I decided to go back to Sydney to visit my family and friends the long way - and the first leg was using Malev via Budapest. I'd never flown Malev before, however I've always heard good things from people who have flown them. The airline has won awards such as "Best Airline in Eastern Europe", and that coupled with the fact that they're a member of oneworld meant they were on my list of airlines to fly.
Myself and Pawsleykat (he was flying to PIK) arrived at the airport around 6am, and I immediately joined the long Malev Business Class queue. The line moved slowly and as it turned out, Economy passengers were also using the line and the agent was processing them without any complaints
After a good 10-15 minutes in line, it was my turn. I told the agent that I was going to Sydney (the reaction was wide eyed astonishment) and if it was possible could she check me through to Sydney. Silence. Lots of typing. I waited. She turned to the agent next to her and asked what something meant on the screen. The response was, "That means he's eligible for upgrade".
Naturally, I thought it was done and dusted - apparently the flight was overbooked. After much more typing and a reference to her notes, I was handed an Economy Boarding Pass for 5C, with my bags only checked to Budapest. I figured it wasn't my day and wasn't bothered.
Proceeded through security and up to the B-Pier gates at Dublin. It wasn't long before the aircraft was towed up to the gate.
Malev overnight the aircraft in Dublin, hence the reason for it being towed to the gate. While waiting at the gate, there was an announcement I half missed, and I kept an ear out for it as it had a list of names. When I heard it again, my name was in there - so off I went to the desk. Happily, I was informed that I was being upgraded to Business Class and was given a new boarding pass.
We boarded the aircraft on time and I settled into 1D - next to an enormous man taking up a lot of the arm rest next to me. Row 1 is 2 x 2 (the rest of Business Class is 3 x 2) which meant there was a lot of aisle next to me.
Leg room was pretty good, as you can see here.
Across the aisle was the coat storage. Also in here were goodies such as toilet paper rolls, blankets (green!), pillows and all sorts of things.
Pre-takeoff drinks consisted of an orange juice, and the seats are lacking in that there is no little drinks table. It's either get out the entire tray or hold it. I held onto mine. We were informed of a 40 minute delay on the aircraft due to the recent ATC system problems in Dublin. While delayed, we were offered newspapers and magazines (Irish and Hungarian). In the end we only waited 30 minutes and quickly taxiied out and took off.
Once in flight, we were offered hot towels, and the moving map was switched on. This stayed the same throughout the flight, apart from one portion of oneworld videos - with no sound. We were not issued headsets. The bulkheads also have oneworld ads on them - it seems Malev is a fervent supporter of the alliance!
The seats were navy blue "leather" (or whatever they're using to simulate it these days) and were some of the most comfortable seats I've sat on in a while. Really! I was sitting there (sober too!) marvelling at how comfortable my seat was. Here's a sneaky pic across the aisle.
Business Class was full (9 people, 2 rows), however at least two others were upgraded judging by their conversation. The aircraft was 100% full apart from one seat.
Breakfast was served next.
Fatty bacon, an "egg omelette", hash browns, two croissants ("Take as many as you like" was the refrain from the bread basket), strawberry yoghurt, strawberry jam, and a fruit salad. Coffee was also served. The breakfast was adequate and nice, however the €9 Aer Lingus breakfast leaves it for dead for both taste, quality and presentation.
I shut my eyes for a while after breakfast and woke to find this on my lap (and note - green seat belts - matches the blankets!) -
The Purser took care of us the whole flight and was nothing short of miraculous. She anticipated what people wanted, got it promptly and was just astonishing. For example, she put that pillow on my lap and didn't wake me - it was there for when I needed it. Another girl was asleep during breakfast service and when she woke, she was immedately offered food (and this was much later). One person asked for a blanket as it was cold, and she asked all the J passengers individually if they wanted a blanket (about 4 accepted). Lots of little things like this - as well as coffee and tea top ups as soon as people were empty, actually pressing the button and pushing seats back up before landing to help people - it was superb to watch. They also wouldn't let Economy passengers through the curtain to use the Business toilets
The flight was nice enough, and I hit the loo before landing.
We landed only 10 minutes late, and as we were waiting to deplane, I asked the Purser if I could take her picture and she said, "Why not!"
She was totally awesome! Unfortunately I couldn't work out her name from her nametag, so I can't send through a compliment!
To sum up, Malev are a worthy addition to the oneworld alliance. The food is on par with what I've experienced in intra-European J on Finnair, the seat much more comfortable and the service a notch above. It remains to be seen how Malev will develop, but they're certainly adequate at the moment. That said, I wouldn't pay for Malev J class - the fares are rather high for what you actually get.
I hope you've enjoyed the report - please let me know what you thought! If you have any questions, let me know and I'll do my best to answer them. Cheers!
I do quite enjoy a spot of flying - more so when it's not in Economy!
TupolevTu154 From UK - England, joined Aug 2004, 2116 posts, RR: 31 Reply 1, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 16781 times:
Nice report! Was it just that one purser giving all the service?
Have fun on the rest of your flights! Looking forward to BUD-AMM (Hint hint )
Shamrock350 From Ireland, joined Mar 2005, 6100 posts, RR: 15 Reply 4, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 16695 times:
Nice report!
