4 ms·

I can only assume you've never been in a > 2 hour security queue during peak travel time due to Tegel's small departure gates / security staff / screening capac

I can only assume you've never been in a > 2 hour security queue during peak travel time due to Tegel's small departure gates / security staff / screening capacity, with a flight leaving in 40 minutes.

shaki-dora 7y ago
You must be mixing up the airports. Tegel is unique in that it has security and passport controls for each individual gate. This allows you to arrive at almost the exact moment the gate closes because there will be no passengers for other flights in a queue with you. The gate agents can even see you going through security and will wait for a minute or so.
- tilolebo 7y ago
  This is true except for Terminal C, which is indeed a mess. I still like Tegel a lot, as it's very close to the West center of the city.
  - thinkindie 7y ago
    if you happen to arrive at tegel ahead of time or even worse your flight is delayed, you are screwed. Once in the security area there is little to no decent food nor shopping option.
    - inferiorhuman 7y ago
      And yet it's still better than JFK.
  - hsivonen 7y ago
    Indeed, Terminal C vs. A is a big difference. My worst airport experience has been trying (and failing, twice; on consecutive days) to fly from Tegel Terminal C to Helsinki (EasyJet). My best airport experiences have been flying from Tegel Terminal A (Finnair) to Helsinki.
- lugg 7y ago
  Unless a plane is delayed or cancelled at the last minute, which in TXL's case is frequent. This results in a gate full of too many people and a slow down moving anyone anywhere.
- lwf 7y ago
  Singapore's airport also does right-before-gate screenings at 3 of its 4 terminals. Unlike Tegel, though, the gate area and the screening areas are open spaces, with glass to separate. Tegel always feels a bit claustrophobic, and as a jet-lagged traveller my first time departing, I admit it took awhile for me to figure out where the hell I needed to go. source: https://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/departing/security.html https://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/departing/sec...
ThePhysicist 7y ago
Sure I have but that's mostly a problem for terminal C in my experience, as the budget airlines fly from there and they seems to have a different ratio of personnel to passengers. Airlines that mostly serve business travelers usually have better gate positions and more staff.
- lugg 7y ago
  It's not personnel, they have to stop the queues from moving through security in order to prevent over crowding in the gate rooms which, are always over packed full of people. Berlin's awful setup results in delays across the region, it's no wonder other airports are reluctant to link there and divert to Frankfurt instead.

shaki-dora 7y ago

You must be mixing up the airports. Tegel is unique in that it has security and passport controls for each individual gate. This allows you to arrive at almost the exact moment the gate closes because there will be no passengers for other flights in a queue with you. The gate agents can even see you going through security and will wait for a minute or so.

tilolebo 7y ago
This is true except for Terminal C, which is indeed a mess. I still like Tegel a lot, as it's very close to the West center of the city.
- thinkindie 7y ago
  if you happen to arrive at tegel ahead of time or even worse your flight is delayed, you are screwed. Once in the security area there is little to no decent food nor shopping option.
  - inferiorhuman 7y ago
    And yet it's still better than JFK.
- hsivonen 7y ago
  Indeed, Terminal C vs. A is a big difference. My worst airport experience has been trying (and failing, twice; on consecutive days) to fly from Tegel Terminal C to Helsinki (EasyJet). My best airport experiences have been flying from Tegel Terminal A (Finnair) to Helsinki.
lugg 7y ago
Unless a plane is delayed or cancelled at the last minute, which in TXL's case is frequent. This results in a gate full of too many people and a slow down moving anyone anywhere.
lwf 7y ago
Singapore's airport also does right-before-gate screenings at 3 of its 4 terminals. Unlike Tegel, though, the gate area and the screening areas are open spaces, with glass to separate. Tegel always feels a bit claustrophobic, and as a jet-lagged traveller my first time departing, I admit it took awhile for me to figure out where the hell I needed to go. source: https://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/departing/security.html https://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/departing/sec...

ThePhysicist 7y ago

Sure I have but that's mostly a problem for terminal C in my experience, as the budget airlines fly from there and they seems to have a different ratio of personnel to passengers. Airlines that mostly serve business travelers usually have better gate positions and more staff.

lugg 7y ago
It's not personnel, they have to stop the queues from moving through security in order to prevent over crowding in the gate rooms which, are always over packed full of people. Berlin's awful setup results in delays across the region, it's no wonder other airports are reluctant to link there and divert to Frankfurt instead.