TRIP REPORT: Air Serbia, Frankfurt - Belgrade
TRIP REPORT | INDEX
Written by Petar Djordjevic
First of all, let me say that I fly Air Serbia quite often (Etihad Silver status, probably gold status this year unless Corona says otherwise). I really enjoy Air Serbia. I moved my business more towards Serbia and one of the reasons why I did that, apart from favorable tax rates, is great connectivity with my main markets and places where my customers are. (Sofia, Bucharest, Athens, Istanbul, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Kiev... soon Tirana etc.).
Apart from being emotionally attached to Air Serbia (I guess it comes from the time when they had the first group of really professional and great staff and among the best service in terms of soft product), I can’t be blind not to notice the decrease in service quality. I do not mean in catering, as one may think, or seats, they are quite decent for current aviation standards, but rather the skills of stagg (from check-in to the crew).
The experience onboard is not standardized and depends on the people working on the particular flight. If they are nice and professional, they will give you a warm greeting and you will feel it, if they are not ... you will feel like you are in an Indian bus.
For example, I have heard one Cabin Senior saying to the crew member not to help people with English forms to enter Germany. I was shocked with the Cabin Senior’ attitude. This form is related to corona and Air Serbia only provides it in English language. Needless to say, that most Gastarbeiters (foreign workers) like most Germans don’t care about or are not fluent in English. Not sure if there is anyone who is responsible for these matters, but I would look or ask for the German language form. I worked in positions where I had experience in firing quite a lot of people, mostly because of attitudes like this, and never for a single mistake regardless how big it was.
Contrary to that, I remember couple of Air Serbia employees providing wonderful service such as Ana (extremely polite, with wonderful attitude, very upper-class vocabulary. Looks more like she works at one of the ME3 airlines in Business or First class. I do remember pursuers on my OTP flights Tijana and Dejan also for the wonderful service and nice way of treating passengers. I remembered these peoples’ names, which doesn’t happen often, but I surely do when they leave a positive impression.
Overall, I don’t complain (much and often) about Air Serbia, as I would like to see it imporve. As a Serbian taxpayer and a customer, I would really like to see the money going to something that will be profitable and stable, but also something to be proud of in terms of service and people working there. Unfortunately, I can notice that newer employees at Air Serbia do not have what it takes to be an FA. Very disappointing. Maybe it’s hard to find the right people at a time of increased employment. I have some examples on some other flights that I will write about another time.
Flight #1 - I flew from Frankfurt to Athens, with a 2 day stopover in Belgrade, which I used to combine business in Greece and visit my parents, dogs and friends. It is my common practice when I fly. My dogs already got used to the fact that there are treats and toys for them in my luggage.
I continued to Athens on January 26, a flight I will review later.
24JAN Frankfurt to Belgrade, flight JU335 , dep 2025 arr 2220
Seat: 3F
I boarded among the last passengers, because I simply like it that way. The plane looked quite full and even business class was full (which is not always the case).
I noticed that there was obviously problems with too much hand luggage in the cabin. Luckily, I checked it in. I put my handbag next to my seat. I usually use the middle seat for that. Boarding completed. No one on seat 3D. Yes, what a relief!
The crew seemed confused about the amount of bags in the cabin. Not sure why they didn’t put some of it in the cargo compartment. I must say that it was amusing for me to watch them behave like “muve bez glave”. I know it is important not to miss the slot at FRA (as it was before Corona).
All of a sudden, the Cabin Senior (the way Air Serbia calls Chef/Maitre de Cabine) Goran, appeared in a rush and asked if I wouldn’t t mind having one bag next to me. He fastened it to the aisle seat. I was fine with it, since it looked like there was no other choice.
All I could hear at that time was one of the lines from All Nippon Airlines announcement: For smooth evacuation nothing should block the exits or aisles. How contradictory?
I looked at the seat of the passenger next to me, and I saw ironed shirts brought into the cabin. Luckily my business does not require shirts and ties. I prefer not to carry anything with me, even my laptop makes me feel like I’m carrying rocks.
Another flight attendant came and passed the menu. Minutes later she came to pick up the order. I have to point out that I liked it when in the past Air Serbia’s flight attendants introduced themselves to each passenger and handed and explained the menu better. This one was more like: Here you go! Not much or nothing of the Serbian hospitality that always comes with a bit of a small talk. Before, they were even taking coats and jackets and placing them in special areas on coathangers, but it seems Ryanair concept of more seats prevailed that.
The menu is actually quite good for flights that last less than 2 hours. I didn’t feel like eating fish, so I went the American way - Cheeseburger and Fries.
