Transaero Airlines

Online check in didn't work. Airport check in machines didn't work. The check In agent ( no queue) accommodated me at the wrong cabin so at the gate my boarding pass was taken and returned with new seat number. Plane old legroom awful my seat back didn't stand upright. I managed to move to premium economy where I had whole row for myself as cabin was empty. The flight was third full. Crew were okay food was terrible. Flight was on time. The price was ok.

URA to LHR return via DME. Check-in online fine. Personnel on baggage drop off both at URA and LHR (staffed by BMI) helpful and efficient. Planes are a bit on an older side but were okay and legroom in economy premium is good although seats were just what you expect from any regular Y-class seat - not premium at all. DME-LHR on 738 with airshow displaying the aircraft still in yellow TUI livery! b767-300ER on return from LHR - okay leg room and they were showing a film but NO headphones on offer! Food not bad but not too good either but FA's are very efficient and friendly. Overall an average carrier which however takes you from A to B safely and on time. I would recommend this carrier for good fares and will use them again.

Almaty to Vienna via Moscow Domodedovo and return. I was looking for a cheap ticket and they offered the cheapest. I wasn't expecting much maybe that's the reason why I had a very good impression later. For a 2-star airline I think they are really fair. We are both quite tall with my wife so we asked for seats next to the emergency exit where you have big legroom. We got it for every flight. Food was enough and good staff were friendly. Easy transfer in Moscow. Airport was very expensive though. Aircraft a bit old.

DME-KHV-DME Premium economy class. Quite old but still in good shape ex-Gulf Air Boeing 767-300. Relatively cheap perfect schedule for business trips cabin crew spoke good English and were efficient in service and dealing with disgruntled and drunk passengers. 2 regular meals and beverages (Vodka cognac wine) free of charge. IFE virtually none existent except for individual multimedia players for rent (600RUR per flight) with a selection of 15 quite new releases / music and games. On direct flight they turned on general cabin video system with OHP showing the flight info. Built-in audio entertainment system worked ok on both flights. If you want a pillow - be sure to come to a flight attendant and ask it secretly. Same with blankets - the number of blankets on board isn't sufficient and roughly only 40-50% of passengers got them. Nice budget airline for domestic flights in Russia. When choosing it do not expect Singapore Airlines like service.

DME-LED-DME SVO-HRG-SVO DME-PUJ-DME. The airline mainly specializes in international charter flights to vacation destinations with regular flights not being their priority. Every time there were some problems. On the regular flight DME-LED-DME the company failed to issue an e- ticket though the money was charged to my card. The charter flight SVO-HRG was delayed for 6 hours. The flight PUJ-DME was delayed for 3 hours while the passengers had to sit all this time in the plane with AC being turned off. Transaero fleet is fairly old the crew members are rude. Drinks & food onboard are limited. For example I was denied a second glass of tomato juice cause of the "one glass per person" policy. In fact probably the only good thing about Transaero is their offer of cheap direct long-range flights from Moscow to destinations like Punta Cana Cancun Male Denpasar etc. But considering that most likely there will be a delay the plane will be old & dirty with no in-flight entertainment serviced by rude crew the consequence of such economy of time & money is likely to be a spoiled trip. I think it is much better to pay more & fly with a stopover than fall victim to Transaero's incompetence.