Hi everyone,
Welcome to the 4th report of the new series of flight reports covering my latest trip to Moldova with a day stopover in Kiev with Ukraine International Airlines.
01.05.2019 - FLIGHT PS804, WAW-KBP, B737-800 - https://flight-report.com/en/report/41359/ukraine-international-ps-804-warsaw-waw-kiev-kbp
01.05.2019 - FLIGHT PS897, KBP-KIV, B737-800 - https://flight-report.com/en/report/41579/ukraine-international-ps-897-kiev-kbp-chisinau-kiv
05.05.2019 - FLIGHT PS898, KIV-KBP, B737-800 -
05.05.2019 - FLIGHT PS801, KBP-WAW, B737-800 - you are here
STOPOVER IN KIEV BORYSPIL
Having arrived from Chisinau after an early morning flight, we had more than 6 hours before our final trip home. It's not really enough to go to the city and back, unless you want to go there just for a cup of coffee that in my opinion makes no sense at all. That's why we decide to spend this time at the airport, have breakfast and observe how KBP works.
KBP offers decent spotting facilities during the day, when the lights inside the terminal are off. It is also quite busy and you may spot some aircraft and airlines one wouldn't expect here.
TK operates its flights from IST on A330 or 777-300. This time I was lucky to catch the 777.
I had also a possibility to catch some long haul UIA departures both on 777-200 and 767-300.
Except for the wide bodies there are also some aircraft and airlines that are rare to spot
UIA 737-900
Ellinair A 319
Air Arabia A320
An something very common, KLM and BA
I found a perfect teddy for my collection but he was a little bit too big to take him home
THE FLIGHT
Time runs fast when there's something to do and finally our boarding is announced from one of the gates located on the ground level, which means it will definitely be a boarding by bus.
Another 737-800, as always in case of UIA it can either be an old and used jet or a quite fresh one.
This time, to my surprise, we fly one of the more recent 737s with modern interior and overhead lockers. How nice.
As on the previous flights, window seats were available at a charge, so I can only wait and pray this perfect window seat next to me with two windows remains empty…
Finally I hear what I waited for: "boarding is completed" and my window seat is empty! :)
This aircarft has slightly better legroom than the previous ones
Two windows provide a great view during push back and taxi
Take off
Service starts not long after the seat belt sign is off. We have preordered hot meals but to our surprise we receive a nice box containing caesar salad
When I inform the flight attendant about this mistake, he keeps searching inside his trolley and finally finds our Ukrainian Travel Lunch :). He says we may also keep the travel boxes with salad as they have been booked for us by mistake :)
The meal I ordered consists of a hot dish called "Banosh" - it's a kind of puree made of corn flour and served with cheese and bacon. There's also a starter and a piece of cake. We are offered anything we want from the drinks trolley but choose just water and tea.
I must say it is very average. Last time all the meals were not only served business class style, they were also very tasty. The prices went up but the quality is definitely lower - the cake is so artificial and full of preservatives that it is hardly edible :(
The onboard magazine and safety card
Some inflight views dominated by dense clouds
The weather improves when we approach Warsaw offering some views of Vistula river
Final approach
Nice to be back home
We park at a jet-bridge stand in one of the NON-Schengen gates next to LOT 737-800.
The seatbelt sign is still on but most of the passengers are already standing and opening the overhead bins. Sudenly a young male FA rushes from the back of the plane shouting: everybody please sit down! He also closes the overhead bins. This sudden reaction left everyone speachless, they came back to their seats and remained seated even when the seat belt sign was off. Bravo to this guy and his reaction! If anyone was hurt when the jetbridge was connected to the plane, the crew would be blamed for not keeping everyone seated.
Some spotting during our way to passport control: LOT 737 and Air Belgium A340-300 operating for LOT
Waiting for the bag with all the souvenirs bought in Moldova hopefully in one piece…
Many thanks for reading!
czesc lukasz
now you understand why i often say '' PS RIP"
it used to be cheap and good , but now they are just a bit less expensive than other airlines on the same routes and quality of service is going sh1t
So now its like FR who pretends to be LX
Sad but true :( Seems the old good and cheap UIA is gone :(
Thanks for this FR.
Once again a problem with preordered meals on PS, except it was in your favour.
Too bad they discontinued using a J class tray and cutlery.
Hi, thanks for stopping by. I'm glad they continue making mistakes on passengers favour, at least I got two meals having paid only for one.