German airports are **** - sorry, user-unfriendly. Discuss and vent.

[pmd 685]

2 hours ago, dessa_dangerous said:

I really don't understand any of the crying about Schönefeld or Tegel.  Compared to Dulles, my hometown SeaTac or even Mallorca airports, the Berlin airports are a fucking breeze and a downright delight.  You walk in, go three steps to your counter, three steps to your gate, and onto the plane.  None of this uppy downy faff, none of this getting-on-a-monorail-just-to-get-to-the-elevator-to-get-to-the-level-of-your gate kerfuffle, none of this utter chaos of big city airports.  Even if you're a Jonny NoFriends and have to take public transit to the airport, both Berlin airports are a dream.  Train or bus every few minutes basically right up to the door.  Three steps to the counter.  Three steps to the gate.

 

What's not to like?

On 11/06/2018, 11:30:22, Adem137 said:

 

 

You know what, I shouldn't have complained about Cologne Airport having flown in from Dublin - just occurred to me that it *still* has no rail link to the city centre which is an absolute joke at this stage. Especially for a capital city.

[arsenal21 401]

3 hours ago, dessa_dangerous said:

I really don't understand any of the crying about Schönefeld or Tegel.  Compared to Dulles, my hometown SeaTac or even Mallorca airports, the Berlin airports are a fucking breeze and a downright delight.  You walk in, go three steps to your counter, three steps to your gate, and onto the plane.  None of this uppy downy faff, none of this getting-on-a-monorail-just-to-get-to-the-elevator-to-get-to-the-level-of-your gate kerfuffle, none of this utter chaos of big city airports.  Even if you're a Jonny NoFriends and have to take public transit to the airport, both Berlin airports are a dream.  Train or bus every few minutes basically right up to the door.  Three steps to the counter.  Three steps to the gate.

 

What's not to like?

Maybe depends on the airline or where you're going to. I usually get Ryanair to Ireland and I have a long walk along a Kafkaesque corridor through a Burger King and an Irish bar called "Plastic Paddie's", then down a stairs, then more Kafka and the crammed into a room with hard seating for about half the number of people.

 

Incidentally, the last time I was there I went to the Departures gate in the old buildin and there was no-one queuing there, took all of 1 minute to get through.

 

[RedMidge 6,638]

Toronto Pearson gets my thumbs down award! 

I quite like Hamburg- not too big and convenient for autobahn.

At least Frankfurt has shops ! 

[arunadasi 7,074]

On 27/06/2018, 20:35:18, desdemona said:

 

I agree that the trolley system in FA sucks big time. I travel frequently because of my job and I never use the trolleys, for that exact reason.

In Singapore, trolleys are always in immediate vicinity for your use. Floors are carpeted to absorb noise and there’s always a place to sit and have a coffee. There’s free WiFi too. I miss Singapore comfort and convenience.

YES about Singapore! As soon as you disembark there's a small trolley for your hand luggage, and then a screen where you can add your boarding pass and it tells you EXACTLY where to go to get your connection, how long it will take, how to get there (a little map) and so on. Wonderful.

Anyway I passed through Hamburg again the other day. I had to use wheelchair service because of a bad hip. Now, the thing about wheelchair service is that they pick you up at the aircraft (if the plane is furtheraway from the building) , drive you to the airport entrance, and then at the airport entrance someone is waiting for you with a wheelchair. I've done this countless times with my mother, my husband and more recently myself, all over the world.

At Hamburg, there were two wheelchair passengers. They brought us to the airport building and then they pointed to the security queues and we had to do the rest on foot! Yes, join the queue! This should not happen. 

My favourite airport at the moment is Dublin. Very easy to navigate. And if you have wheelchair service they wheel you right up to the bus stop, outside the airpot, when you arrive.

[dj_jay_smith 3,449]

Came back from holiday from Rhodes yesterday, and I have to say that this is an airport which is in bad condition!

Since the financial crisis hit traffic at the airport is actually up by ~50%, but of course lack of money means that the place is not well maintained.  

 

When checking in there are too few desks meaning long queues, badly displayed information screens and due to poor luggage system then you actually have to check-in twice.  Once to check-in and weigh and tag your bags and then a second time at a different desk where they are x-rayed and put into the baggage system.

 

Then in departures the air-conditioning is very poor, some of the toilets are still bad.   There are far too few seats for the number of passengers.  Food and shopping options are poor.  Half of the TV screens don't work.  There is no PA system which means that staff have to shout out if a flight is boarding (and you have staff shouting over each other!).  And there are also no air-bridges at all.