The plane has WIFI and internet connection, which I use sometimes if I don’t feel like sleeping. It is convenient to chat with people from the plane and to help the time pass faster. Let me quote my mother “I read more books, before internet“.
After take-off, I checked the Air Serbia Deli Menu with drinks and snacks available for purchase on board. It looked appealing to me. I like the combination of Plazma and apple juice. Maybe they should offer warm milk and Plazma on the menu.
The meal was served. Writing this trip report, I was wondering... “What was the meal like?! Did I like it?!“. I checked the photos of almost clean plates (lol) so it must have been tasty, or there was too much bread on the plate, so I decided to clean up what was left with it. I see there was still water, but I am sure that I ordered sparkling water. I am sure because I never order still water if I can choose sparkling, but it seems I got still water. Later I got sparkling because I probably stressed it to them.
I didn’t drink alcohol, probably because I had to take rent-a-car after. If this wasn’t the case, I would definitely go with couple of Rakijas and sparkling water, followed with white wine and sparkling water. I am a bit disappointed that they don’t serve Kišno vino anymore. It was one of my favorites and standouts on the menu.
They use real plates, real cutlery and real glass, so I was surprised to see paper coffee cups. It wouldn’t cost much more to add a glass coffee cup. The salad may look plain on the photos, but it was pretty fresh. I remember that I was surprised that celery root can taste so good. From that flight on, I have it a few times a month at home. Years ago, Air Serbia had something with cheese pie and ajvar. That one was perfection! I am always looking for it on the menu, but I didn’t have any luck this time around.
Compared to my favorite Air France, not so bad overall. And it certainly is better than Lufthansa. Similar to Air Europa. A bit below KLM standards. Air France has better wine, food can be really tasteless sometimes, but wine, sweets and cheese, never failed my expectations. They do have a cute way of pushing passengers to take some sweets home. “Take it for your family! Take more!” (is it expiring soon or what?!)
I asked for another and another and another sparkling water (on intercontinental flights, I usually put in the reservation a special request to be supplied with 3 bottles of cold sparkling water – it has something to do with Germany, sparkling water and energy drinks).
I opened Air Serbia’s magazine. It looked pleasing. Highest ratings article, well not for this flight, otherwise I could agree. I am glad that they interviewed my ex fellow citizen of Wiesbaden and Belgrade, Biljana Vilimon.
The part with the timetable, reminds me of the 80s and 90s and I liked it. I remember my father telling me things like: there weren’t flights twice a day like we have it today. You had to look up the timetable book and then call and reserve. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until flights resume at full capacity. Nowadays, I fly and see empty terminals. It makes me sad and I get teary-eyed.
It may sound funny, because I do fly a lot, but each and every time I look at the fleet section of the in-flight magazines and study it, it’s like I have never flown before.
I like to see many different brands on those Air Serbia “boxes“ on board. I’m not sure how are they called. Probably just “a box”. I get a pretty nostalgic feeling when I see Jat Airways sign/logos even on Airbuses these days.
After so much of sparkling water, it was time to pay a visit to the restroom. I had to jump over someone’s bag, but it wasn’t that hard. The toilet was clean and decent looking. However, some toiletries are short on stuff, and as I did cost cutting many times, I know how budgeting works, but guys please look at the liquid soap bottle and its supplies. Also face lotion “Made in China”, well not for this face. Made in Serbia would definitely make me try it.
I had to jump back to my seat. No problem. At least some physical activity after all that sitting. Probably not completely in accordance with rules and by the book, but ... luckily, we did not have a fire like on Aeroflot’s Sukhoi when the people died simply because passengers were selfish enough to fight for their bags and blocked the timely evacuation.
I probably slept till the landing woke me up. I could see the wonderful Belgrade Airport with a lot of Air Serbia planes.
Overall, I really enjoyed the flight. The food was good. Crew (I had contact with Chef de Cabine and another lady) was a bit chaotic, not particularly interested in providing good service, as they weren’t particularly interested in procedures, and probably just thinking about getting back home and sleep. If it wasn’t for this bag next to me, I would probably forget that I was on this flight. I am sure Air Serbia can and must do better. Not all passengers are flying Wizz Air, nor do they like that kind of approach and service they get there. It is obvious you can’t beat their prices, but at least try to beat their soft service with nicer, more pleasant and motivated people. (I will have to write a review of my Dortmund - Belgrade flight. That was the only option to fly from Germany right after the opening of the airport. That flight was like from a horror film!!)
I will write a review of BEG-ATH flight, also in Business with the visit to the Air Serbia lounge.
I hope that this review is not too long. I also noticed that people here like photos, so I included almost all of them.
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