Aeroflot

[drmikki]

I have a morbid fascination with Aeroflot (evidenced by the dozen photos of a single Aeroflot plane taken at NRT... that's not weird, right?) and whilst looking at a long and odd fare I have found a very cheap leg on Aeroflot (2 connecting flights). Yes, I know they have a rather dubious reputation in the past, but I was wondering if anyone had flown them and could provide a more personal opinion.

Will I die? Will I be better off on a moped/bus/yak/Tiger Airways?

Also, on a more practical note, I know Russia are not known for their easy visa policy - would I encounter any problems transitting Moscow, provided I don't leave the transit zone. Assuming Moscow has a transit area...

 

[casanovawa]

I've never flown them but i was going to book a flight Moscow to Beijing before i found out about this OW award opportunity and changed my itinerary... for a couple of hundred bucks it would have been worth some minot discomfort and maybe dodgy food as i'm sure u wouldn't class them as a 5 star airline... other people on this forum might have a higher, minimum bar that they may struggle to meet...

but i think the dropping-out-of-the-sky, we're-all-going-to-die thing is a bit over blown with them... still probably about the risk of driving your car or less while other airlines are safer...

 

[Globetrotter]

All the best flying Aeroflop ...the unsafest airline in the world!

 

[tuppaware]

All the best flying Aeroflop ...the unsafest airline in the world!

Not really. I would have more issues flying an African airline then Aeroflot. I believe the other-non-state-based russian airlines would make me more uncomfortable.

Last major crash was 2008- then 1994 before that. Times that by the number of flights per year its not that bad.

 

[Globetrotter]

Very true. I didn't know about that valuable piece of information. I still wouldn't fly them personally but then one should never say 'never'.

 

[BAM1748]

Not really. I would have more issues flying an African airline then Aeroflot. I believe the other-non-state-based russian airlines would make me more uncomfortable.

Last major crash was 2008- then 1994 before that. Times that by the number of flights per year its not that bad.

But in the days before the internet, glasnost and high speed news information, I suspect they had a few that didn't make it to the incident registar.

Matt

 

[drewbles]

Perhaps this is of some interest:

Accident Database: Airline Crash Details > Aeroflot

127 crash records since 1953. That's shocking in anyones book.

Keep in mind the models here though: IL12/IL14/IL18/IL62/TU104/TU114/TU124/TU134/TU154/AN10/AN12/AN22/AN24/AN26/YAK40/LET410. Only one 'modern' western airliner being the A310 F-OGQS has crashed back in 1994.

Aeroflot underwent a drastic re-modernisation program in the 90's and started to acquire a lot of western aircraft. Their fleet now consists of around 15 A319's, 36 A320's, 18 A321's, 10 A330's, 10 767-300's and only 6 IL96's. They have orders for 22 A350's and 16 777's as well as 40 of the Sukhoi Superjet and 50 of the Irkut MS21's.

Although of course, an airline is only good as its maintenance practices (regardless of what country they are performed in I will add!).

For more info check out the wikipedia article. Nice run down of it all: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroflot

I don't think i'd have any problems getting on an Aeroflot aircraft these days. That said, they did join 'Scaryteam'

 

[MrHyde]

My experience with Aeroflot is not relevant at all, but thought I'll mention it just the same. I flew Aeroflot BAH - SVO - YYZ and back via JFK in 1992. We had a two day stopover in Moscow as well on the way over. The flight from BAH was interesting that it was a night flight and at some point in the flight, the plane landed somewhere. We had no idea where or why.. looking out the window, all we saw was a shed in the distance. The front exit door was open and a stair case attached to it, but no one was allowed to go out.

After 2 hours or so, we departed. Thinking back, I reckon it was just a re-fueling stop. Not sure why it was required as BAH - SVO is not that far.

On the SVO - YYZ sector, the flight stopped in Dublin for re-fueling and again we were not allowed to leave the plane.

The flight was fine as far as I can remember. I had scarier experiences flying Air India around that time. I remember reading the in-flight magazine and learning that Aeroflot had the largest airline fleet in the world at the time. The only thing I remember about the airport was that I could get free unlimited soft drinks from some place in the airport.

Moscow, itself, was an interesting experience and one that I treasure from amongst all my travelling. It had just come out of the 1991 revolution and was still in a state of flux.

 

[casanovawa]

Russia, or the former USSR, is also a very large country and no doubt has some very dodgy airports in some very difficult environments and terrain... so flights down to the wide southern perihperies or to Siberia have to be taken into account when talking about crashes and all as well...

no doubt its prior record was bad due to a variety of reasons including poor equipment and maintenance/oversight routines.... of late, while not spotless i think their record would support pretty high confidence levels of getting off one of their flights alive... i don't know what train/bus/car fatality levels would be if you opted to take the surface option over there but i'm sure driving the roads in Russia etc is more dangerous then here in the West as well...... so its swings and round abouts sometimes i guess...

as long as there isn't chooks and stuff flying around the coughpit i would be up for a bit of an adventure specially on the main routes, out to some of the rougher, remote parts i might reconsider for a minute or two...

 

[sergeyvzn]

I'm a Russian Australian and fly to Russia every year to see my family there, I use a Qantas + Aeroflot combination via Narita - normally one of the cheapest options and with convenient times.

