FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Royal Air Maroc 787 Business Class DOH-CMN
Old Mar 22, 2016 | 3:46 pm
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Royal Air Maroc 787 Business Class DOH-CMN

I did this as part of a codeshare on a Qatar Airways (QR) ticket. I had some difficulty getting a boarding pass issued in Doha on arrival from a regional flight from Saudi. I describe this experience on the QR thread.

I was given access to the Al Mourjan Lounge in Doha because of having a QR flight number. I'm not entirely sure that was supposed to happen so YMMV.

On this night Royal Air Maroc's (RAM) flight left from one of the C bus gates. A separate, more comfy bus was provided for business class passengers.

RAM's 787 J class is in a 2-2-2 formation. I think there were just 3 rows. I think some versions of the 787 don't have overhead bins in the center but this one does.

It's a unique kind of seat here. Later research revealed it's called Equinox by a French company called Sogerma. Each pair of seats face each other. When both seats are down flat they actually overlap slightly. So one seat actually lays out higher than the other. For the middle seats I think the one on the right is higher, while the window seats are the higher ones on each side. It was comfortable enough, with an ordinary kind of blanket, not a fluffy duvet. If anything maybe the seat goes a bit too flat. Most planes in flight are slightly nose up. So if the seat is totally flat it may actually feel like you're laid back too far. Foot well space is plentiful.

For me the configuration felt a little too close to the neighboring seatmate. Setting up the divider may help. But my seatmate was friendly so I didn't want to be rude putting up the divider. I think it's better to be in the higher up seat. It seemed to me that the lower down person can feel like the neighbor may fall on them. Or sometimes get too good of a view of the neighbor's backside.

I think it's intended that the window seat person, being situated higher, will have an easier way to get out and go to the bathroom. And this may be true on the way out. But getting back in and up looks like it might need some athleticism.

I didn't use the IFE because the touchscreen remote wouldn't work to operate the main screen. It's a large, nice-looking screen so it was too bad it wouldn't work much for me.

Since it was a 1 am flight I opted out of the main meal to sleep. I did have some champagne. It was a French maker that I didn't know. But it was pretty good. I did have the breakfast, which was a nice omelette.

FAs were all cheerful and friendly. One of them proactively offered to take my photo when she saw me taking a selfie.

One pity was the lack of any kind of amenity kit. I asked if they at least had a toothbrush but they didn't have that.

On arrival there is a fast track for J class at CMN. But it was a quiet time so it would have been fast either way. In any case, try to be near the front because the immigration guys here spend a long time per person.

In summary, the 787 J seat was comfortable enough even if maybe too flat. But for me it was just a bit of a strange configuration with the overlap, facing seats, and one higher than the other. If you can be on QR metal in this joint venture choose that one for sure.
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