AB to introduce Business Class on European flights
#46
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Berlin, TXL
Programs: OW Emerald, *A gold, Skyteam elite plus, Hilton gold, SPG gold
Posts: 339
I just tried the new Business class from TXL-LPA. It is the same model as Iberia Express and KLM. but I think airberlin could improve the service but given more space in between the seats, have a dedicate menu for the business class, have a bathroom only for business class and a curtain to separate the cabins.
one thing I did not like was the flight crew did not welcome on board the platinum members which is a normal practice on business long haul flights.
Overall the product can not be compare with excellent business long haul product
one thing I did not like was the flight crew did not welcome on board the platinum members which is a normal practice on business long haul flights.
Overall the product can not be compare with excellent business long haul product
#47
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Berlin, TXL
Programs: OW Emerald, *A gold, Skyteam elite plus, Hilton gold, SPG gold
Posts: 339
#48
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: AC, A3*G AB-G
Posts: 155
On a recent flight STR-TXL, the flight crew did greet all platinum members and also had an especially long greeting to the one or two business customers sitting up front. Maybe it depends on the crew and their level of motivation.
#49
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,161
For that they would have to install modifications to the overhead bins, which is expensive and usually only available for curtains beyond row 2 till the emergency exit. Since AB only wants to have one row of C, this is not really a feasible option.
#50
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
#51
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 7,347
Just posted my trip report
Just posted my trip report on Air Berlin's business, which is disappointing to say the least... I basically think Air Berlin needs to either downgrade it to a premium economy product, or really re-introduces a real European business class product with proper catering. This Vueling's excellence fare model does not work. These days I am really confused about Air Berlin - is it a low cost airline or a full service airline?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...l#post28146903
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...l#post28146903
#52
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 257
Thanks for the nice report Carfield.
Now that the CCO (who came from Vueling) has also already left we can hope that they will have new people using their brains and either improve this product or get rid off it again (like the new NIKI has already done).
I fly AB very often and recently I realised the constant fight with the FAs about the bins reserved for business class hand luggage. They seem to have strict instructions to keep these bins empty (even if there is no or only one business class passenger). Or they do it because they are fed up with the dilema of a late-boarding business class guest bringing a bag and no space / not allowed in front of row 1 and no space left in the bins too. On my latest four flights the business class bins plus the ones for medical equipment, catering, video equipment (which is not used any more) reached from row 1 to row 4 - i.e. all the frequent flyers in row 2-4 (=up to 24 guests) had to stow their luggage in the back iso above their seats. Can you picture and how these guests felt when searching for space in the back and then after landing when they had to move against the stream to fetch their stuff again? It seams AB management is completely out of their mind to treat their most valuable clients that way! How can one management make all the mistakes that one can even think of when leading an airline?
Now that the CCO (who came from Vueling) has also already left we can hope that they will have new people using their brains and either improve this product or get rid off it again (like the new NIKI has already done).
I fly AB very often and recently I realised the constant fight with the FAs about the bins reserved for business class hand luggage. They seem to have strict instructions to keep these bins empty (even if there is no or only one business class passenger). Or they do it because they are fed up with the dilema of a late-boarding business class guest bringing a bag and no space / not allowed in front of row 1 and no space left in the bins too. On my latest four flights the business class bins plus the ones for medical equipment, catering, video equipment (which is not used any more) reached from row 1 to row 4 - i.e. all the frequent flyers in row 2-4 (=up to 24 guests) had to stow their luggage in the back iso above their seats. Can you picture and how these guests felt when searching for space in the back and then after landing when they had to move against the stream to fetch their stuff again? It seams AB management is completely out of their mind to treat their most valuable clients that way! How can one management make all the mistakes that one can even think of when leading an airline?
#53
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Koala Lemur
Programs: SK EBD LTG (*G)
Posts: 2,447
Yes this luggage bin issue was already terrible before they introduced the business class. Now it only got worse. It is completely illogical to block bins for equipment in the front of the cabin, instead of in the back.
#54
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
On my recent A319 flights, the F/A's were very protective of the C-class bin space - they were making sure only these who are seated seat in the first row place their hand baggage there.
#55
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Koala Lemur
Programs: SK EBD LTG (*G)
Posts: 2,447
Yes, in practice these means the next 3 rows of sapphires and emeralds have nowhere to store their luggage and at deplaning they have to push back.
#56
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Helsinki
Programs: A3 Gold, Iberia Plus Gold
Posts: 18
Why on earth one can't pre-order a meal for these flights? I tried several times via web site and even called the customer service and the trolley service is all that AB has to offer for a flight of nearly 5 hours.
I was so disappointed with them.
#57
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Berlin, TXL
Programs: OW Emerald, *A gold, Skyteam elite plus, Hilton gold, SPG gold
Posts: 339
I have notice that, in some flights the crew welcomes you and in other flights the crew just don't care
#58
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Helsinki
Programs: A3 Gold, Iberia Plus Gold
Posts: 18
I really don't get the AB business class product.
The menu intra-Europe is really poor - you cannot have anything fresh and the warm alternatives are limited to a pizza bread (seriously?) and currywurst.
There isn't anything premium in the cabin - not curtains separating the area from the economy nor a dedicated lavatory for C passengers.
Moreover: I just checked the prices for a few routes (really short flights) and the only thing that seems to be "business" is the pricing. I would never pay the prices they are asking for the routes.
The menu intra-Europe is really poor - you cannot have anything fresh and the warm alternatives are limited to a pizza bread (seriously?) and currywurst.
There isn't anything premium in the cabin - not curtains separating the area from the economy nor a dedicated lavatory for C passengers.
Moreover: I just checked the prices for a few routes (really short flights) and the only thing that seems to be "business" is the pricing. I would never pay the prices they are asking for the routes.
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
I really don't get the AB business class product.
The menu intra-Europe is really poor - you cannot have anything fresh and the warm alternatives are limited to a pizza bread (seriously?) and currywurst.
There isn't anything premium in the cabin - not curtains separating the area from the economy nor a dedicated lavatory for C passengers.
Moreover: I just checked the prices for a few routes (really short flights) and the only thing that seems to be "business" is the pricing. I would never pay the prices they are asking for the routes.
The menu intra-Europe is really poor - you cannot have anything fresh and the warm alternatives are limited to a pizza bread (seriously?) and currywurst.
There isn't anything premium in the cabin - not curtains separating the area from the economy nor a dedicated lavatory for C passengers.
Moreover: I just checked the prices for a few routes (really short flights) and the only thing that seems to be "business" is the pricing. I would never pay the prices they are asking for the routes.