Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition - December 2017

businesstraveller.com DECEMBER 2017

75

TRIED AND TESTED FLIGHT

BEST FOR

Great service and

Ferragamo amenity bags.

PRICE

Internet rates for a midweek return

business class flight from Moscow to

Hong Kong in January 2018 start

from US$2,570.

FLIGHT TIME

9 hours 25 minutes

CONFIGURATION

2-2-2

SEAT WIDTH

20.9in/53cm

SEAT RECLINE

180 degrees

CURRENT ROUTES

Typically flies on long-haul routes from

its base at Moscow Sheremetyevo to

destinations such as Shanghai, Hong

Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, Phuket,

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.

CONTACT

aeroflot.com

Aeroflot B777-300ER business class

MOSCOW–HONG KONG

BACKGROUND I was boarding from a
connecting flight, and found Sheremetyevo
airport and the gates to be well signposted.
Assuming you have a few hours to spare,
there is a choice of lounges.

THE LOUNGE To see the full review of
the one I chose – Blues in Terminal D – visit
businesstraveller.com.

BOARDING This went smoothly and
once on I was quickly offered water,
sparkling wine or orange juice, and had
my jacket hung. Staff switched effortlessly
between Russian and English.
The amenity bag was an upgraded one
from the shorter A330-300 Aeroflot flight
I had just taken from London. It contained
Salvatore Ferragamo products and items
such as a shoehorn, toothbrush and
toothpaste, and eye mask.

THE SEAT I was in window seat 1K. This
seat is fully flat, unlike that of Aeroflot’s
A330-300 (see review on businesstraveller.
com). It has international sockets and a
USB port. The seats are positioned at a
slight angle, so they don’t face directly
down the aircraft. As well as the seat
pillow you are provided with a duvet and
a mattress cover, though it is not a topper
since it has no cushioning in it and you are

therefore aware of the fact that the bed is

made up of separate cushions.

BEST SEAT All but the window seats

offer unimpeded access to the aisle. The

washrooms are at the front, and the service

also comes from the front, so avoid row 1 if

you want to remain undisturbed.

THE FLIGHT The in-flight entertainment

(IFE) system had a wide range of new-

release movies. However, I watched

The Shining, since I stay in so many hotels

that remind me of The Overlook Hotel. The

IFE system is more modern than that of

the A330, with a handset that incorporates

a screen, allowing you to watch one thing

on the handset, and another on the larger

screen. Wifi access was available with OnAir,

but it is very expensive at US$40 for 100MB.

Meal orders were taken after we were

at cruising altitude and while service was

friendly, it was also quite slow. Orders for

drinks were taken at the same time, so it

was 75 minutes before my drink arrived

along with the starter.

An extensive menu included Russian

specialities. I chose the Chinese menu,

with dishes such as Asian-style beef and

tomato salad; aubergine with tomato, garlic

and spicy red pepper; soup with shrimp

wonton; chicken with sweet and sour

sauce; and a dessert of baked pineapple

with jasmine rice. The wine options were

French red, white or sparkling.

I slept pretty well for about five hours.

Breakfast was a selection of juices, yoghurt,

cheeses, pancakes with strawberries or

cream cheese with blackcurrant.

ARRIVAL We landed on time and without

incident at Hong Kong.

VERDICT Overall a very good Aeroflot

flight. Although not the most comfortable

fully flat seat, it’s more than adequate. If

you didn’t fancy eating, you could easily

have slept right through this night flight –

and many passengers did. Tom Otley

I watched The Shining,

since I stay in so many

hotels that remind me of

The Overlook Hotel