My Experience with Royal Air Maroc
- Amina
- Sep 29, 2019
- 5 min read
Hi there! This might be a lengthy post, stay tuned! I've been meaning to document my relationship with and feelings about Air Morocco for a while (like more than five years).
So I have this love-hate relationship with the Kingdom of Morocco's own airline Royal Air Maroc. I do believe my experience is unique to travelers to West Africa and especially the Black and brown ones.
I've traveled with RAM three times, in three different years. My destination was the same: Lungi International Airport (FNA) Sierra Leone. My experience was different each time. In 2012 I traveled in a group of 7 family members, aware of the airlines flaws. I was told "they lose bags". Guess what happened during the second leg of travel? Yup! I was the only one who lost luggage. I was waiting for my bag to turn up in the carousel at JFK, but it never did. We went to the airline and they arranged to have it sent to my home. Other travelers were at customer service for the same reason. Someone please explain to me why this seems to be protocol for this airline. Where did my suitcase end up? Beirut, LEBANON. Wow. How does that even happen? My grandmother actually lost a bag with them for real because she lost the ticket for her luggage. So you can't take any chances with this airline, have all your documents and receipts in order.
Thank God the actual flights were just fine. I think of Air Morocco as the no-frills airline to Salone, the Spirit Airlines of my West African vacations 😂. The tickets tend to be the least expensive of all flights to Freetown and the service and experience is by no means Royal.
My second trip was my first solo trip ever out of the country and like the first trip, I did not book it. I traveled in May 2014 for a month. The trip was comfortable and uneventful aside from a flight attendant asking me if I was with child! Oh almost forgot! Jason Derulo boarded this flight. This was a big deal for me at the time. Not because he was a celebrity, but because the flight was extremely delayed (I think 2+ hours) and I blamed him for that! I think I'll make a separate storytime about that because this ain't about him anyway lol. When I was ready to board I asked the attendant why the flight was so delayed and I was told that they were waiting for a plane to land from Paris. They even changed my seat. I see This Man in line on the tarmac waiting to board my plane, and after realizing "wow that's Jason Derulo!" I put 2 and 2 together. I was so annoyed haha. That whole one month Salone trip was bizarre, spontaneous, unexpected, and life changing. I think it needs it's own book 😁. To this day I'm not sure if it's legal to delay a flight to wait for one passenger and his crew. Super courteous though, I'll give them that. The dry, cold cheese sandwich they gave me while I waited for our flight was better than not eating at all.
Now this last trip I took in 2018 was a new experience. I don't believe anything changed as far as the flight and customer experience. Like the last trip in 2014 I had an extended layover (13 hours) and was given a voucher for a meal and a hotel room. This time I did not attempt to explore Maroc and just relaxed at the hotel. The process was simple and I knew exactly where everything was from 4 years before. In NY, I befriended another young woman going to Freetown and we would stick together while going through security and customs. The sad part is I didn't see much of her because this airline treats their customers differently depending on their passport. I can't speak for other nationalities, but US passport holders are given the voucher for food and a hotel. Sierra Leone passport holders are not. I will have to do research on this but it may be due to the demands placed on the airlines by the nations. That is still very unfair and I would not recommend this airline to Sierra Leoneans and West Africans for that reason. Does RAM make this same distinction for travelers from Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, Tanzania? Are accommodations only for Westerners? What defines a Westerner? Are Jamaicans included? This policy is interpreted as racist by many. Americans don't pay more for their tickets, so I wonder why we are catered to. Again, I need to research. Just make sure you have accommodations for your layover. There's no way I'd pay money to an airline that offers complementary accommodations only to other passport holders.
Here are some things about this airline:
US passport holders are provided a voucher for a meal and accommodations (nice hotel) during a long layover.
Certain passport holders may not be provided these same privileges.
They may provide a meal at the airport when you have a shorter layover (of a certain period of time)
They may just lose your checked bag, hold on to that bag ticket (forgot what you call it)
They usually got the best deal, price wise, but typically a longer journey (maybe a day longer)
Flight attendants and airport staff may be rude (that's in every corner of this planet though)
You need to go to the Transit office upstairs to get your hotel and food voucher
You may not see your friends again if they have the wrong passport 😭
It's probably not worth it if you're a no-nonsense person
Follow the luggage policy very carefully. I witnessed other passengers being charged for their extra bags after the first leg into Freetown. The crew thought it was a great idea to bring this up then. They were rude to passengers and were even mocking them. I believe they were charged for having overweight carry-ons or extra items on board
They will wrap your bag in plastic without notice. When I got to Freetown my bag was saranwrapped. This was confusing to many at first and slowed down the process because we were all looking for unwrapped luggage and realized after some time.
There are usually many families on board going into Morocco. Many screaming Moroccan children. I can't tell you how to feel about that. Remember, I warned you.
Their flights depart and arrive in Lungi at like 2 and 4 in the morning
As far as my experience over the years with RAM, I thank God for safe and reasonably comfortable flights. I'm grateful for cheaper flights, free accommodations and the opportunity to briefly experience Morocco. Morocco was my very first country abroad. It was the first place I stepped foot on the continent of Africa. It was my first via point to Sierra Leone. It's no accident that I have North African DNA and also saw North Africa before Home. Considering the pros and cons, I'd recommend Royal Air Maroc to American travelers to Salone who want to see North Africa, and want a cheaper flight. I don't believe this airline is money well spent for African citizens. The good thing is they lose all our bags equally.
Air Morocco, y'all get a C