I like the colour green they use, especially on the seat belts. I had to laugh when I read about the breakfast and how the Aer Lingus breakfast leaves it for dead. That breakfast is becoming an Aer Lingus legend! It's good to see a Malev report from Ireland. Their uniform is very striking.
Pawsleykat From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 1978 posts, RR: 14 Reply 5, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 16595 times:
Hey babe!
Brilliant report... Glad you got that upgrade (see, I told you you'd get it at the gate).
What a pretty purser tbh
Glad you had a good flight and am now waiting for the RJ BUD-AMM service...
Great photos
JG
First Class passengers are my favourites. They can't get any further forward without an ATPL.
BAViscount From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 2338 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 16330 times:
B747forever From United States of America, joined May 2007, 16574 posts, RR: 11 Reply 8, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 15637 times:
Great TR.
Glad that you got upgraded.
Malev seems to be a good carrier, after reading your TR.
Well, I am now looking forward for more TRs from you. You have 3 more to make
Parisien From France, joined Dec 2000, 819 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 15580 times:
hey very nice report. Not many reports on eastern european airlines compared to western. Looking forward to your report on the rest of your trip to Australia.
By the way, colorful shoes you have there ! and they match the green seatbelt too.
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8263 posts, RR: 56 Reply 10, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 15089 times:
Great report and pictures, thanks.
Quoting ClassicLover (Thread starter): Happily, I was informed that I was being upgraded to Business Class and was given a new boarding pass.
- Always nice
Quoting ClassicLover (Thread starter): Row 1 is 2 x 2 (the rest of Business Class is 3 x 2) which meant there was a lot of aisle next to me
- Interesting, not seen this mix of layout before.
Quoting ClassicLover (Thread starter): They also wouldn't let Economy passengers through the curtain to use the Business toilets
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24894 posts, RR: 60 Reply 11, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 15047 times:
Nice TR and pics. Glad MA bumped you up front. Its good to keep in with their top level Oneworld members . Nice to see they have a decent J class product and nice crew.
Philip
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
Davescj From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 2244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 14113 times:
Great TR! I it was cool to see an airline I haven't seen in a while!
Airbus3801 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 1089 posts, RR: 5 Reply 14, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 13688 times:
Anyway, I very much enjoyed my trip on Malev two summers ago and it is interesting to see how they have been progressing. My flight was from AMS-BUD and back and I was pleasantly surprised at the service as you were as well. DId you spend anytime in BUD or were you just travelling through, Budapest is one of my favorite cities in the world.
ClassicLover From Ireland, joined Mar 2004, 4522 posts, RR: 25 Reply 15, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 13023 times:
Quoting TupolevTu154 (Reply 1): Nice report! Was it just that one purser giving all the service?
Yeah, she was the only one serving J - I mean, 1 flight attendant for 9 passengers makes sense. She went back and helped out in Y as well.
Quoting MountainDew (Reply 3): How was the rest of the flight to Australia?
Very good!
Quoting BAViscount (Reply 6): Do you have to be an Irish citizen to wear those trainers?!?!
haha! Funnily enough, when I got home my parents commented that the shoes are the colours of the Rugby League team we support, which I so didn't notice beforehand!
Quoting BNE (Reply 7): and you were fast in adding the report.
Lots of lounge time
Thanks to everyone for the kind comments - glad you enjoyed the report!
I do quite enjoy a spot of flying - more so when it's not in Economy!
Semsem From Israel, joined Jul 2005, 1779 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (4 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 11709 times:
When I flew on a Malev Tupolev in 1972 we get a huge plate of salami. That was our meal. A few months later 3 of their Tupolevs crashed and they grounded the fleet. However I remember that I really enjoyed the flight.
ClassicLover From Ireland, joined Mar 2004, 4522 posts, RR: 25 Reply 18, posted (4 years 9 months 2 days ago) and read 10447 times:
Quoting Semsem (Reply 17): When I flew on a Malev Tupolev in 1972 we get a huge plate of salami. That was our meal. A few months later 3 of their Tupolevs crashed and they grounded the fleet. However I remember that I really enjoyed the flight.
I wouldn't have minded a plate of salami, I quite like it Would have been a bit much for breakfast though!
I do quite enjoy a spot of flying - more so when it's not in Economy!
FlybaurLAX From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 633 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 8053 times:
Sounds like a good time.
Lucky you.
Hey I'm new to this, how did you post those pictures like that in the post?
Tonystan From Ireland, joined Jan 2006, 1174 posts, RR: 2 Reply 22, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 7884 times:
Quoting Shamrock350 (Reply 4): That breakfast is becoming an Aer Lingus legend!
Ill second that. But the Aer Lingus breakfast has always been legend. Do you remember the days when ALL passengers on a full LHR flight before 10am would get a full Irish? Even then it was the best flying nosh going! But I still dont recent having to pay €9 for it!
I think the secret is the sausages and the fact that they dont bother putting eggs into it, I just wish someone would feed this back to BA so I can stop wretching everytime I come out of crew rest and straight into a steaming galley which is being prepared for brekky!
KrisYYZ From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 1575 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 7700 times:
Great TR!!
Very nice pictures as well.
I too have had many good experiences with Malev. Unfortunately, MA is not doing that well. The new owners of MA have been very aggressive in trimming costs recently.
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