Flying one of oneworld’s smaller operators from Heathrow
Royal Air Maroc fly almost daily from Heathrow to Casablanca. Despite being a relatively small airline, their business class is punching above its weight, at least in terms of the hard product.
Booking and run-up to the flight
As this was another Avios redemption, we booked the flight via BA.com. As a BA partner flight, it was priced in accordance with BA’s standard partner Avios redemption, but the additional charges were a fair bit higher than if we’d flown on BA metal. In total, it cost just over £500 for two with return business class.
As business passengers, we were given the option to choose our meal up to 24 hours in advance of the flight. This is increasingly the norm on long-haul, but I hadn’t experienced it with short-haul before. Despite trialling multiple browsers, both on desktop and mobile, and using both my e-ticket number and my booking code, the site consistently failed to function. So no pre-selected meal for us.
Checking in with Royal Air Maroc at LHR
We arrived two and a half hours before the flight at Heathrow’s Terminal 4. That terminal is somewhere I used to fly from a lot but haven’t visited in years. I still very clearly remember the iconic brown/orange plastic bar that used to house the screen above the check in desks. Anyone else?
There were six check-in desks open for Royal Air Maroc and no queue for economy or business check-in. There was also a (somewhat dirty) red carpet/mat for the business check-in.
The check-in staff were friendly and efficient, printing our boarding passes (after my failed experience with the pre-ordering of food, I didn’t attempt an online check-in) and generally getting us sorted.
As business-class passengers, we were given priority security screening. Unlike Terminal Five, or other airports/terminals where fast track can often just mean the same queue at one specific screening machine, we were through in a matter of minutes. Like the rest of Heathrow, Terminal Four has been installing new scanners and not having to remove liquids (and being able to keep my litre water bottle full) was a joy.
The Royal Air Maroc lounge
Royal Air Maroc does not operate its own lounge at Heathrow’s T4. Officially it uses the Plaza Premium lounge, and is the only oneworld airline to utilise that space. However, business class passengers are able to use the Qatar lounge in T4. This was an excellent lounge, and you can read more about it in my full review. There are no other oneworld airline lounges in that terminal, so there are no options for lounge hopping.
Boarding RAM
The flight was scheduled at 18:10. We got to the gate at 17:30, and boarding had not yet begun. Our flight boarded from gate two, which is right next to the Qatar lounge.
Business class passengers boarded first. There was no pre-boarding for families with young children or those needing extra time.
The Royal Air Maroc business class seat
By far the accepted benchmark for business class within Europe is a standard ‘economy’ seat with the middle seat blocked, sometimes with a tray, or occasionally just left completely empty. It’s nice; I love the extra room, another surface for drinks, and not having to share the armrest with another passenger. I’ve done this hundreds of times, and it’s definitely a step up from economy. What Royal Air Maroc offers is a step up from this.
RAM are responsible for one of the very few short-haul routes on a narrow-body plane (wide-body to Marrakech) within Europe that gives customers a true short-haul business class seat. I’m not going to lie, the ‘proper’ business class experience on a short-haul flight was a big part of our motivation to book this weekend in Casablanca.
When I say ‘proper business class’, I don’t mean lie-flat or closing doors; this is more akin to a long-haul premium economy seat. But this is still far superior to a standard seat. As well as the extra width, the wide armrest, the extra seat pitch (leg room) is so much better. This approach is standard for business (or “first”) within the US, but a real novelty for Europe.
Features of the Business Class seat
Our plane was fairly new to the RAM fleet, so we had the newer version of the short-haul business seat. This means a little cocktail table on the centre armrest, a tray table in the arm by the aisle or window and plenty of magazine storage both underneath the middle armrest and in the seat pocket in front of you. Power, in the form of an international socket, is found under the middle console towards the back.
The new business seat also features a pneumatic leg rest, with a fold-out footrest and a nice recline.
To help you nap, seats are also fitted with a three-way adjustable headrest. I’m a big fan of these as they can turn even a cramped economy seat into somewhere one can grab a few winks.
I’d like to give a special shout-out to the pop-out tray table. Whilst not only adjustable in the half fold or full fold/forward or back options, but there was also a fold-out device holder to watch iPads/phones without holding them. Every airline should have these as standard. They’re such an easy thing to install and make such a difference to the flight. Full marks, RAM.
Entertainment
You won’t find an IFE on RAM’s 737. The only thing they have are fold-down screens that are used for the safety videos. During the flight, these are also used for silent movies (think Charlie Chaplin etc.). I thought this was a really nice touch, although the novelty would probably wear off after several regular flights.
Since our plane was so new, it had WiFi on board. To celebrate this fact, business-class passengers were given a unique code for free messaging and surfing (not streaming) on WiFi. The connection speed was 18 Mbps, and surfing and messaging did work well, although it seems that any streaming was artificially throttled.
Sidebar: I’ve never been a big one for plane WiFi – I totally get the benefit of being connected and being able to work – but I’ve always loved flights being the last place where you can truly unplug. This is the first time I’ve ever seen something I really, truly hope doesn’t become the norm – someone taking a WhatsApp voice call on a flight.
Royal Air Maroc Food & Drink
Just after boarding completed, we were offered a welcome drink. Whilst there were no options with bubbles (sorry Champagne fans), there were a few different juices as well as water. Whilst welcome drinks are the norm in premium cabins on long-haul and short-haul in the US and Asia, this is a real novelty for a European flight. I wish more airlines would do this.
Shortly after take-off, the meal tray was brought around. This was on an at-seat basis as opposed to a trolley. Our starter was beef and feta salad, which was a little chewy, and the leaves were a tad brown.
Main courses included a chicken or beef option (the advertised tofu curry wasn’t available). Both options were fine but somewhat lacking. That being said, on our return flight, the food was really very good.
Following the main course, a cheese trolley was brought around, which I enjoyed with a glass of red alongside.
Oddly, alcohol was available throughout, but there was no drinks list, and options were only presented on request. Champagne was Laurent-Perrier, and the red was a very drinkable Bordeaux. I don’t know what the other options were as it was a bit of a ‘pot luck’ affair.
Following the cheese course, traditional Moroccan tea was offered with the full teapot, silver tray and iconic pour. It was a great close to the meal.
In general, service was friendly but far from attentive. My glass was regularly empty, and refills seemed to be on a request-only basis.
Disembarkation
Annoyingly, we landed at a bus gate / remote stand, the most frustrating way to arrive at a gate. However, RAM business passengers get their own dedicated bus, which means you don’t have to wait for a big bus to be filled before you head to the terminal.
Not only that, but on arrival in Casablanca, business passengers also get priority immigration. Which means less of a queue to actually get into the country.
Final thoughts on Royal Air Maroc
I loved the big seats and enjoyed the silent movies. The champagne and wine selection was, despite the odd lack of drinks menu, fairly good. The food was a little disappointing, but the cheeses were appreciated.
The business cabin only had 12 seats, of which only six were occupied, so I really can’t get my head around the slow service.
Would I fly RAM again based on this experience? Absolutely yes, but only in business and only flying to Morocco (as opposed to connecting long-haul) and only on the odd occasion. Whilst I, quite rightly, moan about BA’s Club Europe, if you are flying from London on a short-haul flight, you can do a lot worse than their food offering and usually attentive service.
Rating Royal Air Maroc from Heathrow
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