Review: Royal Air Maroc Business Class
B747-400 Montreal to Casablanca
Video
Royal Air Maroc (RAM) operates a single B747-400 in their fleet, CN-RGA since October 1993.
The plane is designated for Air France (built as B747-428) but have not taken up by Air France and have gone to RAM instead.
RAM have since operated this sole B747-400 in their fleet for 23 years! Recently there are talks with both Boeing and Airbus with replacement of this single B747 with either the B747-8 or A380.
The RAM B747-400 have been scheduled to fly to Montreal all summer long. (in fact many summers!) In the winter, it flies to Paris and at times domestic services but it also serve as a back up airplane which makes it a bit harder to catch with some certainty.
I was flying from the US back to Middle East, and discovered RAM have an excellent Business Class through fare from Montreal to Doha via Casablanca on their B747-400 and B787. Being a B747 fan, (I have flown more than 270 sectors on all B747 variants) I could not miss this golden opportunity to fly on Royal Air Maroc sole B747.
I have also invited my good friend Fly Roni and Josef Furst to join me. With time is ticking on the B747, we made an unanimous decision to fly together from Montreal to do this!
Prior to the flight, we found literally NO information about RAM B747 (seating configuration, picture of interior etc) so this may be the first trip report to showcase the RAM B747.
Check-in at Montreal
Check in opened 4 hours before departure in Montreal.
We arrived check-in about 2.5 hrs prior to our flight.
It is really impressive to see so many dedicated desks (and all manned by agents) for this B747-400 flight check-in.
On a typical day , more than 400 passengers will be checked in for this flight.
Check-in was swift, I was able to tag my bags all the way to Abu Dhabi with transit via Casablanca and Doha interline with RAM and Qatar Airways.
A souvenir picture at the check-in counter.
RAM Business Class passenger are invited to use fast track security screening.
Once airside, passengers are invited to use the National Bank World Mastercard Lounge.
As the name of the lounge suggested, it is a credit card lounge which is quite crowded with limited amenities.
Nevertheless, it is pleasant to relax before flight.
Some of the food items on offer. (Sandwiches, vegetable, cheese)
Chicken Soup with Wild Rice
We have a beer and soup before our late flight.
Montreal airport have many late European departures which our flight AT209 is one of the last to depart. The airport will close after the last departure and there is a curfew.
At 22:15 we headed towards our gate 60, there she is, in all her glory form!
The excitement has built up!!!
We have to take plenty of pictures!
Boarding process was extremely well organized, it seems the economy passengers have almost all boarded and there were no queues. There were no chaos. Kudos to the staff working for RAM at Montreal. The check-in and boarding process was as smooth as it could be!
A momento photo before we board! (photo taken by RAM cabin crew who came out of the plane to take this for us!)
Welcome onboard Royal Air Maroc B747-400
We turned left at door 1 and immediately headed to our seats. It was always an amazing feeling walking up to the nose of a B747!
A nicely set bar table in the middle of the Business Class cabin.
Welcome by warm RAM staff with Champagne Monopole Rose Top
Amenity kit handed out.
The Business Class cabin of RAM B747-400 with 16 seats in total.
Full electronic seat control.
Menu was handed out before takeoff.
I am quite amazed by the full menu with course after course. We pushed back on-time and headed for Runway 06R for our takeoff. At 23:14 local time, we departed for Casablanca. The takeoff roll was surprisingly short with just 30 seconds and we rotated with the usual strong-beautiful-steep B747 climb.
Our flight time to Casablanca is a short 6 hours and 5 minutes with strong tail winds over the Atlantic.
Our route map displayed at the air map channel.
Cabin after takeoff.
In Business Class cabin we have 11 passengers out of 16 seats in total.
Amazingly all 3 of us managed to have a spare seat next to ourselves!
I have 2 TV screens at my disposal.
Royal Air Maroc Entertainment system.
Despite its simple look, it worked really well and fast! All on demand! (It is not an iPad)
Once we level off at our initial cruising altitude, the cabin crew came around for drinks and our hors d'oeuvre!
There were 2 crew working up front in the Business cabin and 1 stayed behind in the galley.
Then our dinner came very shortly. There is only one choice on the starter which is scallop and baba Ghannouj. (Eggplant salad)
The scallop is quite rough and burnt, the rest taste just fine!
Royal Air Maroc use real cutlery onboard.
Flight attendant came with several rounds of drinks and wines during dinner. Here we were offered a selection of Moroccan red wine.
My main course: Pan Fried Halibut
It taste fresh and just the right portion.
Josef have the steak.
Cheese offering on Royal Air Maroc
The kind flight attendant took this photo of us enjoying our dinner together.
Fruit plate after cheese...
Followed by Pastry and Moroccan tea (in glass)
The dinner was great, everything was there as it should be in a proper Business Class dining. No corners were cut and I was very impressed!
Before I head to sleep, I took a quick photo of the beautifully setup self service bar onboard. I love the rose pedals they use!
I slept very well and woke up 1 hour before our landing into Casablanca.
The seat reclines well into a flat position that we were very comfortable and have no problem for many more hours.
I walked to Economy Class to further explore the Queen of Royal Air Maroc.
Rear economy was very empty!
The capacity of RAM B747-400 is C16Y478 = total 494 seats.
We just have 248 passengers plus 8 infants!
It must be the end of school holidays as the traffic flows the other way round....
I was served breakfast before landing. This was not even mentioned on the menu!
Beef cubes with Omelette.
Before our landing, we have to take a picture of the beautiful Royal Air Maroc crew who looked after us really well.
At 10:21am, Captain El Yasin commanded a quick "nose dive" descend into Mohammad V International Airport serving Casablanca. Our landing was smooth and very scenic! You can see more footage of the landing on my video.
A farewell photo with the RAM Captain hat!
Last look at these very comfortable seats.
Before we deplane, we were allowed to see the upper deck which was blocked off during the flight as the flight load was light. The seat pitch is very good in Economy Class.
There are very few aerobridges at this airport and we have to deplane by stair, which I don't mind it at all 🙂
We were among the last to deplane. We grabbed as many photo and video as possible.
There's no feeling like walking by stairs from a B747!
Our very friendly bus driver saw through our enthusiasm and drove us to the other side of the B747 for a better photo! (with English title on this side)
Mission Accomplished!
I am really happy that I have given a chance to fly on the Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Queen of the Sky! It isn't easy to get to Montreal and Casablanca but we made it with the BEST possible of everything on offer.
Royal Air Maroc is no shabby carrier. Every element of my flight is of Business Class standard. The crew, like most Moroccan people, are very warm and friendly. They have helped me a great deal to make this flight review possible
I am proud to add this to another great B747 journey that I treasured.
Next Report to come: Lounge Casablanca and Royal Air Maroc B787 to Doha
Sam’s Travel Hacks
