Planenutz From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 1267 posts, RR: 12 Posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1328 times:
I have always wondered what it was like working for or flying with Iran Air, it being the national carrier of the Islamic Republic and all.
I have heard that passengers are segregated by sex on flights, and that female passengers must wear the chador inflight at all times (when I flew Lufthansa FRA-Tehran, female passengers didn't have to wear it until disembarking). Also, do passengers formally pray, and if so, how do they know they're facing Mecca?
The ticket office on Piccadilly in London has female employees, and they all where the chador or at least a head scarf, but at LHR check-in it appears that services are contracted out because female workers wear entirely western attire.
Does anybody have a trip report, or at least be able to describe an Iran Air flight? I would assume that service is comprable to Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Chepos From Puerto Rico, joined Dec 2000, 5968 posts, RR: 12 Reply 1, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1308 times:
I can answer just some of your questions. Yes the female f/a's must wear a Chador at all times . I still dont think that pax are segregated by sex as not even Saudi Arabian does this. About praying I dont know on Iran Air but on Saudia the 747-400's and 777-200's have a prayer room. And yes most probably the check in at Heathrow is contracted out.
Airpearl From Malaysia, joined May 2001, 934 posts, RR: 37 Reply 2, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1300 times:
I don't know what it's like working for Iran Air but I flew them earlier this year KUL-THR-KUL (B747SP) and domestically within Iran (A300-600 and B727-200). Considering the constraints IR operate under, they operate a very decent service. Passengers are not segregated by sex but women must wear a head scarf to cover their hair, though a chador does not appear to be necessary. On all 5 flights I boarded (although only 4 actually took off; one was cancelled due to heavy snow), the flight attendants were very evenly balanced between male/female - all female fa's wore pant suits and dark headscarfs - not chadors. On the long hauls, I was surprised to see no formal announcements of prayer times, nor any space allocated for prayers - in fact, I didn't see anyone praying at all. There's a choice of two main meals in economy on the longhaul sectors and trays are pretty generous. Of course you wouldn't expect alcohol. But they do provide a toiletries kit which includes eyeshades, sockettes, toothbrush - a nice touch. On the shorthauls, they serve cold meals. There appears to be a commitment to good customer service - on the one flight which was delayed on the ground (and subsequently cancelled) due to ever heavier snow at Tehran, the crew had the good sense to serve breakfast while on the ground as we waited in the aircraft for de-icing to be completed. I found the crews younger and friendlier - and very pretty female fa's (!) - on the domestic routes. On the longhauls, service was efficient but there was little warmth. Basically I flew Iran Air with some preconceptions but was pleasantly surprised. And I'd fly them again.
AmirAA From Iran, joined May 2001, 54 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (11 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1247 times:
I've flown on Iran Air 77 times and sometimes they have great service and sometimes its very average. In the past before the revolution i have heard that it was awesome(fastest growing airline then) and was like the Emirates of today, and after the revolution it seems to have tried to continue with its quality service and to some respects it has but US sanctions have hit Iran Air hard, they are restricted in purchasing aircraft amongst other things. At the times i've flown on Iran Air they offer excelent meals(choice of 2, usually an iranian dish or a europen dish accompanied with many extras, salad, desert and more, in all its very generous) in first class called Homa class they offer awesome service, though i've never flown in Homa class the Iran Air advertisements make Homa Class look awesome. Anyway the times i have flown on Iran Air females on board par flight attendants(dressed with un reveiling almost baggy dress with head scarf) have pretty much dressed the way they wanted but asked before departure and at arrival to "respect" islamic law and cover hair, though if some one has not done this the flight crew do not ask the person to cover their hair during flight. The flight crew are mostly very nice, though on domestic some or SHIT.
The idea about passengers being segregated is ludicrous and is purely western perception of an islamic country. In the aircraft the 747's a prayer room is available i'm not sure about the new airbuses, but the old airbuses(A300B2) and old boeing dont(727,737). No mention of a prayer room is made by the crew though if asked by a passenger they are guided to the room, often iranian men(few) go to the prayer room but almost 90% dont, there are devices in the prayer pointing to Mecca.
Flight entertainment is lacking, only a film is shown on large screens, but small lego games, puzzles, aircraft models amongst other things are given to children who happily lose the parts all over the aircraft(LOL). The flights themselves seem to be piloted excelently. When i flew from Tehran-Rome-London the landing was amazing both times i had not noticed we had landed it was awesome. I have never had a bad experience with Iran Air and continue travelling with them. I recommend it to anybody.
P.S. A good enough reason to fly Iran Air is the awesome looking bird on the tail "HOMA".
Bokratensa From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (11 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1238 times:
FYI, Muslims pray five times a day, but can pray three times when traveling, in a flexible schedule. If they have to pray onboard, they can pray while sitting on their seats, and they don't have to face Mecca.