I know I'm obsessing lately about SU and ST but its for good reason. My life would get a lot easier.

I just "tested" Aeroflot with 6 legs (4 domestic and 2 international) in the last 2 weeks. I was particularly interested in the following aspects of the experience:

1. Posting of Aeroflot Bonus Miles (if and how long)
2. Condition of "remodeled" TU-154s and TU-134s
3. In flight service
4. Relative ease of airports

Here are my conclusions (A being supurb and F being terrible):

1. Posting of miles - D
I waited 3 days for my first leg to post. It did finally but the second leg has yet to (8 days after the fact). My first international leg posted the same day I took the flight. The return international leg has not yet posted (only 2 days later though). So far, 5 out of 8 have posted. My real concern though in this area is that when presented with my Bonus card in Novosibirsk and again in Moscow, the check in people just wrote my number on the ticket stub. When asked why not just put in the system, they said they would get to it later. In the future, I'll have my travel agent include by Bonus number in the res at the time of booking but still this should not be such an issue to add it at the last minute.

2. Condition of remodeled TU 154s and 134s - B- for 154s and D for 134s
The 154s look a lot better inside as they all had leather seats in them. The seats still flip flop back and forth when you bump them but leather helps things a lot. The width of the seats is just this side of hilarious though. Unless your butt and the butt beside you are about the size of, say, Tyra Banks, you're both going to be in each other's business. The 3-3 layout in the back is murder. The overhead compartments are great for putting your "pakyetee" in but a normal roller board or even notebook bag won't fit. The need for larger overheads is even more serious in the winter as coats at the number one storage issue.
The 134s still looked like they did circa 1992 when I started this great adventure. Curtain rods with pull to curtains instead of window shades still rule the day. Far from leather, the burlap like seat coverings itch and scratch to no end. Overhead space is comical as there is just a shelf running the length of the cabin.
As has been said earlier on the board, the SU/ST agreement will likely not include code shares on any flights with TU aircraft. This seems more than fair.
As The Moscow Times reported today, Boeing is luring SU into a sweet deal to purchase some new aircraft. Once that happens, hopefully, the TU's will go the way of Soviet Union itself.

3. In flight service - A
This has been the most pleasant aspects of the SU morph the last few years. It just keeps getting better and better. From boarding to inflight service to special requests to goodbyes, all 6 legs were as enjoyable as any I've had on Delta, just for instance, in a good while. This is the thing that they can change without spending gobs of money. Both male and female flight attendants impressed me greatly. The only gripe I have is that they still tolerate people smoking in the lavs. It just seems that this might never change.

4. SVO2 (C but improving) SVO1 (D) Lots has been said about SVO1 and 2. They are remodeling (PEMOHTing) the lobby of SVO2 which is helping a lot. They even put in white drop down ceilings with new working lights in the arrivals/baggage claim area. That is a huge help. SVO1 is the sore on our saddle though. I know SVO3 is on the way (how nice it is to actually see work being done on it after so many years of back and forth nothingness) but it is hard to imagine any ST code share flight going out of SVO1. Aeroflot will need to make the baggage collection and transfer process as easy and protected as possible. Some not used to Russian crowds and herding mentality will truly have a shocking experience in front of them.
LED (B) is a very pleasant terminal really. Quick and easy though I was there at 5.30 a.m. The only issue really is the way that have security screening set up just before you approach the ticket counter. This really has nothing to with SU's operation though as every company seems to have this set up. With SU being a nobody at LED, this likely won't change.
OVB (B) is a very nice little airport that is getting better and better all the time. Too bad SU does nothing out of the international terminal. That's all S7's deal. When the new baggage claim hall is finished at OVB, it will be as pleasant a domestic experience in Russia as one can find. SU would do well to consider adding an afternoon flight from SVO2/1 to OVB. Two red eye flights make a long layover necessary if one comes into SVO from either JFK or ATL on DL.

All in all, things are looking up. Some new aircraft, advent of technology (check in kiosks in the airport would be great...I hear they are in the CTOs in Moscow), and destruction of SVO1 should make ST a pretty good partner.

I welcome anyone questions, comments, or even complaints.

Great post, thanks. My 2 cents

Apparently ST and *A have been courting SU for years to get access to the domestic and CIS network. Which happens to be exactly where the old Soviet junk is being deployed. Oops

The TU's will go no matter what, most of them will be scrapped by 2007-2010. And they'll be replaced by either A319/320/321's or the yet-to-be-named short- to medium-range aircraft - either the RRJ, or the new Tupolev, or some Embraer. The only Boeing aircraft SU is considering buying is the 787, which is not exactly your normal replacement for a Tu-154. There's a tender for 22 new long-range planes (B787 vs A350) and the results are due shortly.

Wait till you see LED1 - makes SVO1 look really alluring

How are they with carry ons both for Y and C? Rules? Flexibility? Overhead space?

