Is Royal Air Maroc one of the most underrated business class airlines in the world?
Part 1:
In Part 1 of this journey, I explore why Morocco’s flag carrier deserves more attention, from its strategic Casablanca hub and surprisingly competitive fares to a warm onboard experience, complimentary stopover hotel, and exceptional Moroccan hospitality.
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Route : FCO – CMN – LAX
As someone based in Los Angeles, I generally see two ways of getting to Europe. The first option is the nonstop route.
Whether that’s on American, Delta, Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, or another major carrier, the biggest advantage is obvious: you get on the plane and several hours later you’re in Europe. The downside is usually the price. Nonstop flights almost always command a premium, especially in business class. You’re paying for convenience, and airlines know it.
The second option is what I call the strategic connector airlines. These are airlines that may require an extra stop, but often reward you with lower fares and, in some cases, a better overall premium experience. For travelers like me, that’s an attractive proposition. I don’t mind making one connection if it means saving a meaningful amount of money. Once you’re in a lie-flat seat, another short flight doesn’t really bother me.
Now, for many premium travelers, the obvious choices in this category are the Gulf carriers. Airlines like Emirates and Qatar Airways have built world-class reputations for their onboard products, lounges, and service.
The challenge is geography. From Los Angeles, you’re looking at roughly a 15 to 16-hour flight just to reach Dubai or Doha. Then, if your final destination is somewhere in Europe, you’re typically looking at another 6 to 7 hours of flying after that. There’s no question the experience can be exceptional, but you’re also making a significant detour east before eventually heading back toward Europe.
This is where I think Royal Air Maroc has an opportunity. Casablanca sits on the northwestern corner of Africa, just a short distance from Europe. Royal Air Maroc’s new Los Angeles route reaches Casablanca in roughly 11 hours, and from there, many European cities are only another one to three hours away. In other words, Royal Air Maroc has the potential to occupy an interesting middle ground.
You may not get the ultra-luxury reputation of the Gulf carriers, but if the business class product is good, the airline could offer a compelling balance of comfort, convenience, and value. You avoid paying the premium for a nonstop flight while also avoiding the long detour through the Gulf. The more I looked at the map, the more the concept started to make sense. If the fares were competitive, and the onboard product was good enough, Royal Air Maroc could represent one of the most overlooked ways to cross the Atlantic from the West Coast.
That was the theory. Now it was time to see if the actual experience lived up to it.
I booked a Roundtrip from FCO to LAX with a connection in Casablanca on Royal Air Maroc. The flight was scheduled to depart at 5:40 PM, and since Royal Air Maroc’s check-in counters were only slated to open three hours before departure, I arrived right around that time. When I reached the check-in area, there were two counters open: one for Business Class and one for Economy. What immediately caught my attention was that the lines looked almost identical in length. There were just as many people standing in the Business Class queue as there were in Economy.
Naturally, I joined the Business Class line and took my place at the very back.
About ten minutes later, a Moroccan gentleman traveling with his family walked up to the front of the Business Class queue. At first, I thought he was simply cutting the line. Instead he started asking passengers one by one whether they were traveling in Business Class.
“Business?”
“No.”
“Business?”
“No.”
It was clear this wasn’t his first time seeing this happen. He appeared quite confident that many of the people standing there weren’t actually supposed to be in that queue. Within a matter of seconds, the line that had looked intimidating suddenly shrank, and I found myself third in line. May be Royal Air Maroc should have signs in Arabic and French as well.
It was one of those unexpected airport moments that gave me a good laugh.
When it was finally my turn, the agent at the counter was genuinely pleasant. I noticed he greeted passengers warmly, asked where they were traveling, and even made small talk about Morocco and the journey ahead.
That may sound like a small detail, but frequent travelers know that check-in counters are often transactional experiences. Agents are snobby and passengers are stressed. I always love a personal touch in transactional services.
And as simple as that sounds, it set a positive tone for the rest of the journey.
