After an extended night time at Cairo Airport having fun with the EgyptAir Lounges (okay, “having fun with” won’t be the precise phrase), it was time to fly EgyptAir’s Boeing 787-9 enterprise class to Paris.
I had beforehand flown EgyptAir’s outdated Boeing 777-300ER enterprise class. I used to be excited that EgyptAir has modernized its fleet with new plane and an up to date enterprise class product. Sadly apart from new planes, it’s the identical outdated EgyptAir…
How I booked my EgyptAir enterprise class ticket
I booked my EgyptAir enterprise class ticket utilizing Air Canada Aeroplan factors. This was fairly a very good deal, as I might e-book the next for 20,000 Aeroplan factors plus $79 in taxes & charges:
2/08 MS799 Cairo to Paris departing 9:35AM arriving 1:25PM
Admittedly there are far more inventive awards you may e-book with Aeroplan factors, however this was nonetheless an excellent worth. Aeroplan factors are straightforward to return by, as this system is switch companions with Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, and Chase Final Rewards. On prime of that, there’s the Aeroplan® Credit score Card (evaluate) in the US, which is phenomenal.
EgyptAir enterprise class lounge & boarding
Within the final installment I reviewed the three EgyptAir Lounges at Cairo Airport. Boarding for my 9:35AM flight was scheduled for 9:05AM, half-hour earlier than departure. My flight was departing from gate F2, and there was a complete safety checkpoint on the gate.
Despite the fact that there was a quick observe signal on the entrance to the gate, there wasn’t really a separate line. So I’m unsure if there isn’t quick observe for premium passengers, or should you’re simply supposed to chop the road by yourself. I simply waited.
The safety course of on the gate took perpetually, because the safety brokers had been thorough, but in addition didn’t very clearly talk what wanted to be faraway from luggage. In consequence, it appeared like each different bag acquired pulled apart for a secondary inspection.
Finally I used to be within the “sterile” gate space, which had good views of the airplane.
I’d be flying the practically 4 yr outdated EgyptAir Boeing 787-9 with the license plate SU-GET. I actually do like EgyptAir’s livery, and discover it to be one of many extra trendy and distinctive ones on the market.
EgyptAir 787 enterprise class cabin & seats
I boarded by way of the second set of doorways, after which turned left into the enterprise class cabin. Enterprise class takes up all the house between doorways one and two, and consists of 30 seats. EgyptAir has Collins Aerospace reverse herringbone seats on its 787s, all of that are flat beds with direct aisle entry.
This can be a product discovered on so many airways (heck, I really feel like I’ve spent half of the previous couple of months in these sorts of seats), so it ought to look acquainted. EgyptAir’s cabin finishes are fairly generic, and don’t include many airline particular touches or branding.
In case you’re touring with somebody, you could desire to take a seat within the middle part, as a way to (considerably) simply talk with them throughout the flight. The partitions are naturally within the lowered place, in contrast to on another airways.
In the meantime should you’re touring alone, the window seats are the best way to go, so that you’ve got a view whereas additionally having direct entry to the aisle.
I assigned myself seat 15A, the window seat on the left aspect within the second to final row (I often wish to assign myself a seat within the final row, however that was taken).
With these seats, the tray desk extends out from beneath the mounted monitor, and it’s important to flip the tray desk over to make it the total measurement.
There’s a counter to the aspect of the seat, with two separate compartments that may be opened.
One compartment is shallow and could possibly be used to retailer one thing small (like a telephone or glasses), whereas the opposite is deeper, and in addition homes the leisure controller, energy shops (AC and USB-A), and headphone jacks.
There’s additionally a monitor beneath that for controlling seating positions.
Beneath all that could be a small uncovered storage compartment.
The aisle-side armrest will be raised or lowered. There’s additionally a button you may push to open a storage compartment, the place you would retailer headphones or a bottle of water.
Whereas this EgyptAir 787 had the standard trendy Dreamliner overhead bins, it sadly didn’t have particular person air nozzles.
All-in-all, this can be a stable enterprise class onerous product. The seat is one of the best a part of the EgyptAir expertise, and is globally aggressive. If solely that had been true of the remainder of the expertise…
EgyptAir enterprise class facilities
Whereas EgyptAir has invested in new cabins, the airline hasn’t invested in new facilities in comparison with the final time I flew with the airline. Every enterprise class passenger was given a pillow and blanket. Whereas the pillow was fairly respectable, the blanket was scratchy — it was an analogous materials to what you’d often get in financial system, reasonably than some plush cover.