Anyway, you might be very surprised but I would definitely rate Aeroflot higher than most European airlines ( say nothing about all American airlines that are normally just awful). Aeroflot is still below Qantas or any of the leading Asians like Singapore Airlines or Middle Eastern carriers but is quickly catching up

Flying long haul will be on a brand new A330 - spotless, individual seatback screens in economy with a pretty decent IFE, the seats are comfortable enough. The food is far far far better than your standard Qantas offering and the size is about twice is big, you can't simply eat it all, some nice touches like Japanese green tea served on the Japanese flights etc. The only bad thing is you have to pay for all alcoholic drinks at 5 euros a pop, a bit expensive.

Their Business is lie-flat shell seats and great food again.

The service will be no smiles but this is a cultural thing -Russians don't smile, just ignore it. Efficient enough though

If you fly Aeroflot to Europe via Moscow - their European product is the best in Europe, while other European carriers have your standard economy 3 seats with a middle seat unoccupied Aeroflot have a great leather huge seat with a very good pitch and recline - you can see pictures on their site.

Transit in Moscow is through the new Sherermetievo terminal - Terminal D, that's Aeroflot's own terminal, opened 1.5 years ago and all teething problems have been rectified. It's brand new, spotless, there is a transit zone of course which runs through all the 3 South terminals - D, E and F

I'm going to Moscow in June again flying the same combination and quite looking forward to it.

Things in Russia have changed - Moscow is like NYC now...Aeroflot of the 90s (that was something really really awful, I had lots of bad experiences with it myself) is far behind...

Anyway, if you have any questions - just ask, will be happy to help

 

[drewbles]

I'm a Russian Australian and fly to Russia every year to see my family there, I use a Qantas + Aeroflot combination via Narita - normally one of the cheapest options and with convenient times.

Welcome to AFF sergeyvzn! Nice to have a resident Aeroflot expert around. Can't say i've seen one anywhere here before

 

[BAM1748]

Welcome to AFF sergeyvzn! Nice to have a resident Aeroflot expert around. Can't say i've seen one anywhere here before

No me either, but what conclusion can we draw from this? :shock:

 

[sergeyvzn]

thanks, happy to share what I know about Aeroflot and other exotic Russian airlines

 

[drewbles]

No, what conclusion can we draw from this? :shock:

Apart from the obvious Probably the fact that Russia is quite a distance from Australia (and the Australian Frequent Flyer forums )

Do you know anything about S7 sergeyvzn? We're mostly OneWorld flyers around here and now they've joined OW, it'd be interesting for some reviews on them (probably in a different thread; i'm thread hijacking here!).

 

[sergeyvzn]

I happen to know a few things though personally have flown S7 only once and that was in 2006. Wasn't that great then as they were just beginning to replace their ageing fleet of TU 154 by Airbus aircraft.

I flew them domestically from Moscow to Murmansk - an old TU154, water dripping on my head from the ceiling, old seats with holes in the fabric. Their food was absolutely fantastic, though, and the service was quite good. On the whole - food that Russian airlines serve on average is better than Qantas's or a comparable airline's elsewhere, just a remark. The flight was on time, they are based in Domodedovo, which is the biggest airport in Moscow and can get a bit crowded, took ages to get through security (and in the light of the recent explosion there that killed over 30 people I'd stay away anyway -)

A friend of mine has recently flown with them from Moscow to Munich return, in Y, said it was very very good, a new A319, leather seats and a great business lounge in Domodedovo.

S7 is now offering a very good deal to Sydney from Moscow btw, you fly S7 Moscow - FRA and catch a Qantas service from FRA to SYD via SIN, the restricted economy fare is around $1100. Though this is probably only applicable to buying a ticket when in Russia.

 

[clifford]

I've flown Aeroflot before (on an IL-62 in the 70's) and it wasn't a bad experience. Sure, lots of non-smilingness.

I'd fly them again if the Russian departure taxes weren't so stupidly exhorbitant. But as it is, I won't.

 

[sergeyvzn]

Not quite sure what you mean. Departure taxes from Russian airports are the same for all airlines, regardless of the country they are from. Whether you fly SU or BA or LH - you pay the same amount of taxes (they are included in the fare anyway)

"exorbitant"? Definitely not, just think about Heathrow taxes, Russian taxes have a long way to go to catch up...so flying to Europe via Moscow would be cheaper than flying to the same port with let's say BA with a connection in Heathrow

 

[clifford]

Not quite sure what you mean. Departure taxes from Russian airports are the same for all airlines, regardless of the country they are from. Whether you fly SU or BA or LH - you pay the same amount of taxes (they are included in the fare anyway)

"exorbitant"? Definitely not, just think about Heathrow taxes, Russian taxes have a long way to go to catch up...so flying to Europe via Moscow would be cheaper than flying to the same port with let's say BA with a connection in Heathrow

Sorry, I did mean to say that taxes ex MOW were exhorbitant, period. That's why I would never fly through MOW, no matter what airline.

As for the UK's stupid taxes, there are quite simple ways to beat them.

For example, I am flying from LHR to DXB in business class next month. Taxes for such a direct flight would be what, GBP 150? (BTW, I should let you know I am a British national (as well as an Australian national), FWIW).

As I can't abide stupid govt taxes, I have booked LHR-DUB-IST-CAI-DXB (all C class), with the total tax take being approx AUD 60.

But even better, just book a Ryanair flight (no taxes) out of the UK to a low taxing country such as Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands or Spain and then book an onward flight, and you could easily save hundreds of dollars.

Why give your hard earned money to a Thatcherite government (unless you are of that persuasion)?