Earlier this week I flew with Ben from New York to Tashkent non-stop on a brand new Uzbekistan Airways 787-8 in business class. I’m thankful to have flown it for you…so you don’t have to.
Let’s start with the positive. First, the service was fairly friendly onboard, with two of the three FAs working in business class displaying warm hospitality and affability. The third one…well, let’s be charitable and just say she was reserved. All FAs were proactive in monitoring the cabin during the flight.
Second, the presentation of the food was very attractive. Trays were not used for either dinner or breakfast and FAs carefully laid out every item. How was the food itself? Mediocre, but certainly not bad.
Third, at least Uzbekistan offers a lie-flat bed. It’s my least favorite lie-flat business class seat (you can find the same seat on LOT Polish and Turkish Airlines), but it is lie-flat and I was able to nap for a few hours in the middle of the flight.
But my goodness, everything else…no menus, no amenity kits or amenities in the lavatory, horrible blankets, no air vents, no mid-flight snacks on an 11hr flight (until I practically begged for some nuts), horrible IFE (three English movie), no Wi-Fi, and a very poor selection of beverages (no white wine loaded).
CONCLUSION
You’ll enjoy the full report, but note that the ticket cost $1900. That hurt. It was simply not worth it when Turkish Airlines via Istanbul or Aeroflot via Moscow would have been 80K miles for a far superior product. The only consolation: now I get to spend a few days in Uzbekistan, a country I’ve been wanting to visit for years.
Looks disappointing, but given that there is no competition on that direct route I guess they feel no need to improve their product. I’m curious how full was the flight? Is there a decent population of people from Uzbekistan in NYC to support this service or are they trying to rely on potential tourists or business?
Flight was booked 15/24 in business class but it would not have surprised me if Ben and I were the only paid passengers. All others in the cabin were Uzbeks and seemed to know the station manager…
A whole baguette tho with your meal?? Haven’t seen that before! May be worth the $1.9k you spent lol
Hope you get to attend a Muchal Tuy celebration, find souvenirs getting lost navigating Urgut Market, and enjoy some chak-chak.