Royal Air Maroc uses the Plaza Premium Lounge at Rome Fiumicino, and honestly, it’s a perfectly adequate lounge. Nothing particularly impressive, but nothing worth complaining about either. Just a comfortable space with a few hot food options, plenty of seating, and everything you need before a flight. I found a quiet spot near the windows, poured myself a glass of Italian wine, and spent the next hour watching the steady stream of Schengen traffic departing Runway 25. When boarding time finally arrived, I headed to the gate and immediately noticed something familiar. The Business Class line was packed. I am sure you can guess why đ
The same Moroccan man from earlier did his magic again.
Stepping onboard, I was warmly welcomed by both the purser and a flight attendant standing beside him before being directed to my seat, 1A. The flight from Rome to Casablanca is relatively short at just over two hours. In fact, that’s one of the advantages of Royal Air Maroc’s network. Many of its European destinations are only one to three hours from Casablanca, making the hub surprisingly convenient for connections across the continent.
After settling into my seat, welcome drinks were offered within minutes. The flight attendant arrived with a tray carrying water, orange juice, and Royal Air Maroc’s signature Mint Lemon drink. I chose the Mint Lemon.
And it was excellent. If you’ve flown Qatar Airways before, you’ll know exactly the type of drink I’m talking about. Refreshing, slightly sweet, and incredibly easy to drink. At this point, I think airlines need to start getting creative with the names because they’re all essentially serving variations of the same lemon-mint masterpiece.
A few moments later, menus were distributed. RAM served Laurent-Perrier Champagne, 2 choices of red wine, a white wine and some liquor options along with multiple hot meal choices. When the flight attendant returned to take my order, I said, “For drinks, I’ll have the champagne, and for my main course, the beef tagine.” Apparently, I should have been more specific. About two minutes later, she appeared with a freshly opened bottle of Laurent-Perrier and immediately began pouring me a glass. “Oh, I meant after takeoff,” I quickly explained. But by then the champagne was already in the glass. And there was absolutely no way I was going to let perfectly good Laurent-Perrier go to waste.
When I ordered the beef tagine, the gentleman seated next to me smiled and said, “Good choice.” He then explained something I genuinely didn’t know. Tagine isn’t actually a spice or a specific recipe. It’s the traditional clay vessel in which the dish is cooked. Over time, the name of the pot became the name of the meal itself. He was incredibly eager to talk about Morocco, offering recommendations for future visits. It was my first real interaction with a Moroccan local, and it left a strong impression. The people I met seemed genuinely proud of their country, excited to share their culture, and eager to welcome visitors. About fifteen minutes after takeoff, the meal service began.
Drinks were served first, followed immediately by the food. The beef tagine was excellentâflavorful, comforting, and exactly the kind of dish I was hoping to try on Morocco’s national airline. What impressed me even more was the service.
The flight attendant never missed a chance to top up my champagne. Notice that I’m intentionally saying she “topped up” my glass rather than “refilled” it. A refill happens when your glass is empty. A top-up happens when your glass never gets the chance to become empty. Eventually, I had to politely decline any further champagne because I still had an evening ahead of me in Casablanca and wasn’t particularly interested in arriving intoxicated.
Before I knew it, our short flight across the Mediterranean was coming to an end. Good food, attentive service, friendly crew, and a smooth ride to Casablanca. Upon arrival, I was among the first passengers off the aircraft. The occupants of seats 1A and 1B exited ahead of me, making me the third person through the aircraft door. As soon as the door opened, I noticed a group of at least 7 people in suits waiting on the jet bridge. They immediately greeted the passengers from 1A and 1B, welcoming them, shaking hands and escorting them away. It quickly became apparent that these weren’t ordinary travelers. Apparently they were some important Vatican officials arriving in Morocco for an official visit. One member of the welcoming party shook my hand as well, apparently assuming I was part of the delegation. A haha moment.
