Air Berlin cuts the cost of Euro travel

BANGKOK, 10 August 2010 – Air Berlin has rolled out its latest promotion with a base fare starting at Bt16,990, excluding taxes and surcharges

Tagged “Autumn Special,” the promotional fares are valid out from Bangkok to various European destinations.

Once surcharges are included, the Berlin fare will be around Bt25,690; Dusseldorf, Bt24,690; Cologne, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Helsinki, Karlsruhe, Munich, Nuremberg, Paris, Stockholm, Stuttgart and Vienna, Bt26,790 and Oslo and Zurich, Bt26,890.

The promotion is open for bookings until 31 October through travel agencies or at the airline’s office but not through the website. Travel ex-Bangkok is allowed from September until the end of October with validity of one year. As with any other promotion, seats are limited and conditions apply.

From Bangkok, Air Berlin operates four flights a week to Dusseldorf and three times a week to Berlin. Passengers heading for other European destinations will have to connect with the evening intra-European flights.

Compared with offers from other airline during the same travel period, the Autumn Special is good value, especially on the non-stop sectors to Berlin and Dusseldorf at the fares of around Bt25,690 and Bt24,690 respectively. Flying to these destinations with other carriers from Bangkok will involve a connecting stop and fares are more expensive.

German flag carrier, Lufthansa sells at Bt39,635 to Berlin and Bt42,735 to Dusseldorf. Air France offers its lowest fare to Berlin at 38,650 and Dusseldorf, Bt38670. Austrian Airlines’s Red-ticket fare is Bt43,680 to Berlin and Bt44,010, Dusseldorf.

However, Air Berlin is a little more Spartan on in-flight services — catering and entertainment. In economy cabin, Air Berlin serves two meals — one main meal and one cold meal with non-alcoholic drinks (it charges for alcoholic drinks) while it has no AVOD system.

But the additional  features such as free in-flight drinks and AVOD on other airlines costs an extra Bt10,000 or more in the fare.

Etihad Airways has introduced promotional fares on three European routes that are competitive with Air Berlin, but via its Middle East gateway, Abu Dhabi. They are: Paris, Bt28,700; Frankfurt Bt28,080 and Munich Bt27,765.

Compared to fares of other airlines operating services from Bangkok to Europe, Air Berlin’s Autumn Special, is lower on almost all fare quotes across western Europe.  Flying Air Berlin does require connecting with a service out of a German gateway when ticketed through to other European cities, but the ground time is usually less than two hours.

Air France sells Paris from Bt34,940, while Austrian Airlines quotes Vienna for Bt39,900; Swiss quotes Zurich at Bt47,050. SAS sells Copenhagen fares from Bt37,720 and Finnair’s Helsinki fares starts at Bt38,290 while Lufthansa’s Frankfurt fare is Bt33,935.

Thai Airways International quotes the lowest online fare to Oslo for Bt41,400; Copenhagen, Bt41,640; Frankfurt Bt42,095; Munich, Bt41,780; Paris, Bt42,715; Stockholm, Bt41,495 and Zurich Bt42,045.

All fare quotes are inclusive of airport taxes and surcharges and may change without notice.

Contact Air Berlin’s Bangkok Office at 02 236 9779 or email: thailand@airberlin.com  or travel agents.