Transaero Airlines New York-Moscow Imperial Class – Flight Review

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The author's seat in bed mode

The author’s seat in bed mode

At this point, it was time to get some sleep.

Flight attendants prepared the seat for slumber time by extending it to its fully flat position and placing a thick mattress topper covered in a white sheet. A full-length duvet in a soft duvet cover and an almost-full sized pillow, in an equally soft pillow case completed the package. Without question, this was the most comfortable bed in the sky I’ve ever enjoyed.

After about four hours of sleep, it was time for breakfast.

The morning meal began with coffee with warm milk and a yoghurt parfait. Fresh rolls and pastries followed. The appetizer was blini with salmon caviar and Camembert cheese, which were excellent. Porridge with fresh blueberries and strawberries followed, and then we were at the main course, a choice of blueberry-stuffed French toast, a pie with grape tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, and my selection, a smoked salmon omelet with asparagus and tomato. The omelet was a bit heavy but good.

Blini with salmon caviar

Blini with salmon caviar

Deserving special mention is the lav, or specifically what Transaero’s procedures for the Imperial Class lav are. Each time a passenger uses it, a flight attendant freshens it up afterwards, ensuring that the various amenities that include a variety of colognes and toilet water are present and in adequate supply, restocking the washcloths, and putting a fresh seat protector on the commode.

ARRIVAL

We landed at 7:25 a.m., almost an hour late, after nine hours and eight minutes aloft. I was not surprised that a Transaero representative was waiting outside the jetway to escort us through immigration and customs as well as assist with our bags.

Soon we were in a Transaero-provided car en route to our hotel in Moscow, wishing the flight had actually been longer, so that we could have enjoyed even more Imperial Class service. With the return flight only five days away, I knew we’d be fine.

BOTTOM LINE

Transaero’s Imperial Class is a well-kept secret. Almost no one I know (except aviation geeks) had ever heard of the airline (it’s Russia’s second largest) and even they did not know of the existence of Imperial Class. Indeed, as I later learnt, Transaero Airlines is the only Russian airline that offers an international first class cabin and service.

In Imperial Class, it soon became clear that the Imperial Class cabin crew had received special training in pampering passengers without making the service seem obsequious. Indeed, everything was very low-key and personal and, at times, I felt like I was the only person on the aircraft.

(Photos: Accura Media Group)

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