• expired

Free Air Berlin Silver / OneWorld Ruby Status for Four Months

896

Air Berlin is currently running an offer of instant free Silver status for four months. This could come in very handy if you are planning travel with a OneWorld carrier, such as Qantas, over the summer / school holiday period.

EDIT: Thanks to MadRooster for pointing out that Air Berlin is a Virgin Australia Partner also - so you'll receive Virgin Australia reciprocal benefits too!

As a OneWorld partner airline, Air Berlin counts Qantas, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and many other airlines as affiliates. Silver status with Air Berlin automatically grants OneWorld Ruby status.

When your top tier status is equivalent to OneWorld Ruby, you are entitled to the following oneworld benefits, no matter which oneworld airline or cabin class you are flying:
* Access to Business Class priority check-in
* Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating (where offered)
* Priority on waitlists and when on standby (where offered)

You can register for this offer free of charge via Air Berlin's webpage (Note that the page is in German, you can switch languages in the top right hand corner).

You will receive a topbonus Silver Card for a test period of 4 months (unsure as to whether a physical card will be posted out).
If you accumulate 8,500 status miles or 8 airberlin and NIKI flights within these 4 months, your Silver status will be extended for another 12 months.

Related Stores

airberlin.com
airberlin.com

closed Comments

  • +6

    Air Berlin status also covers Virgin Australia too. So Air Berlin silver gets you oneworld ruby / Qantas silver / Virgin Australia silver equivalent benefits.

  • EDIT: Ignore this, thought it was a status match rather than free status.

  • Oh yea I forgot to post this up.. came up in my email a few days ago when I was in the middle of something.

    Pos for a good deal!

  • Yeah saw this as well. Was posted by Mattg

  • Benefits are not much but then again it's free.

  • You can just click the "Deutsch" icon and in the second drop down click English to show the pages in English.

  • AirBerlin is an Etihad partner, it even has the Etihad logo on its cards so also very useful for anyone flying them.
    I think you can earn more than 8,500 status miles on some Etihad return fares to Europe, which would get you Silver for a year!

  • when does this offer expire?

  • How do you actually redeem these benefits? If you have a QF or AA flight, for example, do you need to put your topbonus membership on the booking to access preferred seating? Can you then change it back to QFF afterwards?

    • +3

      With Qatar, after putting in my AirBerlin number it opened up the upper deck in the seat selection which is a nice small economy cabin behind the business class bar (A380). This cabin can only be booked by certain status holders but has no other benefits besides being a small cabin.

      • +1

        There is one other benefit with the upper deck. You have extra luggage space next to your seat if you get a window seat.

        • Yes - this is very true and is very helpful.

          I flew to Dallas on the Airbus 380 in Sep and enjoyed seat 32A. I could fit my whole carry-on baggage in the locker between my seat and the window. It was terrific.

          Another advantage is you get served meals quickly in this area.

      • Does that mean your Qatar miles will go to AirBerlin in instead of your Qatar frequent flyer (assuming you can only enter one frequent flyer program)?

        • Yes, but since I was on a discounted economy ticket, the miles were neglible (and I got more with Airberlin than I would have gotten through Qantas).

  • +8

    Registered one, but it only gave me Classic with 500 award miles.
    Is there anything I have to do to get silver?

    • +1

      Same here. I didn't get Silver.

    • +2

      I also don't seem to have silver status?! Also I only got 300 award miles! :(

    • +2

      haha yeah, I only got 300 too? and only classic status :(

    • same here. who's actually got silver yet?

      • I'm guessing (hoping) that you'll still get the silver but as it's just a temporary promo the generic confirmation screen with red cards come up - will wait to find out though!

  • I'm not sure if they have updated their T&Cs, but last time I tried a status match, they wouldn't allow Australian residents to take part. Needed to live in Europe or the US

    • This isn't a status match, it's a straight fast track to silver.

