Hello!
This is my second trip report. Sorry again for my English. Hope you understand  

All photos were made via iPhone.

My last trip report was about short flight from Moscow to Krasnodar. This time, my employer sent me to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk for 2 days business trip.

From Moscow to Y-Sakhalinsk only two variants with direct flights: Aeroflot (A330 or IL-96Turbo) or Transaero (mostly 777-200 or 777-300).

As me and my colleague FF of Aeroflot, we decided to go SU. Last time I visited Y-Sakhalinsk in April 2011 and that times Aeroflot operates IL-96Turbo on daily basis, but last week agent said that we will go on A330.

Short information:
DATE: 13 JAN 2013
Flight: Moscow Sheremetyevo - D (SVO) - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (UUS)
Aircraft: A330-343X
Registration: VQ-BMX (named S.Sakharov) delivery date - April 2012 (quite new)
Departure: 1750
Actual departure: 2030 (due to heavy snowfalls in Moscow, long line for de-ice and take-off)

I start from some photos of Business Lounge (named "Classica" for domestic flight)


Average list of drinks


Snacks zone


Ceiling styled as runaway


At gate. boarding via bus


Aeroflot have started to use SKY PRIORITY brand (like DL)


Boarding agent. In Moscow was around -17C these days


We have arrived


I like this view


Seats. Aeroflot started to re-build A330 and place seats with 180' flatbed



We started with champagne and some juices


All seats have usb




Menu and Wine list was distributed before departure


Menu (English)


Shortly after take-off all PTV system restarted


Service starts: towel


Cold snacks and ROSE!!! was unexpected


Starter


Salad


Soup (Russian UHA)


Main course - Fish


Desert 1


Desert 2 was ice-cream, but I take a decision to go sleep.... (it was really huge volume of food)  

I didn't take breakfast, as I was full after dinner. Cabin crew wake me up 30 min before landing. Far east of Russia



unboarding. -30C


Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport bus


Airport


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I spent 2 business days in Y-Sakhalinsk. On the morning before departure we have spent at local market. So you can see most common products. Prices - 1KG of crab-meat ~ $100






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After market, we come to airport. Here is foto of small airport of Y-Sakhalinsk


Our A330 already landed


some airport views



Business lounge - max capacity - 20-25 people, not more....




Check-in area


pre-boarding room


My return flight information:

Short information:
DATE: 16 JAN 2013
Flight: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (UUS) - Sheremetyevo - D (SVO)
Aircraft: A330-343X
Registration: VQ-BPK (named Kulibin) delivery date - October 2012 (new)
Departure: 1210
Actual departure: 1220

Overview


Transaero 777-200 just landed from Moscow / Domodedovo


really friendly cabin-crew started with drinks


Same seats. Smells new



Transaero 777-200


Snowywind on u-turn in the end of runaway


Y-Sakhalinsk after take-off



Menu. Menu was from Y-Sakhalinsk, Wine list was the same.


Heading to Moscow. 9hrs flight ahead


Snacks. I like wine - Pfefferer (white italian wine, best wine on Aeroflot flights)


Service


Starter


Salad


Soup. Russian borscht


Main course. Fish again


Desert. On return leg desert was only 1


Seat in sleeping position


shot from economy cabin


Lunch before landing. Crab meat...


Sheremetyevo Airport


Some another A330


Sukhoi SuperJet


DonAvia A319


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My conclusion that quality of service is really good.

Your report was very good..don't ever worry about your English   everyone I'm positive understood every word.

I'm always amazed at how good the C product looks on SU. Service and meals looked plentiful.

Thanks for taking the time to write it!

Thanks for sharing this!

I have been a fan of Aeroflot for a long time, though I have never flown with them. I like their livery and blue/orange interior. Their service also seems to be nice.

finnishway

Great Trip Report,

Was just looking at Kayak, and can't get over the cost for a one way ticket in Feb, the cost was coming at $130 USD per person (taxes included) for an 8.5 hour flight, makes me want to get a Russia visa just so I can do the flight

Thanks for sharing your trip with us!

Aeroflot J looks really nice, with lots of plentiful food. How long was your visit? It looks cold there!

I really would like to try them sometime - since Aeroflot is part of SkyTeam, I'm hoping to cash in some SkyMiles sometimes and fly with them to Europe!

