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Ben over at One Mile at a Time seems to think that Air Berlin’s final death throws are finally over, and the airline is set to cease operations on November 1, 2017. While nothing has been officially confirmed, there are some changes to the booking system that imply this sad end to the airline.
Only Economy Flex Fare Available
The biggest clue to the demise of the airline is the change in bookable tickets. Up to October 31, 2017, you are still able to book all classes of Air Berlin fares, as typified in the example below with a flight from Berlin Tegel TXL to Warsaw WAW on October 31. All ticket options are available including the cheap economy light fares.
The same flight a day later on November 1, 2017, yields completely different results; only fully flex economy fares are available and there are no longer any cheap fares available.
This pattern is repeated across most of Air Berlin’s flights as of November 1. Which means the airline is probably preparing to pass on its passengers to other airlines on that date. Other airlines would not be too willing to accept passengers paying super low fares, however, they are going to welcome passengers paying top dollar.
Some Flights Don’t Seem To Be Affected
The above pattern of ticket pricing does not apply to some Air Berlin flights. Routes to the main holiday destinations in Europe (Spain/Portugal/Cyprus) seem to be unaffected. This is because these flights are not being operated by Air Berlin, but rather by Nikki Air and Alitalia, and so are unaffected by the termination of Air Berlin’s operations.
Overall
Although nothing has been officially confirmed, and fans of Air Berlin are probably hoping something may happen to rescue the stricken airlines, all signs point otherwise. It has been a slow decline for the last couple of months as Air Berlin filed for bankruptcy before its loyalty program Top Bonus did the same. Followed on by the airline ceasing all long-haul operations and getting rid of its wide-body jets. Now with this latest change, it seems that Air Berlin’s time is finally up.
Source: One Mile At A Time
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This means that AA will have one less European partner.
It will leave oneworld coverage in Europe very weak, with only British Airways, Iberia and Finnair remaining.
Those and S7 or Siberian Airlines which is a very nice airline to fly with and has the lowest tax of just 6 euro 50!
Sad story….I’m still holding some Miles – wanted to use them on a family trip – well, thats life
ouch!
Pretty wild. A good reminder to always earn and burn.
No kidding. This is a major mixed message to anyone attempting to fly on this carrier. Use those miles!
Unfortunately, this had to happen.
Rare to see an airline and its loyalty program go completely belly up. Even with all the US bankruptcies I still kept all of my miles.
Just yesterday I thought about booking a flight with NIKI, but it’s just too risky I think.
sad to see an airline go under and so many people losing their jobs
This is unfortunate in many ways — for the employees as well as the passengers who now have fewer options.
It’s very good that we are forewarned about the possibility of bankruptcy. Although other airlines might be willing to accept the tickets, I’m not willing to take that chance.
sad news 🙁
Also saddened by the loss of an AA European partner. Their service was mediocre at best, but would still rather have it at the table.
so sad- fewer direct options to Germany now
Pity as I was hoping to try them when I first found out about their cheaper Avios redemptions from the US to Europe. Hopefully new opportunities will present themselves.
Monarch’s gone, too. Ryan air’s having some “problems”. A bit of a shake-up in the European market?
Makes avios less useful, as it loses a partner with low fuel surcharges.
And another airline in Europe bit the dust today, RIP Monarch, 50 years of service ends in tears for many. European air travel is just too competitive these days.
I’m sure Lufthansa moving towards monopoly won’t hurt fares at all
Sad to see a oneworld partner go , especially one with low fuel surcharges on transatlantic routes
That is a shame. Another european company comes to a tragical end.
I have seen that on September 28 there was an operation labeled “Extend Miles Expiration”.
So some miles which should have expired on September 300 are still there.
At this point let’s hope that Lufthansa will transfer in its programme Miles & More the Top Bonus miles, even at a conversion rate not equal to 1:1.
This is too bad. I will miss those Airberlin redemptions.
I thought someone would step in to keep the airline going… I wonder who will take some of the routes, this means less options with OW in Europe…