Germanwings: Zurich to Antalya

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: Zurich, Switzerland - Zurich (Kloten) (ZRH)

Zurich Airport, also known as Kloten Airport, is located in Kloten, Switzerland. Location: Zurich Airport is located 9 km (5 miles) outside of Zurich's city center. Transport: - Rail: The airport contains a Swiss Federal Railway station with trains to central Zurich. Trains take about 10 minutes, and access many other city and tourist destinations across Switzerland. - Bus: The bus terminal is located next to car park 2 and contains several regular bus lines that serve regional towns and villages. There is also a coach network that connects the airport to destinations all over Switzerland, including all major ski resorts. - Taxi: Taxis at the airport can be found outside Terminals 1 and 2. Service: In the Arrivals Hall, there are multiple information desks. Other services include a bank, currency exchange, post office, and Wireless Internet hotspots. There are numerous restaurants, cafes, snack bars, and shops (including duty-free) as well as a medical and dental center, pharmacy, nurseries, pharmacies, and a bicycle and baby cart rental.

Arrival: 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...