A Review of Aeroflot Business Class

[MrDK]

A Review of Aeroflot Business Class:

A week ago I flew Aeroflot from Zurich via Moscow to Bangkok in business class. It was with some hesitation that I booked as I have read conflicting reviews ranging from very good to lousy. I booked because I could redeem miles for a free ticket with short notice and because many of the negative reviews I read online related more to the luggage handling and airport facilities.

The flight from Zurich to Moscow was much better than US/Canada domestic first class for flights of similar duration (3½ hours) by far better than European business class of same duration. Brand new and clean A319. First rate three course meal; Scrimp, Salmon and Caviar starter, choice of 3 lunches (Tornadoes, Salmon or Chicken) and Russian chocolate desert. The personal service from boarding to ½ way through the flight was extremely tentative and the second half more on the average side. Video on demand units were handed out at the gate and included high quality headsets.

Moscow airport (terminal 2) is dark, boring and a bit on the dirty side; or at the least run down. Transfer service was very fast and polite, yet it was near impossible to drive a smile out of the agent, who btw was quite cute. I was given a pass to the first class lounge, but first strolled the shopping and food service areas. There was plenty of shopping (lower level) and reasonable amount of food service (upper level). All shopping is settled in Euros and food service in dollars.
The lounge was OK. Very comfortable chairs, wireless Internet and free use of computers. Again, facility run down and food service limited. This is, however, the first airline lounge where shots were served in large quantities.

The flight from Moscow to Bangkok was an old worn Russian jet (something 96-100), which looked a bit like an A340 from the outside. The seating was not up to par with expected business class for a long-haul flight (9 hours). It was far from lay flat, but good enough for me to get 6 hours of sleep. There was no build in-flight entertainment system, however, as with the first flight on demand units were handed out. At take off there were more rattling, noise and twisting than most would be comfortable with, but it reminded me of one of my favorite planed with same “qualities”, the L1011.
The personal service was bordering the extreme, in part because I was the only passenger in business class (18 seats) and had three flight attendants to take care of me, but even with a full cabin I am confident it would have been excellent. The supper was a 7 course meal and I had to skip a few of the servings. Quality was good, same-same first flight.

From what I have heard about Aeroflot it appears that it has gone a long way. The areas that can be improved quickly (in-flight service) seem to have been taken care of. Other areas such as (some) planes and facilities are still below par. My transfer was easy in Moscow, however, I can see how difficulty and friction can quickly arise, especially if expectations are at the level found in other parts of the world.

So the real question, would I recommend Aeroflot?
Not really. That is somewhat based on Moscow airport, but mainly on the equipment flying from Moscow to Bangkok. As was on my first flight from Zurich I was going to say those who criticize Aeroflot is out of tune. If I had paid business class fare for that flight I would have been upset, but I paid $55 in taxes so no big deal. Any flight from Europe to Moscow using new equipment I am sure I could recommend and like more than other carriers.

[Nanook]

Lars, I guess your flight from Zurich went into Sheremetyevo-2. Indeed it looks quite dark. Although it the past it looked even more dark, as they used have cut copper coloured pipings as ceiling decoration. Most of that is gone now.

Then the plane you got to BKK, seems to have been an old Ilyushin Il-96. It is a 4 engine jetliner, which they use on long haul flights.
Of what I hear (not recently experienced), their flights from Europe to Moscow are serviced by the newer planes. But on other routes, they still use their old work horses like the TU-154's and the Ilyushins that you may have been with.

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by Nanook

Lars, I guess your flight from Zurich went into Sheremetyevo-2.

Correct!

Having seen the level of personal service I would not be surprised if Aeroflot comes a great airline in five years ... or so.

[dizbuster]

Your description of the inside of the terminal brought up some memories. I remember walking round the shops and then settling in to a bar for a few drinks before setting off for the gate, the one on a corner upstairs overlooking some shops and gates. I never got to fly with Aeroflot but saw the lounge you mention.

Thanks for the update/report and I'm glad your flights went reasonably well.

[nelsonone]

only flew aeroflot once and that was about 30 years ago.....ended up in a "cell" (a very bad hotel room and I wasn't allowed to go out) for 3 days....they will never get any of my money again for this alone....but safety record would be an stopper for me too even without this experience

[Nanook]

Originally Posted by nelsonone

only flew aeroflot once and that was about 30 years ago.....ended up in a "cell" (a very bad hotel room and I wasn't allowed to go out) for 3 days....they will never get any of my money again for this alone....but safety record would be an stopper for me too even without this experience

Hey Nelse, are you sure you didn't end up in one of those Gulags??? There you are not allowed to go out either!

