Can you buy the ticket originating at the the airport station? or only Spandau / HBF? If not, you will need to buy tickets from one of the machines for Berlin ABC, as the airport is in zone C. You validate the tickets at one of the machines on the platforms. Should be a couple Euros per person if I recall correctly(I have a year pass so I haven't purchased a ticket in quite some time).

I think you have a good plan.

I suggest you buy your tickets from Berlin-Schoenefeld Flughafen right through to Bielefeld. Having this ticket begin at the airport is the same price as having it begin at the main station. That way, if you do get out in time for the RE train at 18:50 (or any later one), you simply walk on and don't worry about tickets.

As I mentioned yesterday, your last "good" train leaves the Ostbahnhof at 19:37 and the Hauptbahnhof at 19:48. So, if you get out of the airport after 18:40 and before 19:20, a taxi might be a good option. If you're lucky, you might make that "good" train at 19:48.

If you are even later, you will have to use the following connection:

Berlin Ost dp. 20:56 ICE 540
Berlin Hbf dp. 21:07
Hannover ar. 22:56
Hannover dp. 23:09 RE 4858
Minden ar. 23:52
Minden dp. 00:30 RE 10890
Bielefeld Hbf ar. 01:05

If you want to do this, there are RE trains leaving Schönefeld at the following times which will get you to the Hauptbahnhof on time:
19:22, 19:50, 20:22. Actually, all of these trains, including the 18:50 train, stop at the Ostbahnhof, so you can also change there. However, if you have a long time to wait, the Hauptbahnhof is better, as there are many stores and restaurants.

However, if you are travelling with lots of luggage and 2 small kids, you might also consider one of the airport hotels, the Meininger Hotel (which will cost you € 60 plus € 12 for the airport shuttle) or the Holiday Inn (which will cost you approx. € 100). Then you could leave the next morning and have the relatively easy connection of an RE train to the main station and an ICE direct to Bielefeld...

Good luck!

Hi,
I agree with the other posters that your plan should be managable. If you buy a ticket, you can buy one online-ticket Berlin-SXF to Bielefeld. If you don't buy a saver ticket you can just hop on every train you like, even if you have a delay.

757DUD

So, I just wanted to wrap this thread up with a huge thank you to everyone, and a report of a very successful trip.

I have never, ever, in my life had such a quick experience as I did at SXF - I timed it, and from the time we landed (I'm talking wheels on the ground) to when we walked out the front door of the airport was 11 minutes.

11 MINUTES!

Got off the plane, got the bags, no line at immigration, quickly processed, and no hassle at customs, and we were out the door. Unbelievable. Had enough time to get a new SIM card and a kebab at the Ostbahnhof, and we were still sitting around for half an hour waiting for our ICE train. Very impressive performance from the German transportation infrastructure.

Having a good time at a conference as well. Thanks again for everyone's help.

Wait, was it the one that sits just outside the foodcourt facing the main hall, next to the Ditsch pretzel shop? I like that place, and sometimes I'll jump off the S-Bahn and run down and get a kebap or falafal, then return to my journey
with a happy belly.

+1 on that. There is another Donor Kebab stand just outside the terminal before you cross the street. (Past the chocolate stand) Both of those were the best I had in Berlin.

And timely thread OP as I'm also going to Bielfeld with my wife to meet up with one of her cousins. Unfotunately, as Brandenburg's opening will again get delayed, I'm going to have to do it from TXL instead of the direct service from BER. Since we don't arrive in Berlin until 5:30 PM, we may just delay it until the next morning. Otherwise, we'd get into Bielfeld at 12:30 AM.