The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. In a case like this I would be worried that if an agent only showed up at the gate shortly before departure, that I would miss the check-in deadline -- which it sounds like you technically did? This was by far the worst meal Ive ever had on an airline the sauce and cheese that covered the pasta were completely tasteless, and the olive chunks were way too bitter. I had initially assigned myself 3C, the aisle seat on the left side in the last row. Otherwise, Id take an extra stop just to avoid having to experience this again. Ukraine International Airlines business class bottled water. I headed over to the UIA signs and saw a self-drop bag station. Still, the width looks pretty good.
According to SeatGuru, seats were 17 inches wide. He said hed make another announcement 30 minutes before landing. Since the interior of this 777s was relatively new, UIA had decent seatback inflight entertainment, which featured high-definition, touch-responsive screens that actually operated like they were supposed to. I followed the signs for airline lounges, which brought me to a level above the main departures area. The guy next to me was a jerk the entire flight, and when he heard this he sighed and said thats ridiculous.. Here you go. Economy passengers were extremely limited in what they could order for free: water, tomato juice, orange juice and coffee. The good news is that based on monitoring seatmaps it looks like UIAs flights are rarely full in business class in advance, so you should have your choice of seats. It just blows my mind the contrast between the calm and friendly manner in which flights are boarded in most of the world, and the thuggish way in which flights are often boarded in the US. I asked the crew about this, and they said that Wi-Fi isnt turned on yet, but they hope to have a contract for it by July. I was also impressed overall by the quality of the food, as well as the excellent service. Hmmm. I thought economys seat pitch was the most atrocious thing Id experience on this flight. Had you already checked in online or anything? Ukraine International Airlines business class dinner mixed nuts and champagne, Ukraine International Airlines business class dinner mixed nuts. Ukraine business class seat privacy partition. Ukraine International Airlines business class pre-landing meal appetizer. I fly long-haul coach segments quite often and dont really mind it, but this was one of the first times I was upset about my seating situation. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The penne was served lukewarm with a glob of cheese that attached a few of the noodles together. @Lucky: interesting question. You must do it now, this is a safety requirement. A RED VENTURES COMPANY. There were a few publications to peruse, although I couldnt find anything in English. It looked reasonably comfortable, and was a big improvement over their old 767s. While the boarding process was hectic, things were much better once onboard. Normally, my Priority Pass membership significantly elevates my experience when flying coach, so I was hoping that the lounge would do just that. Wow!! Ukraine International Airlines business class pre-landing meal appetizer and dessert. Ukraine business class entertainment controller and power outlets. If youre a taller traveler like me (Im 6 feet, 1 inch), Id definitely look into purchasing a bulkhead seat. The airlines coach seat is small and uncomfortable, and its soft product is arguably worse. I was also offered some snack mix, as well as a packaged towel. I entered my info, put my luggage on the scale and attempted to get a luggage tag for my bag. I used the Chase Sapphire Reserve to pay, which earned me 3x Ultimate Rewards on all travel purchases for4,782 points, worth about about $96, according to TPGs valuations. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. UIA has a pretty creative safety video, which was much better than what I remember on the 767. The hot food included grilled vegetables, broccoli with herbs and what the lounge called an omelet but looked more like an unappetizing egg-square to me. The main was served just 10 minutes later. The airline connects Ukraine with countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America. In a case like this I would be worried that if an agent only showed up at the gate shortly before departure, that I would miss the check-in deadline -- which it sounds like you technically did? I was seated in 36H, an aisle seat toward the back of the aircraft. In addition to the music and games, there was just enough to keep me from becoming bored, but that doesnt mean UIA shouldnt give their flyers more choices in the future. I asked one of the FAs what the issue was, and she just shrugged and pointed me to one of the functioning lavatories. I was pointed to the business-class check-in to drop off my bag, where there werent any lines and a helpful UIA employee tagged my bag, which was free to check on this route. So yeah, if youre looking to book a cheap transatlantic business class fare, I wouldnt hesitate to recommend UIA. You can move those points to the airline program at a 1:1 ratio. Still, it was mediocre at best, and Im glad I got the croissant to cleanse my palate. It operates just one direct flight to the US, flying from Kievs Boryspil International Airportinto New York-JFK airport a route thats only been active since 2014. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ). After the meal I quickly checked out the lavatory, located at the front of the cabin. https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/wjb4gb/hail-storm-american-airlines-plane-damage-el-paso-vgtrn. Interesting vice article on the AA flight that was hit by hail. I wish there were a partition that slid out further, but this is better than nothing. Cons: everything else. About 10 minutes after placing my order I was brought a tray with the appetizer and dessert. Youre welcome! Ukrainians in general seemed to be very paranoid around cameras, and thisinteraction with the flight crew was similar to a handful of other experiences I had when exploring Kiev. There werent many people there (I wonder why ), so I was able to grab a seat.
