Germanwings: Antalya to Bologna

The carrier: Germanwings

About

Now owned by Lufthansa,Germanwings is an indisputable giant, one of Germany's big three budget airlines.  In addition to its German destinations, 'wings' flies to destinations in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Croatia and other Eastern locations.  It benefits from one of the best and most wide-ranging destination tallies among the airlines we profile. Unlike many carriers, Germanwings' route map is broad and well-distributed across Europe. An added bonus we love? With the airline's "Smart Connect" one-stop booking tool, it is possible to purchase connecting flights as single fares.

Upside

One of Europe's bigger low-cost airlines, with very good reach into the Balkans.  The website has a helpful low fare calendar in the upper right hand corner.  

Downside

Operates in part on a connecting flight model, feeding passengers via hubs.

Baggage

* Carry-on: Baggage cannot measure more than 55 x 40 x 20 centimeters and must weigh no more than 8 kg.
* Checked: Up to 20 kg of baggage (online €8 per piece is charged, at the airport €7 per piece); over this a charge of €20 per item).

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

Seating

Pre-booking is allowed online during or after the booking process until 3 hours before the flight.  Standard seats cost €6 and XL seats with extra legroom cost €15.  Before midnight the night before your flight, you can also reserve a “private seat” via the call center for the same price as your own seat.  This means that the seat next to you will be kept empty for a more comfortable trip.

Check-in and Ticketing

Web check-in is available between 72 and 3 hours before departure.  At a German airport you can check-in online up to one hour before departure.  Passengers with checked luggage can also check- in online.

Tip

Germanwings hosts monthly offers, so check in often. Avoid early morning flights, which tend to be packed, out of their hubs. In general, allow extra time for check-in.

Fun Fact

There have been many liveries for Germanwings in order to promote the destination city. There is a special livery to promote the City of Berlin (named "Berlin Bearbus"), and there have been special liveries for the German cities of Hamburg (named "Hamburg Shopper") and Stuttgart. There have also been liveries for T-Mobile and two others with a mouth with a tongue, one of them with a speech bubble across the aircraft.

Departure: Antalya, Turkey - Antalya (AYT)

Antalya, on the part of the Mediterranean coast known as the Turkish Riviera, is a very busy airport and a primary link to this popular coastal region. Antalya sees huge numbers of charter flights, which bump its flight volume up into one of the most popular in our survey. Location: The Antalya Airport is located 10 km (six miles) from the city center of Antalya. Transport: - Bus: Buses run between the airport and the city around a dozen times a day. Individual journeys cost YTL8.50 (€ 4.85; $7.15). - Taxi: Taxis operate from the Antalya airport to various tourist destinations at set rates. Taxis can be found outside the main terminal building. It is strongly advised to negotiate a fare before leaving the airport. Service: In the airport, there is an information desk, postal services, currency exchange, and ATMs and public telephones throughout. There are also multiple bars, cafes, and fast-food restaurants as well as shops (including duty-free). Other facilities include a medical center and baby-changing rooms. more...

Arrival: Bologna, Italy - Guglielmo Marconi (BLQ)

Bologna Airport or "Aeroporto di Bologna," is also named Guglielmo Marconi Airport after Bologna native Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian electrical engineer and Nobel laureate. The airport serves the city of Bologna in north-central Italy. Location: Bologna Airport is approximately 6 kilometers (3.75 miles) northwest of the town center in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and is about 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of Milan. Transport: - Rail: Bologna central railway station is located about 6 kilometers outside the airport, and has connections to all major destinations in Italy. The station can be reached by a 20 minutes drive by Aerobus, which leaves the airport every 15 minutes. For more information on specific train rates and schedules, consult the Trenitalia Official Site. - Bus: The Aerobus, runs to Bologna central railway station and the city centre every 15 minutes, and departs from Arrivals at the terminal. Fares can be bought on the bus. There is a bus service to and from Modena Airport and the city center, which also leave every 15 minutes, and takes about an hour. For more information on bus transport click here. - Taxi: Taxis are available at the terminal in front of the arrivals hall. They can also be booked in advance through COTABO. Services: In Bologna Aiport, there are information desks in the departures area of both Terminals. A flight information board is located in Terminal A departures as well as various screens throughout the terminal which provide flight information for passengers. Both a telephone information service and a tourist information counter are available as well. The lost property office is located on the ground floor of Terminal A as well as a full service bank, ATM's, a currency exchange (in both terminals), and a post office. A children's play area is located in the self-service and restaurant area on the second floor of Terminal A. Baby-changing facilities are provided in all ladies toilets, and Help-phones are available for assistance with children. Tobacconists, newsstands, are available at the airport, as well as numerous shops. The duty free shops are located within both terminals. Also, there are restaurants and bars located in both terminals, as well as a restaurant on Via Triumvirato outside the terminals, adjacent to car park P3. Guglielmo Marconi Airport also has numerous cultural promotions known as Airport Art Events, which have proved highly successful and popular with travelers passing through the airport.