Biman Bangladesh - by Koyas Uddin

25 April 2003

After several bad experiences flying with Biman from London to Dhaka I have not flown with them since. The cabin crew are rude and unprofessional and seem to treat the paying passenger as an unwelcome burden. The planes are old, uncomfortable and unreliable, leading to far too many delays. I constantly hear stories from people who have similar or worse experiences with Biman, but who continue to fly with this airline. If it is patriotism then it is extremely misplaced and only serves to encourage Biman to continue as they are. However, I think a lot of Bangladeshis continue to use Biman only because it is the only airline that flies to Sylhet without the passengers having to change aircraft. Although flying with an alternative airline is thereby less convenient, I still refuse to use Biman. And the sooner it loses its monopoly on this route the better off passengers will be. Bangladeshis who have bad experiences with Biman should not fly with it. This would force Biman to change or disappear. It is currently a very poor reflection on Bangladesh and Bangladeshis.

Biman Bangladesh - by Abdullah Talukder

13 April 2003

I have flown on many airlines including Biman. I have also travelled on Business Class. My last experience on Business Class was the worst, I have as such, decided never to travel on such a bad airline, and recommend others not to do so also. Basically, the service was spoilt by the cavalier attitude of the air hostesses. I was asked to move from my seat, so that my seat could be given to someone else (an aquaintance of the hostesses). The food could have been better, in fact, there was not much difference between economy and business food . In my opinion, Emirates economy class is far better than Biman business class. Even though the country is poor, it does not cost anything for the hostesses to give a courteous and good service.

Biman Bangladesh - by Asif Chaudhury

31 October 2002

You cannot compare Biman with other international airlines. The Biman seating and inflight entertainment are very poor, but the cosiness Biman offers cannot be beaten. Seating is average and Biman executive class isn't anything to say much about. Biman is surviving due to Bengali's going home!

Biman Bangladesh - by Azmol Hussain

24 October 2002

I have travelled extensively with Biman Bangladesh, and almost always use this airline when travelling to Bangladesh. However their standards in all aspects, ranging from quality service to food and safety, have not improved. Flight schedules are very unpredictable and I have encountered numerous and frustrating delays especially when flying with their older aircraft, the DC10. To make matters worse, the staff at Dhaka airport are extremely unprofessional and will always delay security baggage checks - in return for a bribe. Biman needs to make some very drastic changes ,buy new aircraft as they plan, and provide a world class service- or risk losing some loyal customers!

Biman Bangladesh - by Mark Caruana

4 October 2002

I flew London to Kuala Lumpur on Biman. The price was good, but it was a long and tiring journey both ways, involving a lengthy wait at Dhaka, which is an airport that has only one advantage - it's small so there isn't much walking involved! Otherwise airport facilities are very poor, the air conditioning only just about seemed to be coping with the heat, transit staff seemed under a lot of pressure and there is little to do except just sit and wait. As for the flights themselves, they were OK although the DC10s seem alarmingly old. The food and refreshments in economy were adequate in content if not in quantity, though I couldn't help noticing the cabin crew didn't seem particularly friendly or cheerful on any of the flights. The only real advantage I found to this airline, apart from the London-Dhaka leg, was lots of empty seats, particularly on the Dhaka -Kuala Lumpur sectors. The return leg Dhaka -London was terrible involving two stops at one of which (Frankfurt) we were not even allowed off the plane. All in all, Biman was a bit better than I had feared, but it still would be far from my first choice for this route, and I only used it on this occasion as there was no reasonably priced alternative.

Biman Bangladesh - by Rana Isham

28 September 2002

I have flown with Biman 5 times over the last 20 years and must say that the standard has not improved at all. It is a great shame because this airline is representing a beautiful country but their poor service does not reflect this beauty.

Biman Bangladesh - by K Kruger

11 July 2002

Being my first time travelling Biman I was extremely nervous due to all the stories I had heard, but I found the flight excellent and very comfortable (due to hardly anyone being on the flight). The attendants were pleasant and the food also tasty. The downfall from them is the numerous stops on the way. We went from London, via Paris, Dhaka, Chittagong and Burma to get to Bangkok, very frustrating and tired. As for the state of Dhaka airport "shocking". Also travelling in economy class the toilets were a bit of a mess and I also found the Bangladesh people to be very unfriendly, even though we tried our best to be cheerful and friendly. I would travel with them again - if it was not for the numerous stopovers.

Biman Bangladesh - by T Harjit

11 July 2002

After flying with a string of airlines, my wife (who is 6 months pregnant) and I decided to fly Maslin Class to Bangkok from Singapore. The flight to Bangkok was great, the crew attentive and very perceptive when my wife felt a little uncomfortable. The A310-330 we travelled in was slightly old but it was smooth. Nothing much to write about the J class toilets, which had used combs and no toiletries. But it was a rather comfy flight. The flight back to Singapore was totally horrible. All the crew were too busy entertaining the Captain and his family who were flying in Maslin class. The food on the menu were not available but we were given meals from Economy. Request for a blanket was refused as the Captain in Maslin class took the only wrapped one and we were offered a used one. If they would get a more professional crew with good inflight service skills, I would believe Biman can get somewhere.

