After several flights with the Russian airline Aeroflot and in this review article, we tell you our opinions about the performance and service received.
Are you considering flying with Aeroflot but not sure what to expect? We have you covered! In this article, we will provide you with our personal experiences and reviews of flying with Aeroflot. Having flown with them multiple times, we will tell you what we observed during these flights.
Join us as we take you through what it’s really like to fly with Aeroflot, from check-in to landing, so you can make an informed decision for your next flight.
A bit of history about Aeroflot
Aeroflot Airlines (IATA code: SU) is an airline based in Russia that has been in operation since 1923. It has the distinction of being one of the oldest airlines in the world and was once the most important airline in the Soviet Union. However, over the years, Aeroflot has expanded its network and now flies to over 130 destinations worldwide.
Today, it is one of the largest airlines in Europe and is part of the SkyTeam alliance.
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Here are our Aeroflot flight reviews
Check-In
The check-in was done online, easily and without problem, before doing it, I was able to select all my seats, but be careful that this depends on the chosen fare. When I booked my tickets, I took the cheapest one, and it allowed me to choose, but for example to fly to Japan (which will also be with Aeroflot) it did not allow me.
With the boarding passes, we arrived at the Nice airport for the baggage drop. No problem at this point. Despite having a long layover in Moscow, our bags would be in our hands until we reached India.
What to do if you have a long layover in Moscow?
If you have a long stopover in Moscow, but you do not plan to leave the airport to avoid having to get a visa, keep in mind that the suitcases will travel to the final destination, so if you need any item for your stopover, take it in your hand luggage. If you have a stopover at night, don’t worry, you can sleep at the airport since they have a hotel inside the terminal, so you won’t have to have a visa. See our opinion post about the airport hotel here.
Boarding
It starts shortly before takeoff, on all the flights we took the boarding started on time.
There is a special point that I have to mention and in other airlines I do not mention since I thought it was normal and what everyone did, but it does affect the review of Aeroflot: smiling at passengers.
Don’t expect smiles from the staff on the plane. Of none. On all the flights I took with them, maybe it was bad luck, none of the crew smiled at the passengers. They looked like robots.
In other words, they did what they had to do, but as I say, they seemed like robots in the way they spoke to us and served us. In other words, the reception and treatment is the coldest I have ever seen in any other airline.
The second time that we traveled with Aeroflot, we could see the staff a little more smiling, a little less robotic. Although yes, it could still happen that a crew member asks a sharp question or acts like a machine. But it was much less than on the flight to India.
Seat and Cabin
Mid-range flight in Economy Class
As I already told you in other airline review articles, one of the things that I value increasingly in airplanes is having only one seat out of two, and luckily with Aeroflot on short flights it is not possible since the seats are three-three.
Long-haul flight in Economy Class
But on long flights, yes it is possible, since the configuration is two-four-two. Quite nice when traveling as a couple on a long flight. The best thing is that you don’t have to pay extra to have a seat for just two, as is the case with KLM or Air France.
Although as I mentioned in the Check-in part, on some very cheap fares it is not possible to choose a seat before and only during check-in, but still without having to pay extra.
Seats were normal, economy normal, legroom was decent. The only bad thing is that if the one in front reclined it was very annoying, one felt crushed.
One point to consider is that in Economy class, the seats only come with a blanket, but not always a pillow for long flights. I tried to ask the flight attendant for one, and she said she didn’t have any, but on another flight, it was available.
Something to consider since it is an accessory that is generally provided for long flights but does not occur in Aeroflot.
Amenity kit
Unlike other airlines, Aeroflot on some flights provides a welcome amenity kit bag. They only offer headphones, and no, that doesn’t count. When they did give us a one, it included a bag with lipstick, earplugs, an eye mask, and slippers.
A curious detail of the eye cover is that it had two sides, one that said DO NOT DISTURB and the other that was something like WAKE ME UP FOR LUNCH. Very ingenious.
Drinks and food
On long and short flights
There are at least two food options. They provide you with the menu when you start the flight, which gives you time to think about what you are going to choose, excellent for indecisive people like me.
Another point in favor of the menu, for those who are taking care of their figure, is that each dish has the number of calories written next to it, which is quite useful.
When the person in charge of serving arrives, you tell him what he chose, and he serves you but, as I mentioned above, the operation leaves a taste in the mouth of having spoken with a robot.
In terms of taste, I’m not complaining, it was fine. Normal and edible as any airline food.
Drinks
In this category, they have many options, such as juices, sodas, liquors, wine. That’s not the problem. But there is something to be aware of with this airline that is also “different” compared to the others we have seen.
Before serving the food, but well before, they will stop by to serve the drinks. At that time, you have to ask for two or three glasses without any shame, why? Well, because after that, they won’t serve any more drinks.
After this, they will pass with the food cart, and only the food, so if you drank everything you will no longer have anything to accompany your food.
It happened to me on the first flight and for the following ones I knew that I had to ask for my glass of water and my drink for lunch (wine, juice, etc.) at that moment and wait patiently with the glasses in front of me.
Of course, after the meal, they will pass by to offer you tea and coffee. That doesn’t change, at least that. Also, on long flights they will pass by to offer passengers snacks like ice cream, for example.
In-flight entertainment
In each seat, we have an individual entertainment screen, only on long flights and on them, we had a good selection of movies to pass the long hours of flight. In addition to the flight maps.
An interesting point is that there was a USB outlet on the screen, very useful to charge the phone.
Emergency instructions
All normal, they give instructions in Russian and English. Well visible to all passengers.
State of the bathrooms
On this topic, there are no complaints, throughout the flight they were clean and with basic items, such as soap and paper, always available.
An interesting detail (on the flight to Japan) is that there were disposable toothbrushes in the bathroom for anyone who wanted to use them.
Support through social networks
At this point, they need to improve. Agents on social media don’t have access to reservations, so they can’t help in real time. At least, depending on the situation, they can provide an email address to contact (and they do respond).
The reviews in this area about Aeroflot are not perfect, since they cannot do much for us when using this medium.
Layover at Sheremetyevo airport
Sheremetyevo airport (SVO) is one of those where making a layover becomes effortless, as it has several shops and restaurants in which to spend time. In addition, as I mentioned before, it has a hotel inside the international terminal for night stopovers.
If you are traveling with Aeroflot from outside Russia, almost for sure you will do it via Moscow and you will spend some time in this airport.
Consider that if you plan to do a day stopover in Moscow you will have to see it for yourself, visa included, since this airline does not offer any free tour of the city as some Asian airlines do.
Arrival to destination
We arrived at our destination on time, a relief to be able to stretch our legs after so many hours of flight.
Frequently Asked Questions about Aeroflot
What does Aeroflot mean?
The term “Aeroflot” is a combination of the words “aero” (aviation) and “flot” (fleet).
Which country is the airline Aeroflot from?
The airline Aeroflot is from Russia.
How many airlines are there in Russia?
In Russia, there are several airlines, including Aeroflot, Rossiya Airlines, S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines, and other smaller companies.
General reviews about Aeroflot
Aeroflot left me satisfied without further ado, in terms of opinions, it does not put itself above the airlines with which I have traveled. I have to say that the cold treatment of the staff left me “cold” too. I did not expect that.
But I still recommend flying with them if an offer comes along with a great price. You just have to keep in mind what the treatment received will be. Although it seems that they are already improving on the issue of treating passengers.
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