Transaero: Moscow to Los Angeles and Back on a Pair of Boeing 777s
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HOME ⇒ Flight reports ⇒ Transaero: Moscow to Los Angeles and Back on a Pair of Boeing 777s


amarchukov

Transaero: Moscow to Los Angeles and Back on a Pair of Boeing 777s

In May 2012 I took a trip from Moscow to Los Angeles on a direct flight courtesy of Transaero Airlines. This route was first flown only a few days before my flight. Transaero conducts trips to Los Angeles on Boeing 777 jets. It's worth noting that I was able to fly on two versions of this airliner in one trip: from Moscow to Los Angeles, I flew aboard a Boeing 777-200, while the return flight was on a Boeing 777-300.

This review consists of 4 parts:
1. Domodedovo International Airport
2. Boeing 777-200
3. Los Angeles International Airport
4. Boeing 777-300

The flight was a long one, so I had lots of opportunities to take photos. Anyway, let's get started.


1. Domodedovo International Airport

Transaero flights from Moscow to Los Angeles (as well as New York and Miami) leave from Domodedovo Airport.

Moscow Domodedovo Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Domodedovo is currently the busiest airport in Russia. It has only one, large terminal building, which is constantly expanding both in length and width.

Moscow Domodedovo Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Transaero, as one of the largest airlines, has its own permanent section at Domodedovo Airport, which features a customer service booth with a large aquarium that takes up the entire length of the stand.

Transaero representative office at the Moscow Domodedovo Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

... and a row of check-in stands, located opposite.

Moscow Domodedovo Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

After getting through security, I entered the waiting area for international flights, which featured plenty of Duty Free stores.

Moscow Domodedovo Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Boarding went as usual.

Transaero Boeing 777-200 in the Moscow Domodedovo Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/


2. Boeing 777-200, Moscow to Los Angeles

The Transaero Boeing 777-200 had three classes: business, economy and "tourist" class.

Business class, located towards the front of the plane, could fit 14 passengers (row configuration 2-3-2), and was equipped with special seats:

Business class in Transaero Boeing 777-200https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Economy class on the Boeing 777 had more leg room than I've come to expect from economy, and featured a different color of the upholstery.

Here's a picture of the economy class cabin (row configuration 2-5-2, located between business class and "tourist" class):

Economy class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-200https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Economy class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-200https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

The cabin of the "tourist" class (row configuration 2-5-2, located at the tail end of the plane):

Tourist class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-200https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Tourist class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-200https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

My flight to Los Angeles was one of the very first such flights offered by Transaero, and so there were very few people onboard. A couple of passengers in business class and 20 or so in the huge economy cabin. Only the tourist class, with the cheapest fares, was more or less one-third full.

So despite the length of the flight, it was quite comfy. Many folks stretched out on as many as 5 seats to sleep:

Economy class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-200https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Transaero's Boeing 777-200 is not exactly new. The seats in the cabin seemed to be 90s style, so out of curiosity I looked the plane up online (tail number EI-UNV, a modified Boeing 777-200ER). It was made in 1999 for United Airlines, then used by Air India. Transaero purchased this jet in 2010.

Economy class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-200https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

The back of each seat featured a screen, probably a first generation entertainment system. During our flight, the screens showed only flight information and the map.

Passenger cabin of a Boeing 777-200 of Transaerohttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Passenger cabin of a Boeing 777-200 of Transaerohttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Controls for the music and radio were built into the armrests. You needed earphones to tune in.

Passenger cabin of a Boeing 777-200 of Transaerohttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Over each seat, high up on the ceiling, there were reading lights and air conditioning vents.

Passenger cabin of a Boeing 777-200 of Transaerohttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

The carry-on compartments were arranged very conveniently in a wave-like form factor on the ceiling.

Passenger cabin of a Boeing 777-200 of Transaerohttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Passenger cabin of a Boeing 777-200 of Transaerohttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

The compartments were very spacious. A lot larger than they look at first glance.

Passenger cabin of a Boeing 777-200 of Transaerohttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/Passenger cabin of a Boeing 777-200 of Transaerohttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Every passenger on the Transaero flight was given a long-distance flight set: a blanket, slippers and a sleep mask.

https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

In the pocket of each seat there was also a thick flight magazine and a movie catalog.

https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Since the built-in entertainment system doesn't show movies, the airline rents portable DVD players. It costs about $30 (1000 rubles) for the entire flight, including spare batteries in case it runs out.

https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

I was pleasantly surprised by the sets of disposable toothbrushes and toothpaste. They were available in every restroom.

https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Speaking of which, there were quite a few restrooms on the plane. They were located in several spots throughout the cabin.

Passenger cabin of a Boeing 777-200 of Transaerohttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Restrooms of a Boeing 777-200 of Transaerohttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

During the trip, hot meals were served twice. We were also frequently offered water, for which I'd like to give Transaero a big hand, because not very many airlines offer enough water during a flight and it's easy to get dehydrated.