One of the things I appreciated about Royal Air Maroc was its complimentary stopover program in Casablanca.
If you’re flying Business Class and your layover exceeds eight hours, or Economy Class with a layover of more than twelve hours, Royal Air Maroc will provide you with a complimentary hotel. The only catch is that you must be eligible to enter Morocco without requiring a visa. Knowing I qualified, I exited the arrivals hall and walked over to the Royal Air Maroc transit desk inside the airport. The process couldn’t have been easier. An agent looked at my boarding pass, typed a few things into the computer, and within two minutes handed me a printed voucher with my hotel assignment and shuttle instructions. That was it. I was simply told to head outside and catch the complimentary shuttle. A few minutes later, I was on my way. The hotel was only about a seven-minute drive from the airport. Royal Air Maroc accommodates Economy passengers at the Relax Hotel, while Business Class passengers are assigned to the Sky Atlas Hotel. Check-in was just as efficient as everything else had been. The receptionist quickly handed over my room key, along with a dinner voucher, and let me know that the shuttle back to the airport would depart at 12:30 a.m.
Dinner was simple but satisfying. A grilled chicken entrĂŠe served with rice, a fresh salad with dressing, and dessert. Nothing extravagant, but after a day of traveling, it was exactly what I needed. What impressed me most was how seamlessly everything worked.
On the shuttle to the hotel, I met a couple from Brazil who had nearly a 20-hour layover. Rather than spending the day stuck inside the airport, they planned to head into Casablanca the following morning to explore the city before returning for their onward flight. It’s a clever strategy. Royal Air Maroc is turning what would normally be an inconvenient layover into an opportunity for travelers to experience Morocco, even if it’s only for a few hours. It’s a win for passengers, who receive a free hotel, a meal, and the chance to explore a new country. And it’s a win for Morocco, which gets to showcase its culture to thousands of transit passengers who may one day return for a longer visit.
I honestly think this is one of the smartest perks Royal Air Maroc offers, and one I’d love to see more airlines adopt.
Bravo, Royal Air Maroc. Keep it up. I will also say that every local person that I interacted with (shuttle driver, receptionist, immigration personnel, security officers) were all super friendly.
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Part 2:
In Part 2, I’ll take you inside Royal Air Maroc’s unique lounge in Casablanca before boarding their flagship Boeing 787-9 for the long journey to Los Angeles. After everything you’ve read so far, you might be surprised by what happened onboard.
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At around 11:30 p.m., I walked out of the hotel and found the airport shuttle already waiting outside. I opened the rear door and was about to hop in when the driver stopped me. “No, sir… come to the front. You are Business Class.”
Apparently, riding in the front passenger seat is considered the place of honor in that part of the world. It was a small gesture, but one that made me smile. A few minutes later, we arrived back at Casablanca Airport. The shuttle dropped us off at the same spot outside the arrivals hall where it had picked us up earlier.
Finding the departures level wasn’t quite as straightforward. The airport signage could certainly be improved, and I spent a few minutes walking around before eventually making my way upstairs. Royal Air Maroc has dedicated check-in counters for Business Class passengers, but since my boarding pass had already been issued back in Rome, I was able to head straight toward security. Business Class passengers also have access to a dedicated fast-track lane, which made the formalities quick and painless. One thing that stood out to me throughout the airport was the friendliness of the staff. From the security officers to the immigration personnel, everyone I interacted with was polite, welcoming, and friendly.
My flight to Los Angeles was departing from Terminal 1, and Business Class passengers were directed to the VIP Zenith Lounge, which serves Royal Air Maroc’s international departures. The lounge is also used by several other oneworld airlines, so you’ll likely find a mix of passengers traveling around the world. The lounge itself is spread across two levels.
