Berlin Trip : Berlin Brandenburg Airport

Safely back at Berlin Brandenburg Airport and I tried to be more positive about it than when I arrived. But, it’s a struggle, this is perhaps the most mocked airport in northern Europe for the delays and chaos in its building, but it also feels so badly designed and the negativity from passengers continues.

Terminals 1 and 2 are linked airside and it wasn’t clear to me why passengers have to walk in the cold to get from one to another on landside. This airport was meant to cost €2.83 billion to build, but the total was ultimately nearer to €8 billion. It surely couldn’t have cost much to link the two terminals landside? The railway station is at Terminal 1, this is the one that the airport had to pay millions in compensation to Deutsche Bahn as they opened so late.

Anyway, here’s Terminal 2.

Getting between the terminals is rather nice inside. I will also say that the airport is clean and shiny.

Just jumping ahead a bit, the gate design here feels ridiculous and it’s no surprise the airport is hit by so many negative reviews. Every gate has its own set of toilets and seating, but this strikes me as a highly sub-optimal arrangement as it means that the gate can’t cope with a flow of people all at once. And, aircraft tend to bring a flow of people all at once. So there aren’t enough toilets and only half the seats they need for the typical flight, with people having to sit on the stairs. It is possible to go to the neighbouring gates, but that requires climbing stairs back to the main terminal, walking along the terminal building a bit and then going down stairs. I, and others, did that and that’s not a problem (there are also lifts for those with accessibility issues), but it means you can’t see what’s happening at the gate you’re departing from.

It comes to something that London Luton Airport can manage to provide enough toilets and seating, whereas Berlin Brandenburg which had a huge budget and almost unlimited space was unable to. I asked AI to give me a summary of the situation:

“Ongoing Complaints:

• Long Security Lines: This remains a major pain point, with many experiencing excessively long waits at security checkpoints. Understaffing and inefficient procedures are often cited as the culprits.
• Unfriendly Staff: A number of reviewers mention encountering rude or unhelpful staff, particularly at security and immigration. This contributes to a negative overall experience.
• Poor Signage and Wayfinding: Navigating the airport can be confusing, with unclear signage leading to frustration and missed flights.
• Limited Food and Beverage Options: Some find the selection of restaurants and cafes to be lacking, particularly in certain terminals.
• Distance from the City Center: BER’s location outside of Berlin requires a significant commute, which can be inconvenient for travelers.

Some Positives:

• Modern Facilities: The airport itself is new and modern, with generally clean and well-maintained facilities.
• Improved Efficiency (Sometimes): Some reviewers report smooth and efficient experiences, particularly during off-peak hours.

Overall:

While there have been some improvements since its chaotic opening, Berlin Brandenburg Airport continues to receive a significant number of negative reviews. Long security lines, unhelpful staff, and wayfinding issues remain common complaints. It seems that BER still has a long way to go to win over travellers and live up to its potential as a major international airport.”

I’d say that’s a fair summary. The situation with signage is a mystery to me, it is sub-optimal and I don’t understand who has been put in charge of that. Anyway, I’ll go back a bit in my next post, I’ve got a lounge and airport restaurant to witter on about first.