Airlines > Russia Airlines

Advantages: cheap
Disadvantages: uncomfortable, poor service, no entertainment

I decided to fly Aeroflot because it was much cheaper than the other airlines. London to Bangkok return for approximately £350 was a good bargain. The service, food and the plane on the London to Moscow route was as good as any other airline. The plane on the Moscow to Bangkok flight however was a Ilyushin. The thing about this type of plane is that there is only one huge passenger compartment in economy and no partition like in the Western planes, ...
...food can be called good or food. Twelve hours on that plane seems much longer and once I landed in Bangkok and finally breathed smelly sock-free air, I didn't look forward to the next trip back but at least I knew that by travelling Aeroflot I had saved some money. ... Read review

Advantages: Cheap
Disadvantages: Have to learn Russian or German to communicate with the crew

...of some race issue. But Pulkovo seemingly forgot this fact while recruiting their staff. They were old, unkempt by means of any feminine care, ice cold and unfriendly. I asked one of them to give me a glass of water. She insisted on answering in Russian. So I used each and every word ranging from "water" to "agua", "l'eau" to "wasser" . Finally she said "vada ? Ladna minut pajalusta" (water ? OK moment please) It took us both some 4 minutes plus ...
...a bottle- and quench my thirst... --- Food --- Stuff I am not used to eat but the rolls (or buns if you prefer to have that) and danish blue spread and Lurpak butter. The hot meal served was the meat of some creature I could not define so I did not even poke it with my fork. You ask for orange juice and the lady just throws a whole carton of it onto that weird table. --- Landing --- I had once heard that all Russian pilots were actually fighter ... Read review

Advantages: Some strong improvements in business class, western aircraft, western trained
Disadvantages: Most of the cabin crew don't aim for western standards, poor economy service

...fall of the Soviet Union, Transaero were the first privately owned Russian airline to set up using Western aircraft and trying to offer a western standard of service. They operated scheduled flights on main routes from Moscow airport using second hand Boeing 737 aircraft, as well as some Russian-built aircraft used for charters. They were doing well through the mid to late 90s, expanding, and the fleet expanded to include two new Boeing 737-700 ...
...operations because of financial problems. Transaero had their own financial problems and had to return some of the newer aircraft, and go through a period of restructuring. They’ve come out of the worst and are now back on the right track. They’ve dropped some of the less successful routes and although their route network is still pretty limited, I am quite sure that soon we will see more of them. They fly a few domestic routes in Russia (Moscow ... Read review

Advantages: Okay when they can get it together.
Disadvantages: Terribly unreliable, disgraceful customer relations.

Do not be fooled by FlyBe positioning themselves as a budget airline. They aren't cheap if you need to book seats less than a couple of weeks in advance, and the flights likely to be used for business trips are heavily penalised cost-wise. I fly regularly to UK and EU destinations with FlyBe from Southampton. When it's fine, it's fine - which is all you can ask for from a 'budget airline'. However, more than 50% of the 34 flights I've booked this ...
...or, worst of all, diverted to Birmingham or Exeter because we've taken off so far behind schedule than Southampton Airport will be closed by the time we touch down. Obviously, this usually happens on the return leg, which means I get to spend hours in a half closed airport with not a clue as to when I may get home. Any kind of disruption in the morning, at any airport, ripples though their schedules to the point of utter chaos by mid-afternoon. ... Read review

Advantages: Friendly, Efficient
Disadvantages: None

...always heard the hype of Virgin Atlantic. Lets face it, they are hard to miss when they are owned by Sir Richard Branson! I was off on holidays to Sydney and decided to treat myself to Upper Class. The day came and I had already arranged the Limo service through Virgin Atlantic. The Limo service I understand is only available on some Upper Class Tickets (i,.e the non discounted ones). The Limo arrived on time, just in time to hit the rush hour traffic ...
...London Heathrow Terminal three. Well Virgin Atlantics private part of T3. VAA have an area called drive through check in. As the Limo pulls up a lovely ground staff member brings out all your details to the window and checks you in from the car! I couldnt believe it. The other half sat there with jaw open. From there we were escorted through to the Upper Class private security channel and within 9minutes we were in the London Heathrow Clubhouse! ... Read review