For the second sector of my Four Seasons Yacht via Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia adventure, I flew Turkmenistan Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ER business class on the 4hr35min flight from Frankfurt (FRA) to Ashgabat (ASB).
This discussion thread is connected to our post: Review: Turkmenistan Airlines Business Class Boeing 777 (FRA-ASB).
You could definitely do worse than Turkmenistan Airlines business class. That's for sure. I am surprised the airline is "dry" if only because some of the other national airlines in that general vicinity serve alcohol. A fairly large percent of the people drink alcohol even though they are "Muslim." I wonder if they let you bring your own alcohol on the flight?
@ FNT Delta Diamond -- I get the sense that Turkmenistan Airlines is dry more for "aviation security" reasons than religious reasons, much like the carrier reportedly not allowing pictures. Technically it's prohibited to bring your own alcohol, but I've also seen reports of people bringing their own and not having issues (in fairness, I think those are typically higher ranking nationals of Turkmenistan).
As a policy matter, alcohol in Turkmenistan is legal but it’s not widely available (in any case, not as widely as in neighboring Stans!). For example, it’s not served on trains either (and if you bring your own alcohol, you need to make sure no one can you see drink it).
There are special stores authorized to sell alcohol (not that many) and only some restaurants are allowed to serve it (when visiting Dashoguz in the north of Turkmenistan, I was told only two restaurants in the city serve alcohol).
A fascinating country with unbelievably friendly people otherwise - I’d return in a heartbeat.
That looks surprisingly decent. Do they get many westerners attracted by the cheap J tickets I wonder?
@ AceQuik -- I think the share of those passengers is slowly increasing, now that these tickets are more easily bookable. Still, though, clearly they aren't filling planes just yet. 🙂
“Just be ready for an adventure” … oh, Ben, from your reviews, we’d expect nothing less!
Interior/seats remind me of CX.
I’ve been increasingly thinking about making a trip to Central Asia in the next couple of years, so this review was of interest to me. That being said, I don’t believe I’d fly Turkmenistan Airlines my first time in, regardless of the attractive pricing. Feels a little too adventurous to me!
How DEPRESSINGLY solid as a flight
Looks nicer than that Lufty J flight
It's funny that Cathay Pacific's Cirrus seat is what got you in love with reverse herringbone seats in the first place - who would've thought you'd have gotten the exact same seat on Turkmenistan Airlines. Maybe this could even be the same airframe as that HKG-EWR flight you did years back (given how mediocre Cathay Pacific's bedding was back in 2015, this bed might've been even better).
He had the flavourful fish on that flight with a pear tart and in his words, a disgusting frittata.
At $1,000 I would do this in a heartbeat. Happy to see this fun review 🙂
No star rating?
Like you I keep a stash of hotel & airline slippers to wear around the house. But these though I might have to frame instead of wear.
The city is indeed lit up like Las Vegas - possibly even more funky than Vegas - and it's hilariously random. Zero urban planning. They are mostly monuments (and everything is some sort of "world record") and they are placed all over the place, each one more over the top than the last. Very interesting but also very bizarre city.
he failed to consolidate his dictatorship, didn't have the juice, and you only get one shot at that. guy can't even seem to get his gaudy-ass ballroom built, let alone his nazi arch. and now he's less popular than gonorrhea
"This is kind of what I imagine Air Koryo’s inflight magazine is like as well." Well, chop chop! That would be one heck of a flight and review. That and Cubana. Have you considered?
Reviews like this are what makes this site special, Ben!
One of the very few inflight magazines in the World outside of Russia, where you see promo pictures of Putin cozying up to the leader.
Love this. It’s trip reviews like this why I started reading your blog back in 2012!
I see where you're coming from on the limited movie selection but at least the few names that showed up were (a) recent movies, (b) generally well regarded.
I was expecting way more obscure titles.
Overall - love this post and honestly for $1,100 it's not too bad a deal or product.
Strangely enough you can't book a ticket from Bangkok to Europe. Only Bangkok to Ashgabat. That would have been a fun trip back to Europe.
Is the IFE selection much worse than JAL though? Lol
Best part - a beautiful 777. Big fan of that plane/livery combo.