Germanwings: Hannover to Bari

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: Hannover, Germany - Hanover Apt (HAJ)

In Brief: Just over 10 km (6 miles) north of Hanover, Hanover's three terminals see plenty of action. TUIfly, Air Berlin, Condor, Flybe, and SunExpress all fly in and out of Hanover. These are the outliers at Hanover, however, where most air links are provided by conventional airlines. Transportation: An S-Bahn connection between the Hanover airport and the city's main train station takes under 20 minutes and costs €2.70. more...

Arrival: Bari, Italy - Palese Macchie (BRI)

Bari International Airport or "Aeroporto di Bari," also known as Palese Macchie Airport or "Aeroporto di Palese Macchie" after a nearby neighborhood, is an airport serving the city of Bari in Italy.

Location:

Bari International Airport is located approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles) northwest from the Bari town center. Bari is located on Italy's southeastern edge, at the top of the county's "heel."

Transport:

•Rail: The Tempesta Bus Company links the airport with the central railway station.
•Bus: The Amtab Bus offers service to and from the Bari city center.
•Taxi: Taxis are available outside the arrivals hall.

Service:

In the airport there are gift shops, tobacconist/newsagents, travel agency, ATM machines. and duty-free shop. There are also restaurants, snack bars, vending machines, and bars. Travelers and visitors are also able to see the Chapel that is located near the arrival area, which is devoted to the Madonna di Loreto, and was consecrated by Pope John Paul II, when he visited Bari in February of 1984.