Airlines > Germany Airlines

Advantages: cheap, nice aircraft
Disadvantages: take off times

This was the first time I had used a 'budget' airline flying from Birmingham Airport to Cologne - the only direct flight available - previously we had to fly into Dusseldorf by BA and get a taxi (£60). The flight was cheap (£13.00 per person - each way) and the plane was brand new. It left on time and arrived on time both ways so no complaints there. Food and Drink was extra but quite reasonably priced - coffee £2.00 a cup. The flights were about ...
...Plenty of leg space and no extra charges for luggage. What do you expect for £13.00? Only two small gripes - the take off times, 7.40am from Birmingham (at airport 6.40am) and 6.40am (UK time - 5.40am) back from Cologne together with a feeling that it was a case of 'all pile on' whilst boarding. But then again, What do you expect for £13.00! ... Read review

Advantages: VERY cheap, comfortable, great service, expanding route.
Disadvantages: Check-in and boarding can be less than fun.

I have completed five separate return trips with 'Hapag-Lloyd Express' (HLX) over the last 18 months, as both a business and leisure traveller, and I have to say that my opinions of the airline continue to gain some altitude! All of my journeys have been from Manchester, including the early-evening route to Cologne and three to Stuttgart, which depart at a similar time. There are in fact three flights with the airline that leave Manchester's terminal ...
...route to Hannover, the company's headquarters. HLX took to the skies in 2002 and is slowly beginning to expand its network around Europe, including flights to the Med with the airlines bigger sisters, 'ThomsonFly' (formerly Britannia Airlines) and the German equivalent 'HapagFly'. This summer HLX have been flying 18 aircraft to 36 destinations, and here is my first tip for fellow Brits...if you have the time, check the price of flights to Germany ... Read review

Advantages: Book early for great prices,modern fleet, excellent staff
Disadvantages: Wish they flew to more locations from the UK.

...had never flown. We chose Air Berlin as we are only an hour from Manchester Airport and they fly to Paderborne which is about 40 minutes from my dads place in Germany. Arrived at Manchester airport with a very nervous wife.My wife is disabled and I had declared this when I booked ticket several months earlier.Once we had checked baggage in, which went smoothly, immediatly refered to small office where all arrangements were made by Manchester Airport ...
...we got on the plane, Air Berlin staff were great. Flew out on Boing 747/800 I think. I am 6 fooot 4 and found leg room more than ample so no complaints about the comfort. Cabin crew and captain kept us up to speed with position with overhead DVD screen plotting our position on the map. Safety talk was given via the overhead DVD screen which came through in German and English. No sooner in the air than friendly cabin crew moving down the aisle with ... Read review

Advantages: one of the best programmes around
Disadvantages: :-)) you do have to fly or spend money

...( in UK for example Lufthansa Miles and More credit card issed by MBNA with 6000 bonus miles on offer when you join) Their website is very informative and offers every service posible online. The flight awards start from 15000 miles (smart ticket) and you can book online on a short notice (48 hours) They offer award flights not only on Lufthansa but across whole of Star Alliance network of airlines, so in most cases there is always a good choice ...
...Miles and More balance to fly business class from London to Moscow on Swiss airines. I booked 2 days in advance and all I needed was 25000 mile + 80 GB pounds in taxes and fees. All though I used my miles I still had opportunity to use full business class services including access to lounges which is not the case with all the loyality programmes. Overall, I would reccomend it to anybody. It does not cost you a thing and eventually you will end ... Read review

Advantages: Okay when they can get it together.
Disadvantages: Terribly unreliable, disgraceful customer relations.

Do not be fooled by FlyBe positioning themselves as a budget airline. They aren't cheap if you need to book seats less than a couple of weeks in advance, and the flights likely to be used for business trips are heavily penalised cost-wise. I fly regularly to UK and EU destinations with FlyBe from Southampton. When it's fine, it's fine - which is all you can ask for from a 'budget airline'. However, more than 50% of the 34 flights I've booked this ...
...or, worst of all, diverted to Birmingham or Exeter because we've taken off so far behind schedule than Southampton Airport will be closed by the time we touch down. Obviously, this usually happens on the return leg, which means I get to spend hours in a half closed airport with not a clue as to when I may get home. Any kind of disruption in the morning, at any airport, ripples though their schedules to the point of utter chaos by mid-afternoon. ... Read review