As far as weight, the rule states that "passengers in all classes of service are allowed to take into the cabin one article of unchecked baggage weighing up to 10kg forming part of their total free baggage allowance." That is a bit different than U.S. standards or practice anyway as checked weight is 50/70lbs and carry ons are considered seperate. My experience varies greatly from airport to airport. For example, from OVB to SVO, I've never even had my carry-ons weighed. At SVO1, unless I am checking a lot of baggage, inevitable when traveling with my wife and 3 children, they pretty much always ask if I have carry ons though they don't peek over the counter. At SVO2 when flying internationally, they actually stand up, look over the counter and demand that everything gets put on the scale. Just 1 kg over is charged and must be paid for the checked pieces. Generally, my experience is when checking baggage that goes over the allowed limit, carry-ons are no problem. They seem to focus more on the amount due to be paid. If you can get it on the plane though you'll never have to gate check it. They'll stack it in the emergency row before gate checking it. I've seen LOTS of big bags on flights that somehow get put somewhere.

Overhead space during the winter is hard to come by as coats and hats rule the day. All the TUs have smaller overheads that the U.S. standard. The Airbus and Boeings though are plenty roomy.

Basically, its pretty tough to predict as it varies from station to station. I've been shocked (good and bad) over the years at what has been allowed and what has not.

Done! 8 days later all flights are posted. I'm relatively pleased. Now we'll just wait till the SkyTeam deal is officially announced.

Apparently, it just has been. The D-day is April, 14.

I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry

I heard that Aeroflot flights actually take off when pax are still standing in the aisle.

Woody, the next time you fly in the "burlap seat" cabin, can you take some photos for us?

PS Are the vodka minis complimentary?

[QUOTE=suzy1K]I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry

I heard that Aeroflot flights actually take off when pax are still standing in the aisle.

No, this is not true. Common sense would suggest that no matter what differences exist between ST or indeed any alliance members, something like this would not be tolerated.

I have not seen mini-vodkas myself, but in Economy wine & other alcohol is available for sale (about $5). This is actually an improvement because the wine previously served free from full-size bottles was usually of very poor quality.

Woody, I can't believe you rate OVB so highly - the idiotic security post upon entering the terminal stops all the traffic flow (and then you immediately go through another security check before check-in) and the barbed wire/metal gate Arrival area with separate baggage hall are also a far cry from modern airport facilities. But the facilities in the main building of the domestic terminal have improved indeed.

It is obvious from your post, Woody, that you are very familiar with travel in Russia - so this advice is probably redundant - but by far the best way to travel to OVB is with Sibir Airlines from DME on their new A320s. DME is comparable to any Western airport and you usually get a jetbridge to board your Airbus, where of course you get the usual overhead space, etc. If you must connect from SVO the same day, this may not be convenient of course. And no miles on Sibir.

Speaking of Aeroflot Bonus miles, the OVB flights are probably closed out manually (even if check-in is automated). This is when the staff would enter your Bonus account number into the system. There is a message board on the Aeroflot Bonus website. Ask them about the posting schedule and the ladies will be happy to respond to you.

[QUOTE=bonusflyer]I don't think that S7 flies A320s, new or otherwise. According to their WWW site they fly the 737-500, A310-200/300, Tu-204, Tu-154M and Il-86. The Tu-204 does resemble an A320/321 with extended winglets, however.

I believe that S7 may have a baggage interline agreement with BA, which would provide for relatively easy connections at DME.

[QUOTE=chalf]You must be right in that it probably was A310 they use on one of three daily services from DME to OVB. If you've ever flown on a Tu-204, you'd never mistake it for an Airbus, not from the inside. I am sure they have interline agreements with more than just BA, but for those who prefer for whatever reason to fly into Russia via SVO, the track from SVO to DME is a major hassle. If you originate in Moscow however, my opinion is that DME to OVB on S7's Airbus is a better product compared to Aeroflot (minus the FFP points that is) - which is also reflected in the ticket price. Can't say anything about Transaero which also has a daily service DME to OVB flying the Western aircraft - an ageing B767 I believe.

As you guys seem to have an excellent knowledge of what is happening in the skies of Russia, could you please give me a piece of advice about the best way to fly from Moscow to Kazan? I am a bit reluctant boarding Tatarstan Airlines Tu-154. Siberia Airlines seems to be an option as well (with 737s) but I do not really know what to expect. I am not sure Aeroflot is flying the route. Or there is still the option of flying Austrian via Vienna I guess.

Has anybody get a clue? Thanks in advance.

At the risk of taking the thread OT, I would probably go with Sibir on a 737, all else being equal. I have flown Tatarstan Airways on a Tu-134 and S7 on an A310 and Il-86 (charter, but international), and S7 was a better experience (though almost anything other than a Yak-40 is better than a Tu-134)--a real airline, more or less. One of my colleagues used to recall that his counterparties would prefer to leave a day early to go to Kazan by train (before S7 started flying the route with 737s, and possibly at all) instead of flying. That said, the Tu-154 isn't that bad, and they make up the majority of even S7's fleet. Both Tatarstan Airlines and S7 fly from DME, so airport isn't a consideration.

If it is a quick trip to Kazan without either the need or desire to transit through Moscow and if cost is not the issue (presumably OS will be more expensive overall), then I would say go with OS via Vienna. They probably don't fly daily though. Agree with chalf that S7 is all right, especially if it is a B737. I've taken the sleeper train which probably costs about the same as flying...unless you are into trains, I would fly. A foreigner not used to travel by rail in Russia will not be very comfortable - again, unless you want to do it for experience.