Pobeda Airlines, a self-described "low-cost" airline, plans to launch flights from Moscow to Ostend on the Belgian coast this spring. Starting March 7, it will operate three flights a week, according to Travel.ru's own correspondent.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, departure from Moscow (Vnukovo Airport) is at 15:00, arriving in Ostend at 16:45. Return departure is at 17:15, arriving in Moscow at 22:55. On Saturdays, departure from Moscow is at 10:20, arriving in Ostend at 12:05. Return departure is at 12:35, arriving in Moscow at 18:15. Pobeda refers to Ostend as Bruges Airport.
The route will be operated by a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a single-class configuration and 189 seats. One-way tickets are currently available for most dates for 4,851 rubles (some for 3,234 rubles), excluding baggage fees, seat selection, and other fees. Sales are currently open for March dates only.
Passengers planning to fly Pobeda from any international airport should be aware of the serious problems this carrier has experienced since late October, when Pobeda introduced a fee for check-in at international airports (€25). Furthermore, according to numerous Pobeda passenger reviews, free online check-in often works incorrectly or doesn't work at all. Many passengers claim that the "free" check-in only works if the passenger has pre-paid for seat selection.
However, not all affected passengers are able to convince airport staff that they were unable to use online check-in. There are even reports of passengers being unable to fly because they did not have 25 euros in the currency of the departure country.
Any decent airline in Pobeda's position would have immediately waived the airport check-in fee until it fixed any glitches in its online check-in system, whether intentional or not. But Pobeda is likely counting on passengers not taking legal action over the 25 euros they lost.
Passengers planning to fly with Pobeda should be aware of a number of other features of this "low-cost" airline, exercise extreme caution and attentiveness, and be prepared for various complications and surprises both when booking a ticket and during the flight itself. As a reminder, Pobeda only allows free carry-on baggage with the unusual dimensions of 36 x 30 x 27 centimeters. Furthermore, the company, under false pretenses, refuses to allow passengers to carry items that are absolutely free according to Federal Aviation Regulations, including briefcases, handbags, and outerwear. The carrier has already lost a case on this issue in the Supreme Court, but continues to file appeals while simultaneously ignoring the law and passengers' rights.
Pobeda recently increased its small checked baggage allowance, though it remains relatively affordable: 777 rubles per 10 kilograms of checked baggage when purchased in advance and 1,000 rubles when paid at the airport. A 20-kilogram baggage allowance costs 1,349 rubles on this airline (3,000 rubles at the airport). Please note that 2% must be added to all online fees and Pobeda fares.
There is no onboard food service, regardless of the flight duration, and attempts to bring your own food in a separate bag may result in a 1,000-ruble check-in fee (unless it fits into Pobeda's baggage checker along with the rest of your carry-on baggage). When purchasing a ticket at the minimum "Standard" fare on Pobeda's website, the company includes paid insurance by default. To remove this insurance, you must uncheck the appropriate boxes at the bottom of the additional services selection page.
There are also problems with returning or changing a ticket in the event of flight disruptions or schedule changes - Pobeda hides the toll-free call center for forced changes and refunds. There are also problems with boarding a flight - Pobeda can herd passengers into the apron bus even before the plane itself appears at the airport. Seat selection is paid, and to encourage the purchase of this service, Pobeda can deliberately seat passengers flying together at opposite ends of the cabin and prohibit them from changing seats. The year before last, this led to a loud scandal: Pobeda turned in a family with a baby to the police for an attempt by the parents to reunite on the plane - after the airline itself deliberately seated them in different rows in an attempt to earn an extra 149 rubles from each of the passengers for changing seats.
Source: travel.ru