A snack before the meal:

Meal on a Transaero flight from Moscow to Los Angeleshttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

The first meal (chicken with rice, a salad and cheese):

Meal on a Transaero flight from Moscow to Los Angeleshttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

The second meal (an omelet and dessert):

Meal on a Transaero flight from Moscow to Los Angeleshttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

However, the greatest impression on this flight was made by the massive Pratt & Whitney engine outside my window...

Pratt Whitney engine on a Boeing 777 of Transaero Airlineshttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

... the clear skies above Canada (below I could see the city of Calgary, which I'd visited 10 years ago. It was interesting to see a familiar place from so high up)...

View of Calgaryhttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

... and the boundless suburbs of Los Angeles (on the photo, just below the wing, are the skyscrapers of downtown):

Los Angeles under wingshttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Our airliner arriving at the Los Angeles airport:

Boeing 777-200 of Transaero Airlines in the Los Angeles International Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/


3. Los Angeles International Airport, International Flight Terminal

Los Angeles International Airport has 10 terminal buildings, arranged in a U. The majority of foreign airlines (including Transaero) dock at the largest terminal, called simply the International Terminal. The other terminals are mostly divided up amongst the biggest US airlines, each one having its own building.

From outside, the international terminal seemed a little shabby:

International terminal of the Los Angeles International Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Immediately upon entering I found myself in a large square hall with check-in stands. On the second floor there was a cafe and the security checkpoint, beyond which there were long hallways stretching away to the left and right, to the boarding gates.

International terminal of the Los Angeles International Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
International terminal of the Los Angeles International Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
International terminal of the Los Angeles International Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Here is our jet, boarding was done via an extensible ramp.
Boeing 777-300 of Transaero Airlines in the Los Angeles International Airporthttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/


4. Boeing 777-300, Los Angeles to Moscow

The main difference between a Boeing 777-300 and a 777-200 is the former's longer fuselage, capable of fitting more passengers. The cabin of Transaero's 777-300 was quite different from that of their -200. This airliner, too, had 3 classes of service, divided into 4 areas: business (in the front of the plane), economy (in the middle), and 2 cabins allocated to "tourist" class (towards the tail).

The seat configuration of seats in economy class was 3-3-3. The seats themselves were also different and a lot newer than those on the -200. In all, the cabin looked a lot brighter and better. You could tell that it was a much newer plane.

Economy class. The upholstery is red, and there's more leg room:

Economy class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-300https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Economy class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-300https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Tourist class. The upholstery is blue:

Tourist class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-300https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Tourist class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-300https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

The seats are much more compact and lighter, the upholstery a lot fresher and newer. However, they don't lean back quite as far as their predecessors. In all, I thought they were less comfortable for long-distance flights than the old seats on the 777-200. But, that's only my opinion.

Economy class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-300https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Tourist class seats in Transaero Boeing 777-300https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

A definite plus of the newer plane is the upgraded entertainment system, featuring a larger, better screen.

Infllight entertainment system onboard of Transaero's Boeing 777-300https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

During the flight, these let you watch a movie, look at the flight map, or play video games. The controls were touch-screen.

Infllight entertainment system onboard of Transaero's Boeing 777-300https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Infllight entertainment system onboard of Transaero's Boeing 777-300https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Infllight entertainment system onboard of Transaero's Boeing 777-300https://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

The restrooms have a more modern interior. Although this time around, I couldn't find any disposable toothbrushes or toothpaste.

Restrooms of a Boeing 777-300 of Transaerohttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Meals were similar to the ones on the first flight; first a snack (peanuts) with a drink of your choice, then the first hot meal, and the second meal about 4-5 hours later (this time around, we had pancakes). Water is available on demand in unlimited amounts. After my fourth glass, I was simply offered a whole bottle.

Meal on a Transaero flight from Los Angeles to Moscowhttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Meal on a Transaero flight from Los Angeles to Moscowhttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/
Meal on a Transaero flight from Los Angeles to Moscowhttps://www.airlines-inform.ru/license/

Finally, I think it's important to note the airline's luggage policies. I didn't read the rules, and that ended up costing me. Transaero handles baggage fees by the number of items rather than weight. You're allowed to bring one item free of charge, but any additional ones must be paid for. I didn't realize that I could've packed all my things into one big bag and instead brought two smaller bags. Because of this I had to pay $50 extra for my second bag in Los Angeles.


Conclusion: Transaero Airlines provides passengers on its long-distance flights with all the essential comforts and services. Widebody jets and a traditional service model provided an adequate level of comfort during the trip. A striking thing for me is the company's lack of a standardized look and color scheme, something that is present in such leading Russian airlines as Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, and pretty much all large commercial airline companies. During the described flights, I got the impression that I was flying with two different airlines, that's how different the planes looked and felt.

Vote for review:

Transaero

Boeing 777-200

Boeing 777-300

Los Angeles International Airport

Moscow Domodedovo Airport

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