      • True but i'm not sure they will allow it still

  • Also Status Match here for those that are Gold/Platinum with a non OW airline (doesn't mention anything about VA). Looks like you have to be living in the EU, perhaps get it mailed to a friend or freight forwarding company? https://topbonus.airberlin.com/web/tb/lp-aktion-statusmatch?…

  • Does this mean you will get the extra baggage on Qantas? It says OneWorld Ruby gets you Qantas Silver, which is supposed to have extra baggage allowance (http://www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/checked-baggage/global…) , but it is not ticked on this page:

    https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/dyn/flying/tier-benefits

  • How do you transfer this to Qanta Frequent Flyer?

  • Tried this with my existing Air Berlin account and I got a 'congratulations' message but no change in status.

    Anyone know how long it takes to update?

  • +1

    Anyone else having issues with the confirmation email not coming?

    • +2

      Took about 10 min to come through

    • -1

      OzB-ed.

  • Didn't work - gave me a Classic status.

    Doesn't work for Aussies?

  • +2

    Classic + 300 award miles ONLY

  • +1

    Only Xing members are entitled to participate in the present benefit campaigns at airberlin topbonus.

    • https://www.xing.com/en ?

      Sign up to Xing first? :)

      • There is another tricky part:
        Please make sure that you have entered your company e-mail address in your topbonus customer profile. This is necessary to participate in the actions. Your settings you can use the following link to customize.

        You have to read all conditions

        • +1

          Did you get Ruby status upon recent signup as a result?

        • Where do you put company email? I can only see space for a physical business address?

    • -2

      when does it say this?

      • In the mind of the Xing sockpuppet!?

  • Only Classic Status. NO Silver status granted. More of a click bait:)

    • Take a few days for the status to show up mate

      • +3

        I dont know why your getting negged, but the status will take a few days to show up, its not instant. people are so ungrateful

  • I have an Etihad flight coming up at Christmas to Jordan.

    I have already connected it to my Velocity - which I am Silver. However, Silver does not get you lounge access in Abu Dhabi. It appears Silver with AirBerlin does.

    Anyone know if I will still be able to access the Etihad lounge in Abu Dhabi with this 4 months membership.

    • Should be able to, keep in mind it's the Al Reem lounge not the Etihad lounge. A lot of people seem to not like this lounge, but I thought it was pretty good, better drinks and food than most International Aussie lounges. Most people seem to compare it to the Etihad lounge in Abu Dhabi, but that's considered one of the best in the world.

    • Even Etihad Silvers dont access Etihad lounge in Abu Dhabi. An Etihad Silver guest can access the Al-Reem lounge in AUH, to access Etihad lounge you must be travelling on a Business ticket or have Platinum Etihad status.

      As for the Al reem lounge- Its small, its very overcrowded, theres only 1 shower, only 1 toilet, and basic food on offer.

      • I think gold get access to Ethihad lounge when travelling economy

        • you have to be flying on an EY code flight

        • +1

          Not in Abu Dhabi, even Golds are shafted to the Al Reem Lounge. Must have J class tix to be granted entry to Etihad Lounge.

  • +6

    This deal needs a proper explanation, because it doesn't seem to work at the moment

  • +1

    I have revoked my positive until the deal is clarified and there is evidence of people getting Silver statuts.

  • +1

    Perhaps it takes a while for them to manually activate the Silver status?
    Or maybe this is a targeted offer?

  • +5

    AFF listed the same promo a few weeks back, with steps to follow (link below, refer first post). Step 5 states it will take a few days for your Classic status to be updated

    http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/airline-…

    • These instructions are perfect.

  • "You will receive a topbonus Silver Card for a test period of 4 months (unsure as to whether a physical card will be posted out).

    The confirmation screen confirms you will get a physical card (probably red as it's a permanent card?): "You will receive your personal topbonus Card and further information by post within the next two to three weeks."

  • I think the link is ozbargained!
    Giving an error when I click the "Try Silver Card" button.

