Air Berlin A330-200 Business Class

New York (JFK) – Berlin Tegel (TXL)

All business class seats on this Airbus A330-200 have direct aisle access. On the outside rows, this is achieved by staggering the pods, effectively making every seat both a window and an aisle. This made for a good deal of real estate between me and the window. As I stowed my belongings, I noted that while the overhead bin was roomy, the designers had not used all that extra space to build in more nooks and crannies at seat level.

As we prepared for take-off, the friendly cabin attendant came round with a welcoming beverage complemented by a small bowl of nuts. Almost immediately after we were airborne, the crew started efficiently taking meal orders. Good thing I’d already had a chance to look over the menu selections – which included beef and fish – and I chose baked chicken with a vegetable medley in a tangy citrus sauce. When the food arrived I found everything well presented and quite tasty.

After the ever-attentive cabin crew cleared the dinner service, I watched one of the first-run films on the extensive inflight entertainment system. I appreciated the ease of navigating the screen thanks to a button on the remote which controlled the cursor.

When it came time to stretch out for bed, I noticed a rather dire warning on the seat control, reminding passengers to lift their legs so they won’t get caught between the seat and the ottoman. This ottoman sits in the foot well and when the seat is fully extended becomes the last section of the nearly-six-foot bed. Presumably when an irresistible force (like the reclining seat) meets an immovable object (like the ottoman), hurt shins can result. So heed the warning.

Despite the narrowness of the seat, I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the lie-flat bed was. A generous pillow and a blanket were the only bedding items provided, but the cabin was quite warm