The livery is great and the service 5 stars: how to fly on Royal Jordanian's 787
There are companies, which also fly to Italy, that are very little known to the average Italian traveler, and Royal Jordanian is one [...]
Oneworld
CAI
Thailand
There are companies, which also fly to Italy, that are very little known to the average Italian traveler, and Royal Jordanian is one of them, but one should never think "I've never heard of this company, then it's not ...." everyone finish the sentence as they please.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- B787
- Class:
- Business
- Treat:
- AMM - BKK
- Price:
- 450€
- Book
The best bonuses
This is the flag carrier of Jordan, like all companies in the Middle East region does not have a thriving domestic network, actually still has more domestic routes than Qatar, Singapore or Oman just to name a few, operates a link between Amman (the capital) and Aqaba the city on the Red Sea and tourist destination as well as the closest airport to Petra, the UNESCO heritage city.
Reservation
As always, my main rule When I travel to review is to wait for a good opportunity and this ticket fits this case perfectly. In total round trip I spent 1037€ to fly business class from Cairo to Amman on an old A320 and then from the capital of Jordan to the capital of Thailand on a 787/8.
From Bangkok aboard a Malaysian 737 I finally reached my final destination Kuala Lumpur.
In addition to spending little more than an economy ticket I put in my pocket with this itinerary as many as 440 qualifying points to renew, until October 2025, my Gold Executive Club membership of British Airways, or Emerald status in the OneWorld alliance the one that opens the doors to First Class lounges around the world
At the airport
My trip started in Egypt, I had never been to this airport, and actually I had never been to Egypt, not even to the Red Sea, and I have to say I didn't miss it and much less I think I will go back soon except for business reasons.
RJ flies from Terminal 2, the one that looks nice and modern on the outside, but then inside you immediately remember where you are. People who ask you for money just because they pointed out, without request, where the bathroom is, or because they willingly lifted their suitcase to put it on the belt.
After passing through the checkpoints, I headed into the Aphelia lounge, which is located just after the check-point on the left, before crossing the Duty Free.
The lounge is definitely the best thing about this terminal, actually there are several lounges including the Emirates lounge and the Saudia lounge, plus of course a couple of lounges for passengers flying Star Alliance being Egypt Air a member of this alliance.
In Amman
Of the approach flight there is nothing to tell, the classic A320, configured with 3 seats on each side and, traveling in biz, middle seat free. The flight route is not the shortest since RJ does not fly over Israel, but points south first, then up from the Red Sea and enters just above Aqaba to cross the entire country to Queen Alia Airport.
The first thing I did was to get to the Crown Lounge, RJ's home. The lounge occupies the entire elevated floor of the terminal.
Large, beautiful and very well maintained in detail. Here I ate a couple of slices of pizza and then took a refreshing shower, service charge about 15€ for all guests.
The lounge's only flaw is the absence of multiple power outlets, so I moved to the nearby Plaza Premium, which occupies the remaining slice of the second floor to charge all my electronic gadgets.
PS both lounges are within the Priority Pass network.
On board
Punctual, as always, I went to the gate well in advance. Taking photos and videos of the plane, looking around to see if I can find something different and something to talk about is my mission.
Fate has brought me as a gift the chance to fly on a special 787, the one that probably has one of the most beautiful special liveries in the world, namely the one dedicated to Petra and the red roses of the desert.
Introduced in late 2021 as a promotional vehicle, it is one of the most sought after by spotters around the world, not least because it's not like RJ flies Turkish Airlines model everywhere.
You board from door 2, and this is perfect so that those traveling in business turn left and the rest of the passengers turn right, it seems like a minor thing, but Is best when only one port is used, this way you don't feel like fish in the aquarium.
The RJ fleet configuration is all 2-2-2, certainly not the best, but not the worst either. The choice not to have a bulkhead enclosing the cabin, and thus to sacrifice a galley, proves successful because the environment remains very airy, thanks in part to the absence of the hat rack above the middle row of seats.
I got the best seat on board, seat 1A, and if you add the absence of a companion the result was perfect. The seat is a very popular model, some carriers even use it as business class on narrow-body aircraft. For example, it is the one that uses The Compagnie on its A321neo all business class.