When I arrived just after midnight, the lower level was quite busy. I asked where the bar was, and one of the lounge attendants pointed me upstairs. The upper level was noticeably quieter and provided a much more relaxing atmosphere before the long overnight flight. I asked the bartender if he had any Moroccan wine. âOf course,” before telling me he’d bring it over to my seat. Now, I’m certainly not a wine connoisseur, so I won’t pretend to critique its tasting notes or compare vintages. What I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The food was located downstairs, and the setup was something Iâd describe as âHybrid-buffetâ. All of the dishes are displayed buffet-style, allowing you to browse the selection yourself, but instead of serving your own food, a lounge attendant plates everything for you upon request. There was a respectable selection of sandwiches, salads, and a couple of hot dishes. Since I’d already had dinner at the hotel, and was planning to review the onboard catering in detail, I decided to keep things light with a small sandwich and save my appetite for the flight.
One thing I loved about the lounge was how attentive the lounge staff were. There always seemed to be someone walking around, checking in with guests and asking if anyone needed anything. At one point, a staff member struck up a conversation and asked if I enjoyed watching football. When I said yes, he said âcome with meâ and led me downstairs and through a set of doors to an outdoor terrace. It was one of the coolest lounge features I’ve ever come across.
The space was beautifully designed with comfortable patio-style seating, four large 65-inch televisions in different sections showing live football, and a small beer station. It felt less like an airport lounge and more like the outdoor patio of a sports bar. It was around 2:00 a.m., and the terrace was almost completely empty. In fact, aside from a handful of passengers who were also traveling on my Los Angeles flight, I practically had the entire place to myself. I grabbed a Moroccan beer, settled into one of the lounge chairs, and spent the next little while watching football under the night sky.
My flight to Los Angeles was scheduled to depart at 4:00 a.m., with boarding set for 3:15 a.m. Around 2:45 a.m., I reluctantly said goodbye to the lounge and began the ten-minute walk to Gate A10. Scattered throughout the terminal were these thoughtfully designed lounge-style airport seats that allowed passengers to stretch out and actually lie down. For anyone facing a long layover, they looked far more comfortable than the typical airport seating we’re all used to. How nice it would be if more airports, especially in the US, offered something similar.
When I finally reached the gate, I noticed something else that surprised me. There were no gate lice. Everyone was simply sitting patiently, waiting for boarding to begin. Part of me was tempted to stand near the boarding lane so I could be among the first onboard and capture some clean cabin shots before everyone got in, but since nobody else seemed to be in a rush, I decided to sit down. I looked around and noticed, there couldn’t have been much more than a hundred passengers waiting to board the plane. Considering a Boeing 787-9 can accommodate nearly 300 passengers, the flight appeared to be quite lightly loaded. My guesses – The Los Angeles route had only been operating for 3 weeks, so many travelers may not even know it exists yet. Long-haul routes also tend to take time to build demand, especially when they’re brand new.
At around 3:20 a.m., a couple of gate agents quietly walked up to the gate. What happened next was fascinating.
Without a single boarding announcement, passengers started getting out of their seats and making their way toward the gate. It was almost as if everyone had some sort of telepathic connection. Nobody was called. Yet somehow, everyone just knew boarding was about to begin. The gate had signs for the various boarding zonesâB, C, D, and so onâbut I couldn’t find anything clearly marked for Business Class near the gate. Before I could even figure out where I was supposed to stand, a sizeable line had already formed.
Still…
No announcements.
I’m not exaggerating when I say there were absolutely no boarding announcements whatsoever. Then, without warning, the gate agents simply started scanning boarding passes. Passengers from both sides of the gate (the Business Class side and the Economy side) began boarding at the same time.
“Wait… what?”
By the time I reached the jet bridge, there were probably thirty passengers ahead of me. Everyone simply funneled onto the aircraft together. There was no dedicated Business Class boarding bridge or any obvious priority boarding process.
The best way I can describe the entire experience is this:
It was chaotic… but somehow organized.
Is this what they call âControlled chaosâ ?
