Hello from New York! We just flew Ukraine International Airlines from Kiev to New York, which sure was an interesting note on which to end this trip. After being very pleasantly surprised by Aeroflot and Air Serbia, and after having a good enough experience on Azerbaijan, I was hoping that maybe Ukraine International would be…
Continue reading: 6 Reasons You’ll LOVE Ukraine Airlines Business Class
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Well, you'd been dying to try it. Now you know. Were the flight attendants friendly at least?
8 across in Y??????? On a 767? Yuck.
Guess who owes us economy pictures now...
As far as the business class seats go, the recline doesn't look that bad. Was the salmon good, at least?
You left out the best part: the fact that Ukraine Airlines is a redemption partner for Flying Blue, so you can actually use miles to fly this amazing product. Of course, you can't search availability online---you have to call Flying Blue and let their agents search. Isn't it wonderfully nostalgic to hearken back to the time when no airlines allowed you to search award availability online? What fun!
You also forgot to mention that there are credit cards one can get to transfer miles to Flying Blue to fly Ukraine and make all your travel dreams come true. I'm sure some of your readers would appreciate learning about those cards and getting a link to apply.
I am not surprised, I just had a small hope that it was not the case and airline improved to modern day standards.
Very funny article Lucky! I loved it! When I first saw the title, I thought you made a mistake when you wrote it. Then, when I read the first paragraph, I realized what your experience was.
Next I will be flying UIA from FIN-Kiev-WAW, with a 12 hour layover in Kiev, any recommendations on what to do on my 12 hour layover in Kiev. I plan to take the SkyBus to the city center and walk around.
I'm clearing room in my itinerary as we speak, this sounds like the trip I've been waiting for!
For a country that's half in war/dispute/arguement with russia, i think it's still amazing that the airline is still able to fly.
Or maybe you should try to review UIA in the style of the anime Hetalia: http://www.funimation.com/shows/hetalia/videos/official/axis-powers-episode-43?watch=sub
Flying to Georgia and Azerbaijan next year and Ukraine is $1400 in J. The more traditional airlines are all around $1k in Y so while I knew Ukraine was bad (and you just proved it) I'm no longer sure it's worth $400 more than Klm economy.
Or maybe I just suck it up for $2700 on Turkish. Qatar has some great deals in J on their gyd-tbs fifth freedom route so that leg is a given as nobody else flies this route nonstop.
I wish I had pictures of the the flight I flew on Aerosvit in 2011. I upgraded to the emergency row for what I remember was ~$40. The seats for that row were clearly retrofitted, with one armrest having been sawed (most likely a hand saw, by the looks of the saw marks) off and installed. The projector screens and salmon buffet were memorable.
This. This is why I gladly give you any credit card referrals. Love the smorgasbord of salmon!
should I thank you for take-one-for-the-team or point out the hidden health benefits of these Business Class?
@ Santastico -- Ironically, I think Spirit might have a better hard product. Their economy seats have an additional 1/4" of width, and the "Big Front" seats would be 2.25 inches wider than these.
Yes it's not great. But let's not forget this is a country that was invaded by "Russia" in the 21st century. It is a country that is at war. It's pretty amazing they are flying and the country is operating relatively normally given what has happened in the east of the country.
I can't believe you moaned about the length of the flight to Kiev given what Happened to MH17 and the obvious reasons for the extra long route.
It's a shame that neither of your posts so far have not really acknowledged any of this.
Good God, you people are shallow. This is a country at war with Russia. Russian surrogates recently shot down a Malaysian Airlines overfly. And all you can do is giggle at the standard of business crass.
Transatlantic Business class on UIA is more like economy premium on most airlines. Both price-wise and product wise.
Economy class on European flights is ok. Nothing fancy, but it gets you from point A to point B.
Fares are usually reasonable, especially in the last year when they started embracing low cost model.
And airline doesn't really receive a lot of government subsidies.
You know that there are other parts of Ukraine right? like Lviv where I am right now that are served by Austria, Lufthansa and Lot and Kiev is served by other airlines too duhhhh
"Ukraine — here I don’t come!"
Nope, you should definitely come. Ukraine always ready for tourists. But use some another airlines
LOL! I was going to warn you, but you wouldn't have listened. This is Luxe Travel for Urkainians, who have been the red headed step child of the USSR for 3 generations now. Now you know! Best way to Kiev: Virgin Atlantic ATL to LHR, BA to KBP. Trust me. I make that run all the time. And DO NOT EVER USE LOT!
@Pat Bertroche LOT is the best Eastern European airline and on par with almost every Western European Airline as well. Why do you use such strong language against them? Just curious...
Even worse than these business class seats on MU's (retired) 346s...and I don't say that often.
LOL - love this thread - my experience as well - though I thought the Flight Attendants were more friendly that the usual outdated AA and Delta Robots.
I really liked this post about Ukraine Airlines 767 Business Class. It has a moderate amount of snark but it also offers valid criticism about modernizing both "hard" and "soft" products from the one guy who really knows (because he's flown their competitors butt-in-seat).
I, for one, would love to see you review business class on more not-so-aspirational airlines.
"Flying premium cabins on top carriers can be downright unhealthy, thanks to the huge meals many of them serve. That won’t be a problem on Ukraine International. The starter for the first meal? Salmon. The main course? Salmon. The starter for the second meal? Salmon. The main course for the second meal? Salmon"
This is hilarious. I love this post.
I appreciated your sense of humor. Thanks for writing the review in this way.
Simply amazing!!! Can't stop laughing.
Great post. I was looking to book a reward ticket on EK F suites. But now having second thoughts as to whether I should go with UIA J instead.
Love this post.
Don't ever fly them in coach. I've done it multiple times on short hops (Kiev-Odessa, Kiev-Lviv, Kiev-Prague), and it's...well, miserable.
worst experience ever flying with them. their so called business class is at best a premium economy, however subpar quality. in 2017 the standart business class feature the reasonable passenger would expect is the FULLY RECLINING SEAT! thus if this option isnt available, as in ukrainian airlines - it is NOT business class, end of story. what they do is at least false advertising.
in the lame language - shitty airline, ZERO customer service even for the business class.
no future for this country. they deserve what they have. clowns. ghetto.
I've been flying the Kiev - NYC route for many years. Sadly, Ukrainian Airways is always the only airline that flies direct and its the cheapest boot.
But, man, is it one ghetto flight. I'm not a big man, but the seats are always too narrow in the coach. One day, I will pay a bit more for a better airline, but right now it's just the best option.
Maybe one day, I'll splurge for the business class.