The main advantage of UIA is its route network and direct flights to Kiev. Note that youll have to call in if you want to book an award, since they arent available online. Each seat had an ottoman, as well as seatback entertainment, a storage compartment, and a coat hook. At that point I reclined my seat and was ready to get some rest, with just under seven hours remaining to Kiev. The tray table could be folded out from the center armrest, and was pretty stubborn it didnt want to slide in and out. Fortunately the agent checked you in with no issue, but presumably in some cases a gate agent might refuse to check you in citing the check-in deadline time, and/or their computer might not allow it, and/or they might have already given away your seat for no-showing. Cant belive Ben actually ate that under that sombre lighting, @Roland: Not sure the roast beef looks all that good without the color cast, either: http://www.wpcoe.com/images/omaat.jpg. I also had a cup of coffee to accompany the meal. Once I spoke to an agent, he was able to push a boarding pass to my phone and I was able to change my seat from there, which I could do for free. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Ukraine International Airlines isnt an airline most Americans are familiar with. Annoyingly the seats didnt have individual air nozzles. @NICK D - Of course they have red wine. Upon arrival I walked towards immigration, and on the way had a great view of our plane. We were airborne by 1:40AM. UIA also greatly improved their bedding. It was more of a curry dish, which wasnt really what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it. While there was decent padding on the seat, this was still probably the most uncomfortable Ive ever been in economy scrunched in from both sides. I passed, since it appeared to have been sitting out for awhile. The shower stall wasnt totally private, somewhat exposed to the rest of the bathroom. Come on, Ben. Since I didnt have a boarding pass I headed straight to the departure gate, #3. An aging Boeing 767-300ER, part of UIAs legacy long-haul fleet, was at a gate getting waiting to depart. With an hour and 45 minutes left in the flight, the flight attendants came around with another meal and a few more snacks that we could purchase alongside the main course. I started by checking out the airshow for our journey, which was nicely customizable, as you could zoom in and out. The design of amenity kit bag is very cool! They happily obliged and whipped up the beverage just for me. If UIA wants to improve, it has to start with the basics, like providing passengers with a plane where all the bathrooms are operable. He was making his way back from Georgia (the country) where he had just purchased a house and planned to retire because of the low cost of living and proximity to his family in Iran. The aircraft was quite clean when I boarded.). Between doors one and two, UIA has both premium economy and business class. I selected the fruit tart. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. The ottoman was large enough to store shoes or a laptop during the flight. Ukraine International Airlines business class tray table 777. Finally at around 11:30PM a single UIA employee showed up, and he checked me in within a couple of minutes. fter about 15 minutes in the lounge I decided that a place with better views and natural sunlight was more up my alley. I know many people find cheap fares to Israel and other cities infrequently visited by US citizens, but isit worth it to connect on the little-known airline to other far-flung destinations in Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East? I boarded through the second set of doors, and turned left towards business class. Im not sure I would even want to eat under a blue light. To answer your burning question about the difference between old terminal 7 and the remodeled one: youll no longer have to play spot the danish rats while waiting for departure. Meanwhile the selection of sitcoms was very limited, as there were only six of them. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. Those poor flight attendants. Ukraine International Airlines was one of my worst-ever coach flights, featuring a subpar hard product, three inoperable lavatories and tasteless food. However, Air France-KLMs Flying Blue program allows you to book flights on UIA with its miles. Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex Card Review (2022). We had a smooth landing in Kiev at 5:05PM, and from there had a 10 minute taxi to our arrival gate. The crew was attentive, efficient, and friendly, and they cleared each course as soon as it was done. See more about our ethics policies here. Great review! I find that hard to believe. The Points Guy will not sell your email. They kept the cabin mostly dark during this service. There was a small computer workstation and attached printer in the corner, and the lounge also contained a single shower. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. The lounge had a handful of foods and just a few choices for drinks (water bottles, Coke and coffee). I checked my Priority Pass app to see if there were any lounges in KBP that I could access. JFK>KBP>EVN>KBP>JFK was only $2300/pp for my wife and I, which seems like a steal, as that's actually LESS than main cabin on DL, *and* travel time is ~16 hours each way versus a whopping 38 hours on anything DL has to offer. Though the space wasnt dirty or gross and the staff was friendly, after about 15 minutes in the lounge I decided that a place with better views and natural sunlight was more up my alley. Its also worth pointing out that the entire crew was young, beautiful, and put pride in their appearance (their hair looked perfect, their uniforms had no wrinkles, etc.). The center armrest could be raised a bit to create some privacy when sleeping, which is a nice feature. Im not normally one to complain about economy. 10 years ago or 15 years ago, this was probably state-of-the-art for business-class. What airlines would you actively not recommend for a long haul flight, regardless of price? I was curious to see how its coach class compared to flying up front. I was curious to see how its coach class compared to flying up front. I managed to get some solid sleep. Why didn't you ask to see them? On such a late night flight I like a quick service. Register now and reply to member reviews. I had flown in the airlinesbusiness class to Ukraineand was pleasantly surprised with the service, even though there were hiccups. It looks like you had a nice flight with Ukraine International. The seat controls were on the center armrest, and were easy to use. UIA has a pretty livery, in my opinion. As you can see based on the departure board, there arent many flights leaving the terminal so late at night. So while the system wont be nominated for any awards soon, it was much better than before.
Both my wife and I are DMs, but the only other alternative was a non-codeshare Aeroflot SVO flight that was twice as expensive, and their J is no better from the looks of it. They refused (my friend is sitting up here), and it was only after the lead flight attendant firmly threatened them that they left. Once that was cleared I was offered dessert, with the choice between fruit or a fruit tart. View the current offers here. Comparing Ukraine International Airlines economy product to its business-class offering is like comparing night and day. This 777 had not just one lavatory that was out of service , but three bathrooms that were completely out of order. I might consider them when going to Eastern Europe, depending on price. (Note that most of the cabin pictures were taken after the aircraft landed, so it looks much messier than it did when I boarded the aircraft. To drink I ordered a white wine the options were between a chablis and a pinot grigio, and I chose the latter. The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. I was asked what I wanted to eat and drink. I would have probably slept longer, but was woken up by an argument that arose between a few passengers and the crew. For dessert, I had a small piece of sponge cake. 
Welcome to Spirit or Norwegian if you want a soft drink or juice, get ready to cough up. How was the cheese ravioli sir? Awful. I should note that he finished the whole thing, and even went so far as to dip his bread in the dish to eat the rest of the sauce. Ukraine International Airlines business class bed 777. Ukraine International Airlines business class bedding. Opened in 2012, the atrium still feels new, with a distinct Eastern European vibe. I also thought the food was solid. 
