With Air Berlin back to Thailand
by Chris Vercammen – Chiang Mai
After an excellent travel at the end of September with Austrian Airlines via Vienna to Brussels, I now had Air Berlin chosen for my return flight. The airport of departure was Düsseldorf in Germany.
From Antwerp to Düsseldorf
The journey from Antwerp, via the Netherlands, to Düsseldorf was no problem thanks to the excellent signposts. So on to Düsseldorf, together with my mother who is going to spend the winter in Chiang Mai. Once we arrived there we went to the check-in desk of Air Berlin.
Too much luggage
Checking in my travel bag was no problem, the weight was just under 20 kilos. My mother's suitcase weighed almost 24 kilos and the Airberlin employee said that 4 kilos will be removed. I explained to her that my mother had no hand luggage and I only had a plastic bag, but the lady (a German general) was unrelenting. The 4 kilo had to be taken out of the suitcase or else 20 euros per kilo had to be paid! Luckily, my family was still in the departure hall, so we just gave them some luggage.
No coffee or tea
After the flight left on time, we were even offered a free glass of wine with the first meal! What a party at Airberlin. The meal consisted of a little rice with chicken in curry and a cheese with salty biscuits, that was it. Just enough not to starve during the flight.
Before the lights went out, everyone got a bottle of water. The Airberlin flight attendants probably also went under sail because I didn't see anyone all night. The next morning breakfast consisted of a large pistolet, some cold cuts, cheese and a small cup of yogurt. Unfortunately no coffee or tea, but fruit juice, water and cola.
Bangkok Airways
Once we landed in Bangkok, we transferred to a Bangkok Airways plane. These do have an excellent service in their lounge with snacks, drinks and fruit. As much as you want and completely free. The rest went smoothly. We could use our Airberlin ticket because Bangkok Airways is a partner Airberlin. So far no problem.
Baggage claim
After we arrived in Chiang Mai, we collected the luggage and discovered that my travel bag was torn. We went straight to the baggage claim. There we were kindly helped by the servant, but Airberlin does not have a good reputation in Chiang Mai. In order to ultimately avoid the enormous paperwork, we left it that way.
The next day I took the travel bag to an authorized repair shop. It cost 450 Baht to restore everything. I was also very kindly told that if the damage through ภาษาไทย or Bangkok Airways was caused, it would be billed directly to the airline. The company works for these airlines. But Airberlin, no. Forget it. In the end I paid for it myself and next week my travel bag will be back to normal.
Conclusion
My conclusion is that Airberlin is a low-cost carrier and that says it all. Judging by the price, it's ok, but the service provided is also low cost. For almost the same money I will choose a Star Alliance partner next time. To avoid any disappointment.
AB is a bit thin when I hear this. I usually fly with China or Eva myself. Very good especially China.
The annoying thing is that china airlines have a bad reputation when it comes to staying in the air. They have a rather low ranking due to some crashes in the past. And furthermore, they simply postpone flights when it suits them because the plane is not full. Extremely annoying. Something that eva air also has a hand in lately.
Airberlin, on the other hand, just flies.
I too have experienced bad things with AB from Dussedorf.
On October 5, I took my girlfriend to Dusseldorf, where she flew back with Air Berlin to Bangkok, Thailand.
The trouble started at check-in.
At home I have a scale, where I now know the difference with the airports and just under 1 kilo too heavy.
The handback also had to be weighed right away, just on.
Resutaat € 20 extra for just under 1 kilo overweight.
Her visa was until October 5 and her return trip is October 5, so you would say on time.
When she arrived at customs, she was called aside and questioned by 5 customs officers and subjected to an inspection.
They concluded that her visa had expired and was therefore not allowed to travel via Dusseldorf and had to pay.
She asked if she could call me, because her English wasn't too good and if I could pay them since she didn't have any money with her.
Their answer to this was that she should shut up and sit still.
She begged to please tell her what to do, as her plane was leaving and was running late.
Again she had to keep her mouth shut.
She did receive a bill (in 4 times), which she had to pay upon arrival in Thailand, otherwise she will not be able to enter all of Europe in the future.
Upon arrival, pay at her bank. was therefore not possible, as there was only an account number on it and no name, address, etc. for the rest.
Very very strange!!!!!!!!!!!!
Corruption maybe??? I don't know, but it smells like it.
Do they want to earn extra money this way????
Then don't do it at De Thai, because there is nothing to pick from there.
How good for China Steve?
Come from Taiwan
The other China
Gerrit
The last time I flew with EVA air in the Evergreen de luxe class.
