Part 20: Irkutsk (IKT) Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO) in Aeroflot business class
SU1563 (booked as AF4885)- Boeing 737-800 - Seat 5A
STD 13:05pm - STA 14:20pm (flight time 5h15m)

Business class seemed to be two thirds full, while economy class perhaps had an occupancy rate of 80 to 90 percent. I was lucky again and the seat next to me remained free for the entire flight.





There were however some small signs already that this flight would not be as good as my previous two ones. The FAs seemed to be a little bit more cool and grumpy and although the aeroplane smelled fresh and looked new, the cleanliness at my seat was a bit less. The small table between the two seats for example was absurdly sticky – like it was never cleaned in the last weeks. Yet all is quickly forgotten when one gets handed over another amenity kit (the same as on my two previous flights) and a PDB of Lanson Black Label – which is in my opinion a very nice champagne for business class.



Just moments after finishing my glass of champagne glasses were collected and a brief safety instruction was held in the corridor. Views were great during the taxiing and take-off as I fondly looked back at my Siberian memories. The place looked as great taking off as it did look landing here some days back.





















Sorry for the huge amount of pictures here – I guess this explains why I always prefer a window seat even on long-haul flights! With an aisle seat you would just miss too much of the beauty in this world.

Service kicked off immediately after the seat-belt sign went off. No menus were distributed this time besides the drink list – which was exactly the same as on the previous flight so I won't post it here again. Hot towels were delivered at each seat and drink orders taken. I ordered a second glass of champagne. Views during the flight remained spectacular and I was perfectly happy just sipping my glass of champagne, listening to music, and looking outside.









There was zero choice for food today as after a while the FA just brought out a plate which would be today's starter. It consisted of some salmon, a sad-looking salad leaf, two olives, one piece of cucumber and a very watery sauce which tasted appalling. The salmon was edible – but nowhere near close as good as the one on my earlier flight from Paris to Moscow.



Unfortunately, the main was even worse than the starter. Some unidentified meat (beef?) which was as chewy as a leather shoe, some broccoli (which I dislike in general already – and this tasted even worse) and some pieces of paprika. Also a sad-looking and stale piece of bread was offered. I ended up eating all the meat and the bun given the fact I didn't have breakfast and I was starving by now. Overall a hugely disappointing meal service – and something which I frankly did not expect after two great meals on my two previous sectors. I guess it has to do with this meal being catered in Irkutsk? It surely did look like that based on aesthetics as well! At least the both reds which I tried (Chateau de Graves from Bordeaux and a Domini Veneti Valpolicella Ripasso from Northern Italy) were fine, with the Italian wine being a much more suitable wine to drink at altitude for taste.



Meal service was completed just an hour out of Irkutsk while flying over Krasnoyarsk. Ugh, still quite a way to go!



A small dessert was served as well, which was just like the meal very basic. At least it didn't taste foul and was perfectly edible although totally unmemorable.



As the flight seemed to take forever I got bored so decided to ask for another glass of champagne thinking “if they don't serve good food, then at least enjoy good champagne”.



I might have even asked for another refill – and ended up with being given the entire bottle.



Heck, I quietly started to enjoy myself so much listening to music that I might have even ordered a G&T after the champagne – which came with some more chocolates.



Luckily, the crew had one positive surprise in store for this flight as a pre-landing snack was served some two hours out of Moscow. I decided I had enough drinking for the time being and switched to another coffee – for which of course I could not resist ordering a cognac to go along with it.








This screen was too much OCD for me – if we are flying from East to West – then Moscow should be on the left of the screen. Aargh!

I had another coffee and water before we started our descent into Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. No good views on landing due to the cloudy weather unfortunately. Just like the SVO-IKT segment, taxiing took forever – although it gave nice views of the iconic airport building and the remote stands of which some look like they are in the middle of the forest.











Ground service at SVO was much better this time compared to my departure to Siberia. A special van was waiting to take business class passengers first to the terminal. It being a domestic flight and me not having any checked baggage meant that within minutes I was landside.





From the terminal it was a long trek to the railway station for the ride to Belorussky Station. Buying tickets was very straightforward from machines/kiosks. There is both first and second class – but as the train was never more than half full on the outbound (and inbound when returning a day later to the airport), I really wouldn't bother with first class tickets here.


Sheremetyevo Airport station


Second class on the airport express


Passing the Moscow suburbs..


Arrival at Belorussky station

From Belorussky Station it was a two-stop metro ride to my hotel. Needless to say, the Moscow metro is fantastic. Yes, at times it can be overcrowded but there is a train every 1 or 2 minutes and the train stations are little palaces.





Within one-and-a-half to two hours after touchdown I was in the centre of Moscow hotel for my one day stopover.

In Short: This Aeroflot flight really was the odd one out. The plane was dirty, FAs were average at best and the lunch was absolutely dismal, properly because it was catered at an outstation. The hard product remains however good for a mid-haul flight during the day – and everything is quickly forgotten when drinking a few glasses of Lanson Black Label ;-)

Next up: A Quick Moscow Stopover for less than 24 hours