Review of Royal Air Maroc flight from Casablanca to Manchester in Economy

Alas as quick as I had arrived in Morocco,it was time to head back ! You may wonder why there is no Marrakesh to Casablanca review ? This is due to me having got the train ?

Airport & Check-in

As soon as you enter Mohamed V Airport , you have to clear Istanbul Ataturk style security immediately,show your ticket and get a pat down.

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I had seen a Saudia 787 parked closeby when I arrived this morning - this must be their office at Casablanca Mohamed V Airport ?

Flight Information Screens

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Then you have to take a lift up to Terminal 2 Departures

Self checkin is not available for Manchester – so I checked in at a counter.

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I had assigned 16A and 16ABC was free last night,but now the whole row was all booked !
I changed to 30A ahead of checking in at a check in desk. 30B and 30C were free and this was also confirmed at the gate.
All checked in - beautiful floor design !

Baggage Wrapping

Airside

Another security checkpoint and the Immigration officer asked where I am headed and if I have Moroccan Dirhams ( you can't take more than MAD1000.00 / GBP80.00 ) out of the country. I advised I didn't and he opened my hand luggage and went straight for my tablet cover. After a quick search he then asked if I have dollars ? I again advised I am flying to the UK.
I then queued a little for Immigration - blue uniformed ladies were directing passengers to desks.
I arrived at the desk and the officer asked where my card was ? What card is that then? He advised me to fill out a disembarkation form and to come back. I advised the queue was very long now. He advised I won't need to queue. I filled out the card at a free desk.
When I went back a few minutes later, he asked where my Parents are from ( Pakistan in case anyone is wondering ! )
The friendly helpful staff in the Moroccan Souveniers shop at least didn't stick to me like in Seoul Incheon. I spent a total of EUR118.00 on gifts !
You can pay in Euros and pickup up most gifts from magnets to clothing to Tagine pots to Babouche ( Moroccan shoes ).

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Seating areas

Now time for some spotting !
The aircraft nearest to the front is my ride to Manchester,CN-RGI.
My aircraft to Manchester is a 737-800 which came in from Kinshasa in the Congo just over an hour ago.

The aircraft on the right hand side is CN-ROB,which had come in from Agadir and would be flying to Frankfurt.
This is the same 737-800 which in 2014, was performing flight AT971 from Madrid to Casablanca with 125 passengers. The aircraft was enroute at FL370 about 100m north of Tangier and almost over Seville when the First Officer reported feeling ill and became incapacitated prompting the Captain to divert to Tangier for a safe landing about 25 minutes later. Here is hoping for safe flights for everyone on every airline around the world at all times.

I had been promised Free Lounge Access by someone high up in RAM who then vanished into thin air - maybe moved to Turkish Airlines who also promise the world and then vanish.

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What to do with your spare Dirhams !

WiFi Excellence - you can put in any email address. If you put your actual email address in you will be spammed like crazy !

AT 818 Fast Facts

Casablanca - Manchester
737-800
CN-RGI
Previous flights Moscow,Paris,Cairo,Bologna,Lagos,Milan,Kinshasa
Next flight Casablanca-Manchester-Casablanca
then Dakhla,Marrakesh,Paris Orly
The same lady from AT405 was boarding this flight ; I recognised the lovely smile and she recognised me too !
Tunisair A320 (TS-IMR) was parked next door ! I had to chuckle as the registration is almost my name !

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Boarding

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The RAM Brussels flight was boarding next door to us. The aircraft, a 737-800 CN-ROS had come in from Nouakchott in Mauritania and after flying to Brussels today would come back and fly to Lagos then London Heathrow.

We had initially waited in the all glass airbridge - in the airbridge next to us I could see the Brussels passengers waiting to board their flight AT832. As I waited I asked the ground hostess if I can move forward to photograph the Tunisair A320 as my name formed part of the registration. She smiled and said yes and another passenger was invited to look at the aircraft !
I was amongst the first to board after a wheelchair passenger - the same lady travelled with me from Manchester to Casablanca a few days earlier. I would recognise more passengers from my AT819 flight a few days earlier !
The customary walk through Business Class

I said Salaam Alaikum to the Cabin Chief - she replied with a traditional Islamic response and I was very happy as only someone with strong faith would give the response given. Next to her was an expressionless Airhostess who clearly didn't want to be flying on this day.
I then said Salaam Alaikum to a Steward who was in the mid section of the cabin and managed to get you these shots. I love it when I get the chance for rear facing cabin shots without worrying that someone will end up being photographed.

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My seat base was stained with a large food stain – I gave it a wipedown with a wetwipe I had on me so this photo is shown after the cleanse. I have left the cream cheese wrapper here as it was when I arrived at my seat. I don't know which is worse. Someone going out of their way to put the wrapper in such a tight space or a cleaner not removing it ?

