I’d argue I’ve flown just about all of the world’s best first class products — while I won’t rank them, I’d argue that between ANA, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, Lufthansa, Swiss, Singapore, etc., I have them mostly covered. Perhaps the one exception is Garuda Indonesia first class, which looks spectacular.
Continue reading: Is Now The Time To Book Transaero First Class?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I flown them on short trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg in economy. Nothing special - good or bad - about that trip. Though I heard the are playing their anthem before takeoff and after landing, and it is horendous
Do it anyway
Spelling FAIL: JFK is "John Eph Kennedy"? Really? I wouldn't place a whole lot of confidence in an airline who couldn't get that right. But then again, considering it is an airline based in Russia, I guess it's not easy to forget the past.
@Ben, would you be departing from "John Eph Kennedy" Airport, though? I have no idea where that is.
Are there any other Imperial Class reviews out there? I haven't found any! It sure fits your promisse to review more airlines this year! Do it!
"I won’t rank them"
Please do. You can add whatever disclaimer you like but I for one would enjoy reading a ranking post.
Even if you just do one way, this would be awesome! Would also be fascinating to see what lounges at Vnukovo are like (I'm already familiar with JEK Terminal Phour).
"And while it looks like they have an IFE screen in the seat, apparently they don’t?"
It would be truly hilarious if that's just a cardboard mockup of a video screen like you see in furniture stores.
You must get to John Eph Kennedy immediately! I would LOVE to read this trip report!
It looks like they have chauffeur service included both in JFK and VKO for paid F. Food is supposed to be decent. There are some reviews on the internet:
nemihail.livejournal.com/148316.html
You always tease us these strange airlines, but never seems to go true with it Lucky.
Please prove me wrong.
Sounds like a great idea. Go for it. And Aeroflot on the return instead of Singapore. But what FF programs earn miles with Transaero flights?
As you rightly point out, you've done pretty much the more mainstream, SQ, EK, EY, LH, etc. Now, we eagerly await TRs on the rest like UN, WY, and GA.
So what that the first two can't economically done with points (or at all)... this isn't strictly a points blog, ya know 🙂
Go for it!
Hilarious. It seems they used google translate to write in English.
Google translate is sometimes funny. I run the above linked livejournal review, and google translated "took a selfie" as "washed onion".
I give this idea a strong thumbs up. Hopefully departing from VKO so we can see the lounge. But either way I'll be fascinated to find out if extraordinary cordiality, attentiveness, and flawless manners are their work style.
Don't. Not worth your money! Seems like a rather mediocre product.
Try Kuwait and Garuda!
Ben, remember your duty to us, your loyal readers! I'm afraid this one's obligatory . . . 🙂
You've been talking about this for several years. There's no better time than now!!!
Flew them on PEK-DME route... An ancient 744 with the worst experience I have EVER had on any airlines... It was coach though...
Have you never been to Russia? BLING is their THING.... Actually, I had 5 economy flights booked with Transaero LAX-DME a few years ago that I didn't make cause 5 visas nullifies the cheap flight. They refunded almost all of my money on a cheap fare. I give them high marks for that.
Lucky I think your goal for reviews in 2015 should be more unusual, interesting airlines and products. I think we've seen enough LH and EK F trip reports for a while.
How about Transaero J one way and F the other?
I beg you to do it! There is practically no decent review of Transaero's Imperial Class! And I am already drooling in anticipation to read your take on it.
What an adventure it would be!
Tried PEK-VKO-ORY in eco for a round-trip. For PEK=VKO, it's a 2-5-2 layout. There would be anything special for any economy class, I guess. So, do it, Ben:)
A Russian airline evoking the glory days of tzarism. Now I know who really won the revolution.
Imperial class looks awfully similar to AA's. No Beluga served. No Balik salmon. No pairing food with regional vodkas. CRT screens. Definitely no Duc de Paris.
Keep your electronics at home. No sense risking malware loaded while you sleep.
Ben, try the Garuda FC. I did it and was stunned. Having flown SQ and Emirates I expected something similar, this was better.
I might try this in the summer but I'm really hoping the prices will still be in that range when (or if) the Transaero A380 comes to fruition. I'd love to see Imperial Class in that double decker superjumbo!!!
ben, you've def jumped the gun on this one. transaero puts emirates to shame?? LOLOL in which bizzaro world would this antiquated, piece of shit looking "imperial" cabin beat out or remotely look better than one of the best, multiple award-winning EK F cabins out there?
@ Adam -- I said in terms of "bling factor." "Bling factor" isn't a good thing, in my book. That wasn't a compliment to Transaero...
please please do this! can't remember if you've been to St. Petersburg, but that's where I would head to immediately, and then perhaps the train to Helsinki (amazing how the Russians manage to deal with all visas during that train trip, but the Dutch can't process passengers on an 8-hour ferry from England, so up to 1,200 pax queue up for 2 agents after landing, sometimes 1 agent if there's a coffee break...)
I love them, LHR-VKO-GUW, it's service without a smile, efficient and good value. The food is food, there is no Transaero lounge I have found in Vnukovo. I have flown on their points and no problem booking it. There is usually space to stretch out on multiple seats, so why bother with Imperial. Favourite mid-tier airline.