What happened
One Mile at a Time reviewed Turkmenistan Airlines business class on a Boeing 777 from Frankfurt to Ashgabat and a Boeing 737 from Ashgabat to Delhi, a cash itinerary because the airline has no partners.
The FRA-ASB-DEL ticket cost $1,010. The 4hr35min Frankfurt flight was a former Cathay Pacific 777-300ER with 40 business seats in a 1-2-1 cabin that was nearly empty. The 3hr5min Ashgabat-Delhi 737 has 16 business seats in 2-2 recliners like U.S. domestic first, with AC power. That cabin filled just before departure. One Mile at a Time says the late fill was likely from operational upgrades. Food and bedding on the 777 beat low expectations. The 737 meal was large and slow to serve.
Google Flights and the airline website now display the fares once the search is set to international flights for non-residents of Turkmenistan. There is no online check-in. Lounge access in business class does not exist outside Ashgabat. On the 737, crew told the reviewer that photos were not allowed. Pay cash as a non-resident on the airline site when that fare and routing work.
- Numbers
- $1,010: cash fare for FRA-ASB-DEL business class
- 40 seats: 777 business class capacity
- 16 seats: 737 business class capacity
- 4hr35min duration: FRA-ASB scheduled flight time
- 3hr5min duration: ASB-DEL scheduled flight time
- Where
- Frankfurt (FRA), Ashgabat (ASB), Delhi (DEL)
- Takeaway
- Use cash if the routing and price work, book as a non-resident on the airline site, and do not count on points, lounges, or a mainstream experience.