American Airlines begins service to Russia today

By TREBOR BANSTETTER

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

American Airlines launches its first service to Russia today, with a new nonstop flight from O'Hare Airport in Chicago to Moscow.

The Fort Worth-based airline becomes only the second to fly nonstop to Russia from the United States, and the first to fly from Chicago. For North Texans traveling to Russia, the new flight means one-stop service to Moscow's Domodedovo International Airport through Chicago on American.

One-stop service to Moscow is already available from D/FW through Atlanta on Delta Air Lines, through Amsterdam on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, through London on British Airways, and via Frankfurt, Germany, on Lufthansa. But the American flight is scheduled to be slightly shorter than competitors', at 13 hours and 20 minutes, including the Chicago stopover.

Many area business travelers also prefer to fly American to rack up miles on its frequent flier plan. The round-trip distance is about 10,000 miles.

For American, the new flight adds another potentially lucrative international destination. The carrier has been bolstering its international route network, which brings in more money, while cutting back on domestic service.

The route will be flown on a Boeing 777 aircraft outfitted with the airline's "Flagship Suites" in first class and its new lie-flat seats in business class. It will be flown six days a week, with departures from Chicago on Monday through Saturday and from Moscow on Tuesday through Sunday. The flight will become daily service in May 2009.

American will offer Russian cuisine, including a Donskaya cutlet and puffed pirogs, a Russian pastry, as well as Stolichnaya vodka.

American received permission from the Transportation Department to operate the flight in October 2007, and also received approval from Russian aviation officials.

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And I am flying on it Friday!!!

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Let us know how the flight went. Was the fare cheaper then going from Atlanta directly?

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First class ???

 

After flying American to Miami, I'm scared to fly overseas with them....seats in economy are too uncomfy... 

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- Независимость - это когда в 20-й раз наступаешь на одни и те же грабли, а русские уже ни при чем....

Kostya:

Was the fare cheaper then going from Atlanta directly?

The fare was just slightly more, but it flies into Domodedovo, which was crucial to me, since I could get home on municipal transportation, and from SVO I probably would've spent more on cab.  Of course after I pourchased the tickets, there appeared to be volounteers to pick me up t the airport.

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The flight from Atlanta was delayed by about 40 minutes, but I was assured that all flights in Chicago were being delayed.  Finally we boarded, rolled out on a tarmac. . .  and got delayed for another hour and twenty minutes!  By the time I got to Chicago, the Moscow flight was gone.  I was offered a hotel and a chance to fly on the same flight next day.

Of course I coudn't go for it.  I noticed that AA had a couple of flights going to London, and asked them if they could arrange something.  Very quickly I was booked on a flight to London, with a layover of about an hour and twenty minutes for a BA flight to Moscow.  Do I need to say that my flight was delayed again by air control, and I was late for my Moscow flight?

BA personnel offered to fly me to Frankfurt or to Vienna and then to Moscow.  I thought that stretching a two leg trip to four legs was a bit too much.  And asked to fly to Moscow first flight next day.  BA booked me to 9 o'clock flight, and then I dragged myself to the AA office to ask them if they could sponsor my hotel stay.  Well, they suggested that I may go *** myself, since it wasn't company's fault (notice the difference in stance between Chicago and London office).  Roamed the streets of London 'til about midnight, then took the train from Paddington back to Heathrow, watched some football recaps, napped, drank a liter of coffee, smoked half a pack of cigarettes, then got on board, and flew to Moscow. . .  The kicker?  My bags got there before me on a next flight from Chicago to Moscow. . . My 17 hour trip turned into two day ordeal.

The flight back was smooth and uneventful.  The service is definitely, but by not much better than Delta.  Next time I'll just take direct one from Hartsfiled to Sheremetyevo.

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Dude! That's an adventure! If I were you, I'd hang in London for a day, then fly to Vienna, then to Germany. Then take train to Swiss Alps for skiing and then to French province for food and wine. And screw Moscow altogether :)

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I enjoyed London, haven't been there for 14 years, so that was a welcomed turn.  But I like going to Moscow as well, and I had a chauffer waiting for me at the airport for nearly two days, so that was kinda bad, plus I was meeting people in a day or two.

There will be time for Vienna and Alps.

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I miss London too. I haven't been there for 37 years!

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