airberlin topbonus - Playboy handed out in flight on air berlin

I was flying air berlin from STG to TXL last November and among the newspapers and magazines handed out for free there were several of the latest Playboy issues. This is very generous not only in a financial sense as these mags are expensive. I didn't dare to take one out of embarrassment but I thought that was pretty cool nonetheless. Mind you, the German version is not as hardcore as the American version but still this would never happen in the USA. It was one of the starkest cultural contrasts I've seen. Would you have taken the magazine?

Sure I would have taken it - if I were straight. :D

Yes. Why weren't they handing these out on my STN-FMO flight last month?

Please follow in our Other European Airline forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

They have it onboard from the beginning. They had it from the old DBA times.
No problem to take one. Even some girls like to read it. If you do not like it. Just do not take it.
Thank god we live in a free country.

BTW there is a marketing cooperation, so I wonder if AB pays anything for the magazines.

Interesting answers, thanks! So air berlin took over DBA. That was a really nice airline. I regularly took their direct from FDH to HAM which was great. It was a Saab propeller plane and practically all first class (small seats, though).

I enjoyed the air berlin flight, too. Next time I might take one and read it upon arrival. It was possible on that flight to stock up for 20 Euros on magazines and newspapers. Not bad for a discount airline.

Till

P.S. May I ask why this was moved to a less visible section? It has nothing to do with European Frequent Flyer programs at all. The sociological character of the question and cultural comparison would fit much better in the Travelbuzz or Omni section, where there is currently a thread on a guy reading a hardcore porn magazine.

The last time I have seen a Playboy handed out on board was on one of our company jets. ;)

New or used?:D

LAX

I was flying air berlin from STG to TXL last November and among the newspapers and magazines handed out for free there were several of the latest Playboy issues. This is very generous not only in a financial sense as these mags are expensive. I didn't dare to take one out of embarrassment but I thought that was pretty cool nonetheless. Mind you, the German version is not as hardcore as the American version but still this would never happen in the USA. It was one of the starkest cultural contrasts I've seen. Would you have taken the magazine?

Hey Tfar,

I used to go for the PB during boarding if there is one left!

If the german PB do not fit your preferences dont hesitate and ask the FA´s gentley for a mag called "Happy Weekend" ...




Cheers,

ThrustReverse

PB is offered at app. 50% of all AB flights.

I ALWAYS take one, though my wife hates me for that :D
It is funny, to see all the PAX entering fhe aircraft, shamefully looking at the PB and giggeling or slightly flushing taking one away. Spome PAX, who didn´t had the courage at first, turn back the aisle and grabbing an issue :)

Its a co-operation between Burda (licensee of PB in Germany) and AB. Same with Sixt: you have a PB in the cool cars on the passenger seat.

Same with Sixt: you have a PB in the cool cars on the passenger seat.

This seems to be triggered by your SEN status.
I´ve never ever had a PB copy in my "cool" SIXT-cars, including S-class, BMW 6 and 7series, or do you have the realreal cool cars ? :confused:
Just wondering ;)

Ok, I'm a Hertz addict now (the bmi points are far more useful), but when I used to rent at Sixt MUC and get Cabriolets in 2004-2006, the PB was always on the passenger seat. SEN just gives you Plat on Sixt's programme, but I see you have that too. I remember the consultants who visited us also always had the signature black plastic envelope with PB inside in their Sixt rentals.

Update:
it's no longer in the on-board selection of magazines and newspaper (based on my experience).
I even asked a few flight attendants and was told so (right or wrong).

It's anyway available at the nowadays common self-service racks near the boarding gates.

For example in Berlin Tegel, C terminal you can find it in the AB lounge and in one of the three or four racks just around the common zone after security.
It took a while for me to find it because it has an additional cover, more discreet.

It's one of the magazines that runs quickly out of stock. The thumb rule dictates that the rack get refilled when a boarding takes place from a nearby gate.

I wonder if they will continue this when they join one world. I can just hear some Americans complaining right now?

It's one of the magazines that runs quickly out of stock

.. one world. I can just hear some Americans complaining right now?

:D :eek: :D Well, they could have to place more copies :D :eek: :D

I wonder if they will continue this when they join one world. I can just hear some Americans complaining right now?

:D:D Sure, the double moral standards which can be seen within the nation with the biggest porn industry on this globe will certainly be a good reason to discuss the German Playboy which could (compared to its US counterpart) be distributed on a church party :D:D

niiiiceeeee......

Update:
it's no longer in the on-board selection of magazines and newspaper (based on my experience).
I even asked a few flight attendants and was told so (right or wrong).

It's anyway available at the nowadays common self-service racks near the boarding gates.

For example in Berlin Tegel, C terminal you can find it in the AB lounge and in one of the three or four racks just around the common zone after security.
It took a while for me to find it because it has an additional cover, more discreet.

It's one of the magazines that runs quickly out of stock. The thumb rule dictates that the rack get refilled when a boarding takes place from a nearby gate.

Today afternoon PB was out of stock in Berlin Tegel, like last week. Not even in the lounge. But for the first time I noticed it on board. A passenger on my same row had one and two young women a few rows in front had one each. They both read it for a few minutes, I was close enough to see that one of them placed her copy in her bag before disembarking. The other left Vanity Fair and PB on the seat pocket (just behind the headrest, so quite visible).