I posted earlier about how I booked flights on Royal Air Maroc using Etihad Guest Miles, as well as our flight on Royal Air Maroc’s 787-8 business class from New York to Casablanca. We traveled by ground eventually to Marrakesh. Our trip back to the United States entailed flying domestically from Marrakesh to Casablanca and continuing onward to New York.
We booked a taxi to the airport from our riad, arriving at about 9am for an 11:30am flight.
We checked in quickly using the Business Class line and were given directions to the Oasis Lounge run by the airline. Marrakesh’s airport is architecturally impressive, with tall ceilings, natural light, and even an outdoor courtyard with coffee shop before security.
Oddly enough, we cleared Moroccan immigration in Marrakesh, despite traveling on a domestic flight to Casablanca with an onward connection.
The terminal post-security is just as well-lit and full of shopping. The Oasis Lounge is at the end of the terminal, in a nondescript box.
We actually walked in unimpeded as the front desk was unmanned. We stayed in the lounge for perhaps 5 minutes as the only guests until someone showed up to verify our boarding passes.
The lounge had a variety of seatings options in circled off areas, though the food and drink options were limited (and that’s even for it having been Ramadan at the time).
Our flight departed from a bus gate, but as the lounge was rather ho-hum, we decided to just get on the plane early, awaiting until some of economy had boarded as there was no separate bus for business class passengers for this domestic connection.
Seats were what you’d expect in an old first class in the US, though these included footrests like many international carriers.
There was only 1 other passengers up front. We had a small beverage service with water or juice upon boarding and that was the extent of the service. Pretty surprising, even for a short 30-minute flight. One would think that they would have at least come out to check on passengers, but no.
The 30-minute flight was pretty nondescript. We had some nice view of Marrakesh on the left side as we departed.
The main thing I was happy to see upon landing at Casablanca was a new 787-9 Dreamliner in parking position for our flight to New York!
Conclusion:
Don’t expect much from the lounge at Marrakesh or the short flight up to Casablanca. If you have business class booked as part of a larger trip, you can arrive to the airport at whatever time you deem comfortable, as both check-in and immigration formalities are quick. The airport is airy and well-kept and actually architecturally pleasing.
I promise I’ll work on getting the 787-9 Dreamliner part of this trip up soon!
