“Turkmenistan Airlines” operate several popular transit flights via Ashgabat. For instance, the flight Moscow-Ashgabat-Bangkok is popular among Russian holiday makers, and British citizens of Indian origin often fly from London to the Indian city of Amritsar.
“Chronicles of Turkmenistan” decided to find out the likes and dislikes of “Turkmenistan Airlines” passengers from all over the world, and whether President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov’s reprimand with the final warning to its Chairperson Dovran Saburov for shortcomings in his work had been issued for no good reason.
At the largest travel website Tripadvisor “Turkmenistan Airlines” has a ranking of 3.5 on a scale from one to five based on reviews of 89 passengers.
The low cost flight search engine Airlines-inform gives a rating of 4 out of 5 based on 1145 reviews.
Users of the website SKYTRAX gave the Airlines the score 4 out of 10.
Passengers are not happy with the fact that the option of online ticket purchase and online check-in is unavailable on the “Turkmenistan Airlines” website.However, on 9 June Deputy Chairperson of Cabinet of Ministers Bairam Annameredov gave a progress report on the two-stage online sale of “Turkmenkhovayollary” tickets.
People are also dissatisfied with rude and offensive behavior of staff at Turkmen airports and queues at the check-in desks.
It should be highlighted that there have been numerous complaints about opened suitcases and missing items, in particular, cigarettes. This might be linked to the irregular supply of tobacco products in Turkmenistan’s stores.
At the same time, travelers note quite affordable ticket prices, professionalism of pilots and clean aircraft. However, passengers complain about non-functioning monitors to watch films or listen to music. Passengers find amusing the portrait of the President, which is displayed on board each aircraft.
As regards the performance of flight attendants, there are dramatically different opinions. Some are pleased with the service on board whereas others complain about annoyed and unsmiling cabin crew who were rude when asked to provide vegetarian meals.
The users of the website SKYTRAX share the opinion on disorganized personnel both on board and at the airport. Passengers are not informed of delayed flights and many airport staff members do not speak English.
Below are some of the passengers’ reviews:
I can say that this is one of the best airlines by all standards. Meals are included in the ticket price and hot, fresh, delicious food is served. Water, tea and soft drinks are provided at your request in any amounts. Everything is included in the ticket price.
Upon arrival in Bangkok we found out that our suitcase had been opened, the wrapping had been removed and security lock had been broken.After checking the contents we saw that nothing was missing as we did not have any valuable in the suitcase.
We started complaining to co-passengers and it turned out that we were not the only ones.Half of the passengers had their bags opened and had personal belongings missing.
Flight attendants are very rude.When I asked a flight attendant to get me juice, the answer was: Look, you have water.Why do you need juice? When food trays were removed, the male flight attendant said: Why do you have such a mess on the tray?
Put everything in order on the tray.What???I have not been treated like that by any airline before.
There was a problem with the suitcase.It was opened and the lock was broken and a part of the zip which was fastened to the lock.
So now a new lock cannot be attached to the zip.Everything was turned upside down, crumpled and wrinkled.Terrible! 9 packs of cigarettes were stolen (thankfully, they failed to notice one).
Some items of clothing, though cheap, were stolen.This spoiled the impression.
Upon arrival in Bangkok we collected our two pieces of luggage. When we opened them it was obvious that both suitcases had been thoroughly rummaged. As a result, a pack of expensive cigarettes was stolen from my checked-in luggage!!!.
Last year I was flying from Ashgabat to Moscow. I liked the service. Attentive cabin crew, delicious meals.
The service was good, flight attendants were polite and accommodating with any request being attended to immediately.
Some passengers from our flight had their suitcases opened and security locks broken. Some passengers had missing items.
Things I liked: 1.Highly skilled pilots 2.Well-trained but unsmiling flight attendants (if it is important to someone!)) 3.High quality and delicious in-flight meals 4.Good level of service and comfort at the Ashgabat airport (it is a shame there is only one smoking lounge at the far end of the airport) 5.It was disappointing that during the connecting flight in Ashgabat baggage handlers broke locks and opened my baggage (two suitcases!) and stole five packs of coffee (0,5 kg each)….
The outgoing flight was delayed by 2 hours with no apology and worse there was nobody to be found to explain what was going to happen with our planned changeover.
we were delayed 6 hours, and 4 hours on return flight.We were made to wait ages before being given any info re flight issues.Staff on flight were miserable and curt when being asked any questions.
Staff at airport were OK but due to lack of English it was very difficult to find out what was happening and no-one felt it was important to inform us passengers as to what was going on.
The flight way supposed to leave Ashgabat at 1:30pm but didn’t leave until 6:30pm.I get that all flights can get delayed but it’s the way the issue was dealt with.
First of all we were not told that there was a delay and when passengers started questioning they just struggled their shoulders like they couldn’t understand English The manager said it’s gone to Dubai and we asked why.
She said she will be back in 2 mins and never returned.The others persons we questioned just kept telling us to go away and were actually laughing at us all.
Very offended.
they ran out of vegetarian food when it got to me.They just dumped whatever on my tray.I asked what it was and they said lamb.
I told them I’m vegetarian and I can’t eat this.They said it’s all finished and snatched the lamb from my hand and started having what I can only describe (due to the tone only as I couldn’t understand the language) as a dig at me between each other.