Georgian Airways: Well, That Was Interesting...

Introduction

From chaotic check-in counters to disruptive passengers and a suspiciously smoky lavatory, my flight from Cyprus to Georgia was anything but ordinary.

I've flown on plenty of airlines over the years, ranging from some of the world's top-rated carriers to smaller airlines that most travelers probably haven't heard of. For the most part, my experiences have been positive, with a few exceptions here and there.

However, my experience aboard Georgian Airways in 2026 was easily one of the strangest flights I've ever taken.

We were traveling from Larnaca, Cyprus (LCA), to Tbilisi, Georgia (TBS), and Georgian Airways appeared to be our only practical nonstop option. Being that the flight was only around an hour and forty minutes, we figured it would be straightforward enough.

I wasn't expecting anything luxurious, but surely it couldn't be that bad, right?

Well, we were very much mistaken.

An Interesting Start at Larnaca Airport

Our experience started at the check-in counters, where passengers were waiting around for what seemed like an eternity before check-in even began.

Once things finally got moving, it was an absolute madhouse. There appeared to be only two counters handling the entire flight, and the staff seemed to be experiencing computer system issues that made the process even slower.

Eventually, we made it through and headed toward our Boeing 737-800.

Boarding involved taking a bus out to the aircraft and climbing the stairs, which isn't unusual, especially at airports throughout Europe.

However, once we stepped inside, it was pretty evident that this aircraft had seen better days.

The interior showed considerable wear and tear, and the seats were rock solid. I'm certainly not expecting business-class comfort on a short economy flight, but a little cushioning would've been nice!

While the cabin's appearance doesn't necessarily reflect the aircraft's mechanical condition, it certainly wasn't the most encouraging first impression.

Our Unexpected Guests

After everyone boarded, we sat on the tarmac with the aircraft door open for what felt like forever.

The flight attendants made announcements in Georgian, but since I don't speak the language, I had absolutely no idea what was happening or why we weren't departing.

Roughly an hour later, two men finally boarded the aircraft.

And boy, did they make an entrance.

The two appeared to be intoxicated and immediately began getting into loud arguments with passengers throughout the cabin.

It was honestly something straight out of a cartoon.

Practically every other row seemed to have something to say to these guys, and they were more than happy to argue right back. My assumption was that people were frustrated about the delay and believed these two had something to do with it, although I couldn't confirm that.

And of course, where were their seats?

The very last row of the aircraft.

So naturally, we got to witness the entire spectacle as they made their way down the aisle.

What surprised me was how little intervention I observed from the flight attendants. The yelling continued, and from my perspective, the crew seemed largely content to let things play out.

Eventually, we departed, and I figured that would be the end of our entertainment.

Not quite.

Did Someone Seriously Smoke in the Bathroom?

About halfway through the flight, I got up to use the lavatory.

One of our two memorable passengers was already inside, so I waited outside for what seemed like 10 to 15 minutes.

When he finally emerged, I immediately noticed something unusual.

The guy absolutely reeked of freshly smoked cigarettes.

And when I stepped into the bathroom, the entire lavatory smelled exactly the same way.

Now, I obviously didn't witness him smoking, so I can't say with certainty what happened inside. But given the overwhelming smell of cigarette smoke coming from both him and the bathroom, I certainly had my suspicions.

I've heard stories about the days when smoking aboard commercial aircraft was perfectly normal, but never in my travels had I encountered something like this.

I looked toward one of the flight attendants, who appeared surprised as well, but I didn't observe any further action being taken.

I also hadn't heard any smoke alarm, although I have no way of knowing whether one was triggered or what happened outside my view.

Regardless, I was pretty shocked by the whole situation. Smoking aboard commercial aircraft is prohibited, and I certainly would've expected something like this to be taken seriously.

Water Bottles, Anyone?

As if the flight hadn't already been unusual enough, the onboard beverage service added one final memorable touch.

Now, for a flight lasting around an hour and forty minutes, I wasn't expecting much in terms of food or drinks.

Water would've been perfectly fine.

And water we received!

The flight attendants were distributing bottles like hot cakes, practically tossing them toward passengers and hoping they'd catch them.

It was certainly one of the more interesting beverage services I've experienced.

At this point, I couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous the entire journey had become.

Final Thoughts

Eventually, we landed in Tbilisi, and I was just happy to have arrived in Georgia.

Looking back, the experience was a mixture of frustration, disbelief, and some genuinely funny moments.

The chaotic check-in and uncomfortable seats were one thing, but the disruptive passengers and suspected smoking incident were considerably more concerning.

To be fair, this was one flight on one particular day, and I can't speak for Georgian Airways' overall operations or what other passengers might experience.

But for me, this was certainly one of the oddest flights I've ever taken.

Would I fly Georgian Airways again? If it were my only practical nonstop option, I wouldn't necessarily rule it out, but I'd certainly be approaching my next flight with a different set of expectations.

And hopefully, next time, the only thing coming out of the lavatory is someone looking relieved!

What about you? What's the strangest or funniest thing you've ever witnessed aboard an airplane? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments!

Till next time,

Trailblazin’ Half Asian