Air Berlin: Vienna 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.
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Departure: Vienna, Austria - Vienna Intl (VIE)

Vienna International Airport, often referred to as Schwechat, the name of the nearby town, is the busiest and biggest airport in Austria.

Location: Vienna International Airport is located 18 kilometers (11 miles) southeast Vienna’s city center.

Transport:

- Rail: Travelers can use the City Airport Train (CAT) to and from the Wien-Mitte station which takes approximately 16 minutes. The S-Bahn trains (Federal Railway System) also offers service to and from the Wien-Mitte and Wien-Nord stations which takes approximately 25 minutes.

- Bus: Bus connections are available to and from the center of Vienna. These routes usually take approximately 25-35 minutes. Also, there are buses available to and from the neighboring towns of Baden and Modling as well as the bordering countries of Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.

- Taxi: Taxis can be found in front of the arrivals hall.

Service: Information monitors and display boards as well as several information desks are available throughout the airport. There are over 70 shops located within Vienna International Airport and the restaurants and cafés are ideal for a pleasant break before boarding or after return.
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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.
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