Air Berlin: Stuttgart to Valencia

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: Stuttgart, Germany - Echterdingen (STR)

In Brief: Located about 14 km (9 miles) south of central Stuttgart, the airport is a significant hub for Germanwings and TUIfly. Other budget airlines serving the airport include Air Berlin, Blue Air, Condor, and Flybe. In addition to these low-cost airlines, the airport sees a fair amount of conventional airline traffic. Transportation: Two S-Bahn lines connect the Stuttgart Airport with central Stuttgart. The S2 and S3 lines make the 25-odd minute connection for just €3.

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Arrival: Valencia, Spain (VLC)

Valencia Airport in Manises ranked eighth among Spanish airports in terms of air traffic and second in the region after Alicante. The airport has flight connections to about 15 European countries with most passengers coming from the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France. Despite the international connections, the airport handles mainly domestic scheduled flights (close to half the domestic connections are with Madrid). Other destinations of importance, although more seasonal, include Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Seville and Ibiza. Over the years, the airport has become an important business and tourist center as it encourages economic growth in the area. Location:Valencia airport, which is located 8 km west of the capital. Transport: - Bus: There a couple of buses that run to and from Valencia Airport into the center of town. Also, twice daily buses serving the main resorts of the Costa Blanca are available. The Aero-Bus runs directly between the airport and the city center every 20 minutes. Local bus 150 runs between the airport and the central bus station, but it is not as frequent as the Aero-Bus, and it is not a direct service. It is, however, cheaper than the shuttle. - Taxi: Taxis can be found outside of the Arrivals Hall. Be prepared to pay an extra airport supplement fee. A taxi from the airport into the city should cost around €15. Service: The airport has a few information desks in the terminal building as well as a tourist information office. In the terminal, travelers can find several shops, four cafeterias and several restaurants. There are ATMs throughout the airport as well as a currency exchange. Other airport services include a pharmacy, chapel, and First Aid center. more...