While the ground experience in Istanbul left much to be desired, Air Serbia more than made up for it with an incredible crew and impeccable service on the short journey to Belgrade.
A Special Thanks To Two Special Air Serbia Flight Attendants
Onboard our Airbus A319, we were greeted by Aida, then Jelena. These two ladies would work the business class cabin on our flight and could not have been kinder or more attentive.
First, we were asked if we needed help stowing our carry-on items, a very nice gesture considering I was a head taller than either flight attendant and easily managed it myself.
There would be only four people in business class on our flight, yet Aida fiercely guarded the overhead bin space, standing in the aisle to stop economy class passengers from dumping their bags in business class on their way back to their seat (as so many tired to do).
That was quite instrumental as a mother traveling with her young son boarded at the last moment with several carry-on bags including a stroller that took up an entire overhead bin.
Prior to takeoff, Aida welcomed us onboard by name, thanked us profusely for flying Air Serbia, and told us that she would take very good care of us for the short flight to Belgrade.
At 492 miles, flight time was just over an hour, yet menus were handed out and a choice of two meals was offered plus an extensive list of beverages.
Instead of just saying “fish or beef” Aida took the time to explain the dishes in detail, suggest wine pairings, and tell us that since business class was lightly filled, we could try both entrees if we preferred.
She offered us blankets and pillows proactively and never sat down during the flight. Her colleague Jelena prepared and served the meals and was also extremely attentive in checking on us.
Without being obtrusive, our meal trays did not sit longer than a few seconds on our tray tables once we had finished lunch: the attention to detail was outstanding and we were always addressed by name.
Even as we began our descent into Belgrade, we were asked if we wanted anything else to drink.
What an outstanding crew!
A shout out to the pilot as well, who saw me taking pictures and instead of accusing me of being a terrorist, beamed with pride when I told him that I was excited to fly Air Serbia. He was ecstatic that I was flying Air Serbia to New York the following day.
CONCLUSION
Aida and Jelena offered more service on a 492-mile flight than I routinely receive on flights 5-6X as long. But it wasn’t just working with the material provided them, but an attitude of service and care that so clearly shined through. Flying Air Serbia was truly a pleasure.
Thank you Aida and Jelena!
@Matt, I was looking at your previous Balkan trip report for info on Montenegro. One point of feedback – it would be useful to your readers if your trip reports had both backward and forward links. You usually only include backward, while Ben includes both. I get it that when you are writing a specific article, you don’t have the links to what you haven’t written yet, so it may require you to go back and revise an article to insert the links.
A second point of feedback, which I think you are less likely to accept, is to use “Bottom Line” (as Ben does) or “Wrap-up”, rather than “Conclusion”. Your conclusions are sometimes conclusory, without the underlying reasoning or supporting facts being in the article. The lawyer in me is pedantic about writing.
Fair feedback. Appreciate it and will try to work to incorporate a back button in…and not add new info in conclusion.
Nice review. I like good service but saying my name is not necessary or desired. What if they say to 007 “would you like it shaken, not stirred, Mr. Bond”?. His cover would be blown as everyone knows who James Bond is.
The disconnect between ground and air experience is stunning.
My 2 cents. I find the all cap headlines (or whatever they are) to be needless because they are redundant. The posts start with a headline, which is fine and even necessary followed by a paragraph that says almost verbatim what the headline said, followed by another all cap headline that doesn’t say anything more that what has already been stated twice above.
Regarding the conclusion, that is not really necessary since it is located precisely where the conclusion is located which is…..at the conclusion.
Not at all intended to be bitchy. It’s your blog so you get to do it however you want.
Oops. Meant for a different post where a response said something about your conclusion section.
Frankly, I’m annoyed by it too, but it is for SEO reasons.
Funny. As I’ve read your blog through the years I wondered if that was the reason.
Nuff said. And so it goes. Actually assumed, not wondered.
Actually, a reply to Nate. I’ll let myself out.
You’re just used to United, so it seems special when FAs treat you decently and don’t leave crap on your tray table.
On my last United flight, used stuff sat there for 2 hours whilst the flight attendants played Kandy Krush in the galley. No joke.
Can we see some pics of the hot FAs without mask?
Crawl off to the rest of the interwebs to get your daily porn fix.
Two flight attendants for business on a 319?? How many customers??
Stroller on the overhead bin? Only in Europe. 🙂
United needs to take a page out of Air Serbia’s uniform book instead of being so worried about ethnic and lifestyle (hair, tattoos, pins, jewelry, lipstick and nail polish on men) changes in their employee ranks.
What are these ethnic changes that seem to worry you so much?
@Aaron, who said anything about me being worried ??…..United is “worried” about being politically correct and put hairstyles (as in dreds or rope braids piled 12 inches high on the head), makeup and nail polish on men, tattoos, piercings and LGBT issues ahead of other employees who don’t agree that those “looks”, are necessary or should be “celebrated”, “embraced” or “expressed” to run an airline or do a specific job.
From your posts, it seems you are worried indeed.
@Aaron….. so what are you saying, that anyone who does not like all this stuff or does not agree with it is automatically worried ??? Simple. NOT ALL PEOPLE THINK THIS IS GREAT OR ACCEPTABLE OR CELEBRATORY…. that would make us a nation of robots, yes?
No pics of the meal service, or is that coming in another TR?
I just wanted to focus on the service in this post. More on the seat and meal service in the A319 review.