When you pay for a Business Class ticket, priority boarding is one of the benefits you expect. Donât counter with, “We’re all getting on the same plane anyway. What’s the rush?” Priority boarding is part of the premium experience you’ve paid for, and it’s reasonable to expect those benefits to be delivered. Period.
The purser and several flight attendants were waiting at the aircraft door, warmly welcoming passengers as they boarded. My seat was 3K, and I was greeted with a smile and personally directed to my seat. My first impression? The cabin felt bright, spotless, and inviting. Royal Air Maroc’s branding was tastefully integrated throughout the cabin, from the seat design to the headrest covers, giving it the distinct identity it deserved.
Before I had even settled into my seat, another flight attendant came over to welcome me. It was a refreshing contrast to the American Airlines Business Class flight I had taken just a few days earlier, where I didn’t see a flight attendant at my seat until about 20 minutes after boarding, and my first interaction was simply a snarky, “What do you want?”
Within a few minutes, I was offered a pre-departure welcome drink. I chose the Lemon Mint… sorry, Mint Lemon, and it was absolutely delicious.
Shortly afterward, another flight attendant stopped by to welcome me once again and handed me the Business Class menu.
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If anyone from Royal Air Maroc happens to read this, I’d like to offer one suggestion regarding the meal service.
On this flight, the first meal served after departure was breakfast, while the pre-arrival meal was a full three-course hot meal. Personally, I think reversing the order would create a much better experience. This flight departs Casablanca at 4:00 AM, while it’s still dark, and arrives in Los Angeles at 8:20 AM, also in the morning. By departure, most passengers have either been awake all night or have had very little sleep in order to make such an early flight. Once airborne, the cabin lights are dimmed, the Boeing 787’s electronic window shades are darkened, and the expectation is that passengers will get some rest. In that environment, serving breakfast and coffee before asking everyone to sleep feels a little counterintuitive.
Instead, I think it would make more sense to serve the substantial three-course hot meal shortly after takeoff. Passengers who want to eat can do so, then settle in for several hours of sleep. Before landing in Los Angeles at 8:20 AM, offer passengers breakfast and coffee. It feels much more natural to start the day that way, and passengers would arrive feeling refreshed and ready to continue with their morning. There might also be an operational advantage here. A three-course meal requires significantly more time and attention from the cabin crew, whereas breakfast is typically a single-tray service. Serving the more elaborate meal after takeoff gives the crew plenty of time to work through the cabin, while a lighter breakfast before landing would be quicker and less demanding during one of the busiest phases of the flight. Of course, this is just my own perspective, but I believe reversing the meal order would better match passengers’ natural sleep patterns while also making the service flow more efficient for the crew (Iâll come back to this point a little later)
For breakfast, I chose the pancakes with bananas and berries, along with a glass of champagne. I’ll admit, champagne with pancakes didn’t sound like the most obvious breakfast pairing. But then I reminded myself that people happily drink mimosas with brunch all the time. So I convinced myself this was essentially the same thing… just without the orange juice.
Our scheduled departure time was 4:00 a.m. We pushed back from the gate at 3:56 a.m. and were airborne by 4:04 a.m. Not bad at all. Roughly thirty minutes after takeoff, breakfast service began with a canapĂŠ, accompanied by a pack of mixed nuts and my first glass of champagne.
About fifteen minutes later, my breakfast tray arrived. There was just one problem. Instead of the pancakes I had ordered, I was served the omelette. I politely flagged down the flight attendant and mentioned that I had actually ordered the pancakes. She looked surprised and asked, “Oh really? Are you sure?” That response caught me off guard. I wasn’t quite sure what she meant by it. Was she suggesting the pancakes weren’t the better choice? IF yes why didnât she say that before while taking my order? Or was it simply an awkward way of responding after realizing the order had been mixed up? Either way, I confirmed that I had indeed ordered the pancakes.
A few minutes later, she returned with the correct meal, and the omelette was swapped out. The pancakes themselves were a pleasant surprise. Rather than traditional flat pancakes, they resembled more of a pancake sandwich, with a delicious sweet filling layered between them. It wasn’t what I had expected, but it was genuinely enjoyable.