  • +1

    after you have signed up in english you need to go back to https://topbonus.airberlin.com/web/tb/start_x2 and click Hier Silver Card testen

    • I get [An unexpected error has occured. Plese try again later or contact Contact Center for further assistance]

  • +1

    So how exactly would I use this on my upcoming Cathay flight? Without any oneworld account to prove my ruby status, do I just walk up to the business counter to check in and say I am airberlin silver?

    • You don't have to say anything, if you've added the number to your booking (you can do this via Manage My Booking) it's in their system and your AB status (which is just normal OneWorld Ruby) will show up on your boarding pass.

      • if i do this, will i forfeit my points on my qff card (i.e. points accumulate onto Airberlin instead of my QFF)? also what benefits will i have to use airberlin card on cathay? thanks :)

        • You will obviously only accumulate points with the program associated with your frequently flyer number. The benefits of flying on your Airberlin silver card over eg a Qantas Bronze number (no status) is pretty well explained above by OP. You'll need to evaluate for yourself if the Silver benefits are worth missing out on Qantas points.

    • Likewise, does anyone know how to update a qantas booking with this? Can't seem to find the option in 'Manage my booking'

      • +1

        I spoke to one of the Qantas online chatting staff and they said they could add it in. I didn't add it in though since I wasn't silver yet.

        • Thanks mate I'll call them up today! :)

  • Not sure about how this works, if I now add my number to my Virgin booking will I still get Velocity points for the flight? Or do I have to choose between getting the points and getting this deal??

    • +1

      You can still get this deal, you can have as many active FF programs as you want. You will get the points for whatever number you use when you check in (I'd still use Virgin). This is just useful for checking in using the Business line or accessing the Al Reem Lounge in AUH

      • +1

        Great to know, thanks so much for your reply!

  • Has anyone with an Australian address actually received the Silver status and/or card in the mail (just wondering if it only applies for European addresses)?

  • Mine's gone up from 300 to 500 with so 4 x 50 extras since the sign up.

  • can we status match this with other programs?

  • +1

    So, I have a Virgin Domestic flight coming up in Feb- how do I access the Silver Status perks with this booking? I have already entered my Virgin FF card number on my booking. Is that all I have to do, or do I need to change it to my AB FF number?

  • +2

    Points went up from 300 to 500, but that's about it. No Silver status. I guess a card will be posted, but I'm pretty sure it'll be the useless Classic one..

    • That's classic.

  • How does the reciprocal status work? does your local virgin status get upgraded or do you just show the Airberlin status card???

  • Has anyone got silver yet? this is the last day to apply. wondering if there would be any point in submitting another application with a UK address. Have long flights coming up in February to almost meet the challenge for Gold, but only if the deliver on the silver status.

  • waiting to hear if anyone has got their silver status confirmed?

    • It took over a week for the person who posted the deal on australian frequent flyer back in late October. It was also posted on other forums before Ozbargain so i would expect there to be a backlog of applications to process

    • Just got an email today welcoming me to silver status.

      Thanks to the OP, +1 from me.

      • Thanks for the update - a couple of questions if you don't mind:
        How long ago did you apply? Did you use an Australian address? What is the expiry date?

        • +2

          Applied on the day this was posted.

          I tried with both existing account (Aus address) and an European address. Looks like they only upgraded the account with the Euro address.

          Expires in 3 months.

  • I'm not getting my activation email. :(

    • Same here…..

  • +2

    I just got a welcome to topbonus email, but when I login I'm still classic. Oh well.

    • Same. Shows up as classic status.

      • Same. Seems like no deal in the end.

    • Same. Sucks balls.

    • Probably got a huge amount of applications so decided to only honour it for those that legitimately qualified for the deal. People who signed up on 17th Nov before it was posted here only got their welcome email today as well for classic status only

      • Who is legimately qualified? They need to spell this out on the website.

        • Xing members, not sure what else as I didn't read t&c's.

  • +1

    Just got the card in the mail today, classic though

  • Pretty sure this isn't happening. They don't even reply to emails.

  • Apparently it was only available to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, US and a company email address was required.

Login or Join to leave a comment