Best,

Matthew

Hi SkySlat2,

Nice report detailing your SU C class experience. I used an award ticket recently to buy a Business Class ticket from JFK to OTP via SVO for June and was wondering how it would be. Service looks really good overall and your report answers many questions.

Thanks for posting!

Hey skyslat2! I never thought I would see a report about UUS here. Thanks for putting this together, what a treat! I love reports about the far east end of Russia and I've always been curious about Sakhalin.

Quoting skyslat2 (Thread starter): This time, my employer sent me to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk for 2 days business trip.

Wow, kind of brutal to have to fly so many hours and across so many time zones only to have to go back after 2 days. Even though I'm not sure you'd like to have stayed longer given that it was -30C...

Quoting skyslat2 (Thread starter): Shortly after take-off all PTV system restarted

Ouch, that's not good...

Quoting skyslat2 (Thread starter): After market, we come to airport. Here is foto of small airport of Y-Sakhalinsk

Thanks for all the photos!

Widebodyroga

Wow what an awesome report - I don't believe we've seen Y-Sakhalinsk on here. Excellent! Your english is totally fine - no worries at all! I have to say though, the "runaway" lights cracked me up - just teasing  

SU's service looks fantastic - I was getting full just seeing the multiple courses on your outbound meal. Amazing!

May I ask which business you work in? Just have never heard of Y-Sakhalinsk so I'm just curious. Seems as though there is a significant amount of premium traffic there though if SU+others are all flying widebodies there!

Quoting 9w748capt (Reply 7): Just have never heard of Y-Sakhalinsk so I'm just curious. Seems as though there is a significant amount of premium traffic there though if SU+others are all flying widebodies there!

Oil Oil Oil, Gas Gas Gas   This part of Russia has natural resources galore! I think they have used widebodies for a longtime. This distance from Moscow to Shakalin Island is like that from Europe to the US Midwest.

Hello there!
Your TR is just great! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Very nicely done TR. Very informative as well. The terrain looks really something.. Thanks for sharing  

Hello!
many thanks.

Some answers
May I ask which business you work in? - banking, we have some assets there.
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Wow, kind of brutal to have to fly so many hours and across so many time zones only to have to go back after 2 days. Even though I'm not sure you'd like to have stayed longer given that it was -30C...

nothing to do there more in winter time, summer and fall - beautiful: fishing and birds watching  
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Was just looking at Kayak, and can't get over the cost for a one way ticket in Feb, the cost was coming at $130 USD per person (taxes included) for an 8.5 hour flight, makes me want to get a Russia visa just so I can do the flight

yes, economy class costs not high. you can continue from UUS to VVO or via Asiana to Seoul  

Nice report! You took some great photos! I was booked to go to Yuzhno Sakhalinsk and Khabarovsk a few years ago, but I had to cancel at the last moment....wouold be great to go sometime, although maybe in the summer!

Very interesting report, thank you for shearing!

I never saw a report from that part of the world. Disembarking by bus on -30C! Unbelievable! Can't understand how people can live in this climate.

Aeroflot service looks great.

I enjoyed your report very much. It was very very good. Thank you.

Awesome report. Very unique. I can't believe how friggin' cold it looks there!!!! Look forward to reading more from you!

Fantastic report..

I had to Google map that destination. That is fascinating to travel out there, and have such a long haul flight WITHIN your own country.

The climates seem brutal and amazing... I admire how well Russians manage with the cold  

Luke

Thanks for a great trip report and wonderful photos. Aeroflot's domestic business product looks very good - though of course a 9 hour flight is medium to long haul international anywhere else in the world, so the comfort, food and service are completely necessary!

Quoting skyslat2 (Reply 11): Was just looking at Kayak, and can't get over the cost for a one way ticket in Feb, the cost was coming at $130 USD per person (taxes included) for an 8.5 hour flight, makes me want to get a Russia visa just so I can do the flight yes, economy class costs not high. you can continue from UUS to VVO or via Asiana to Seoul

Wow that is absurdly cheap and tempting - I wonder how much it costs to upgrade to J? Might be well worth it!!!