The headphones had been actually low high quality, among the many worst I’ve ever been supplied in enterprise class.
On the plus aspect, I used to be impressed that enterprise class facilities had been supplied on this brief 4.5 hour daytime flight. Plainly EgyptAir offers its full lengthy haul service on these sorts of routes to Europe, which is sweet. The amenity equipment had a number of EgyptAir branding, and contained eye shades, socks, a dental equipment, a pen, a sanitizing wipe, earplugs, and a hair brush.
Shortly earlier than departure, the crew handed out bottles of orange juice, which gave the impression to be the provider’s method to pre-departure drinks.
EgyptAir 787 enterprise class leisure & Wi-Fi
Sadly EgyptAir’s leisure choice on the Boeing 787-9 leaves quite a bit to be desired. Whereas the system is trendy and simple to make use of, the choice of motion pictures and TV exhibits could be very small, among the many smallest I’ve seen on any airline.
Because of the manner the leisure system was organized, it was onerous to inform precisely what number of choices there have been. Nonetheless, I’d estimate that there have been possibly a bit over a dozen motion pictures in English, and even fewer TV exhibits than that.
Choices had been significantly better in Arabic, and if you wish to hearken to all the Quran, you’re in luck — that’s most likely half of EgyptAir’s leisure choice.
The leisure system means that there ought to be dwell TV, however in fact that’s not really obtainable.
Another challenge — sadly my audio jack was damaged, so I couldn’t even hearken to any of the leisure choices. That wasn’t a lot of a loss, although, since there wasn’t something I needed to look at anyway.
As a substitute I simply saved the map characteristic on all the flight, which I loved. I recognize how customizable it was.
I used to be excited that EgyptAir’s Boeing 787s are speculated to have Wi-Fi, since that’s an enormous improvement for the airline. After takeoff I observed the Wi-Fi wasn’t working. I requested the cabin chief about this, and he confirmed it was damaged. Ugh.
As you may inform, sadly leisure is a weak level of EgyptAir’s Boeing 787s, not less than based mostly on my expertise.
EgyptAir 787 departure from Cairo
The boarding course of took fairly a while (presumably resulting from safety checks), and by 9:50AM boarding was full and the cabin door closed. Enterprise class was initially principally full, with only a handful of empty seats.
However in fact that is EgyptAir, so there are all the time the “family and friends” upgrades as soon as the door closes, and that was the case right here. Enterprise class ended up going out completely full. On this case these onboard upgrades consisted of a household with two infants, seated throughout from and behind me.
At 9:50AM, the cabin chief introduced our flight time of 4hr30min, and at that time the security video was screened (which is definitely form of cool).
At 9:55AM we started our very lengthy push again — we weren’t simply pushed again, however a tug really taxied us ahead fairly a bit as properly.
Throughout this time the crew carried out some pre-takeoff security checks. EgyptAir has some strict guidelines, like requiring that every one pillows and blankets both be positioned within the overhead bin or behind your physique.
At 10:05AM we started our taxi to the runway. We had an extended however quick taxi, and I loved all of the planes on the best way to the runway, together with passing EgyptAir 787s, 777s, A330s, and A220s.
What an attention-grabbing choice of airways, together with the Air Leisure A340-200!
By 10:15AM we had been cleared for takeoff.
I loved looking the window throughout the climb out, although sadly we weren’t handled to any pyramid views.
We had a easy climb out, and the seatbelt signal was turned off simply 5 minutes after takeoff.
EgyptAir enterprise class lunch service
I used to be curious what sort of inflight service EgyptAir would supply on a 4.5 hour flight departing shortly earlier than 10AM and arriving shortly after 1PM. I figured it might be lunch, although the best way the airline went about serving this was attention-grabbing.
35 minutes after takeoff, the crew handed by way of the cabin with the selection of two sorts of muffins in plastic wraps, supposed as an after takeoff snack. I chosen the chocolate muffin. After spending the night time within the EgyptAir Lounge, I used to be excited to eat one thing apart from the provider’s lounge meals. Go determine these had been the identical actual muffins EgyptAir has in all of its lounges.
I additionally ordered some tea to drink, which was served in a tiny cup.
That was the extent of the after takeoff service. Then roughly two hours into the flight, whereas over Greece, the lunch service started.