The meal was accompanied by a warm bread basket, and that’s always something I appreciate. There’s just something about warm bread that instantly elevates an airline meal and signals that a little extra care has gone into the service.
With breakfast finished and another glass of Laurent-Perrier in hand, I settled back into my seat, put on a movie, and eventually decided it was time to get some sleep before the long journey across the Atlantic continued.
I found the seat to be comfortable, with a reasonably spacious footwell and intuitive touchscreen controls that made it effortless to switch between the upright, lounging, and fully flat bed positions. Storage was also well thought out, with enough space to keep my essentials within easy reach throughout the flight. One pleasant surprise was that Royal Air Maroc provides pajamas to every Business Class passenger. That’s a thoughtful touch, especially considering that relatively few airlines offer pajamas in Business Class. The material was comfortable, the fit was good, and I genuinely liked them.
The bedding was a bit of a mixed bag. The comforter was soft and cozy, making it easy to settle in for some sleep. The pillow, however, was a big disappointment. That said, once I adjusted everything to my liking, the seat itself proved to be very comfortable, and I had no trouble getting a few solid hours of sleep.Â
After a few hours of surprisingly good sleep, I woke up to find just under five hours remaining. A quick glance at the moving map suggested we were somewhere over eastern Canada, steadily making our way toward Los Angeles.
I started another movie, and before long I noticed the purser walking through the cabin carrying a tray of snacks, personally offering them to any passengers who were awake. I reached for a can of Pringles, but he wasn’t having it.
“Come on… take some more!” Well… who was I to argue? So I happily took a snickers bar and some nuts.
The purser was genuinely warm, friendly, and seemed to take a personal interest in every passenger, stopping to ask how everyone was enjoying the flight and whether they needed anything. The inflight entertainment system also impressed me. It offered a solid selection of recent Hollywood movies, popular TV shows, documentaries, and a good mix of international and Arabic content. There was certainly enough variety to keep anyone entertained on a 12-hour journey. About an hour later, I looked up and there was the purser again.
Another lap through the cabin. Another tray full of snacks.
At that point, it became clear that Royal Air Maroc wasn’t going to let anyone go hungry between meals. Nice job RAM.
About two hours before our scheduled arrival into Los Angeles, the pre-landing meal service began. By this point, the flight attendant assigned to my side of the cabin had returned from her rest break. She stopped by my seat and asked if I wanted to eat. âOf course I doâ I replied. Not because I was particularly hungry, but because I was genuinely curious to see what and how Royal Air Maroc would serve as its hot meal on this long-haul flight. After all, reviewing every aspect of the onboard experience, including the catering was one of the main reasons I had booked this journey in the first place.
And this is where, in my opinion, the downfall of an otherwise amazing experience began.
The meal service began with the appetizer: Tuna Tataki with mixed lettuce, mango, and wasabi cream. The meal tray was placed in front of me with the appetizer, two empty glasses, and an empty bread plate. Was hoping the water glass would be filled and started eating. About five minutes later, while I was still working my way through the appetizer, the flight attendant returned carrying my main course in one hand. Without saying a word, she reached for my appetizer plate with her other hand, intending to clear it away WHILE I WAS STILL EATING! I have to admit, that caught me completely off guard. I awkwardly said “Can you give me another five minutes? I’m still eating.” She hesitated for a brief moment before nodding and walking away. To this day, I’m still not entirely sure what happened. Was it simply a language/ cultural barrier? Was she trying to keep the meal service moving because there was a lot to do in a short amount of time? Or was it just an honest misunderstanding? I genuinely don’t know.
What I did know was that I still hadn’t been offered anything to drink. When she returned with my main course, I asked if I could also have some bread and water. She acknowledged my request, came back a minute later with a bottle of water, handed it to me, and walked away. I unscrewed the bottle myself and poured it into one of the two empty glasses that had been sitting on my tray the entire time. A few minutes later, the bread finally arrived.
