We left our hotel, Casa Camper Berlin at 15.50PM for delayed 6.45PM flight (Schelude time was 6.10PM, but it's still better than the 6 hour delay on TLV-SXF flight). We took a S-bahn from Hakesher Markt to Alexanderplatz,and than we connect to the train for Berlin - Schonefeld Airport. In less than a hour we were in the Airport!
From the Train Station of the airport you have to walk about 1 kilometer to the Terminals:
Our Check-In for this Astra flights was from Terminal D, the newest terminal at the airport, used for airlines like Ryanair, UP, Norwegian, Wow Air etc.
Long line at the check-in:
Durning the waiting for the Check-In and getting our tickets I went to "Relay" store that located in every airport in Germany and I decided to buy those models:
We got seats 27EF but I decided to switch the tickets for alise seats, 19CD, as the flight will be fully dark and it's better to seat in the ailse on this trashy and tight plane.
The air-side of the Terminal was ok but nothing special about it:
Pegasus 737-800 is ready for flight to SAW and our plane (SX-DIO, A320, Astra) just arrived from Tel Aviv (and of course that not on-time…):
For non-schengen flights departs from Terminal D (UK&Israel&Iceland etc) passengers have to take elevator to climbing stairs to Terminal A and than doing a passport control plus another high-safe security check for flights to Tel Aviv.
Ryanair 737-800 is ready for a short hop to CGN:
Waiting for our flight, there aren't enough seats for everyone:
Boarding was quite slow and we was stucking for 20 minutes inside the jetbridge (one of 3 that that SXF has):
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A view of the old & ugly cabin again from my seat (includes a safety demo from the greek flight attendent that was really nice, it's nice to fly from Germany to Israel and get a greek plane&cabin crew):
Take-off was at 7.05PM:
The service for this 4h flight, including sugar from Israel:
Toilets:
Flight was really boring, nothing to read, watch or listen… If you are flying with Astra bring with you something to do!
Cabin:
No Photos from landing as it was dark, but we landed after twice of trying to land!
We got a bus gate again!
And as it was the busiest day at the airport, it took one hour and half to get our switcases from the belt!
Finally, after a long journey I was in home at 2.30AM. No second option for Astra in my career.
Man, talk about basic! Astra is bare bones no frills. I guess this was some sort of scheduled charter and not a regular scheduled route since Astra is Greek? Seriously, one drink and a cookie on a 4 hour flight...that's rough. Was there at a B.O.B menu in case someone wanted to buy some food? With a departure time at 7PM, I wouldn't want to eat at the airport because it would be too early for dinner so it would be good to have the option to buy something on board. I would be starving if my flight landed at midnight and all I had to eat on a 4h flight is a cookie, haha. Oh and that cabin...yuck. Old and worn out looking!
This report shows that outward appearances are deceiving! The livery is so pretty, but it's so ugly in the inside! Haha.
Thanks for sharing!
Hiii, first of all , you are always welcome!
Than, Last year Astra Airlines operated some charter routes from Tel Aviv (Berlin 2 weekly, Ljubliana 1 w, Rhodes and Herkalion daily, Thessaloniki daily and Verona 1 w). There wasn't a B.O.B menu, so if u hadn't eaten before the flight, you will stay hungry until arriving home. Livery is so pretty but the cabin, not for me. Price wasn't so cheap for this flight, but I booked this flight only two weeks before.
Thanks for this FR.
Well you get more on Astra than on EZY, but that's still nothing to be satisfied about.
Hope the price was right!
Hii,
First of all, you are always welcome!
Yeah, I flew only one way with EZY (FCO-TLV), But i booked a flight to LTN with EZY and returning with ZB (Both A320). Don't worry, not next time for Astra Airlines in my case!