 

So maybe Frankfurt is not so bad after all.

However, Fraport is now responsible for running Rhodes airport! (and others in Greece, although to be fair they only started in 2017).

 

Having said that, when we did arrive in Frankfurt then we came to a gate where there was no staff, so we had to wait.  Then we discovered that we were at a non-Schengen gate even though we were a Schengen flight so we still had to be bussed to the terminal anyway!

 

 

[arunadasi 7,074]

On 1/1/2018, 8:17:59, arsenal21 said:

 

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/tax/income_tax/artists_exemption_from_income_tax.html

 

Your income from writing might be tax exempt.

Hi everyone. Somebody liked my first post on this thread which brought it to my attention again. As I'm flying next week, thought I'd reply to a few unanswered questions.

Above: yes, I have artists' tax exemption. It's not all tax free: "only" (!) the first €45k. And even then, only money you actually bring into Ireland. I like!

 

On 1/1/2018, 7:13:49, camlough said:

 

monaghan??? there is NO A&E anywhere in the county, are you insane??? 

As an aging woman, why would you even consider this? No health services, terrible economy, why?

would you not reconsider moving somewhere with decent healthcare and facilities?

 

edit, the link is in scotshouse???. That is the back of beyond, nothing there at all

Yes, I am absolutely insane, and I love living in the country, as remotely as possible! The last thing I think about when looking for a place to stay is A&E. At the moment I'm still in Monaghan town, in rental accommodation. I can't afford my own place yet, and I've grown a little more fussy. Probably need at least €250k when I do buy.

I think the link was in Scotstown, not Scotshouse? I lived in Scotstown for the first year in Ireland. I couldn't find my own place right away but I met a couple who run a B&B near Scotstown and just 8 k from my daughter on the other side of the border. Now THAT was remote! But they were a lovely couple and I got my first taste of Irish hospitality. I've only grown to love the Irish more since then. I stayed in a lovely big room in that B&B for a monthly rent of €375 so I was able to take my time while choosing a place to live. Perfect.
 

I might be ageing but I'm very fit, After hip surgery I'm quite mobile again and expect to be for a while. I want to live near my daughter and grandchildren (two kids now). That's my first priority. If I need surgery again I'll make use of the Cross-border Directive, enabling me to have it anywhere in the EU (sadly, no longer in the UK.)

All has gone well, considering. No hard border, and I've put down roots here. I don't even mind the weather any more. But I'm flying to the UK next week so my concern was getting in with as much ease as possible, so flying from Belfast to avoid hassles. Returning to Dublin. If I have to quarantine afterwards so be it. I can do that.

[nina_glyndwr 4,748]

Ah...if you think that German airports are bad, you've not come across Manchester airport. 

 

When I arrive at D'dorf airport, I can see straightaway where I have to check in and what gate to go to afterwards. Even if I arrive two or three hours before the flight is due to take off, I know this information. I check in, go through airport security and go to the nice, quiet gate area (after checking out the shops).

 

When I arrive at Manchester airport, I can't see where I have to check in. When I find the queue, I am often turned away because "It's too early." But they can't tell me when the right time would be. The last time I was there and asked, I was shouted at by an airport employee. No apology. Then after checking in, I go through airport security and end up in a large hall surrounded by shops on all sides (and a pub near the window), each one blaring out music (different music). There are rows of chairs in the centre, with children jumping on and off them. The small TV screens dangling from the ceiling are not close to the seats and if you are alone, you risk losing your seat while you check to see which gate number you have to go to. You find out your gate number about half an hour before the plane is due to take off. I often go to a corridor and sit down there, on the low window sill, just to get away from all the noise: the talking, all the different music, the shouting... It's hellish for me.

 

The last time I was there, one English man said it was the worst airport in the world and a Dutch woman said it was very confusing. It makes me feel so tense that I can only stomach flying there to see my parents once every two years. This was supposed to be the year. At Easter. 

[HEM 11,160]

6 hours ago, nina_glyndwr said:

Ah...if you think that German airports are bad, you've not come across Manchester airport.

 

I entirely agree with you (& MAN used to be my "home" airport when I lived in the UK).

With the exception of the EasyJet girl at the gate on departure they were a very unhelpful bunch last time we flew out of there.

