Hi all,

I have a layover in Berlin (JFK - TXL - KRK) on Air Berlin that is only an hour and ten minutes long (provided the flight arrives on time) in either direction. Is this enough time to transfer? It's just myself and my SO. I read the other thread regarding transfers in Berlin and this is "non-Schengen to Schengen." I don't understand what the other thread meant by saying the flight "was on the same ticket." I believe that is supposed to mean it's all on the same airline or partnered airlines, and if so, then yes, this is all through Air Berlin. Will I have to go through customs in Berlin?

I've flown to Berlin before, but never through it. The only place in Germany I've ever had a layover was Frankfurt, and that was an absolute nightmare. It took me two hours to transfer with no one ahead of me in any of the lines and I made it just as they were about to close the gates (and my flight wasn't even late to arrive in Frankfurt!).

On a similar note--how would one rate their experience with Air Berlin? I've never flown with them before.

Thank you!

Don't worry, Berlin is one of the easiest airports to use, IMO, whereas Frankfurt is considered a nightmare by most. If your plane arrives on time, it will be a little tight, but shouldn't be anything to worry about.

If your trip was booked from JFK-KRK, and not as two separate bookings (JFK-TXL and TXL-KRK), then it's all on one ticket, and AB can check any bags all the way through to KRK (ask them for priority tags at JFK if possible).

Your flight will arrive from JFK in the A terminal (almost certainly gates A01 or A02). Each gate has its own immigration facilities. As there are only a few immigration agents assigned to each gate, it helps to be off the plane as soon as possible so you can get to the front of the line. You will then walk past baggage claim and clear customs, which is maybe a 50 yard walk to get into the terminal.

Your flight to KRK will depart from the C gates, which is a 5 minute walk. Security is relatively quick in terminal C, although AB does stack a bunch of flights at around 8:30, so you may have to wait a bit, but I would say no more than 15-20 minutes.

Are you flying coach or business?

I am going to move this thread from the Germany Forum, where a re-direct will be posted for the next seven days, to the Air Berlin Forum.

FLYGVA
co-moderator Germany Forum

Thanks for the reply! I am flying coach. Even though I travel frequently, I always have a few nerves about flying and obsessively check each airline. Air Berlin seems to have a good safety rating.

Experiences with them are mixed. Interaction with ground staff seems to range from indifferent to mildly unpleasant, as they often seem to treat pax as though they were still flying the old dba/LTU LCCs. On board is usually much better, as FAs seem to realize the need to serve pax properly if they are going to transform into an airline worthy of oneworld membership.

My bold.
How true!

Be very careful with any lay over in Berlin involving Air Berlin. Lost or delayed luggage is their specialty. On a recent flight there were 12 of us at the destination with lost luggage and Air Berlin customer service is as bad as it gets.

I did a domestic to shengen transfer with air Berlin. 50 minutes connecting time. Although I missed my connecting flight due to late arrival of flight. However. If discount the delay I found from the moment the flight atrive to the moment I reached from a gate to c gate it took me more than 50 minutes...there was 5 minutes waitong for jet bridge. 25minutes waiting forlluggage even though the bag was priority. The walk to c gate is a minimum 10 minutes. They check luggage tag on exit of luggage area is not helpful. And the awful thing is even if I have made it on time they would not accept my checkin luggage duw to cut off time. Remember txl does not provide luggage transfer facilities.

If you are from international you have to add 20 minutes for passport check and 20 minutes for accepting your checking luggage.

Provide you have no delay anf your arrival gate and departure gate is both in a gate then you should be fine. However if you need to make a run between a and c gate...bless you.

When flying into and subsequently out of TXL recently, I was surprised that they loaded from the ground and not the terminal. We were crushed like sardines on the bus transfer from the plane to terminal and vice versa.

However, check in was quick and the terminal itself is small so if everything is running on time you should be fine.

We had a wonderful in flight experience in J/F. Coach looked to be standard and the staff both in flight and on ground at TXL were nice and helpful.

Why wasn't your bag tagged to your final destination in the first place? I agree TXL is a terrible airport these days, with awful ground handling and baggage delivery times.

Were you departing from the C gates?

I've heard about the luggage issues recently, and now I'm considering getting a new piece of luggage and repacking so that it's all carry on, but I don't know how feasible that is. Should I risk it and check a bag? Is there anything I can do to help make sure it gets onto my flight to Krakow? I don't think there should be any issue getting the bag onto the flight from JFK.

I'm always a fan of carrying on when possible, as it always saves time and adds flexibility in case of IRROPs. I can usually get a week and a half or so into a rollaboard and a backpack if I'm creative.