Guide to BA at Cairo airport - ex-CAI trips
Feb 1, 2019, 6:05 pm
#241
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Feb 2, 2019, 2:07 am
#242
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
I get that it's noise from the economy cabin, but what exactly are you expecting in terms of noise that from source ? Groans of discomfort, clapping on landing, cheerful singalongs, alcohol fuelled chavvy rowdiness?
Feb 2, 2019, 10:13 am
#243
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Check-in open
Does the check-in counter not until open three hours before flight, so 00:45? If I can't check in online, may as well hang in the hotel lobby until midnight?
Feb 2, 2019, 11:20 am
#244
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: ±38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,428
Feb 2, 2019, 7:45 pm
#245
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA, AF
Posts: 10,132
Row 9 - the first row - has the bassinets. Crying babies would be quite annoying IMO, especially considering the timing of this flight...
Feb 4, 2019, 6:27 am
#246
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Update: Flew this the other day. Gate security screening was surprising since they did a hand search rather than an X-ray scan, and no metal detector. Bag search was quite thorough. Inbound flight from LHR was late, arriving just after 03:00. BA had updated departure time to 04:17, then backed it to 04:15, but there was a long period of no visible activity before crew boarded (they were sitting around the gate for quite some time). Finally started boarding about 04:05. Landed in LHR close to ontime though.
Mar 25, 2019, 4:02 am
#247
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: bmi Diamond Club
Posts: 14
Having just completed my first Cairo trip thought I'd pass my thoughts on it. Did a LHR/CAI in BA Club then EK CAI/DXB/AKL return in First.
Overall it was much better than expected, the guide to getting to Le Meridien was spot on and very handy thank you. Flights went well and the meal on the outbound was excellent, I think it is now catered by Do&Co, you couldn't pre-order for some reason but got my 1st choice which was the lamb, the best I've had anywhere for a long time. The return was good as well, not so much the lounge at Cairo though.
We only got hustled once at the airport on on CAI/DXB, not realising that the men stood around the 1st set of X-Ray machines in the terminal wanted a tip for just lifting our bags onto the machine. After that we made sure we lifted our bags and no-one else touched them, lots of offers though but no issues saying no, and then being left alone.
At the times we went through Cairo the airport was very quiet, so off the BA arrival at around 0230, then our departure at 1225 for our EK flight (same terminal), and our return arrival at 1730 off EK and departure at 0345 for BA.
Overall experience was very positive and I would certainly do another ex Cairo trip again.
Overall it was much better than expected, the guide to getting to Le Meridien was spot on and very handy thank you. Flights went well and the meal on the outbound was excellent, I think it is now catered by Do&Co, you couldn't pre-order for some reason but got my 1st choice which was the lamb, the best I've had anywhere for a long time. The return was good as well, not so much the lounge at Cairo though.
We only got hustled once at the airport on on CAI/DXB, not realising that the men stood around the 1st set of X-Ray machines in the terminal wanted a tip for just lifting our bags onto the machine. After that we made sure we lifted our bags and no-one else touched them, lots of offers though but no issues saying no, and then being left alone.
At the times we went through Cairo the airport was very quiet, so off the BA arrival at around 0230, then our departure at 1225 for our EK flight (same terminal), and our return arrival at 1730 off EK and departure at 0345 for BA.
Overall experience was very positive and I would certainly do another ex Cairo trip again.
Mar 26, 2019, 6:26 am
#248
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,367
Haven't seen this mentioned anywhere on the forum yet, excuses if it is buried somewhere. Looks like CAI will be switching to a 4-class B772 for 2 months from 11th April to 13th June. Still being sold as a 3 class route obviously, just an upgauge from the previously planned B788/B789 combo.
Jul 8, 2019, 11:19 pm
#252
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
Jul 11, 2019, 7:54 am
#254
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,367
Jul 11, 2019, 9:20 am
#255
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: BCN
Programs: BA Gold · A3 Gold · DL Gold · VY apologist
Posts: 8,545
Just a note to those who are contemplating an overnight in CAI. There is a brand new transit hotel directly in front of the Saudia lounge in T2, just upstairs from the dreadful new MS lounge, airside. It is very nondescript (two weeks ago there was just an A4 sheet of paper that said HOTEL on it on the door). The lobby is basic but the rooms were finished to a surprisingly high standard, with a very comfortable bed, blackout curtains, and triple-pane windows, as well as fast wifi. I paid around 100€ for "up to 8 hours" and noticed that my credit card receipt had the same name as the Saudia lounge on it. It was brilliant and I would absolutely stay there again. I'm so happy I stumbled across it while looking for the MS lounge. It was vastly preferable to spending the night in the lounge.
One bad point: there is a fridge in the room but no minibar.
One bad point: there is a fridge in the room but no minibar.