 

I dunno whether the staff (esp at security) are at the forefront of the Brexit supporters & just hate those travelling.

When their security system stood still for at least 20 minutes causing us to miss our flight back to Hamburg they tried to claim that for continental flights one should be at airport (meaning entering security) 3 hours before departure!

 

And the layout of the place  - you keep thinking you are in a drinks & perfume store rather than an airport (maze of twisty passages).

[optimista 5,887]

Agree MAN is an absolute chaotic nightmare. A cattle market on a bad day. Never rent a car there... ever. Dunno how many times I have gone to the wrong terminal because it was neither on my ticket nor on a screen. The adventure starts before you even get out of the lift in the car park (once you've actually found it) trying to figure out which floor check-in is on. I am flummoxed every single time - after going through that airport for the last three decades.

 

And I was rarely so taken aback as when security started addressing me, a middle-aged lone female, as "Guys".

[Dembo 525]

I was a regular traveller from Manchester. If it was busy security would be the worst: you end up queuing up like cattle in a basement room with no air and no natural light whilst ex-military types yell instructions at you every few sceonds. Then if  you survive that you then have to walk through an area where the air is 90% perfum. And that was Terminal 1. When I did Terminal 3 it was the same but smaller.

 

On the way back in you have much the same experience with passport control.

 

I also used to go and find some quiet corner at a remote gate so I could sit and read away from the noise. And after a few regular trips I had an idea roughly where my gate would be.

 

Having said all that, I don't know what a good airport would be. Security is always crap, and I'm not looking forward to doing passport control now that we're not allowed to use the e-Gates.

[HEM 11,160]

1 hour ago, optimista said:

And I was rarely so taken aback as when security started addressing me, a middle-aged lone female, as "Guys".

 

One of the "mistakes" I made last time was that in the melee to hand our packed trays to enter the Xray machine my wife was stood behind me & the security guy (sub-continent type) who took these trays was steadfastly ignoring women.  He took my tray & then I assumed he'd take my wifes but no - he took those from men who came in much later.
Next time (if there ever is one): wife in front of me & I hand over her tray.

 

26 minutes ago, Dembo said:

If it was busy security would be the worst: you end up queuing up like cattle in a basement room with no air and no natural light whilst ex-military types yell instructions at you every few sceonds.

They are still there - at least were 2 years ago.  My wife said it was worse than going across the old DDR border.

 

Quote

Then if  you survive that you then have to walk through an area where the air is 90% perfum.

Same when you arrive.

[HH_Sailor 3,624]

MAN was my target airport too.

Always full. Always loud. Always stuffy.

 

Two highlights though:

The Lufthansa staff were brilliant when I called, and later in person, the day my bags incl. passport were stolen in the UK leaving me somewhat stranded.

They cleared me through and gave me a number to call in HAM for re-entry. Even using their phone as mine was with the burglar. 

 

The other highlight is the Concorde in the museum. Arrive some hours early and book a trip to science nostalgia. Staffed by ex Concorde flight attendants, they can answer any questions and have a mountain of anecdotes. 40 bottles of Champagne per flight. Really?

[Guest]

Manchester airport...

 

3 Mega fucking huge Chandeliers!!...   

[LukeSkywalker 7,631]

2 hours ago, optimista said:

And I was rarely so taken aback as when security started addressing me, a middle-aged lone female, as "Guys".

Better than "mate" :).

[LukeSkywalker 7,631]

55 minutes ago, HH_Sailor said:

Staffed by ex Concorde flight attendants, they can answer any questions and have a mountain of anecdotes. 40 bottles of Champagne per flight. Really?

Well, for €10,000 per ticket upwards, you might expect something :).

[optimista 5,887]

2 hours ago, HEM said:

(sub-continent type)

 

I was looking for a suitable adjective but chickened out. Seemed to be in a majority last time I was there. Also a remarkable number of Eastern Block personnel, presumably on dumping wages. Can't help wondering who is running HR.

[HEM 11,160]

44 minutes ago, optimista said:

Also a remarkable number of Eastern Block personnel, presumably on dumping wages.

 

The EasyJet girl who took us back from the Gate (the plane had engines running), through immigration(!) and then located our luggage was from Poland.

Whole things cost a lot: rebook ticket for next day, another night's stay (luckily they had a room at the B&B we had stayed in the first night) and as some recompense an excellent meal at the Bull's Head in Mobberly.

 

Next day of course there was almost noone around & we were through security in less than 10 minutes.