Welcome to this flight report covering the first leg of my WAW-DUS-WAW trip onboard Eurowing A319 operated by AirBerlin.
BACKGROUND
The reason of this journey was purely business, I needed to get to Germany for Anuga food exhibition in Cologne and the best way to get there was either a flight directly to Cologne from Modlin with Ryanair, either to Dusseldorf with Eurowings or LOT from WAW and then a short trip by train to my final destination. I wasn't really happy to fly Ryanair again or to go again to Modlin airport that only under some circumstances can really be called an airport, so a flight from WAW was a much better option. Eurwings won beacuse I haven't flown this airline yet and a basic fare ticket costed only 65 euros both ways, so nobody in the company asked why I chose this and not that option. A cheap flight ticket is a guarantee nobody will study the subject.
AT THE AIRPORT
Warsaw main airport WAW (named Frederick Chopin but known mostly as Okecie from the city district it is located), after flying lately from and to Modlin, for the first time gave that day an impression of being a place of luxury (places to seat, space to stand… funny how the basic and obvious things start being appreciated after experiencing something, let's say it clear, ultra-low cost. That day I wasn't even focusing on the unpleasant as always security check. It was nice to fly from a normal airport with all the necessary things included.
The Eurowings check-in desks looked somehow hidden in the darkest corner of the terminal. The good thing was there was no queue and the staff didn't hide their joy I'm not, as most of the passengers, flying with cabin bag only, cause the flight was 100% full (my basic fare had of course no checked-in luggage included but as I couldn't make with a small one for 4 days, I paid extra for the big bag a couple of days before the flight).
FIDS
On ten way to my gate I discoverd what has been announced as a big bonus for all the passengers unwilling to pay for a bottle of water after security check. In Warsaw a small bottle of water costs normally about 0,20 euro while at the airport almost 1,50 euro - it's not strange people were furious when it came to buying water in duty free shops. The tap water is of a good quality, so if one has his own bottle, he can save 1,50 euro and enjoy this one for free.
Time for some spotting before my flight. Nothing exceptional but at least not 100% Ryanair.
Small Planet A320
KLM 737-700 to AMS
Ellinair 737-300 to Heraklion
Wizz A320
LOT 787-800 to LAX and LOT/Nordica CRJ900
…. and my A319 with two overwing exits arriving from DUS
ON BOARD
After very fast boarding I'm at the Eurowings/Air Berlin hybrid's doors. My first and definitely the last contact with Air Berlin.
View from my seat. A good thing is the wing doesn't cover all the view.
Pitch is very good and even better assuming the fact I fly a low cost airline.
Push back with some apron views
Entering the 29 runway
and here we go towards the cloudy October sky
with Warsaw downtown in the distance
There is more than one layer of clouds today and for a moment we stuck somewhere in between
Then there is just the blue sky
and another aircraft
The cabin looks nice. The aircraft is in good condition.
Let's look at the rich seat pocket content
The hybrid Eurowings/Air Berlin safety card
The sky bar. Quite a wide range and resonable prices.
My tea. I was astonished it wasn't hot water + tea bag. It was poured out of a pot, quite weak, not worth the 2,50 I paid for it. At least the cup with logo was nice.
As the whole flight was very calm, the descend was very bumpy due to very strong wind. Happily it wasn't that strong as the one that almost blew away the Emirates A380 from the runway a couple of days before.
The chimneys of the industrial Ruhra region may be seen in a distance
Looks like we are on the ground again
Species in danger of extinction - Air Berlin
ARRIVAL
That was one of the longest waits for the bag I can rember. Even if there were like 5 totally free belts, there were only 2 or 3 working, each one serving 3 flights. My bag arrived after 35 minutes. I have already imagined myself at work wearing sneakers and a hoodie blouse…
And now time for a small bonus - some shots of the magnificent Cologne cathedral, unfortunately without daylight as I spent all days working
Bonus : Click here displayhide
Many thanks for reading!
See more
Verdict
Eurowings
6.9/10
Cabin9.0
Cabin crew5.0
Entertainment/wifi6.0
Buy-on-board menu7.5
Warsaw - WAW
9.0/10
Efficiency9.0
Access9.0
Services9.0
Cleanliness9.0
Düsseldorf - DUS
9.0/10
Efficiency9.0
Access9.0
Services9.0
Cleanliness9.0
Conclusion
Eurowings seems a very good airline, nothing like Ryanair, definitely a strong member of the group of better low cost airlines leaded by Norwegian. The one and only thing I didn't like about this flight was the cabin crew (rather indifferent, tired and sad) but as it was Air Berlin crew I fully understand their mood. WAW is as usual (not counting the security check) a pleasant experience. After Modlin it's even more pleasant. DUS - terrible luggage reclaim organization, will see in a few days how it works on the departures level.
4 LIKESLIKE TO THANK THE AUTHORTHANKS ! FLIGHT-REPORT LIKED
Thanks for this report. Nice tips to save money as water is indeed really expensive at chopin airport AB mixed with LH is not so bad. I still dont like thay LH is only offering free service to FRA and MUC. Good idea to fly through WAW. WMI needs some renovations and they are stuck in a fight with Radom as they want some Ryanair flights also....
Salut Benoit! Modlin is a terrible place but at least it has a reason to exist, while Radom is just a stupid idea of some local politicians that simply waste public money. Have a nice weekend!
“funny how the basic and obvious things start being appreciated after experiencing something, let's say it clear, ultra-low cost.“ - An important point showing how certain aspects we believe are basic, are actually not basic and part of the regular aspects everywhere.
Great spotting shots at WAW.
“and another aircraft“ - Fantastic catch of the 787! I am not entirely sure about the operator but perhaps there is a possiblity that you caught a TUI 787.
Thanks for this FR. Wow 65€ round trip is really a bargain! At 2,50€ a cup of weak tea, I can't even imagine the margin, but when the fare was so cheap it's almost like you have to buy something to allow the airline to make money.
Hi, thanks. Yes, my tikcet was very cheap, but it was only becuase it was bought a couple of months before, most of the passengers paid much more I suppose so they could make this tea a little bit stronger ;)
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6 Comments
Thanks for this report.
Nice tips to save money as water is indeed really expensive at chopin airport
AB mixed with LH is not so bad. I still dont like thay LH is only offering free service to FRA and MUC.
Good idea to fly through WAW.
WMI needs some renovations and they are stuck in a fight with Radom as they want some Ryanair flights also....
Miłego dnia
“funny how the basic and obvious things start being appreciated after experiencing something, let's say it clear, ultra-low cost.“
- An important point showing how certain aspects we believe are basic, are actually not basic and part of the regular aspects everywhere.
Great spotting shots at WAW.
“and another aircraft“
- Fantastic catch of the 787! I am not entirely sure about the operator but perhaps there is a possiblity that you caught a TUI 787.
“bag arrived after 35 minutes.“
- Frustrating...
Stunning night bonus at the end!
Have a good one, see you.
Wow 65€ round trip is really a bargain!
At 2,50€ a cup of weak tea, I can't even imagine the margin, but when the fare was so cheap it's almost like you have to buy something to allow the airline to make money.
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