Privet Oleg,
thank you so much for your trip report. I´m always interested in reports from Russian Far East, I still remember my trip to Petropavlovsk 2 years ago.
Great to have some more trip reporters from Russia on A.net!

Yirina

Excellent report.

Russia looks big on the map, but your flight shows how big it really is.

I enjoyed reading this report as well as looking at your excellent photographs. Thank you so much for sharing an interesting report from a very far away place. The food served aboard both flights looks delicious and the cabin service gracious and welcoming. What amazed me was how small the destination airport was to be served by such large aircraft. How often do the flights operate there? Daily service to Moscow? There must be a demand as from looking at the picture you took from the rear of the cabin, the flight appeared full. In any rate....I enjoyed your report.

A very good read! And I'm surprised! From your pictures, even Y looks rather good on Aeroflot, which was something I wasn't expecting. Puts TAM to shame! If I ever get the chance to visit Russia, I already know what airline I'll be flying!

I always enjoy reading trs on SU, especially to far away places like UUS. Looked like a very nice flight! Personally don´t know if I could stomach all that fish though!

Spaciba for sharing  

WOW - this is probably longest domestic flight serves by an A330! 9 hours and still, you are in the same country.

SU is just getting better and better I guess. With the newer fleet and modernized Russian hospitality, I wish for them the best.

I always like the rough/macho looking of Russians, I love this military look lol

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful trip report.
Cheers,
net-HKT

Nice report. I can't understand why you think your English is bad. Come to South America and you see poor English!

Hi skyslat2 !
pearl ... pure pearl ... domestic , 9 h , AF flight in business ahhhh

Quoting skyslat2 (Thread starter): Cold snacks and ROSE!!! was unexpected

and rose is always orange? ...

Quoting skyslat2 (Thread starter): On the morning before departure we have spent at local market. So you can see most common products. Prices - 1KG of crab-meat ~ $100

can I have two suitcases please ! on priority list is shrimps then marinated fish ok just put a couple of lobsters and crabs I will send you my address and please asks for discount hiihihihih

Quoting skyslat2 (Thread starter): really friendly cabin-crew

I heard a lot of positive comments ...nice that you have same experience

Quoting skyslat2 (Thread starter): Menu. Menu was from Y-Sakhalinsk, Wine list was the same.

menu that presents quality food offers in business class should not advertise something that is at the level of "the elixir of life" from the Wild West ...

Quoting skyslat2 (Thread starter): My conclusion that quality of service is really good.

I agree ... AF came at the very top of European offers

I look forward to the new Russian adventures ...thanks stipica  

Hi skyslat2,

Thank you for this nice trip-report and don't worry about your english  
Always wanted to see a trans-russian TR as its fascinating to fly in a such big country so thanks for that!

I wonder a bit how they get all the passengers into the terminal at UUS, such a tiny terminal.
Could you say something about the load on both flights?

Hi skyslat2,

Nice report, really enjoyed it. Quite interesting to see that a domestic Russian flight can last 9 hours! Aeroflot C looks quite nice, you sure got lots of food!

Quoting skyslat2 (Thread starter): Sukhoi SuperJet

what a beautiful livery!

cheers,

Brendan

>>> I wonder a bit how they get all the passengers into the terminal at UUS, such a tiny terminal.
Could you say something about the load on both flights?
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Sorry for long reply. Both flight were full in Economy and around 75% full in business. There are many people from Netherlands due to activity of Holland companies like Shell or so...

Great report - thanks. SU look really good on their 330's. The new 77W's should be really nice as well. 9 hours for a domestic is incredible - the scale of Russia !! But have to sat the Classica Lounge at Moscow looks awful - jam packed and the lighting - oh dear!!!!

Thanks again

theobcman - yes, Classica lounge is worst lounge if compete with other lounges in capitals but best within all russian airports.
Next week I'm planning to catch 777. So will try to create another report.

Quoting skyslat2 (Reply 31):

That is good news - looking forward to that if you go.

Wow! this report still alive. didin't find it before in archive.

Excellent report skyslat (or Oleg   )! I enjoyed reading it!

SU's A330s as well as their soft product both look great and professional although I can't say I like the choice of seat color IMO. I hope to visit Russia and fly SU one day; although I live a long way away, perhaps SU may start service to GRU...  

Thanks for sharing!

United1689