Wide seats (in the B 747 2-4-2 seating arrangement as opposed to 3-4-3 in economy class), plenty of legroom.
The care is just good.
I paid about € 900 for such a ticket. Meant about €200 more than economy class.
Well worth the difference for 2 flights of 11 hours long.
Totally agree Hansi!!
Evergreen de luxe is great for a reasonable additional cost.
You 'forget' that it is also much quieter in this class because you are in the front of the device.
Just a pity that it is quickly fully booked.
Three flights back in December 2009 we had to wait four hours for de-icing here. Didn't mind, I was having a great time. The aircraft also had a KLM pilot who flew as a passenger. He had reminded the Eva pilot not to forget to clear the ice. Those rascals from the far east sometimes seem to think it's not too bad, he said.
I also find the time of the flight always a drama. I've used the best sleeping tablets (even the ones with a dream….) but I really can't sleep. I am very much in favor of an anesthesia system, but without consequences for the body and from which you wake up a bit recognizable. Don't know if that will ever happen.
A nice detail is that I met the (KLM) pilot in question on a busy Saturday afternoon in the middle of Bangkok with his family, who were already there. In such a big city!! Extremely likeable guy who I will never forget, also a TH enthusiast.
Don't wake up too many people! Works to drive up prices 🙂
I always preferred Evergreen at EVA. But booking from BKK is now relatively expensive due to the low euro exchange rate. These months, a return will be over 1100 euros. In addition, you book in THB with your Dutch credit card, but these are then converted from US dollars to Euro. Count your loss… Then 606 euros for a return with AB is a logical choice. In addition, both China Airlines and EVA Air regularly cancel flights when it suits them.
Don't they open the truck box with this?
I recently had a payment with my credit card at “Home Pro”.
I later saw on my receipt that the gentlemen had made me pay in euros!
Have the case reversed. Of course they didn't want to. I explained to them that I did have the solution, namely to have the debit refunded by my bank.
Then they cooperated, they immediately reversed the debit and debited it, but this time with THB
flew with ltu air berlin several times… thought food was enough and I am not a small eater 🙂 you could always ask for a pistolet, meat enough and always got coffee or tea. but for now no more air berlin for me because their prices are now long are no longer among the cheapest, they are even becoming expensive compared to others…
You're absolutely right. You can always ask and you will get it. It's just a bit cheesy the way it comes across.
I mostly hate the cramped seat. And the price isn't that cheap anymore. But I think they already notice that in the number of bookings. And now that the government in Germany also wants to collect an extra 45 euros per ticket, it will quickly decline.
I have now flown 2 x airberlin. The 2nd time I was allowed to take 30 kg of luggage per ticket. Don't ask me why. The food was ample enough.
Only I have now experienced a sourpuss from a steward a few times. That he is looking for another job if he is always so grumpy.
Always fly with Air Berlin (formerly LTU) Good food, sufficient and very friendly on-board staff.
Had too much luggage on departure.. Info lady gave me the hint to put all the books in my coat, vest and jacket. Then it wouldn't be a problem. Knocked .
From Bkk, overweight again. I pointed out my frailty compared to fellow passengers. She was not amused. Had to take out 4 kg. And real bitch who I think was pissed because I wanted to do web check-in. So the whole line walked past to the relevant counter and she was not ready at all. I politely asked if this was the right place for web check-in. She reacted very fiercely and thought maybe I was angrilying her.
Took several things out of my bag and crammed them into my backpack behind a pillar. When re-weighing it was still a bit too much. She had cooled off a bit, but did ask if I had put it in my hand luggage. Not understanding I looked at her and said that I had thrown it away.
Then she checked my luggage.
I always have something like 4 kg overweight from my luggage.
Never had any problems with EVA, Singapore airlines and Malaysia (read: never having to pay)
Indeed, in the air Air Berlin is good, but on the ground it is a lot less. Plain unfriendly. However, that was not the case years ago. I suspect that now the handling is not done by our own staff. But by 'third parties', a hired handling company. And the staff assigned to those BKK or HKT flights seem like staff that have been punished, they are really there against their will… And foreigners have spoiled it, they are even more unfriendly to that… But there are few alternatives, for the prices that AB offers.
It always surprises me that people manage to book a very cheap ticket with Air Berlin, always 600 euros or less.
Go to Thailand 3 times a year and check all companies via the internet.
