 TUIfly - HLX - Flights for the price of a taxi
The German budget carrier Hapag-Lloyd Express (HLX) was first launched in December 2002. In January 2007 it started to operate under the name of tuifly.com, when the HLX and Hapagfly brands merged and became part of the huge TUI AG travel group, which also includes Thomsonfly. TUIfly headquarters are at Hanover Airport in Germany, HLX also used flight hubs at Cologne-Bonn, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Berlin-Tegel and Munich airports.
Hapag-Lloyd Express flights are now booked on the tuifly.com website, via TUI travel agents or Call Centres. TUIfly offers low cost scheduled flights as well as charter holiday flights and expects to fly over 13 million passengers in 2007.
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Routes and Destinations
HLX was the German ticketless no-frills airline which now flies under the TUIfly banner. In summer 2006, HLX flew 18 aircraft on 37 German and European routes from Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne/Bonn, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart airports. Low cost routes from Germany included destinations in Austria, Croatia, France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. In summer 2007, TUIfly will fly to 75 destinations in 17 countries, and they are now the 3rd largest airline in Germany.
From the UK, TUIfly currently offers cheap flights to Germany from Manchester - Cologne-Bonn, Hanover,Stuttgart; from Newcastle - Hanover; and from Birmingham - Cologne-Bonn.
Passenger Comments
Passenger opinions about HLX flights in general have been good in the past. Aircraft were thought "clean, comfortable with leather seats, aircraft seat pitch and legroom were classed as "generous for a low cost carrier", particularly on the Fokker 100 aircraft. Flights were thought generally as smooth, relaxing and very good value.
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Other Useful Information
| Booking Tips |
Book well in advance for the best prices. Look out for the cheapest fares published at the start of the TUIfly winter or summer schedules. No tickets are issued, the usual booking number is confirmed by email or verbally and used for checking in. Infants under 2 travel for only £6 single, on a parent's lap. Booking at a travel agent or by telephone costs £5 more than booking online. Payment by credit card costs an extra £1 per person per route. |
| Seats |
All TUIfly seats are now allocated at check in. Specific seats can also be reserved in advance for £3.50, the more spacious emergency exit seats cost £14. Disabled passengers and families are allowed to board first. Boarding normally begins 20 mins before departure. |
| Food |
Meals are not included for the TUI city flights, but inflight snacks can be purchased on board. On TUI holiday package flights, free meals are served.
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| Baggage |
Baggage allowance per person is the usual 2 pieces up to 20 kg in total, plus hand luggage 5 kg. 45x35x20cm, no item must weigh more than 30 kg. Infants under 2 travelling at the reduced fare now get the same baggage allowance as above, but must travel on a parent's lap. Excess baggage costs £4 per kilo, wheelchairs free. Golf and diving equipment up to 20 kg is carried free, above this weight it costs £7 per extra kilo per single flight. Other musical or sports equipment and bicycles up to 30 kg cost £15 each, plus £7 per extra kilo above this weight. |
| Check-In |
Desks should usually be open 2 hours before scheduled departure, they close 30 mins before scheduled departure time. |
| Flight Changes |
Name, date or time changes cost £15 p.p. per flight route plus any increased fare difference, (no refunds if the flight fare has gone down). Unused flights are not refundable.
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| Aircraft |
In summer 2007, the TUI fleet will consist of 56 modern Boeing 737s, operated by TUI subsidiary companies Germania and Hapag-Lloyd Flug.
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Latest News
March 2007
A merger is proposed between TUI AG's tourism division and First Choice Holidays PLC, to create TUI Travel.
January 2007
HLX has merged with the German TUI travel group and now operates under tuifly.com. Aircraft livery is being changed as well.
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