While UIA doesnt have an industry leading business class product, their new 777s are a massive improvement over their old 767s. The appetizer consisted of tomato, cucumber, cheese, and roast beef. You end this post with "So yeah, if youre looking to book a cheap transatlantic business class fare, I wouldnt hesitate to recommend UIA." Ukraine International Airlines business class headphones. Terminal 7 is probably my least favorite at JFK, and on top of that its an active construction zone at the moment. You've posted many negative reviews, but I can't recall if you've ever said to completely avoid an airline (except perhaps TAAG Angola perhaps?). UIA didnt even have personal entertainment on their 767s, so this represented a big improvement for them. Very classy for business-class, very classy for a Eastern European no-name airline, and extremely classy for a flight after 1 a.m. Specifically, there were some passengers who came up to business class to pray, and the crew told them they had to stay in their ticketed cabin. There was one contract worker who was yelling at everyone at the top of her lungs, telling people to get into imaginary queues. Flying Blue is transfer partners with Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Chase Ultimate Rewards. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. I tried checking-in with UIAs app the night before departure, but the app told me to call the airline if I wanted to complete the process, which made the app feel somewhat pointless. The fact that they were able to stay sweet and kind after dealing with several terrible passengers is nothing short of amazing. Ukraine International Airlines business class dinner dessert. We decided to book the flight with cash, and it was ticketed as a round-trip itinerary with business on the way there and economy on the way back so I could review two different products. You somewhat criticize the amenity kit even though it is identical to what other airlines give, exempt no licensed name on the products. Then waiting in the storage compartment between seats was a pair of headphones, which were alright quality. Premium economy consisted of two rows, in a 2-4-2 configuration. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Many passengers didnt speak English, so when they didnt listen she just yelled louder. What impressed me is the food. Worst of all, the way she was lining people up was extremely inefficient. Ukraine International Airlines flies out of Terminal 7 at JFK, which is otherwise primarily used by British Airways. I will take them off after landing. The flight was about 85% full, and lines were forming for the one working toilet in the back of the cabin luckily it never appeared to be a huge problem, but I can imagine other scenarios where it could turn into a major issue on the 10-hour flight between Kiev and New York. There were renderings of what the reimagined terminal would look like, and to me it looked just like the old terminal, minus the shared workspaces. Ukraine International Airlines business class dinner main course. The second I stepped foot onto the plane, the two flight attendants at the aircraft door told me to put my tiny camera away, which was turned off, rested in the palm of my hand and not pointed at anyone which didnt make for an especially warm welcome. After drinks, we were served the first meal (complimentary), either chicken or pasta. I was asked if I wanted an omelet or pasta bolognese. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. I arrived at JFK on Alaska Airlines at around 10:30PM, so didnt even have to clear security, given that I was arriving and departing from the same terminal. Fortunately, my backpack made it through with no issues. Both my wife and I are DMs, but the only Just booked a flight in J with Ukraine, as DL and Codeshares wanted $10K per seat and almost 40 hours of travel time. I arrived at Terminal D, mostly used for international flights and all of UIAs departures. The boarding process was such an indescribable mess. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. And it is served individually without a tray table. About 90 minutes before landing the pre-landing meal service service began. It made the roast beef in particular look positively cadaverous. Ukraine International Airlines 232New York (JFK) Kiev (KBP)Thursday, May 3Depart: 12:30AMArrive: 4:20PMDuration: 8hr50minAircraft: Boeing 777-200Seat: 2C (Business Class). If you want to earn miles, youll also have to add your Flying Blue number to your reservation over the phone another nuisance for award-minded travelers. It was pretty basic, didnt have any special amenities, and also didnt seem to be very clean. Why bother serving dinner at 1AM? Headquartered in Kiev, Ukraine International Airlines (PS) is the largest airline in Ukraine as well as the country's flag carrier. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. But if I ever have to choose between UIA and another carrier, Id only choose UIA if it had an insanely competitive price and flight schedule.