Air Berlin Joining OneWorld

[Dan]

So Air Berlin is joining OW soon.  But they seem interesting even now...
Anyone know anything about them?

They are a SPG transfer partner at 1:1 or 20K:25K.

Their award chart appears to be interesting, although I don't entirely understand how it works, it looks like it's just 15K to TLV and you can redeem 5K more points to avoid paying any taxes/fees on the award ticket.
http://www.airberlin.com/site/affiliate/tb/meilen_einloesen_eng.gif

They fly from JFK, LAX, MIA, RSW, and SFO.
They even serve the Maldives!

[steve2]

 the link you provided seems to be talking about 5k to avoid taxes and fees per flight and not per trip. if thats true then its 40k 1 way US to TLV 25 US to Europe and 15K Europe to TLV x 2 = 80k roundtrip all for flying on an LCC, no Thanks

 although its nice having another option for using AA or BA miles to get to TLV

[Dan]

the link you provided seems to be talking about 5k to avoid taxes and fees per flight and not per trip. if thats true then its 40k 1 way US to TLV 25 US to Europe and 15K Europe to TLV x 2 = 80k roundtrip all for flying on an LCC, no Thanks

 although its nice having another option for using AA or BA miles to get to TLV

Are you sure you need to book 2 separate awards to get from JFK-TLV?
In that case you're right, the only good thing will be when they join OW to have another redemption partner to TLV and MLE.

[steve2]

Are you sure you need to book 2 separate awards to get from JFK-TLV?
In that case you're right, the only good thing will be when they join OW to have another redemption partner to TLV and MLE.

 when I got the email this morning about this I went to their website cant get much info unless you join them, but it did mention in numerous how 7500is all you need for afree Flight (not free trip as a trip is 2 1 ways and a flight = 1  1 way).

 I could be wrong (wont be the 1st time) but all I did was add a midhaul and a longhaul together, since everything is based on starting in Europe, maybe they will give a little disc for a US-Eur-TLV and I would assume that they will have to accept OWs baggage allowance for OW elites, but if a person isnt a OW Elite then look out at those fees for the bags that Im sure are there as well as other fees as thats what makes the LCCs so profitable

 BTW go the their Home page You cant even purcahse a JFK-TLV tkt! so try starting in TLV and they wont sell U a tkt to NY. thusly why I felt you would have to add both a mid and long haul flights together since if they will only sell you a US-EUR & EUR -TLV as 2 tkts then thats how they probably for now will have their Award tkts set up as well

[Dan]

Perhaps AB won't sell JFK-DUS-TLV on one ticket, but I'd have to imagine that AA would be able to piece that together on an award ticket using AAdvantage miles.

[steve2]

 also they only fly to DUS from JFK and dont fly non-stop DUS-TLV so maybe thats why they arent selling NY-TLV since you will have to fly from DUS to XYZ in order to catch the TLV flight and who knows if if can be done the same day as arriving from the US. maybe better connections form the other US citys

[steve2]

Perhaps AB won't sell JFK-DUS-TLV on one ticket, but I'd have to imagine that AA would be able to piece that together on an award ticket using AAdvantage miles.

 But that also will mean at least a 2 stopper  and after all is said and done its a LCC or AA to FRA then to XYZ on AB then onto TLV on AB. AS FRA is the only city in Germany that AA flys into

 when I just put in TLV-FRA it routes me TLV-TXL-FRA , seems there are some non-stops to CGN & MUC besides TXL but TXL has the most.

 Id rather go RJ via AMM

[Eli]

Are you sure you need to book 2 separate awards to get from JFK-TLV?
In that case you're right, the only good thing will be when they join OW to have another redemption partner to TLV and MLE.

who needs MLE when you have LGK?

[Eli]

Id rather go RJ via AMM

my parents are going RJ via AMM for Sukkos. You think it's an ok idea? 1 hr stop.

[Dan]

also they only fly to DUS from JFK and dont fly non-stop DUS-TLV so maybe thats why they arent selling NY-TLV since you will have to fly from DUS to XYZ in order to catch the TLV flight and who knows if if can be done the same day as arriving from the US. maybe better connections form the other US citys

They do fly DUS-TLV nonstop.

who needs MLE when you have LGK?

LGK sounds awesome, but are there any overwater bungalows?

[Dan]

my parents are going RJ via AMM for Sukkos. You think it's an ok idea? 1 hr stop.

I wouldn't go via AMM, but that's just me.

[steve2]

my parents are going RJ via AMM for Sukkos. You think it's an ok idea? 1 hr stop.

 yea AMM should be OK 1 hr not bad most times it was over 5hrs when I checked, but I have to admitt I never did actually fly it although I had it booked, switched to TK when TK was still apart of OW

[aussiebochur]

I wouldn't go via AMM, but that's just me.

Don't know how it would compare but I flew via DXB and had no issues.

[steve2]

They do fly DUS-TLV nonstop.

 true but it doesnt seem to be everyday and TXL has alot more flights

 also they only fly into STN in London and thats a Royal pain to switch between LHR & STN unless you are staying overnight+, Im sure there are other cities that 1 can fly AA into and then connect to TXL and then onto TLV

 

[Eli]

yea AMM should be OK 1 hr not bad most times it was over 5hrs when I checked,

It's AMM to ORD.

[steve2]

It's AMM to ORD.

I hope their are in BIZ the pics looked real nice of that cabin

ORD maybe thats why from JFK it was alot longer last time I checked

[Eli]

Of course it's biz.

[Eli]

LGK sounds awesome, but are there any overwater bungalows?

I don't know what an overwater bungalow is but check out the 1 bedroom beach villa, that is where I am right now.

http://www.fourseasons.com/langkawi/

Oh, I think I know what you mean by overwater bungalow, like the Sheraton in MLE? This is close enough with a white sandy private beach right outside my back door, a pool in the villa, and many other amenities.

[aussiebochur]

I don't know what an overwater bungalow is but check out the 1 bedroom beach villa, that is where I am right now.

http://www.fourseasons.com/langkawi/

Oh, I think I know what you mean by overwater bungalow, like the Sheraton in MLE? This is close enough with a white sandy private beach right outside my back door, a pool in the villa, and many other amenities.

NICE!!!

[Dan]

Don't know how it would compare but I flew via DXB and had no issues.

I've read FT stories about problems in Jordan with talis/tefilin and stuff.  Do you need to clear customs in AMM?
Definitely don't daven with tefilin in AMM.