[nelsonone]

Originally Posted by Nanook

Hey Nelse, are you sure you didn't end up in one of those Gulags??? There you are not allowed to go out either!

could have been mate.....was in the dark old cold war days....and we were meant to only refuel on the way to London but the plane needed some repairs....didn't ahve visa or anything (I don't know whether westerrners could even get one in those days) and the immigration police took my pasport off me when I waqs dropped at the hote.....

weirdest thing I can remember is eating what I thought was a lukewarm lettuce leaf covered in waterded down condensed milk as an entree.......main course was borscht (as was breakfast-no lunch was provided) ...then it was back to the room.....electricity went out at 10.00pm and came back on again at 6.00am...was worst than most prisons here IMHO (not that I've had first hand experience)

Have been back since but I will never fly on Aeroflot again!!!

[Nanook]

Originally Posted by nelsonone

could have been mate.....was in the dark old cold war days....and we were meant to only refuel on the way to London but the plane needed some repairs....didn't ahve visa or anything (I don't know whether westerrners could even get one in those days) and the immigration police took my pasport off me when I waqs dropped at the hote.....

weirdest thing I can remember is eating what I thought was a lukewarm lettuce leaf covered in waterded down condensed milk as an entree.......main course was borscht (as was breakfast-no lunch was provided) ...then it was back to the room.....electricity went out at 10.00pm and came back on again at 6.00am...was worst than most prisons here IMHO (not that I've had first hand experience)

Have been back since but I will never fly on Aeroflot again!!!

Yeah, the good old days of staying behind the iron curtain. Borscht is a kind of national disgusting dish. I never take it.
Hotels used to keep your passport, of which a copy probably was sent to the KGB.
One time a taxi driver drove me past the KGB head office. A 3 or 4 story building. "This is the highest building of Moscow" he said. A newbie to Moscow as I was, I asked him why. Well, he said, if you are inside, you can already see and feel Siberia!!!

Also hotels had so called floor ladies. They gave you a cup of tea and guarded your room keys. Probably they got some tea money from local h***ers, who were knocking on your door checking if you wanted to have company for the night!

Those were the days... sigh.....

[MrDK]

Here is a contrasting comment/review.
I was scheduled to fly back on Aeroflot, but the connection in Moscow was terrible. I would have had to sleep in the airport or a special closed off section of Novotel for US$300. I called everyday to see if seats had opened up on Air France or KLM to Amsterdam. On my second last day I managed to get a business seat on KLM, which gave me 12 hours more in LOS and got home earlier.

The KLM equipment was great with "near" lay-flat seats and large LCD screens in seat. That is, however, where the compliments to KLM stops. The service was horrible the food sucked and to top it off there were to obnoxious toddlers (sisters) in the business class section - at times totally out of control.

I only wish I could have had the Aeroflot service on the KLM flight.

[dizbuster]

Originally Posted by Nanook

...Also hotels had so called floor ladies. They gave you a cup of tea and guarded your room keys. Probably they got some tea money from local h***ers, who were knocking on your door checking if you wanted to have company for the night!

Those were the days... sigh.....

They still have them, I stayed at a hotel 2 years ago in Moscow which had a "floor lady".

[Nanook]

Originally Posted by MrDK

Here is a contrasting comment/review.
I was scheduled to fly back on Aeroflot, but the connection in Moscow was terrible. I would have had to sleep in the airport or a special closed off section of Novotel for US$300. I called everyday to see if seats had opened up on Air France or KLM to Amsterdam. On my second last day I managed to get a business seat on KLM, which gave me 12 hours more in LOS and got home earlier.

The KLM equipment was great with "near" lay-flat seats and large LCD screens in seat. That is, however, where the compliments to KLM stops. The service was horrible the food sucked and to top it off there were to obnoxious toddlers (sisters) in the business class section - at times totally out of control.

I only wish I could have had the Aeroflot service on the KLM flight.

Oopsy... oopsy...

I booked KLM for my next tour starting in September... And even in cattle class! They had the cheapest offer at time of booking my flight.
I guess the first thing my GF will have to do is feed me and give me a proper massage upon arrival in BKK....

[nelsonone]

well this must be my kinda thread....KLM is also on my banned list

I was travelling with a business asociate from Schipol to Barcelona in 2000....he was in economy and I was in business....there was no one else in business so I asked if after the meal service my associate could come up and sit with me so I could go through soem plans with him....the answer I got from the 10' tall blond Amazon was no!!!...with no explanation...and then before she served the meal aske dif I wanted to sit next to my friend in economy as he had a spare seat next to him.......which I did

I came back after we spoke for the last half hour of the flighht only to find that 4 people were now in business and that she was very friendly to them all and kept bringing them drinks etc......I didn't say anything...just gave her a filthy look and she got all embarrassed.....but I've never flown with them again....and never will....there are too many other good airlines in the world to bother with this kind of shi'ite

[LivinLOS]

KLM and BA are on my shit list..

I have a theory that the older top tier and national carriers, simply rested on thier laurels and reputation and forgot that the customer is king..