Biman Bangladesh - by Michael Sharman

25 January 2002

I have now flown Biman twice from London to Bangkok, travelling in Maslin Executive Class and have to say that generally the flight experience is very good. The problems seem to be the delays seeing that Biman flights have numerous stops en-route. The seating is fairly adequate although nowhere near the standards of many other airlines I have travelled, and lack of foot rests is a pity. The food is disappointing both in standard and variety, but who cares after a few glasses of champagne, and wine. The fares are low and the standards reflect this. Having paid less than an economy ticket on BA, to travel business class with Biman, I think they do a good job. I've also heard that Biman are deciding whether to replace their DC10's with newer aircraft either 777's or A340's, let me tell Biman, the sooner the better. I take my next flight in March to BKK, and hope that Biman do not let me down, and lose a generally satisfied customer

Biman Bangladesh - by Abijit Sakar

24 January 2002

I flew for the first time by Biman to CCU via Dhaka. To make a long story short, I was quite satisfied with the level of service and the price that I paid. A lot of people are reluctant to fly with Biman, having heard many horrific rumours. But, that's history, I think. Biman is an airline with decent service and reasonable fares.

Biman Bangladesh - by Javed Khan

03 January 2002

I flew home by Biman only once. The flight from New York to Dhaka and Dhaka to New York was similar in quality. Very good food. The staff were not rude, but they could be more professional. The air hostesses tried their best to make our journey enjoyable, but they need to be more professional. The toilets are awful (economy class). One good thing is Biman almost never has empty seats. Not too bad service along with the patriotism of Bangladeshis will keep this company alive. In the economy class it can be little noisy. But it gave me the feel that we are in Bangladesh. No delay in our flight.

Biman Bangladesh - by J Rulal

19 December 2001

I travelled with Biman business class between London and Hong Kong.On the way back I had a transit stopover of 6 hrs in Dacca and was taking a connecting Biman flight to Dubai. In Hong Kong during the baggage check in I asked the station manager of the airline whether the cases will arrive safe and sound in Dubai and was told that everything will be fine. Upon arrival in Dubai, I realised my cases had been interfered with and locks opened and re-closed with valuable items missing. I immediately contacted the station manager of the airline at Dubai airport and met him. He offered me his sympathy and asked me to make an official complaint on one of their standard forms. What surprised me was that when he stated that there is epidemic level of thefts at Dacca airport by the baggage handlers. According to him, whenever the management puts forward the issue to the baggage handlers union, they threaten the airline with lightening strikes and because of it the management has not been able to eradicate the thefts. I eventually received a letter from the managing director offering nothing much in compensation or explanation. I definitely will not travel with Biman, considering the experience I had.

Biman Bangladesh - by G Wouter

15 October 2001

I took Biman in business class - after all the scary reports it is my obligation towards Biman to send some positive words. All the flights were exactly on schedule. Luggage wasn't lost or damaged but perfectly transferred from Brussels over Delhi, Dhaka and Bangkok. The service was great on board in business class. The food was better than most I got from all sorts of western airliners. Bengali food is recommendable. Check in was done within a minute. The DC10's were old but clean enough. The seats are spacious with so much distance you cannot touch the seat in front of you. The minus points are first of all the rude behavior of Bengali people on board, complaining about details. Another point of possible complaints is that there are many babies on board travelling with their Bengali mothers, making quite some noise. In business it was still bearable but I heard some backpackers who travelled economy complain about it in transit. Dhaka airport is run down, luckily enough the free food and drinks in the business lounge make things better. But avoid the toilets! The transit personnel was very unpleasant, until I as a westerner smiled friendly and gave a positive note. We used the 14 hours connecting time Dhaka -Bangkok  with the free hotel room to tour Dhaka. A nice experience. In general I would say 622 US dollar for a return ticket Brussels-Bangkok in business class makes you accept the minor problems and the long waiting time in Dhaka. My Thai wife wouldn't use this flight again if she was alone or if the long delay in Dhaka couldn't be overcome. I would take it again if the long delay in Dhaka could be shortened. And I would book again the business seat.

Biman Bangladesh - by Mehta Arahman

11 October 2001

Biman Bangladesh Airlines should be made the airline of the week - although having losses of millions of dollars every year due to administrative corruption, it has continued to fly in the skies for its loyal passengers, who fly Biman regularly, and upholding the nationalism among the people of Bangladesh. I is the carrier that is the global ambassador of Bangladesh all over the globe.  Biman Bangladesh has always been a very friendly and competitive airline, and has a good share of passengers in every destination it flies to. In fact, I have never seen a single seat on Biman Bangladesh heading out empty, both in business and economy - in Europe, Mid East, Nrth america and the Far East!!  Apart from that, the air crew in Biman is extremely friendly, and more than happy to help anytime, both onboard and in the airport.  Biman has a wide range of inflight entertainment, including 14 channels audio programmes, 6 channel video and seat back televisions on every 'Maslin' business class seat in its Airbus flights. Well done, Biman - I am pretty certain that the airline is suitable to be the airline of the week.