Wretched Experiences with Aeroflot and Pegasus Airways: An Insider's Perspective

Traveling by air should be a smooth and comfortable experience. However, my experiences with Aeroflot in 1987 and Pegasus Airways in recent times have been far from ideal. Both airlines have their own set of issues and pitfalls, making the journey exceedingly unpleasant.

Aeroflot, 1987: A Foggy Dodeadevo Nightmare

During my journey to Moscow Dodeadevo with Aeroflot in 1987, I faced a series of delays and uncomfortable situations. Fog made the flight departure unpredictable, leading to a two-hour delay. The situation only worsened as more delays succeeded one another, resulting in a ten-hour wait until the following morning. We were stranded at the airport, sleeping on the floor in an extremely unsanitary environment, with broken windows and howling winds adding to the misery. The terminal was one of the dirtiest places I had ever seen, and our sleeping quarters under the plane wing in the rain were a fitting symbol of our ordeal. Additionally, when the refueling truck arrived, the staff had to fight their way through the crowd, adding further frustration to an already dire situation.

Pegasus Airways: A Chaotic Turkish Budget Flight

More recently, my ill-fated experience with Pegasus Airways on a flight from STN (London Stansted) to SAW (Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen) was just as unsatisfactory. Although we had pre-booked our e-visas for Turkey and checked in online, the real journey to the plane was fraught with delays and confusion.

The traffic snarls at Stansted caused us to be late, and there were no separate lines for bag drops with people checking in for flights up to five hours after ours. We found ourselves queuing with other travelers, including some being denied boarding. The check-in process was disorganized; one of the desk ladies had to leave with a considerable backlog of waiting customers. This struggle caused us to miss our flight by an hour.

Upon arrival at Sabiha Gokcen, the experience was another obstacle course. Despite SAW being the base for Pegasus, the airport presented its own challenges with long lines and waiting times, especially at immigration. There were No separate lines for e-visa holders, and the process was rather cumbersome. However, once we made it through immigration, we faced an extra 30 minutes of wait for our baggage, a period that, I believe, was entirely the airline’s responsibility.

Conclusion

Both Aeroflot and Pegasus Airways have a lot of room for improvement. It’s disappointing to experience subpar service and an uncomfortable environment on a well-organized trip. These incidents highlight the importance of better management and customer service in the aviation industry. It’s my hope that these airlines will take necessary measures to enhance their services, making air travel once again a pleasant and efficient experience.

References

Dodeadevo, Moscow

According to my experience, Dodeadevo is possibly the most atmospheric Soviet airport I've been to. It makes a good mystery setting for any novel or movie.

Stansted, London

London Stansted Airport is one of the East Anglia airports. The location of the Stansted branch made us late, but the check-in process was frustrating due to a lack of organization.

Sabiha Gokcen, Istanbul

Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is the second busiest airport in Turkey. Its efficient equipment for security, but the boarding process is rarely less than a nightmare. Please always allow plenty of time for your next flight to avoid these frustrations.