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I went to a Steward to get tissue to dry my seat and also ask for a few new sickbags which would come in handy as gift bags plus they had the RAM logo !
A lady on 28A could be heard complaininhg to a Steward that her seat was wet. My dream of having the whole row to myself was dashed as in 30B a lovely lady sat down. But only until doors closed. She then moved to sit with a lady friend she had made a few rows further forward ! There was no boarding music.
Tunisair A320 TS-IMR - a beter view of the aircraft which almost has my name ! Plus CN-ROB has now been brought to it's airbridge to start boarding for Frankfurt,

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The Flight

The aircraft was fully boarded by 1220pm and doors closed at 1225pm. Some passengers from Tuesday's AT819 were sat around me – a guy with his elderly Parents, a Jamaican gentleman and an Arab lady from Huddersfield !

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Not sure why there are channel / audio controls when there is no IFE !

At 1235pm there was a manual safety - moments before it began Mr 30D asked for a pen to open his sim card. I was looking for a paperclip too when a gentleman on 31 D got up during the safety demonstration to get a paperclip. I mean come on. Really ? During a safety demonstration ? And also when the issue has been resolved ?!
After the safety demonstration,an announcement was made, that due to "English health and safety rules" – we will be spraying the cabin with insecticide which won’t affect your health The smell was most bizarre !
The Cabin Chief came to my seat and welcomed me aboard and gave me a Time magazine and salted almonds in a packet. I had earlier passed her a letter advising I am returning home after my first RAM / Morocco trip ! I felt special.
At 1245pm, there was an announcment to say sorry for the delay and that we would leave in 15 mins ( due to heavy traffic )
As were still stationary, instead of sitting waiting I went to use the washroom which was especially opened up for me.
I could see the two Stewards sorting meal trolleys – I asked today's choice and was told Beef or Fish.
The Washroom View…believe me you didn't want to see the aged toilet.

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We pushed back at 1255pm and kids packswere being distributed at the same time.
Egyptair 737-800 boarding for Cairo

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After some taxying,we finally taxied onto the runway and at 1305pm my homeward journey began !

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I made a video of take off - I had chosen a seat on the left side of the aircraft as I had wanted to see Hassan II Mosque. When I saw that we had started going into thick cloud I stopped filming.
Moments later I got beautiful views of the Mosque anyway !

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Spain coming into view .

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And the flightradar24.com view

Inflight Entertainment

I prepared these photos during taxying for take off - unbelievable that there was no Airshow. Sadly SKYRAM didn't work either :(

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Email received from RAM 3 weeks after my flight
We invite you to discover our new SKY-RAM entertainment programme available on-board of our Boeing 737 !
Completely free, you can now watch a movie, listen to music ou read magazines on-board straight from your personal devices (mobile phone, tablet, laptop…) !
To make the most of this, bring your headphones and don’t forget to dowload the SKY-RAM Player before your flight.
Experience the most entertaining journey with SKY-RAM!
Along with this great discovery, we are offering you 40% discount on your award ticket for the following 10 destinations:
Amsterdam, Brussels, Dakar, Geneva, Madrid,Marseille, Porto, Praia, Rome, Venice

Inflight Service

The Cabin Chief then announced we would be served lunch with some drinks and then there would be a duty free service.
A further announcement thanked us for choosing RAM – and that suggestions can be made at the website royalairmaroc.com

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And as always I asked for more ! The evidence speaks for itself !

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Self presented Teatime - Cream Roulade with lime jam and coffee !

20 minutes after take off,the engine sound calmed down. I really think the inner winglets should have the Moroccan flag or the RAM wings logo.

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The Cabin Chief brought me a Business Class menu as a memento upon my request.
I told a passing Steward ithat I don’t eat beef and prefer fish – once meal service began I was first to be served !
I asked the Steward in my section what the Lentils starter was called and he told me "Ahadus".
The Airhostess who had boarded the flight with the Cabin Chief rarely smiled through the flight and didn't even speak when offering meals after advising the options. This really spoiled the hard work by the Stewards but luckily they were so nice I have to score a 10.
I had to Lol when I was offered champagne and cheese later in the flight - As I am Muslim I don't drink alcohol and didn't have room for cheese !
From the transparent Skyshop trolley, I bought a RAM branded stylus / 8GB USB. The memory stick box could have had the RAM logo to make it stand out more.

I had a nice photo with the crew just before descent started around 1535pm. They gave me thanks for thecompliments and said Marhaba - in the contect we were happy to have you aboard and look forward to seeing you again.

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Tatton Park / Tatton Hall

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We landed on Runway 2 at 1550pm.

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Monarch Cook Airlines ? Sad to see this as I used to handle Monarch Airlines at Manchester Airport.

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As I began clearing my seatpockets, I was appalled to see this - it seems an entire pack of Bourbon cream biscuits had been crushed into the seatpocket. The individual or individuals who have sat at 30A before me really have no manners or concept of hygiene. The cleaning staff are no better allowing a passenger to sit in such filth. Disgusting.

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Upon leaving the aircraft I bade farewell to the Cabin Chief and she hoped to see me again.
View on exiting the airbridge - the Rovers Return Pub - from Manchester and the world's oldest soap opera Coronation Street !

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After almost 30 minutes of waiting my case arrived…..the Turquoise coloured one by Tripp ! Would you believe someone else had exactly the same one ?! Every trip throws up a new experience !

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Brief highlights from my Casablanca visit

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Thank you so much for reading and I hope to fly Royal Air Maroc again !! Please do like and comment.
Almost 3 weeks after my flights, I received my Safar Flyer Welcome Pack !