It sometimes seems like sport to argue about the price. Someone recently bought a ticket at AB for 465 euros. Emailed him if he wanted to send me the address where he books and a copy of the bill. But then you get no response. And NEVER have I been able to buy a ticket (economy) at AB that was 200 euros cheaper than eg CI. (China Airlines) In addition, I'm on the train to Düsseldorf for 4 hours and have to change trains twice. From now on also state the costs for the trip to Düsseldorf. They also count towards the travel costs.
Have heard many stories about the minimal service at Air Berlin. Too little food, when it's time to sleep no more service. I always fly CI. never had problems with being overweight (usually 23 kilos); hand luggage is never weighed. And in-flight service is perfect, whatever you want, outside the normal menu, food, water, juices you order whisky, beer, wine, sandwich, chips, noodle soup, as much as you want never a problem unless you if you drinking too much becomes noisy and other passengers are inconvenienced. Also flown with EVA same story. Never had any problems and great service. In short, it seems like a sport to come up with stories about how cheap THEIR ticket is. But don't forget to tell us from now on what it cost to get to Düsseldorf, so how long it will take you. Know people who fly for 485 euros. Then you ask from where and with whom. Egypt Air, sometimes that is possible for 485 euros (go 15 hours 45 min, back 19 hours 50 min). Just go from Amsterdam. I don't live too far away and am in Bangkok after 10 hours 30 minutes.
If you live on the border near Düsseldorf, AB is highly recommended. The travel costs are then about 20 euros in petrol and you are there in 30 minutes by car. Is not it nice. If you live near Amsterdam, you should not want to be in Düsseldorf. Certainly not now that the flight tax has been introduced and you have to pay an extra 45 euros per ticket.
I have already paid 400 euros, namely last year when AB 30 existed. In the same plane were people who had paid 762 euros per person. That in itself is very remarkable.
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I always find the bullshit about kilos when checking in at AB a crime. And there's always shit if you have just a little too much. They are and remain Germans and Germans are black, black and not white or grey.
The last time I flew with AirBerlin, last month, I was 2 kilos overweight. She said nothing about it. My hand luggage was 5 kilos overweight because it was almost impossible to lift. I don't think they're too hard up to 2 kilos. They have to draw the line somewhere, of course.
I once paid 199€…
You have to ask people whether that is for the TKT with or without taxes….
At Thai travel agencies you can buy CNX_DUS for 18000THB all in.
Bought a return ticket from Bangkok to Amsterdam this week.
32000 bath with China Airlines, and I go there in November and back in December, so "high season" is not too bad.
I flew with china airlines in November last year and have certainly had no complaints, excellent service and good food.
I have been flying with air berlin for a long time and last week (06/10/10) experienced so many problems for the first time. For me and my wife it was no problem because we both have a bonus card (59 euros per year) and then you can 30 kg per person. But many Thai people with overweight and too much hand luggage had to find a solution, my wife had no hand luggage and then took over some from others. This was the first time for us with so much tralala, which also entailed a delay that I I have decided if this happens again that I will no longer fly with airberlin. In addition, ALL planes from airberlin were delayed, which was great, only airberlin on the screens in red. That is not normal that ALL planes only from arberlin were delayed, this indicates I think it's internal problems at air berlin. The price difference is not very big anymore compared to other companies, and you have to pay extra for everything, such as headphones, extra food or alcoholic drinks.
Just had a look at Arke fly and when I compare the price difference of AB with other airlines, I'm thinking hard about switching. For a little more service, comfort and especially friendliness and an extra drink I like to have 100 euros left.
I posted it in another topic before, my search starts here:
http://www.bmair.nl/Vliegtickets/Azie/Vliegtickets-Thailand-Bangkok.htm
BKK return with AB you see here for from € 559, -
With Singapore from €749
However, if you go to the Singapore website, you will currently see offers to HKT (Phuket) for € 691.
For this price and quality unbeatable !!
I just checked, departure from AMS to HKT with SQ, departure 18/11, return 21/12 for € 685, -, freely bookable at the moment
We also recently flew with Air Berlin. So just economy class. We found the inflight service quite good, enough to eat and drink. Friendly staff.
On the other hand, I find the seating comfort lousy. With your knees almost against the seat in front of you and a backrest that can't even recline 20 cm. I spoke about this with a KLM pilot I met in Thailand. He agreed with my idea that on those long intercontinental flights it is actually illegal to put passengers like sardines in a can.
My utopia is that it will not be too long before all economy passengers are sprayed flat before departure so that they can be stacked more easily and so even more people can fit in such a round belly.
Haha ha,
And then above the black sea… dump and turn around.
Next time book with air berlin
but make sure the flight is operated by etihad.
more legroom good food great service.
success
Richard