UIA

[TastyCake 232]

For K-1s from Ukraine, when flying your lady back I encourage you to choose ANY airline except UIA.  What a horrible experience.  For every other airline I have flown (and there have been many), checking in and boarding the plane has been a seamless experience.  No extra charges.  UIA will weigh EVERYTHING.  They will measure EVERYTHING.  They will nickel and dime you for EVERYTHING.  No smiles.  Nothing.

 

Not a good customer experience at all.  I can't tell you how many people were sent to the cash box for different things the day we flew back.  Lots of grumbling by passengers.  Much crying and gnashing of teeth.  Simply not worth it.
 

 

[mniceguy16 187]

Just now, TastyCake said:

For K-1s from Ukraine, when flying your lady back I encourage you to choose ANY airline except UIA.  What a horrible experience.  For every other airline I have flown (and there have been many), checking in and boarding the plane has been a seamless experience.  No extra charges.  UIA will weigh EVERYTHING.  They will measure EVERYTHING.  They will nickel and dime you for EVERYTHING.  No smiles.  Nothing.

 

Not a good customer experience at all.  I can't tell you how many people were sent to the cash box for different things the day we flew back.  Lots of grumbling by passengers.  Much crying and gnashing of teeth.  Simply not worth it.
 

 

Yep, Ukraine Int'l had us wait in a plane for almost 2hrs back in 2011 in Brussels airport, after arrival,they turned off the Ac and plane's engine and they simply asked us not to panic and remain seated while they were trying to open the "blocked" doors, imagine the summer heat in a crowded plane with kids restlessly crying out of discomfort.

[Shiran 1,134]

I recommend Turkish personally. Also hear very positive thing about new Airport in Ataturk. Also "free" alcohol if that is your thing. 

[gregcrs2 1,778]

On ‎7‎/‎23‎/‎2019 at 8:06 AM, TastyCake said:

For K-1s from Ukraine, when flying your lady back I encourage you to choose ANY airline except UIA.  What a horrible experience.  For every other airline I have flown (and there have been many), checking in and boarding the plane has been a seamless experience.  No extra charges.  UIA will weigh EVERYTHING.  They will measure EVERYTHING.  They will nickel and dime you for EVERYTHING.  No smiles.  Nothing.

 

Not a good customer experience at all.  I can't tell you how many people were sent to the cash box for different things the day we flew back.  Lots of grumbling by passengers.  Much crying and gnashing of teeth.  Simply not worth it.
 

 

There are only 3 reasons to fly UIA, price, and/or convenient flight, and or code share with another airline.  We had a UIA flight (Kiev to Bangkok) which we chose as it was a direct flight and lowest cost.  It was one of the most miserable flights I have ever experienced...no entertainment system, absolutely packed like sardines in a can, terrible food, had to put our one carry-on computer bag under the seat because almost everyone on the aircraft brought too much carry-on baggage.   Not to seem to defend the airline, but the baggage rules (size, weight limit, quantity, costs) are very specific on their website.  The problem is that most people think they are entitled to more than the limits specified and at no additional cost.  They are just more diligent in enforcing the rules.  We fly to Kiev 3-4 times a year and every time, regardless of airline flown, our carry-on and checked luggage is always weighed.

[Ksenia_O 696]

After my son's experience with UIA in 2014 during his flight to the US ... Well, we've decided that no one in our family EVER will have this airline again. And we never recommend the airline to anyone.

It could be, probably, "doable" only for a short flight. But long one - NO.

 

 I'd prefer to have an "extra" stop/connection/layover with Lufthansa Group  than a direct fly with UIA. Price would be about the same, but service - incomparable. 

 

OP, really sorry for your terrible experience with UIA... 

Edited July 29, 2019 by Ksenia_O

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

On 7/23/2019 at 7:06 AM, TastyCake said:

For K-1s from Ukraine, when flying your lady back I encourage you to choose ANY airline except UIA.  What a horrible experience.  For every other airline I have flown (and there have been many), checking in and boarding the plane has been a seamless experience.  No extra charges.  UIA will weigh EVERYTHING.  They will measure EVERYTHING.  They will nickel and dime you for EVERYTHING.  No smiles.  Nothing.

 

Not a good customer experience at all.  I can't tell you how many people were sent to the cash box for different things the day we flew back.  Lots of grumbling by passengers.  Much crying and gnashing of teeth.  Simply not worth it.
 

