A trip with Air Berlin

I think I have spent way too many years taking short haul flights with low cost airlines around Europe because my recent trip was a surprisingly happy and pleasant one. We flew from Berlin to Budapest with the Berlin-based airline, Air Berlin, and we were very impressed with the service. 

The first advantage this airline had in comparison to the typical 'RyanAirs' of the world is that on both legs of the journey we didn’t have to queue at all to check in our bags. In Budapest airport, on the way back, I was reminded of the usual hours of waiting around as I walked past hundreds of people queuing for EasyJet, Wizz and RyanAir flights. I couldn’t hide the smug grin as I strolled up to the lady at the check-in desk who was waiting to serve me with a friendly smile (smiling staff? hummm…another thumbs up for Air Berlin).

There was no hassle at the boarding gate either. No tetris luggage-measuring exercises, no suspicious glares at me or my hand luggage and nobody looked me up and down to make sure I wasn’t trying to smuggle in an extra bag under my coat. In fact, the same women who had checked us in was also at the boarding gate and was still happy to serve us with her wide smile.

My husband was a little scared when he saw the size of the plane as it was the smallest plane he had ever travelled in. In fact, it was a Q400, a twin-engine plane with visible propellors, the smallest of the Air Berlin fleet with a capacity of 76 passengers. To make it worse I had chosen wing seats for us so he had a perfect close up view of the spinning blades.  

It was all 'plane' sailing though and during take off and landing we had some spectacular views of both cities. The calm and quiet flight lasted about an hour and a half, just enough time to make it worth waiting for the plane and not too long to get a numb bum. The seats were comfortable and the decoration did not give you a headache as it was neither bright fluorescent yellow nor cringeworthy orange. 

The cabin crew seemed relaxed, calm and friendly and the service was quick but without the mad rush to get through the cabin with the refreshments tray so they can go on to sell you lots of useless crap after charging you a fortune for a tiny coke and a minuscule hot panini. To top it off we got a complimentary juice and apple flavour biscuits during the trip. On leaving the airplane you also get offered a very nice Air Berlin chocolate heart to remind you of the pleasant experience. 

All in all I felt satisfied with my short but nice Air Berlin trip and I would recommend flying with them if you get chance. The only disadvantage I can see is that their routes are more limited than other airlines but if they fly to the place you want to go, check 'em out. By the way, Budapest is a wonderful city to visit and perfect for a weekend get away from Berlin :D   

The Hauptbahnhof

The central train station of Berlin, The "Hauptbahnhof", is without doubt a great example of modern architecture; self-sustaining and efficient. The Hauptbahnhof is the biggest central train station in Europe with a total of 70,000 square meters spread over 5 floors. It cost a total of 900 million euros and was opened just before the 2006 World Cup which was hosted in Germany. 

It's incredible when you arrive at the station, whether by train, metro or through the front doors, how this modern building overwhelms the senses in a labyrinth of escalators, walkways and open spaces. In fact, it seems more like a colossal greenhouse than a train station. Spread over three of the five floors are shops, pharmacies, bakeries, restaurants and much more so there are many things to do whilst you wait for your connection. You can do a bit of shopping, eat a snack, have a beer, buy a delicious ice cream or even purchase a Berlin souvenir!  

It's location, next to the river Spree and in the heart of Berlin, offers great connections to all parts of the city, Germany, and the rest of Europe. Being the central station, it is a great starting point to visit all the main sights of the city and there are many places within walking distance and, of course, a short train ride away.  

The design complies with the highest self-sustaining architectual standards. Through renewable energy systems including solar panels, around 50% of the total energy consumed in the station is generated. The design of the building also features glass roofs which optimises the use of natural light. All in all it is a great example of how functional public buildings can be designed with ecological issues in mind.      

I recommend the novelty of using the shortest metro line in Berlin and certainly the shortest I've ever used. The line in question is the U55 which connects the Hauptbahnhof to the Brandenburg Tor. It was originally meant to form part of an extension to the U5 line but was delayed because of funding. In total there are only three stations but it is a very pleasant ride. In fact the platforms are mini-museums because there are many photos along the walls which document some historic moments that have taken place there.    

With around 1,800 trains calling at the station per day and the daily number of passengers estimated to be at 350,000, it's easy to get lost in this vast space, especially if you are not a regular visitor. 

Once I got my bearings, I thoroughly enjoyed taking in the scale and sights of the Hauptbahnhof and I recommend that tourists try and plan their Berlin trip so they get at least get a peek at this modern wonder.    


To check schedules visit the Deutsche Bahn website (in German but with an option to view the site in English)