Morten Rand-Hendriksen

Review of Flughafen Berlin-Tegel

Realizing Germany had an international reputation ...

Realizing Germany had an international reputation for structure and efficiency, Berlin took inspiration from it's rebellious populace and decided to prove the stereotype wrong, via it's main airport. Tegel (TXL) is a study in chaos and inefficiency. Looking for meaningful signs and information? Ask seasoned passengers; the official signage is more akin to hieroglyphics than anything meaningful. Ask staff for help, and experience rarified curtness and annoyance so abbrasive you'll feel like you got a verbal chemical peel. Love endless lines? You're in luck. Expect the 20-port strong baggage check to be starffed by 3 people during peak hours, and a pace so sedentary you'll regret not bringing a lawn chair.

During online check-in you'll be told to arrive 90 minutes ahead of departure. This, I assume, is the expected time it'll take you to board the plane. At this moment I've stood in the understaffed baggage check line for 90 minutes and I'm only half way through. I assume they'll hold the plane for me, but based on my conversation with staff it seems getting human beings onto the flights they paid for is a secondary concern to ensuring the world knows Germans have elevated inefficiency to a world-class level.