Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Flight Review
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Flight Review

Review: Royal Air Maroc Business Class B747-400 Montreal to Casablanca

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.

 
Royal Air Maroc Check-in at Montreal
Royal Air Maroc Check-in at Montreal
 
Royal Air Maroc Check-in at Montreal
Royal Air Maroc Check-in at Montreal
 

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.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 04  

A souvenir picture at the check-in counter.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 01  

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.

National Bank World Mastercard Lounge Montreal
National Bank World Mastercard Lounge Montreal
 

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.

National Bank World Mastercard Lounge Montreal
National Bank World Mastercard Lounge Montreal
 

Some of the food items on offer. (Sandwiches, vegetable, cheese)

National Bank World Mastercard Lounge Montreal food offering
National Bank World Mastercard Lounge Montreal food offering
 

Chicken Soup with Wild Rice

National Bank World Mastercard Lounge Montreal food offering
National Bank World Mastercard Lounge Montreal food offering
 
National Bank World Mastercard Lounge Montreal food offering
National Bank World Mastercard Lounge Montreal food offering
 

We have a beer and soup before our late flight.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 08  

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.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 10  

At 22:15 we headed towards our gate 60, there she is, in all her glory form!

The excitement has built up!!!

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 at Montreal
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 at Montreal
 

We have to take plenty of pictures!

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 13  

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!

Royal Air Maroc flight boarding at Montreal
Royal Air Maroc flight boarding at Montreal
  Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 15  

A momento photo before we board! (photo taken by RAM cabin crew who came out of the plane to take this for us!)

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 16    

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!

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class
 
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class
 

A nicely set bar table in the middle of the Business Class cabin.

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class bar
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class bar
 

Welcome by warm RAM staff with Champagne Monopole Rose Top

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Champagne
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Champagne
  Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 21  

Amenity kit handed out.

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Amenity Bag
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Amenity Bag
 

The Business Class cabin of RAM B747-400 with 16 seats in total.

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class cabin
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class cabin
 

Full electronic seat control.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 24   Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 25   Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 26  

Menu was handed out before takeoff.

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class menu
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class menu
 
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class menu
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class menu
 
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class menu
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class menu
 
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class menu
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class menu
   

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.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 31  

Our route map displayed at the air map channel.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 32  

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!

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 33  

I have 2 TV screens at my disposal.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 34  

Royal Air Maroc Entertainment system.

Despite its simple look, it worked really well and fast! All on demand! (It is not an iPad)

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 35   Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 36  

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.

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Canapes
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Canapes
 
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Canapes
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Canapes
 

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 B747-400 Business Class Meal starter
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Meal starter
 
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Meal starter
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Meal starter
 
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Meal starter
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Meal starter
 

Royal Air Maroc use real cutlery onboard.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 42   Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 43  

Flight attendant came with several rounds of drinks and wines during dinner. Here we were offered a selection of Moroccan red wine.

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Red Wine
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Red Wine
 

My main course: Pan Fried Halibut

It taste fresh and just the right portion.

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Main Course
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Main Course
 

Josef have the steak.

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Main Course
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Main Course
 

Cheese offering on Royal Air Maroc

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Cheese
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Cheese
 
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Cheese
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Cheese
 

The kind flight attendant took this photo of us enjoying our dinner together.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 49  

Fruit plate after cheese...

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Fruit
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Fruit
 

Followed by Pastry and Moroccan tea (in glass)

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class dessert
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class dessert
 

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!

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Bar
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class Bar
   

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.

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class seat
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class seat
 
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class seat
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Business Class seat
 
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 cabin
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 cabin
 

I walked to Economy Class to further explore the Queen of Royal Air Maroc.

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Economy Class
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Economy Class
  Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 58  

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....

Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Economy Class
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Economy Class
 
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Economy Class
Royal Air Maroc B747-400 Economy Class
   

I was served breakfast before landing. This was not even mentioned on the menu!

Royal Air Maroc Business Class Breakfast
Royal Air Maroc Business Class Breakfast

Beef cubes with Omelette.

Royal Air Maroc Business Class Breakfast
Royal Air Maroc Business Class Breakfast
 

Before our landing, we have to take a picture of the beautiful Royal Air Maroc crew who looked after us really well.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 61   Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 62    

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.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 66  

A farewell photo with the RAM Captain hat!

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 67   Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 63  

Last look at these very comfortable seats.

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 68  

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.

Royal Air Maroc Economy Class B747-400 upper deck
Royal Air Maroc Economy Class B747-400 upper deck
 

There are very few aerobridges at this airport and we have to deplane by stair, which I don't mind it at all 🙂

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 69

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!

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 71   Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 72   Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 73  

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)

Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 75   Royal Air Maroc 747 Business 74  

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

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As a frequent flier, I recommend book flights and compare prices on Skyscanner and JustFly for the best deals on the internet. We have put together many useful travel tips and airfare promotions in my Smart Travel section to guide you travel in more luxury with lower price!

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