Air Berlin: Alicante to Frankfurt

The carrier: Air Berlin

About

Air Berlin is one of the big two German low-cost carriers and is Germany’s second largest airline after Lufthansa. Air Berlin flies out of 20 airports in Germany to destinations across Europe. In light of its size, Air Berlin is one of the most important low-cost carriers in Europe. It's especially good for getting to and from Germany.

Air Berlin offers quite a few perks that other low-cost airlines do not. First off, it doles out complimentary snacks and drinks on flights, a practice that is close to unheard of in the low-cost world, as well as free newspapers and seat assignments. The airline also runs a frequent flyer program and offers connecting flights as single fares, fully guaranteeing that luggage will make the connection. The airline tends to fly to primary airports and fills up with far more business travelers than your average airline.

Upside

Flying with Air Berlin is, on the whole, a pleasant experience. Excellent meal service.

Downside

Airline mostly functions on a north-south axis linking Germany to the Mediterranean.

Baggage

* Carry-on: One item up to 6 kg, excluding laptop (8kg including laptop).
* Checked: Up to 20 kg for economy class and 30kg for business class.  If over 20 kg, unless otherwise noted, €10 for each additional kg. The rate increases to €25 per kg if you are flying 3,000 miles or more.  Different allowance for passengers going to the US and Canada.

* Please visit Air Berlin’s website for more information on its baggage policy.

Seating

You may select seats online at time of booking. In addition, you can check in online for most flights. Seat reservations cost €10-15. An extra large seat will cost €20 (€60 for a long-haul flight). Seat reservations are free for families with infants.

Check-in and Ticketing

Online check-in is available for anyone with a valid e-ticket.  Most routes allow online check-in from 30 hours in advance to 2 hours prior to departure.  Passengers with checked luggage are also allowed to check-in online.

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Departure: Alicante, Spain - Alicante International Airport (ALC)

Alicante International Airport or "Aeropuerto Internacional de Alicante," originally named "El Altet," is the main airport for the regions of Alicante and Murcia in Spain. Alicante is a major charter airline destination, absorbing huge numbers of flights from Germany, the UK, and other points across Europe's north. Alicante is the Costa Blanca's main airport, and delivers sun-hungry tourists to coastal holiday enclaves. Location: Alicante International Airport is located about 9 km southwest of the city of Alicante. Transport: - Tram: There are trams available that will take you to and from the airport and nearby coastal communities and resorts. - Bus: The C6 bus to Alicante costs €1 and runs every 40 minutes. For more information look at the official website of SuBus. There are eight buses a day between the airport and Benidorm. Tickets cost €7; and the journey lasts one hour. There are also eight buses a day between the airport and Murcia. The journey costs €4.24 and takes about 90 minutes. Up to date schedules can be found on the ALSA Website. - Taxi: Taxis are available outside the airport and the fare should be between €15-20 from the airport to Alicante. Fares increase slightly at night. For the most up to date information consult the Taxi company’s Official Website. Service: New airport services are constantly being upgraded in order to be sufficient for the growing number of travelers that pass through Alicante every year. Currently there are multiple shops and restaurants available for the convenience of travelers. There are four information points for passengers in the airport. Other airport facilities include a post office and bank. more...

Arrival: Frankfurt, Germany - Frankfurt Intl (FRA)

In Brief: Germany's busiest airport, Frankfurt International ranks third within Europe in terms of passenger traffic. Unlike some other of Europe's bigger airports, there is not a separate terminal for low-cost airlines. There are, in fact, not a huge number of budget airlines offering flights in and out of Frankfurt, but those that do are distributed across terminals. Air Berlin, Clickair, and Niki fly to Frankfurt International. Transportation: The best way between the airport and the Frankfurt main train station is by S-Bahn. A one-way journey costs just €3.55 and takes about 10 minutes.

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