The Sad Decline Of Air Serbia Business Class

I felt so sad on the state of Air Serbia, and it is clear that it is not worth to go out of my way to fly it anymore. I wonder if they have loaded enough pre-arrival meals to begin with or they just have those dishes to themselves. I can understand the cutback on PJ, but no amenity kit. That is just a bad move. The only thing that I wish that I have done is to fly Air Serbia one more time prior to Covid-19. Thanks for the update and I will never fly Air Serbia again unless things are improved again.

That’s a shame. Last summer when I was there the Belgrade lounge still had a la carte dining and the food was decent.

What a disgusting looking Spanish Pie from Air Serbia. At first glance, I thought it was eggs with mold or eggs with snot. The dining experience seems to have gone really downhill in terms of food presentation as well.

Air Serbia still offers PJs, slippers, amenity kit and bedding. You just have to request it.

@ Nick -- I requested all of them, and was told they didn't have any of those?

Also, regarding the lounge. A la carte dining is still offered. You have to request for the menu. The buffet came back just 2 weeks ago. Until then (due to corona) it was all just a la carte dining.

@ Nick -- I also asked about a la carte dining in the lounge, and was told it was no longer available.

While I'm not going to defend Air Serbia's mediocre product, that sadly seems to be the only sustainable business model for the airline.

Etihad punched way above the weight of a third-world flag carrier with very limited premium traffic, and the airline basically had to ask for a state bailout and cut down on service drastically in order to stay afloat in the face of low yields and LCC competition.

The only reason the JFK route survives is convenience for O&D traffic and good connections to the rest of the Balkans. For any other purpose there are way better carriers out there.

This is what happens to a government owned, and likely subsidized, airline in a small country that is disconnected in many ways from the rest of Europe. The free market has incentives to provide better service and Etihad undoubtedly cut its ties here to avoid another investment disaster seeing that there is limited upside even if all worked "as plan"

I vaguely remember reading your review of Air Serbia back at the time but remember it as a mildly pleasant surprise from low expectations... this post makes it seem like pre-covid was a great experience. Either way I guess I'm sorry I didnt experience it.

I vaguely remember reading your review of Air Serbia back at the time but remember it as a mildly pleasant surprise from low expectations... this post makes it seem like pre-covid was a great experience. Either way I guess I'm sorry I didn't experience it.

Online travel bloggers love to go on and on about the lounge experience and frankly (in most cases) it's not that huge of a factor to me as long as there is one and it's decent. Sad that this has been cheapened by Air Serbia, but we'll get over it.

What can't be gotten over is spending business class money for the flight experience you described. No wifi? And that food!?! I'm sorry but none of the food in your photos is the least bit appealing. Nearly all of it looks nasty to me. That "Spanish Pie" looks like it contains frogs eggs and that's the highlight. A sweet omelet? Walnuts for breakfast with a strawberry sauce? WTF are you feeding us? So yes, I'd be po'd if I spent the coin to be up front and spent 10 hours being bored and hungry. It would drive me nuts. This is obviously an airline that needs to get their excrement together.

It’s these kinds of insights on lesser-known airlines that truly set apart OMAAT from the rest. It’s sad how Air Serbia and all the other Etihad-affiliated airlines have fallen.

By the way, I do hope you’re including Jet Airways among the airlines that have restructured with new owners, and not those which have liquidated. As an Indian it will be a huge offence to me if you continue to classify 9W as liquidated/grounded/defunct, because soon it will take to the skies again — something very few airlines have been able to do..

"As an Indian it will be a huge offence to me if you continue to classify 9W as liquidated/grounded/defunct, because soon it will take to the skies again." I applaud your optimism, but doesn't the fact Jet isn't currently flying make them grounded by definition?

Also, India has many things of which it should be proud, but if I were Indian I would most definitely not stake my national pride on anything having to do with India's civil aviation.

Compared to what's being offered on UA and others these days I honestly don't see much difference. The meal actually looked quite tasty compared to the slop UA Polaris has had of late. Puzzling why you alluded to this being such a shocking decline.

Ok, lack of amenity kit, no wifi, and limited movie selection is a tad annoying. But Egyptair or Tunis level bad this is not. It's still a fairly competitive product and they often have very cheap C fares to the U.S. I don't need to spend an extra $3000K for an amenity kit I never even open. Besides, virtually everyone has slashed offerings the past two years, so why would you assume that Air Serbia would not as well?

If they had a $1500 one way last minute fare to the U.S. and the rest were wanting $3000, you bet I would fly this in a second and be perfectly happy with the value.

lol that partners sign. The whos who of defunct airlines.

Sorry to hear about your experience. That sucks.

I fly Air Serbia in a month. I was looking forward to it based on your previous review and now my expectations were significantly adjusted downward 🙁

Russia. Putin. Fascism.

Of course you’re right — it still is grounded, but I do hope that 9W is at least lumped along with Virgin Australia, ITA and Air Serbia, which are at least flying in a significantly reduced form, and not Air Berlin or Etihad Regional, which will never fly again. Indeed, Jet’s A330 was a huge reason why Air Serbia used to be so good in prepandemic times.

Not that either ITA or VA are paragons of modern aviation — far from it — but I do hope that 9W, under its new management, can indeed prove the naysayers wrong and bring Indian aviation a tiny bit closer to the glory days of old. To be resurrected (well, almost) is a monumental achievement in itself, and I hope it knows what it’s doing to not die like it did at the hands of Etihad.

I spent some time at the lounge back in mid-June, and the buffet was definitely there back then. There wasn’t an a la carte menu on offer either as far as I was made aware.

I agree… seeing that picture gave me trypophobia.

