Germanwings: Corfu to Berlin

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: Corfu, Greece - Corfu International (CFU)

Corfu International Airport a highly seasonal airport on the Greek island of Corfu. The airport was named after John Capodistria, the first Governor of Greece. Location: Corfu International Airport is located 2 km (1 miles) south of Corfu. Transport: - Bus: Buses provide service in and out of the city center. Bus stops are located just outside the airport. The journey takes approximately ten minutes. - Taxi: The taxi rank is located outside the main terminal building. Travelers are strongly advised to negotiate the price with the taxi driver before the trip. Service: There is a centrally located information desk in the main terminal building. Other facilities include: bank, currency exchange, ATM, and post office. Travelers are also able to grab a bite at the airport's cafe/bar or go shopping at the duty-free store. The airport offers a health center. more...

Arrival: Berlin, Germany - Schoenefeld (SXF)

In Brief: Berlin Schönefeld, one of two airports in Berlin, lies on the outskirts of the city, 18 km (11 miles) away. Schönefeld handles a lot of low-cost and charter airline traffic; it is one of the most important low-cost airports in Europe. EasyJet, to offer one example, has its very own terminal at Schönefeld, which impressively serves almost 30 destinations.

Other low-cost and charter airlines serving Berlin Schönefeld include Ryanair, Condor, Germanwings, and Iceland Express.

Transporation: Schönefeld can be reached by the Airport Express train or S-Bahn train. Both forms of transportation cost just €2.40 one-way. The Airport Express takes 25 minutes, while the S-Bahn takes 40 minutes.