Air Berlin: Varna to Cologne

The carrier: Air Berlin

Upside
Flying with Air Berlin is, on balance, a pleasant experience. Excellent meal service.

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

About
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, perks that are 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.

Baggage
* Carry-on: One item up to 6 kg.
* Checked: Up to 20 kg (no max bag # specified). If over 20 kg, unless otherwise noted, €5 for each additional kg. €10 per kg if you are flying 3,000 miles or more.

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.
more...

Departure: Varna, Bulgaria - Varna International (VAR)

Varna International Airport serves the coastal city of Varna, which is known as Bulgaria's most important port city.

Location: Varna International Airport is located 7.5 km (5 miles) west of Varna.

Transport:

- Bus: Be aware that the bus station in front of the Terminal 1 "Departures" area is the drop of point for buses coming from the city only. In order to catch a bus into the city or to the seaside resorts, travelers must go to the stop located in front of the VIP hall. All buses operate every 15 minutes.

- Taxi: The main taxi rank is located in front of Terminal 1 "International Arrivals." It is highly recommended that travelers pay close attention to the price as quoted per kilometer. The journey takes about 15 minutes, depending on traffic.

Service: At Varna Airport
travelers can the building’s four coffee bars (Good morning Varna!). There are a couple of duty free shops located in Terminal 3 and Terminal 4. The airport also contains a currency exchange and has ample security.
more...

Arrival: Cologne, Germany - Koeln (CGN)

In Brief: The Cologne-Bonn Airport is located 13 km (9 miles) southeast of Cologne. While not even among Germany's top five airports in terms of traffic, it punches above its weight in the budget air field. Germanwings and TUIfly both rely on Cologne-Bonn as a kind of superbase, and Air Berlin, easyJet, and Wizz Air all route multiple flights in and out of the airport.

Transportation: A bus connection links the airport with Cologne's main train station. It takes 20 minutes and costs €4.60.
more...