EgyptAir doesn’t have menus in enterprise class, so I wasn’t positive what to anticipate. Service started with drinks. Remember that EgyptAir is a dry airline, so there’s no alcohol. I ordered a Weight-reduction plan Pepsi to drink (EgyptAir doesn’t have Coke merchandise).
The meal service started with a starter tray, consisting of a salmon and shrimp appetizer with beetroot, a salad with mushrooms and pomegranate, and a small cheese plate. There was additionally a choice of bread. All the things was served with covers on, although I eliminated these previous to taking an image.
The primary programs had been all introduced out on a trolley in order that you would choose them from there (I recognize when airways show choices on this manner). The choices included greens with rice, shrimp with rice, or beef with potatoes. I chosen the shrimp with rice, and the dish was… not good. The presentation was fairly dangerous, the shrimp had been extraordinarily chewy, and the dish was bland.
As soon as most important programs had been cleared, the dessert trolley was introduced out, with the selection of cake or fruit. I chosen the purple velvet cake, and had a espresso to associate with it (EgyptAir doesn’t have espressos or cappuccinos).
The meal service was full simply over 90 minutes previous to arrival in Paris.
Then round 45 minutes earlier than touchdown, the crew served packaged combined nuts.
To EgyptAir’s credit score, the inflight service was intensive, within the sense that there was lunch, plus a snack after takeoff and a snack earlier than touchdown. As somebody who hoped to sleep a bit on this flight, that service movement wasn’t preferrred, since there wasn’t really an actual “quiet” time throughout the flight. However I additionally get that most individuals most likely didn’t have as lengthy of an evening as I did.
Whereas EgyptAir does properly with the amount of meals it serves, high quality is a distinct story. I discover EgyptAir’s catering to be so bland and closely western centered. Other than the pomegranates within the salad, there was nearly nothing even remotely Egyptian concerning the service.
EgyptAir 787 enterprise class mattress
I attempted to get a little bit of relaxation on this flight, each previous to and after the meal. Collectively I feel I acquired about 45 minutes of sleep. I discovered EgyptAir’s 787 seat to be fairly comfy in mattress mode, although it might have been good to have higher bedding.
EgyptAir 787 enterprise class toilets
EgyptAir’s Boeing 787-9s have one bathroom on the very entrance of the cabin (by the cockpit). There are additionally two behind the cabin, however they appear to largely be utilized by financial system passengers as properly, so there will be queues. The toilets had been customary Dreamliner ones — they had been trendy, however weren’t giant. There was nothing in the best way of particular facilities.
EgyptAir enterprise class service
Egypt generally is a hospitable nation, however sadly that isn’t in any respect mirrored on EgyptAir, in my expertise. The crew wasn’t impolite, however in addition they couldn’t have been any extra disinterested of their jobs. I don’t keep in mind the final time I’ve had such a forgettable crew, when it comes to how little they communicated.
On the plus aspect, I didn’t discover any smoking on this flight, which has traditionally been a problem on EgyptAir. Then once more, I consider the airline might have cracked down on {that a} bit since an EgyptAir plane crashed on this actual route resulting from a fireplace began by a smoking pilot?
EgyptAir 787 arrival in Paris
At round 1:05PM we started our descent towards Paris, as we had been simply over 150 miles out.
The crew started touchdown preparations fairly early, and had been seated round 20 minutes earlier than touchdown, which can also be when the seatbelt signal was turned on. It was a beautiful day in Paris, and we had some lovely views on the method.
We touched down in Paris at 1:40PM, after which had a ten minute taxi to our arrival gate at Terminal 1. We pulled in subsequent to an Air Canada 777.
As soon as within the terminal, I headed towards the Sheraton CDG Airport, the place I’d be spending the night time, previous to connecting to Air France’s 777 enterprise class the next morning.
Backside line
On the plus aspect, EgyptAir has a stable enterprise class onerous product on its Boeing 787s, significantly better than on the provider’s older plane. Sadly that’s the place the nice features of the expertise finish. EgyptAir has lackluster leisure (and on my flight the Wi-Fi wasn’t working), bland meals, and detached service.
It’s unhappy, as a result of I really feel like with a little bit of effort, EgyptAir might supply a cute and aggressive inflight expertise. I hoped that when EgyptAir began closely refreshing its fleet, we’d additionally see an up to date mushy product. Sadly that hasn’t been the case.
What do you make of EgyptAir’s 787 enterprise class?