 

I always flew LOT to and from Ukraine....mostly to Odessa from Chicago via Warsaw. Austrian a few times when I was flying straight to Kharkiv. I flew UIA from New York to Kiev one time. Not enjoyable.

[payxibka 10,047]

8 minutes ago, boris64 said:

I always flew LOT to and from Ukraine....mostly to Odessa from Chicago via Warsaw. Austrian a few times when I was flying straight to Kharkiv. I flew UIA from New York to Kiev one time. Not enjoyable.

Me too on LOT to Odessa.   Remember AeroSvit?  They were on my "I have experienced" list

 

I flew on a lot of Soviet era junk.  Tupolev,  Yak, Antonov...  Oi

Edited August 8, 2019 by payxibka

[Prizm123 1,086]

we had the opposite experience, she said the people on her UIA flight were exceptional and she was very comfortable. maybe it was due to the flight itself? we booked her on the 777 direct from Kyiv to NYC

[Ksenia_O 696]

7 minutes ago, Prizm123 said:

we had the opposite experience, she said the people on her UIA flight were exceptional and she was very comfortable. maybe it was due to the flight itself? we booked her on the 777 direct from Kyiv to NYC

My son had that flight. As it's been mentioned before - NEVER again.

 

But I'm really glad your wife had a positive experience - really "unusual" thing, if flying with UIA. 

[GP1977 288]

1 hour ago, Ksenia_O said:

My son had that flight. As it's been mentioned before - NEVER again.

 

But I'm really glad your wife had a positive experience - really "unusual" thing, if flying with UIA. 

My wife and I have taken UIA from Kyiv to Odessa and same here never again.  It was a only a one hour flight but they jam everyone in like sardines in very old airplanes and what really ticked me off was that they charged us I believe $25/person because we hadn't "checked in" on the app prior to checking in our bags at the counter.  Even though I had a flight confirmation email with my seats that had already been paid for.  

[payxibka 10,047]

14 minutes ago, GP1977 said:

My wife and I have taken UIA from Kyiv to Odessa and same here never again.  It was a only a one hour flight but they jam everyone in like sardines in very old airplanes and what really ticked me off was that they charged us I believe $25/person because we hadn't "checked in" on the app prior to checking in our bags at the counter.  Even though I had a flight confirmation email with my seats that had already been paid for.  

Seat assignment at booking and check-in a day or three before the actual flight is two very different things.   

[GP1977 288]

16 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Seat assignment at booking and check-in a day or three before the actual flight is two very different things.   

agreed but charging $25/person because I didnt log onto the website or download their app within 24 hours of flighttime  when I have already paid for my flight and paid for my specific seat seems a tad bit excessive.  I have flown maybe `500 times in my life and I have never been nickled and dimed like that before. 

 

[payxibka 10,047]

2 minutes ago, GP1977 said:

agreed but charging $25/person because I didnt log onto the website or download their app within 24 hours of flighttime  when I have already paid for my flight and paid for my specific seat seems a tad bit excessive.  I have flown maybe `500 times in my life and I have never been nickled and dimed like that before. 

 

The ultra low cost carrier model is quite prevalent for domestic flights in Europe,  similar to what Spirit and Frontier do in the US.  Nickel and dime is all that they do

[TastyCake 232]

4 minutes ago, GP1977 said:

agreed but charging $25/person because I didnt log onto the website or download their app within 24 hours of flighttime  when I have already paid for my flight and paid for my specific seat seems a tad bit excessive.  I have flown maybe `500 times in my life and I have never been nickled and dimed like that before. 

 

This was part of the point of my original post on this topic.  UIA is a nickel-and-dime airline that, on the surface, may look like a decent option financially.  However, after they're through with the body cavity searches it isn't such a bargain after all AND their service is lousy.

 

We flew the Kiev-to-NYC nonstop flight and hated every minute of it.  Never again.  We will pay the higher fare for a better airline in the future.

[Ksenia_O 696]

2 hours ago, GP1977 said:

My wife and I have taken UIA from Kyiv to Odessa and same here never again.  It was a only a one hour flight but they jam everyone in like sardines in very old airplanes and what really ticked me off was that they charged us I believe $25/person because we hadn't "checked in" on the app prior to checking in our bags at the counter.  Even though I had a flight confirmation email with my seats that had already been paid for.  

yes, that "extra charge" for printing out your boarding pass at the airport is just beyond me.  Ridiculous and so "cheap". 

 

Also, that "adorable'" look you get when you ask for another  glass of water during the flight.... Uhhh 👹