice report you (once again) made there! What a great idea to fly this route, thanks for the enjoyable read Too bad about the glas though.
29 sultanils: Hello Brendan, thanks for reading. I'm glad you liked it! Sultanils
30 airbuseric: Nils, I'm so sorry that I somehow overlooked this report. I confused with Robert's report on HV TXL-EIN on which I replied. Stupid me haha... ...and t
31 sultanils: Hi Eric, thanks for your comments. And hey, it is not a must-read nor must-reply but I'm most happy you did both Not in the near future. To be honest
32 signol: Hi Nils, what's this, another TXL report? I thought at first you'd written another about the BER meet, but then I remembered - you came on SN and KL b
33 sultanils: Hello signol, thanks for your reply! I'm glad I got you confused I'm sometimes a bit too brave for my own good in these cases... And I wasn't notifie
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From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, 
), from their main hub Amsterdam to the secondary hub of Eindhoven. As I happen to live about a 1 hrs motorway drive from EIN, the temptation to book this new service from EIN to TXL was very high. Timings were excellent for a quick ‘same plane turnaround’ trip to TXL on a Monday afternoon.
Sultanils
From Netherlands, joined Jun 2005, 78 posts, 
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... 
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I stand corrected!
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, from their main hub Amsterdam to the secondary hub of Eindhoven.
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big time, yes 
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