Just got back from a week in Berlin. Flew the new Icelandic Airline Play from Stewart (Newburgh NY-I live just down the road from it) to Berlin via Reykjavik.
Stewart only handles like ten flights a day, so obviously no issues there:)
Arrived at REF airport around 5am in the morning and the airport was very quiet with shops just opening up; very short line at passport control.
As the plane was taking off to Berlin it flew kind of close to that active volcano, it was cool to see it in action.
Arrived at BER airport, and had to wait an excruciating 90 minutes for our checked bags. But it only seemed to be an issue with our flight as all the others flights appeared on the carousels in a timely manner. Perhaps there was some sort of technical issue getting them off the plane?
On the return leg we arrived at BER airport three hours prior to departure(around 9am). Short line at the check-in desk to hand over the luggage, also short lines at security. Overall the airport didn't seem to be overly busy, or suffering any sort of staffing issues. There was an incident at the gate with an American women who was screaming and yelling at the gate agents about an item she left behind at the security check point. She thought it was their job to retrieve it. Somehow she made it on the plane, but just before the doors closed the police came aboard the plane and escorted her off, and did not fly. One of the flight attendants said a gate agent filed a complaint against her. But even with all the drama the flight did arrive on time.
At REF, the airport it was much busier this time around but no issues, literally no line at passport control, and the flight took off on-time and arrived early.
So perhaps the moral of the story is to not fly through one of the mega-hub airports like Schipol or Heathrow.
Some random notes about Berlin:
-For unknown reasons the airport express train was not in service during my stay (it's listed as FEX on the schedules). Oddly it was showing up as running on the "live" schedules via the DB app. But wasn't on the monitors at the station and the staff said to just take the regular regional trains passing through.
- I know Germany a bit stingy when it comes to Air-Conditioning, but it didn't seem to be in operation anywhere in the city. I'm one of those wimps who melts without AC. There was AC in my hotel, but it was still too warm for my liking. I asked about it at the front desk they she said it had something to do with energy cuts due to Putin's shenanigans. I did break-down after a few days and bought one of those hand-held fans. I'm sure I looked like a dork using it, but to helped a lot.
Some highlights of the trip:
-There is a Youth Orchestra Festival at Konzerthaus Berlin. Went to a sold-out performance of the Italian orchestra, and in addition to the wonderful music the venue is stunningly beautiful.
-At Check Point Charlie there is a civilian car on display recently shot-up by Russian troops in the Ukraine. A poignant reminder that a horrific war is occurring not too far away.
-The chocolate at the Rausch store is AMAZING! Also be sure to check out their cafe on the top-floor!