scottklenn: Flight Review: Air Berlin Business Class Airbus A330

CHECK-IN

Air Berlin, now a OneWorld member, is expanding its intercontinental route network, and now offers a quite impressive range of destinations, particularly to North America and the Caribbean. With a newly revamped Business Class onboard its A330-200s, now was the time for RASK to try out the airline?s flagship route Berlin ? New York JFK. This flight departs Berlin at 1300, arriving to JFK at 1545 and is operated by Airbus A330-200s.

Read on for RASK?s, as always, honest review of the Air Berlin longhaul business class experience.

Air Berlin executives must be kicking themselves; as some travellers will know, the new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport is not yet open (and the new opening date keeps getting pushed further and further out in the future?). The consequence: the departure of this flight was from Tegel Airport; a facility which really divides travellers. While many people enjoy the short walking distances, I know I?m not the only one who will complain about the overcrowding and the lack of quality shops, lounges and food and beverage options here at Tegel.

I had arrived off another Air Berlin flight and was therefore in transit here at Berlin only. However, as flights to the US require passengers to undergo slightly more thorough document checks than to many other destinations, I still had to visit the check-in desks at Gate A1 before being able to board.

THE LOUNGE

Surprisingly, Air Berlin does not operate its own flagship lounge here in Berlin (the trouble is that a shining new facility is standing unused at Brandenburg International for the next year?). As a consequence, all business class travellers are welcome to use the British Airways Terraces Lounge, on the first floor.

I was surprised with the relatively high level of comfort this lounge offered. The lounge attendants were all really wonderful, the space quiet and well laid out, and the seating comfortable (not a given at many other lounges).

The food selection was not great, being limited to crisps and a few finger sandwiches (ok) ? but as the drinks selection was fine, and I wasn?t hungry, I sat down with some sparkling water and a banana and read the paper (ample selections of reading matter were available).

BOARDING

As the boarding time indicated on my boarding pass was approaching, I left the lounge and went to the gate. However, boarding was delayed (without this being evident from any of the screens), so I walked around the quite uninspiring corridors of the airport for another 20 minutes or so, before heading back to Gate A1.

To my dismay, there was no priority boarding, nor security check for business class passengers (despite this being marked on the boarding pass); so it was a mad scrum to get through security and then through to the actual boarding area. The gate was full to the brim with passengers. Not great.

However, things looked up as I was asked to turn left at the aircraft door and into the newly revamped business class cabin. I immediately noticed the brightness and actually quite slick interior of the cabin; while this cabin was not brand new, it was definitely still ?new?. With maximum 20 seats, the cabin is actually quite small (for long haul, anyway) ? but it feels very roomy.

I was shown to my seat by a friendly and relaxed steward, who immediately offered to stow away my bags. He also offered me sparkling wine or orange juice ? I chose the orange juice and this was served promptly and was of a very good quality. On the seat were a couple of (plump) pillows, earphones for the IFE and a good-looking amenity kit, containting L?Occitane products (lipbalm and moisturiser), toothbrush and paste and a pair of socks.

The captain announced a short delay in our departure and a flight time of 8h30 minutes. The very friendly mature female purser distributed a nicely looking menu which I perused until our departure.

THE SEAT

My seat, 1A, was a front row seat ? and while it was not impeccably clean, I was still very happy about it. The seats are not the newest and flashiest available in the skies today ? but certainly still very comfortable. The first thing I noticed was the huge amount of legroom ? even with the legrest fully stretched out, the legroom was ample. The seat itself reclines to 170 degrees and is of standard width.?It is mechanically operated by a panel in the armrest.

Also in the armrest is a screen for the IFE and a foldable table. The table was a little wobbly and the IFE nothing special (the latter is surprising, given the how new the system is ? the selection of movies was quite poor, to be honest). There are also plugs for electronics and a personal reading lamp. With the neigbouring seat unoccupied, I had oodles of space.

Overall, the seat lacks the bells and whistles of the likes of Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines (there is no massage function, for example), but is very comfortable and certainly adequate.

WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE?

All seats are the same, and none of them suffer more traffic or noise than the other; still, I?d go for one in the seat pairs closest to the windows on either side.

THE FLIGHT

Pushback was some 25 minutes after schedule, but thanks to the tinyness of the airport, we were at the runway and up in the air within minutes. Soon, I was asked for my choice of drink; the steward suggested Campari & orange juice. I happily obliged, and the drink, as well as some almonds, were served instantly.

Then the purser asked for my choice of main course. The meals onboard Air Berlin are created by the renowned Sansibar Restaurant on the German island of Sylt ? and are of a high quality.

The two appetizers were?salmon tartare with cucumber and an asparagus salad.?There were five main course (this I found impressive!) ? and I was even offered a main which was not described in the menu (roast chicken). The other mains were:

Thai green curry (chicken breast pieces in Thai green curry sauce with Thai rice and pak choy with red pepper strips)
Brisket of beef in a delicate gravy with mashed potatoes, cabbage and carrot
Prawns ?Sansibar style? (prawns on spaghetti with vegetable brunoise and diced tomatoes)
Tortellini filled with gruy?re in a creamy pumpkin sauce with chanterelles

I opted for the prawn dish ? and this was excellent (as were the starters, particularly the salmon tartare). ?All was presented very nicely, on China, and the eagle-eyed cabin crew kept offering a multitude of breads, as well as refills of drinks.

I was less happy with my choice of wine (a 2006 Vincola Requense ?Palacio? Crianza (Spain)); it had an odd aftertaste, and I stuck with my sparkling water. Other red choices were a 2007 Tenuta Monteti Giganti Buono (Italy) and a 2010 Chateau de Capitoul Syrah. ?(France). In terms of whites, the selection was better, with a 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ?Stablemate? from the Excelsior Estate in South Africa and a 2011 San Simone Pinot Grigio.

The dessert option was a mouthwatering strawberry crumble cake ? in addition to a couple of cheeses (acceptable, but nothing special).

Overall, a fine meal, with many drinks options (including constant offerings of avec, spirits, coffees and teas (the latter two have room for improvement, though).

Following the meal, I reclined the seat to get some sleep (I?d had an early start). I asked for, and promptly received, a very nice quilted blanket. I then slept undisturbed for almost five hours ? and then a second meal, consisting of baked chicken breast and potato salad and apple strudel with cinnamon cream, was served. This meal was excellent.

ARRIVAL

The remainder of our time in the air was uneventful. We had a?soft landing into JFK (only ten minutes behind schedule). Immigration took ages, as always, but what annoyed me the most was that my checked luggage did not arrive to the baggage belt. At the time of writing, some 15 hours after arrival, there is still no news as to my bag?s whereabouts?

VERDICT

With the refurbished cabins, Air Berlin was a surprisingly good choice: the seat was comfortable (not the best in class, mind), the food and beverage of a high standard, and the service was warm, personable and friendly. The IFE was lacking, but this was a minor issue to me. While it of course is preferable to have flatbeds in business, I was surprised with the high level of quality of Air Berlin?s A330 ? and I?d happily travel the airline again in business class.

FACT FILE