Back on line at last, reading and writing to catch up on. Happy New Year!
Back on line at last, reading and writing to catch up on. Happy New Year!
Member since:25.07.2003
Reviews:104
Members who trust:43
How does a company go about shaking off a reputation which is ten years out of date?
The Soviet Aeroflot of the seventies and eighties was infamous for poor service, reliability, people, which may or may not have been deserved. However, we are now in a new decade, a new century; the Soviet Union has not existed for twelve years and Aeroflot has had the same time to update itself, progress, move on.
Unfortunately people's preconceptions are slower to move on. I've seen "reviews" about Aeroflot which lecture about safety, bad food, rude personnel, then the writer mentions in passing that he/she has never actually flown on them. Probably never been within half a mile of an Aeroflot plane, but having listened to a few urban myths and fifteen year old comments they feel qualified to write an "informed review". Shame really, they are probably the same people who believe that there is a World War Two bomber on the moon, and Elvis is alive and well and working at a Fish & Chip shop in Huddersfield.
I’ve flown Aeroflot almost 40 times since 1998, within the CIS, to Europe and Asia, in Economy, Business and occasionally First class, on Soviet and western aircraft. My experiences have been mixed, but generally pretty positive and overall I enjoy flying Aeroflot and prefer them to several well-known European or American carriers!
Good as they are, they are not Western luxury. If you want five star service then stick to European airlines. However if you want value,
a reasonable level of comfort rather than luxury, then you may well be happy with Aeroflot.
AIRCRAFT: Most flights within the CIS are operated by Tupolev Tu154 aircraft, a fine aircraft. Aeroflot now use only the more modern M model, built from '85 to 2001 so the planes are at most about 12-15 years old, younger than many 727s, 737s and 747s still flying in Europe and USA. Slowly Boeing 737s are replacing Tu154s on some of the busier internal routes.
On some routes they use the smaller Tu134, which is older and more basic but they are using fewer and fewer. On some busy routes you may find the Ilyushin IL86, a lovely plane, large, spacious and comfortable. When you board there is a large area to store extra hand luggage, leaving more room in the lockers. Sadly these are mostly used on charters now.
On some flights to Asia, they use an Ilyushin IL96, which is a shorter version of the IL96, built for longer-range flights (Eg to Delhi). These are roomy, spacious with very comfortable seatds in Business.
To Europe and the USA Aeroflot use Boeings and Airbuses, which are basically the same as western airlines use.
COMFORT The economy seats on the Tupolevs and Ilyushins seem quite old; they are reasonably comfortable but not solid so if someone sticks their knee into the back of the seat, you will feel it! On the plus side, the seat backs fold forward so if the seat in front of you is empty you can push the seat forwards and put your feet up! Legroom is okay but not generous.
Leg room on the Tu134 is very tight and the table is so big that if you are on the large side you might not be able to fold it down! The Tu154s are better, but the IL86 is the most comfortable.
In Business class, mostly the seats are large, comfortable and spacious. On internal flights they are now using the old First Class seats for business on many routes.
On the Airbus and Boeing aircraft the seats are standard western, so the same as on most European airlines.
On flights from Russia people do tend to bring on a lot of hand luggage and sometimes they just stick it on empty seats. I’ve had people try to put stuff under the seat in front of me, so I couldn't stretch out my legs. If you ask them politely to move it, generally they will. If not, just keep kicking it!
FOOD & DRINK The food is generally quite good – a salad, cold meat or cheese starter, a hot main course, a cake or pastry for desert, and of course plenty of bread. It’s not gourmet but perfectly edible. The beef can be tough but the chicken and fish can be pretty good, if a little bland. Tea or coffee of course – if you want tea with milk you have to ask for it (“s’malakom”) as most people in Russia drink tea black or with lemon.
In First or Business the meal is similar but there is an extra starter of seafood - smoked salmon, red caviar, shrimps etc, and some fruit. I’ve never had any stomach problems after an Aeroflot meal, even seafood.
The bar service before the meal offers soft drinks, beer, wine or vodka. In business there is also whiskey, gin, and brandies after the meal.
SERVICE The service can be basic but is generally reasonable and sometimes good. Ironically in my experience the crews on internal flights tend to be better than on flights to Europe. The Airbus and Boeing crews to Europe tend to be the gorgeous girls, who are beautiful and know it and just go through the motions. On the Tupolevs, particularly in business, you get the 45 year old matrons who look like former wrestlers but are sweet, charming and treat you as if they were your favourite auntie!
In economy there is a round of drinks after take off, then the meal service, then the duty free. In Business there is a pre-takeoff drink (juice or Russian champagne); after take off usually there is a hot towel before the bar service, then the meal.
There is not much service after the meal, so if you want another drink you’ll have to ask for it.
The duty free is not bad, and prices are quite reasonable, but on several flights I’ve been on they didn’t have the credit card machine so be prepared to pay cash – dollars of course.
Language – most crew have limited english and some of the pronunciation can be so heavy that it is hard to understand some of the announcements! But then why would we expect them to speak good English on a Russian airline! However they do try, and can get through the essentials – just be patient and understanding! (If you are offered “chicken or meat” then the meat is probably beef.)
SAFETY On the aircraft which have video, there is a standard safety briefing video. If there is no video then they do an announcement.
Cabin baggage can be excessive, and get stacked in empty seats or behind the last row, so it is reasonably secure (better than overloading the lockers). They do generally ensure that aisles and exits are clear.
They also enforce the no smoking rule - all Aeroflot flights are now non smoking.
The pilots generally seem to be good, they are mostly ex-air force so well trained and they land the Tupolevs more gently and smoothly than most western pilots can land a Boeing, at least on the flights I take!
Ihave never felt unsafe on board, and I trust that the pilots would not fly an unsafe aircraft as I assume they want to live as much as I do!
PUNCTUALITY/BAGGAGE Out of nearly 40 flights, I can remember only two delays of over an hour. No, they gave nothing special, no free food etc. So if they are late, you need to look after yourself.
Once my bags didn’t arrive at London. The next morning I phoned to check if there was any news; the handling agent (Air France) denied that there was a flight that morning, even though the Heathrow website showed it had just landed! However five minutes later they admitted yes there was a flight and that afternoon my bag was delivered safely to my door.
OVERALL I have had some great trips om Aeroflot, lots of average trips, no really bad ones. I think they are fine as long as you are not looking for 5*****
They are cheaper than the western competition - you can get First class on Aeroflot for the price of business on another airline, or Business on Aeroflot for the price of economy on someone else. It is worth it!
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Great op. I flew Aeroflot once to Moscow and Leningrad and I have a memory of a plane with string overhead baggage racks and the seat numbers written on in biro. Seems they have changed a bit since then.
iainkay1 14.08.2003 12:00
superb op, I might look at them next time I am going to the Middle east ,
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Advantages: Very good value fares. The aircraft on the Lon-Moscow route are fine Disadvantages: I might worry a little about some of their older aircraft. Punctuality was very poor.
andymcf 01.11.2002 ·
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Review of Aeroflot
Advantages: Very good value fares. The aircraft on the Lon-Moscow route are fine Disadvantages: I might worry a little about some of their older aircraft. Punctuality was very poor.
andymcf 01.11.2002 ·
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Review of Aeroflot
Jul 26th, 2003
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