9W really has a poor business plan if I am being honest, especially considering the entrance of TATA ownership of Air India and the already existing Vistara. I doubt it will survive even in this new transformation, unless they somehow revolutionise with a new product and find a middle ground in the market, just like JetBlue or FlyDubai, serving as a mixed carrier role. But it will be very difficult to fit against already established airlines who has superior slots and network

Also I don’t know why you would say ITA is “reduced”, it is already expanding in a huge way with a large order of new aircrafts, alongside a takeover move from a consortium of Lufthansa and a particular shipping company. I would rather not even put 9W and ITA at the same pace, the latter has a future, the former, I doubt

What is up with that first omelet? Looks like its covered by mold

Vistara is quite decent and the exception out of India's airlines. However they havent been profitable since inception 7 years ago and not sure it will be sustainable in a hyper price sensitive market where most will chose an ultra low cost carrier over a full service one even for slightly lower fares.

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That sucks! I flew on Air Serbia Business class back on the old plane. I really loved the 1/1/1 set up they had before, the seats seemed a bit narrow but felt really private. Also their amenity kit was one of my favorites. Sad 🙁

Interestingly, I took the same product in both direction within the last 3 weeks. Flight from New York to Belgrade did offer pajamas, amenity kits and a mattress pad. The return from Belgrade was similar to your experience: none of those where available. The running out of food was the same both ways. Entertainment options were dismal both ways.

yikes - unfortunately, i have to agree with Stanley; at first glance I also thought the eggs were moldy.. what a decline from your previous Air Serbia experience.. Sad in that a Flag Carrier sets the tone of a travel experience of their land

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My 1st thought when you mentioned there was not any food left that the crew probably ate it. Possibly the plane wasn't catered with crew meals, sadly.
Whoever chooses the food, such as the disgusting Spanish omelet needs to do a visual because we eat with our eyes first. That was not appetizing.

Maybe my experience differs but I still think Air Serbia offers one of the better business class experiences. The biggest downside is the lack of WiFi, though I've come to expect lack of WiFi across most flights crossing oceans.

The lounge is a non-issue. I wouldn't buy a business class ticket for lounge access because there are usually always other ways to get into a lounge. There are two lounges at Belgrade airport. Both are fine, but I prefer the other lounge than the one described here.

The food I've had on flight has been good. I've gotten the amenities. The seat and bed were comfortable. The staff were friendly.

This is still the best way to get from Serbia to USA. There are no other direct flight options unfortunately. KLM is another option that offers a good business class option with a layover in Amsterdam. I'd still rather choose the direct flight option when starting in Belgrade.

I'm surprised you didn't mention anything about their massive decline in European business class, either. That used to be phenomenal: real business class seats, full meal and drink service offered on even the shortest of flights (incl. a great selection of Serbian wines), etc. I was heartbroken when they switched to regular European business (middle seat blocked), since the experience was literally the next flight on my travel list at the time!

Serbia is pro putin and his criminal war in Ukraine. So you can see why they have gone to hell.

Knowing Serbia over the past four decades, I am not surprised at all with the decline of Air Serbia. A typical (political west Balkans) ploy of a foreign investor pumping some money in, then the state taking on responsibility (i.e., decline) once the funds have been sucked out (into private pockets) and the initial capital has dried up.

Having said that, I was really looking forward to flying J on YU in late August. I guess I know what to expect now?

As for BEG lounges, the other "Business" lounge was equally disappointing when I went there at the end of June. Really mediocre food selection (it used to be great!), service was, well, typical Balkan lack of interest. I suppose it comes with the dire financial situation?

The biggest qualm I have, however, are the utterly disastrous conditions around the airport created by the ongoing construction. God forbid if you are returning a rental car and have a couple of large suitcases. Not a fun experience dragging bags at 30+C to check in from that parking garage, then walking around the construction site to return the rental keys; then back to terminal. I absolutely hated this.

I flu AirSerbia years ago business class from New York to Belgrade on board all Airbus 330 leased from Etihad Airlines. It was 9 pax and service was excellent . On the returned flight from Belgrade to New York was disappointed . Business class was full with free passengers with the kids. They were politicians and it was ony few of us who paid business class . It was not enough food and stuardeses apologized but they are serving mostly those free upgraded passengers .

The centrepiece of the breakfast looks like a bowl of ketchup with a side of walnuts. It all looks very Air Koryo.

I think they only offer pajamas and mattress pads from NY because it is an overnight flight and that’s when people usually want to get a good night’s sleep, though I would still expect the bare minimum of an amenity kit, but the financial situation around the world is pretty bad so…

And then there is the possibility that their PJs, pads, and kits are produced in the US?

I think they only offer the PJs and mattress pads from NY, as it’s an overnight flight, and that’s when people usually want to sleep more comfortably, though I still would want the bare minimum of an amenity kit either way. The financial situation around the world is pretty bad so…

There is the sheer possibility that their PJs, pads, and kits are produced/provided from the US/NY?

As for the catering, it’s a disaster. No matter which direction you’re going from. It seems as though both Air Serbia Catering and their provider at JFK are careless, and/or just do not have the resources, and there is the possibility of the JFK caterers wanting to see Air Serbia facing difficulty, because….

That isn’t something that’s different with Etihad either, so looks like they really found the perfect trait to adopt from them.

The IFEs just don’t even matter at this point, because there’s so much other bullshit.

The only airline Indians can take pride in is Vistara.

That is a very good point. I doubt there could be that many meals just not loaded on, though they should start requesting crew catering, because this is all just so pathetic.

I read a comment down below, and maybe the catering was loaded on, but was eaten by the crew, including in economy, and so the solution might be Air Serbia requesting crew catering?