uzeconomist
06-19-2008, 08:05 PM
I have recently travelled with Uzbekistan Airways to Bangkok and back. It was connecting flight. I used UzAirways a year ago and service got even worse:
Check-in: My check-in at the International airport in Bangkok was very good. Bangkok built modern Suvarnabhumi Airport and you will just enjoy your travel by. They even have high-tech customs and passport check with web-cams shooting each and every traveller for security reasons. Once you pass customs and passport control there is huge shopping lounge with nice coffee shops etc. So, check-in was very good.
Flight: Once I got into Uzairways old A310 aircraft, I thought I am sort of flying domestic. Aircarft was clean not perfect. Customer service reps were very serious and I never saw them smiling. I got my sit. We have been provided with water, coke, fanta and sprite before flight. Their DVD system is a bit dodgy and I have noticed them trying to play it couple of times. Anyway, we were high in the skies and they started servicing food. Food was ok (Thai people cook asian food very nicely). I took a nap and after waking up I pressed button for service request. They shouted from them back of the aircarft and asked what I wanted. How bad it is to do so? If you want water you can go to the back of the aircraft where they have self service trolley to get water for yourself. Thus, they do not like if you ask for something. This is the first time I have ever saw self-service trolley in the plane. I had an impression that: ""ni vipendrivaysya, i stan poydi vozmi vodu sam, tipa uzbek sel v samolet i nachal vipendrivatsya"". However, I did fly with British Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Jetstar, Qantas, KLM, Aisiana Airlines, Aeroflot, JAL and I can make comparisons between flights quite well.
Movie selection was ok but it was the same movies when I was flying back from Tashkent. It was radiculous and I did not want to watch the same movie twice. Also, their Uzair Plus advertising annoyed my as it was played before and after each movie.
Arrival: We got off from the plane and travelled by bus to the lounge. Passport control was quick. I do not understand why passport control people still sit in the old box with old lighting written: "Passportniy kontrol". This box is even from USSR times. Why build new airport and equip with old things? At least they can change it to new one with nice look and English translation of words as well for international travellers. Luggage claim lounge does not have NO SMOKING signs at all and people started to smoke. That was very bad since I do not smoke.
Departure: I departed from Tashkent after a week. They did check my hand luggage before going into the departure hall. I did assist to couples with finding right way to the terminal. Airport does not have any signs of directions (since there is only one direction to the terminal cause the other one is closed). I even directed them to the toilet. In the departure hall they have cafe and they accept Euros or USD and airport is still Uzbekistan isn't it? I saw people putting soums into rubbish bin because it was useless after getting through customs control. They have to change this policy. It was around 36C degrees and no airconditioning. I was expecting it since what more could you ask for?
Flight service back was exactly the same and I did not enjoy much. However, I found new edition of Economist in the plane. it took me about 3 hours to entertain myself with reading. However, I really enjoyed my connecting flight from Bangkok after all with Jetstar.
Conclusion. UzAirways got out of new ideas and they recruit people with no attitude. Aircrafts are old, not comfortable. UzAirways is the face of the country. They should improve very soon or they will loose their credentials ( if they qualify for???). By the way, I heard that Uzbekistan Airways was not accpted to any major alliances because of poor standards. How on earth they claim they won this and that award?
WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE? LETS DISCUSS, MAYBE THEY WILL LISTEN TO US ONE DAY.
P.S. If you are flying with new born baby, do not expect baby skycots because they never had one on any aircraft on any direction.
Check-in: My check-in at the International airport in Bangkok was very good. Bangkok built modern Suvarnabhumi Airport and you will just enjoy your travel by. They even have high-tech customs and passport check with web-cams shooting each and every traveller for security reasons. Once you pass customs and passport control there is huge shopping lounge with nice coffee shops etc. So, check-in was very good.
Flight: Once I got into Uzairways old A310 aircraft, I thought I am sort of flying domestic. Aircarft was clean not perfect. Customer service reps were very serious and I never saw them smiling. I got my sit. We have been provided with water, coke, fanta and sprite before flight. Their DVD system is a bit dodgy and I have noticed them trying to play it couple of times. Anyway, we were high in the skies and they started servicing food. Food was ok (Thai people cook asian food very nicely). I took a nap and after waking up I pressed button for service request. They shouted from them back of the aircarft and asked what I wanted. How bad it is to do so? If you want water you can go to the back of the aircraft where they have self service trolley to get water for yourself. Thus, they do not like if you ask for something. This is the first time I have ever saw self-service trolley in the plane. I had an impression that: ""ni vipendrivaysya, i stan poydi vozmi vodu sam, tipa uzbek sel v samolet i nachal vipendrivatsya"". However, I did fly with British Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Jetstar, Qantas, KLM, Aisiana Airlines, Aeroflot, JAL and I can make comparisons between flights quite well.
Movie selection was ok but it was the same movies when I was flying back from Tashkent. It was radiculous and I did not want to watch the same movie twice. Also, their Uzair Plus advertising annoyed my as it was played before and after each movie.
Arrival: We got off from the plane and travelled by bus to the lounge. Passport control was quick. I do not understand why passport control people still sit in the old box with old lighting written: "Passportniy kontrol". This box is even from USSR times. Why build new airport and equip with old things? At least they can change it to new one with nice look and English translation of words as well for international travellers. Luggage claim lounge does not have NO SMOKING signs at all and people started to smoke. That was very bad since I do not smoke.
Departure: I departed from Tashkent after a week. They did check my hand luggage before going into the departure hall. I did assist to couples with finding right way to the terminal. Airport does not have any signs of directions (since there is only one direction to the terminal cause the other one is closed). I even directed them to the toilet. In the departure hall they have cafe and they accept Euros or USD and airport is still Uzbekistan isn't it? I saw people putting soums into rubbish bin because it was useless after getting through customs control. They have to change this policy. It was around 36C degrees and no airconditioning. I was expecting it since what more could you ask for?
Flight service back was exactly the same and I did not enjoy much. However, I found new edition of Economist in the plane. it took me about 3 hours to entertain myself with reading. However, I really enjoyed my connecting flight from Bangkok after all with Jetstar.
Conclusion. UzAirways got out of new ideas and they recruit people with no attitude. Aircrafts are old, not comfortable. UzAirways is the face of the country. They should improve very soon or they will loose their credentials ( if they qualify for???). By the way, I heard that Uzbekistan Airways was not accpted to any major alliances because of poor standards. How on earth they claim they won this and that award?
WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE? LETS DISCUSS, MAYBE THEY WILL LISTEN TO US ONE DAY.
P.S. If you are flying with new born baby, do not expect baby skycots because they never had one on any aircraft on any direction.