Some observations re: LH/Berlin
Nov 25, 2017, 10:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,938
Some observations re: LH/Berlin
This was my first time flying out of TXL. It is a quirky airport, no doubt.
Check in was at Terminal B, so I headed out to the FC check in area to drop off my bags and headed up to the lounge. So far so, good.
Lufthansa flight to Berlin was out of the C Terminal as it was a 747. I didn't realize I had to actually exit Terminal B. It's a short walk, not a biggie (even though there was heavy rain, the walk is mostly sheltered).
But the biggest surprise was having to walk on the tarmac in pouring rain to the plane and then use an uncovered mobile staircase to board. This wasn't fun at all.
Is it too much to expect a bus transfer and a covered staircase?
Check in was at Terminal B, so I headed out to the FC check in area to drop off my bags and headed up to the lounge. So far so, good.
Lufthansa flight to Berlin was out of the C Terminal as it was a 747. I didn't realize I had to actually exit Terminal B. It's a short walk, not a biggie (even though there was heavy rain, the walk is mostly sheltered).
But the biggest surprise was having to walk on the tarmac in pouring rain to the plane and then use an uncovered mobile staircase to board. This wasn't fun at all.
Is it too much to expect a bus transfer and a covered staircase?
Nov 26, 2017, 10:36 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Munich, Germany
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With airberlin gone operations at TXL are out of the normal. TXL was not designed to handle a 747. Due to the high demand (an probably for some publicity) LH decided to use a 747 for the TXL-FRA route for some flights. This means some improvisation. Normally you would check-in in the A or B area walk straight through security and would be directly at the gate. Actually I don't know any airport where you can check-in, go through security and be at the gate between 5 to 10 minutes.
Last edited by totti; Nov 26, 2017 at 11:23 am Reason: Edited post after OT post had been deleted
Nov 26, 2017, 11:26 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Posts: 6,911
Dear fellow FTers,
I just deleted 11 posts that were off topic and in part violated the FT rules.
This is a friendly reminder to stay on topic and respect the rules. In particular, please keep in mind that this forum is meant to discuss topics related to M&M and LH group airlines. Discussions about work ethics and historic factors that influence it should be discussed in the OMNI forum.
Have a nice day
totti
co-moderator M&M forum
I just deleted 11 posts that were off topic and in part violated the FT rules.
This is a friendly reminder to stay on topic and respect the rules. In particular, please keep in mind that this forum is meant to discuss topics related to M&M and LH group airlines. Discussions about work ethics and historic factors that influence it should be discussed in the OMNI forum.
Have a nice day
totti
co-moderator M&M forum
Nov 26, 2017, 11:20 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,938
Improvisation is great, but plans for making sure passengers are not soaked would be nice too ... 
With airberlin gone operations at TXL are out of the normal. TXL was not designed to handle a 747. Due to the high demand (an probably for some publicity) LH decided to use a 747 for the TXL-FRA route for some flights. This means some improvisation. Normally you would check-in in the A or B area walk straight through security and would be directly at the gate. Actually I don't know any airport where you can check-in, go through security and be at the gate between 5 to 10 minutes.
Nov 27, 2017, 3:13 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Munich, Germany
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Actually I just remember. The missing roof of the stairways is no improvisation at TXL. I flew Germanwings out of TXL this summer from the horrible D and E area where are only bus and tarmac gates. It was heavily raining and we were bussed to the plane. The stairways at the plane had no roof either The bus driver allowed us to wait in the bus until the stairway was clear. Some people didn't hear him and were standing in the rain on the stairway waiting to get into the plane.
Nov 27, 2017, 4:30 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 625
If one looks at TXL it is an undermaintained parody of an airport with about the longest waiting lines at its laughably underequipped tiny single-lane security gates that I have ever experienced anywhere. I would take almost any aiport other than TXL if I had a choice flyning into Berlin. Sadly, there is no choice, unless one is willing to go budget. Thus, at the moment one can only testify that Berlin is utterly inept concerning airports. One still works, but is dysfunctional (TXL), the other is dysfunctional and doesn't operate at all (BER).
Nov 27, 2017, 4:39 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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And it's not been my regular experience at TXL. Certainly not to be expected there on a Sunday, when security lines are reduced to single channels.
Nov 27, 2017, 10:32 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Berlin, TXL
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I would like to know such an airport as well. TXL certainly doesn't match that description (anymore). TXL may have been an innovative airport concept when it was built - in days with much less air travel. Its myth as a user friendly airport continues (and people even sign petitions to keep it operating even if - in some distant day, maybe - BER should start operating. Why anyone with a sane mind would wish for such a scenario is utterly beyond me.
If one looks at TXL it is an undermaintained parody of an airport with about the longest waiting lines at its laughably underequipped tiny single-lane security gates that I have ever experienced anywhere. I would take almost any aiport other than TXL if I had a choice flyning into Berlin. Sadly, there is no choice, unless one is willing to go budget. Thus, at the moment one can only testify that Berlin is utterly inept concerning airports. One still works, but is dysfunctional (TXL), the other is dysfunctional and doesn't operate at all (BER).
If one looks at TXL it is an undermaintained parody of an airport with about the longest waiting lines at its laughably underequipped tiny single-lane security gates that I have ever experienced anywhere. I would take almost any aiport other than TXL if I had a choice flyning into Berlin. Sadly, there is no choice, unless one is willing to go budget. Thus, at the moment one can only testify that Berlin is utterly inept concerning airports. One still works, but is dysfunctional (TXL), the other is dysfunctional and doesn't operate at all (BER).
Nov 27, 2017, 10:33 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2016
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Nov 27, 2017, 4:29 pm
#11
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and if you have lounge access and/or the gods are smiling on your arrival at security, then really not such a stressful place.
Nov 27, 2017, 4:48 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
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I've left from gate B21. There may be just a couple of B gates, but they exist.
It was a bus drive to the plane as well, it was parked by the LH hangar on the western end of the apron. The other plane, for the later C departure, was parked under the tower, near the corner of the C terminal.
It was a bus drive to the plane as well, it was parked by the LH hangar on the western end of the apron. The other plane, for the later C departure, was parked under the tower, near the corner of the C terminal.
Nov 27, 2017, 5:40 pm
#13
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I've left from gate B21. There may be just a couple of B gates, but they exist.
It was a bus drive to the plane as well, it was parked by the LH hangar on the western end of the apron. The other plane, for the later C departure, was parked under the tower, near the corner of the C terminal.
It was a bus drive to the plane as well, it was parked by the LH hangar on the western end of the apron. The other plane, for the later C departure, was parked under the tower, near the corner of the C terminal.
Nov 27, 2017, 5:42 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2016
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