Germanwings: Sofia to Stockholm

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: Sofia, Bulgaria - Sofia (Vrazhdebna) Airport (SOF)

Sofia Airport, also known as Vrazhdebna (after the village located to the north), is the main airport serving Sofia, Bulgaria. Location: Sofia Airport is located 10 km (6 miles) east of Sofia. Transport: - Rail: There are many bus and taxi connections from the Sofia Airport to the Central Railway Station. - Bus: Regular bus service is available to and from the airport and Sofia's city center. - Taxi: Taxi cabs are available outside the main airport building. Service: Airport amenities include free Wi-Fi Internet access, numerous restaurants, cafes and shops as well as a lost and found facility. more...

Arrival: Stockholm, Sweden - Arlanda (ARN)

Stockholm's traditional airport, Arlanda is the city's major international airport. Though mostly an airport served by conventional airlines, a smattering of low-cost carriers also serve Arlanda. Nordic budget airlines Sterling, FlyNordic, Blue1, and Norwegian Air Shuttle all fly to and from Arlanda. Location: Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is located 36 km (23 miles) outside the Stockholm city center. Transport: - Rail: There are multiple train services at Arlanda Airport. The Arlanda Express is a high-speed train that goes non-stop between Stockholm and the airport in 20 minutes. Long-distance trains depart from the underground Arlanda Central Station to 70 Swedish destinations. Commuter train service is also available from the station. Tickets for these trains can be purchased at a machine or information desk. A ticket costs SEK220. - Bus: There is a Flygbussarna bus link which takes 40 minutes. Buses meet arrivals and departures. A ticket costs SEK99. - Taxi: Taxis are found outside the main terminal building and travelers should consult the taxi coordinator to obtain one. There are also two taxis lines, one for environmentally "clean" taxis, usually at the front of the queue of taxis. Service: The airport has numerous stores and restaurants (30 each) as well as banks, a pharmacy, chapel, currency exchange, and a post office. Other facilities include a hair salon, dry cleaner, fitness center, and a nursing room with childplay areas. Wireless Internet access and public Internet portals are throughout the airport.