Unlike the warm bread I had been served on the Rome-Casablanca flight and at breakfast earlier that morning, this time it was cold. For a brief moment, I found myself thinking back to the impeccable service I’d experienced on the short flight from Rome and even during breakfast on this very flight. Everything until now had been polished, attentive, and proactive. This felt like the complete opposite.
I couldn’t help but wonder…
What changed?
Thankfully, the food itself came to the rescue. I had chosen the duck leg confit, and it was outstanding. Tender, flavorful, and honestly one of the best main courses I’ve had on an airplane in quite some time. I genuinely couldn’t believe I was eating duck confit at 35,000 feet.
For dessert, I opted for the Los AngelesâMarrakech pastry with amlou. It was… fine. Not bad by any means, but fairly forgettable. In hindsight, I probably should have gone with the New York cheesecake instead.
Once the meal service had concluded, my flight attendant asked if I would like a cup of coffee. “Absolutely,” I replied.
At that point, I’d been awake for several hours, it was morning, and I still had an entire day ahead of me after landing in Los Angeles. A good cup of coffee was exactly what I needed.
Ten minutes passed.
Then fifteen.
There was no sign of the coffee. A little later, another crew member came through the cabin with the duty-free cart. I asked him if it might be possible to get a cup of coffee instead. “Of course,” he replied. But once again… no coffee arrived. By this point, we had less than an hour remaining before landing. With about 55 minutes to go, I decided to walk to the galley myself. “If it’s not too late,” I asked, “could I still get a cup of coffee?” My flight attendant immediately looked at me and said, “Oh, I’m so sorry… I forgot. I’m just too tired.” I think I appreciated her honesty.
Before she could do anything, however, the purser overheard the conversation and immediately stepped in.
“Of course you can, sir.” Within moments, he returned with a fresh cup of coffee. About ten minutes later, he came back once again and topped up my coffee. That small gesture perfectly summed up the service I’d experienced from him throughout the flight. He was consistently attentive, proactive, and genuinely seemed to care about the passengers.
Looking back on the flight as a whole, I don’t think that inconsistent second meal service was a reflection of Royal Air Maroc as an airline. If anything, it felt more like the performance of one individual crew member rather than a company-wide service standard. May be she was new to long-haul flying, simply having an off day, or overwhelmed by the workload, I can’t say for certain. Perhaps Royal Air Maroc should consider swapping the breakfast and the main hot meal service. Serving the more elaborate meal shortly after takeoff would likely give the crew more time to execute it well, rather than rushing a multi-course service in the final hours before landing. A lighter breakfast with coffee before arriving in Los Angeles would also feel more natural.
What I can judge is the overall experience. From the moment I checked in at Rome, to the warm hospitality onboard the flight to Casablanca, the seamless hotel transit program, the excellent lounge in Casablanca, the comfortable 787-9 seat, the attentive purser, and so many small gestures along the way, Royal Air Maroc consistently exceeded my expectations. In fact, it’s those countless little details that I’ll remember most.
The check-in agents who took the time to chat with passengers.
The bartender who quietly topped up my wine without being asked.
The flight attendants on the Rome flight who never let my champagne glass sit half empty.
The purser on the Los Angeles flight making multiple snack rounds through the cabin and later rescuing my long-awaited cup of coffee.
Those moments don’t happen by accident. They reflect a culture of genuine hospitality. That’s why I’m not ready to judge Royal Air Maroc based on one inconsistent meal service. In fact, I’m about to find out just how consistent they really are. In just two days, I’ll be flying Royal Air Maroc again, this time from Los Angeles to Casablanca, continuing onward to Frankfurt.
Will this flight confirm everything that impressed me on this journey? Or will it reveal that my first experience was simply a lucky one? Either way, I’ll be back with another honest review. Because consistency is what separates a good airline from a truly great one.
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