Aeroflot Odyssey

Anyone who has ever flown Aeroflot, particularly on domestic services within the Soviet Union, will rapidly testify to the often appalling standards of service by Western standards. Certainly any Aeroflot veteran would find this article fascinating whilst the rest of us could well use it as a preflight briefing as to what to expect.

Saturday, 25 August: London Gatwick (LGW) – Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO); Tupolev Tu-154B SSSR-85530; 1,560mi (2,510km), 3hr20min

Having uplifted my ‘tickets’ (for want of a better term . . . ) from the London office of Intourist on Friday afternoon, just one day before I travelled to London’s Gatwick airport, I boarded the nonstop British Rail Express from Victoria Station. A journey time of around 30 minutes, somewhat less than the laborious Underground trip time from central London to Heathrow, the train provided an interesting contrast to the following two weeks of air travel aboard the single largest airline in the world. During the ride to Gatwick, I browsed again through the few papers lntourist had provided – two luggage labels and one piece of semi-official looking paper which amounted to the airline ticket to and from the Soviet Union. No IATA-type couponed ticket and as for an itinerary, simply non-existent.

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

Login

Become a Member

To continue reading the rest of this article, please login.

Username or Email

Password Forgot password?

Keep me signed in on this device.

If you check this box before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

If you check the box above before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

---

or

---

Login with a Passkey

To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.

PRINT

$49.95 for 1 year Become a Member

See benefits

• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website

MOST POPULAR

PRINT + DIGITAL

$99.95 for 1 year Become a Member

$179.95 for 2 years Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

DIGITAL

$5.99 Monthly Become a Member

$59.95 Annual Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

View more offers and details