Transavia: Amsterdam to Pisa

The carrier: Transavia

About

Transavia is the low-cost wing of the KLM/Air France group. With hubs in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Paris and Eindhoven, it flies to the standard range of European holiday haunts, both cities for culture-oriented weekend breaks and sunny spots for warm getaways.

As such, Transavia is especially strong with its routes to Greece, Morocco, Turkey, and insular Portugal (Madeira) and Spain (Arrecife, Las Palmas and Tenerife). Transavia operates, on balance, a more pleasant onboard experience than that offered by many other low-cost airlines.

Founded in 1965, Transavia began flying in 1966 from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The airline became a subsidiary of KLM in 1991. In 2006, Transavia transformed its look with new cabin crew uniforms, as well as smart new designs, inside and outside the aircraft.

Upside

Nice, broad balance of destinations.

Downside

Functions as a charter airline on many routes. After additional fees are added during the booking process, the final ticket price will often be double the amount originally quoted. Frequent delays.

Baggage

* Carry-on: Up to 5 kg of hand luggage plus one personal item (book, coat)
* Checked: Up to 20 kg of luggage; €10 per additional kg.

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

Seating

You may choose seats at the time of your on-line booking. At the airport, Transavia operates a first-come first-serve policy at check-in.

Checking and Ticketing

Online check in is available for the 24 hours prior to departure if you are flying from certain airports.  It is available for passengers with and without hold baggage.

Tip

Sign up for Transavia's free e-mail newsletterwhich alerts you to fare deals and money-saving offers. Be cautious using this carrier if you are on a tight schedule or have connecting flights.

Departure: Amsterdam, Netherlands - Schiphol (AMS)

In Brief: Amsterdam's Schiphol is the biggest airport in the Netherlands and the fourth-biggest in all of Europe in terms of flight volume. Though traditionally a flag-carrier airport (versus a low-cost carrier airport) Schiphol has shifted gears a bit in recent years, and opened a "pier" (sort of a terminal) with limited facilities for many of its low-cost airlines. Schiphol's facilities, range of shops, and extremely cosmopolitan and bustling spirit provide a snappy introduction (or farewell) to the Netherlands. Transportation: Schiphol is very well connected to Amsterdam. Trains run every few minutes and take about 20 minutes. One-way train journeys cost just €3.60.

Arrival: Pisa, Italy - Pisa Gal Galilei (PSA)

Galileo Galilei International Airport is named after Galileo Galilei, the famous scientist and native of Pisa. The airport serves Pisa, but also functions as a secondary (or primary, depending on who you ask!) airport for nearby Florence. Location: Galileo Galilei International Airport is located 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) south of Pisa in the San Giusto neighborhood. Transport: - Rail: Trains run from the railway station next to the terminal, with services to Lucca via Pisa Centrale, Florence (Firenze SMN) via Pisa Centrale, Pontedera and Empoli, as well as a service to Florence via Montecatini and Pistoia. - Bus: Buses carry passengers to various stops in the city center, and leaves from outside the Arrivals hall and from the Cassa Parcheggi, outside the Departures hall. - Taxi: The Pisa taxi cooperative known as the CO.TA.PI, and Radio Taxi both run a 24-hour taxi service from the airport. CO.TA.PI has a collective taxi running to the Pisa Centrale railway station and Ospedale Santa Chiara for a flat rate. Service: The airport information desk in the Arrivals hall provides tourist and flight info, and one can purchase rail and bus tickets there. The tourist information desk can be found outside the Arrivals Hall. There is a bar on the ground floor, and two restaurants on the first floor. Most of the shops are located in the La Corte shopping area. A tax-free shop is located in Departures. There is a post office in the airport, and a bank that has an ATM, as well as a currency exchange machine. The airport provides a First Aid Station, and an Air Health Office, which offers vaccinations. Other facilities include a children's play area. more...