Flying Eastern European airliners/airlines

[Tom Laxey]

With a lot of Eastern European airlines modernising their fleets, and getting rid of their Tupolevs and Ilyushins, I am keen to know what it was like to fly on those types; I have read that flying on a Tu-154 was a lively experience wherever you flew in the world. Anyone have any good experiences or stories?

Thanks in advance!

[Saint Jack]

Many, many years ago I was flying from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City in an old Tu-134 of Vietnam Airlines. For a long time on the flight I couldn't figure out why all the cabin signs were in Vietnamese, English and German, German? Then the penny dropped - the aircraft was previously operated by Interflug, the old East German airline. Apart from that it was an unremarkable aircraft/flight. But I would stay away from Il-62's and Tu-154's.

[iraqi]

Years ago i used to be a regular guest of aeroflot... Il-86 london to moscow, then change planes to a tu-154 that flew from moscow to yerevan, then to cairo, then to sanna and then to my final destination to djibouti...
The flights were noisy, seats uncomfotable, food horrible and the only entertainment i had was a game i created "Spot the KGB man"
Best part was the price on the ticket was £1,300 yet they only charged me £230.

[xchox]

I have flew Aeroflot B767 from Toronto to Moscow.

Flight was un eventful. Even though I felt like I was the only person who knew english as their primary language... The flight attendants did their best to make me feel at home.

The seat comfort was on par with any other international flight I have been on.

The food was top notch 5*. I felt like everyone in economy was getting the average first class meal on other airlines.

Flight departed on time. Did not lose any bags.

I then flew the IL-96 to Yuhzno. Same as above but WOW so much room. It was very quiet, Comparable to an A310. It was a very smooth flight and the landing was soft and didn't shake much of the interior. If you hear otherwise, it was a bad landing and had nothing to do with the aircraft it self.

One of the flight attendants did not know english that well and kept asking me if I wanted Num Num.

I can't judge Aeroflot in the past... but from my experience. The Aeroflot of today is an amazing airline.

That being said... I still think the guy in charge of the fleet upgrade is incredibly stupid:

http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airports-routes/460981-aeroflot-fleet-upgrade.html