Sitting in the front row also gives you more space than sitting in the back seats. The space is not a lot, and those extra inches make sitting definitely more comfortable.
The flaw in these configurations is the total absence of privacy Both toward the seat neighbor and the rest of the passengers.
The other defect is the Poor storage space for personal items, but years and years of training have turned me into a ninja and I can organize myself almost perfectly, whereas for a normal passenger who doesn't fly with a Mobile office behind it shouldn't be a major problem.
The seat is controlled by the classic hand control, which Is positioned within easy reach, but not elbow deep so you don't accidentally crush it while eating or watching a movie.
The coffee table comes out of the frame and rests on the opposite armrest giving stability and support that allow you to work uncomfortably at a computer or cut meat without destroying anything. And there are the air vents.
The chair becomes, of course, a bed, and the space is just right, especially the legs are not sacrificed in a cavity, which makes it very comfortable to turn around in the bed without bumping left and right.
Service
No glass or hot towel at boarding, just classic Arabic coffee, I must say the worst I have ever had. (Editor's note: It's called Arabic coffee, but there's no caffeine and no coffee either).
A few minutes later, the assistant brought me the mattress pad to put on the seat and make the bed mode more comfortable, and I must say it gave me sweet dreams.
Not many companies still give this option, and it is a shame both in terms of convenience and also hygiene. Putting a layer of only with the chair is definitely a good and right thing.
The sleeping kit is completed by a nice blanket and a comfortable pillow.
Also distributed before takeoff are the Two stickers "wake me up to eat" and "let me sleep" had been years since I found them, since nowadays the "do not disturb" button is used, but it is true that in this case the crew may not know whether the passenger likes to eat or not.
Cute idea to go through the aisle handing out the beauty by letting the passenger choose which color handbag they want. It is only the exterior finish that changes; the content is the same for all.
Overall, I was more than satisfied with the service I received, I also chatted with a flight attendant who asked me about all my gadgets and about TFC. Among other things, she also intrigued me about trying RJ to fly to New York and trying the trolley service which she described as a wedding banquet.
Food & Beverage
As soon as I was seated, I was brought the dinner menu and offered "very good" Arabic coffee. Unfortunately, there is no option to ask for dine on demand, but in hindsight. I would have preferred to know that breakfast would be served in addition to dinner.
I say this because in the first menu there is no mention of the second service, which in fact is presented with another menu about 90 minutes after landing.
Wine list that speaks Italian, but instead of Prosecco I was brought simple Laurent Perrier Champagne, really bad behavior to offer a claim an inferior product and then surprise the passenger with a better one.
At two o'clock in the morning I just wanted to sleep, but I had to sacrifice myself on the altar of the review, I could not have left readers without knowing if how the lobster linguine served aboard an RJ flight was.
Let's say it was better not to know, just as it was better not to wonder what a "potato carpaccio" might look like on the palate. Let's say that only the chocolate treat was saved from the dinner.
Breakfast with two choices of hot dish (cheese omelet ) or cold dish (mixed sliced meats) I opted for eggs served with sausage and mushrooms. Passable.
In the small bar in the back of the cabin no snacks are left for passengers who are caught in a high altitude hunger crisis.
IFE
Very good quality screen and adequate size.
What is disappointing is the interface, it looks like it was made by a child with paint on windows 95, for those who know what Win95 was.
Also in terms of content we are not close to what the more emblazoned airlines offer, but not even comparable to what Oman Air offers which is similar in size to RJ.
The quality of my favorite channel on board was also mediocre. No special interactions or views, a standard map.
The big flaw, however, is the lack of on-board wifi, something that is inexplicable.
In conclusion
Absolutely promoted, RJ is a real treat, especially at this price I would take it back 10 more times. Smiling staff, attentive service and extra mattress to sleep as happy as in your bed at home.
Have you ever flown Royla Jordanian? Leave me your opinion in the comments.
Pro
- Service
- Armchair
Against
- Cabin configuration
- No Dine on Demand
- No wifi