Though still speculation...what does the Ausbt community think of this? Would this be a useful option for some Ausbt readers? Wondering if availability would be good for award redemptions with QF points?
I am personally planning a trip to West Africa and hoping to give this airline a go!
In that case, wouldn't it be better to redeem for emirates with Qantas points instead of Royal Air Maroc? Unless, you have the angle flat 777 of course.
Whilst this report is speculation and 'an old repeat of a rumour', talk about RAM joining oneworld has been consistent over the years.
Would RAM joining be advantageous to oneworld? Hell yes. It opens up the whole of North Africa for oneworld - an area that has previously been poorly served. RAM also codeshares with existing oneworld carriers such as Qatar, S7 and Iberia. Let's not forget that oneworld looked to Sabena / Brussels Air numerous times to expand into North Africa before Brussels Air was ultimately absorbed by LH.
Would it be valuable for Australians? Depends. Not currently a great deal for direct travel ex Australia (and even via PER to JNB, since Comair is probably a better choice from South Africa to parts of middle Africa). However, for connecting to Africa from major points in Europe, it would provide one stop connections to much of Africa via Casablanca. With QF fishing around Paris and Germany for possible B787 non-stops, RAM could provide more efficient routes to Africa for European travellers on ROW fares where the necessity to backtrack to LHR could be eliminated.
Given RAM's CEO will be in attendance at the oneworld meeting next week, one has to wonder why he would be present, if not for joining purposes? RAM is not currently a oneworld member. The ultimate irony, of course, would be if Qatar (QR) chooses to withdraw from oneworld - but subsequently turns out to be RAM's sponsor carrier into oneworld.
Not particular useful for Australians... Not easy to get a flight to Casablanca. Might change if they flew to Singapore or Hong Kong.
My take on it:
Plenty of potential if going from Southern EU to both USA / Canada or Brazil. Specifically, fares from Morocco or other 'nearby' places such as Portugal / Spain SIGNIFICANTLY better than Iberia / BA / other Transatlantic JV members (AA, Finnair, etc). Hence, not a bad arbitrage opportunity from EU to NA / Brazil
Emirates already serves North Africa quite well. They are more reliable than RAM, and offer a one stop flight from Australia to Casablanca in better aircraft. Unless of course one world benefits are more important.
They are a little bit funky, I would rate RJ and UL better and more consistent, and consistency is not one of either of their strengths!
Having said that they were OK and I would fly them again and if in OW another good way to get SC.
Oh dear Royal Air Maroc is heaps better than RJ or Royal Jordanian especially if flying out of Paris or Madrid to Marrakesh or elsewhere in Morocco. RJ is one of the worst airlines in the Oneworld alliance. The crew is horrendous and the purser just cannot be bothered, food is unpalatable in business class and the entertainment system just downright bad. They have no biz class amenities and no idea of customer service. The only good thing is that they operate Boeing 787 Dreamliners so they are a lot more comfortable but certainly an airline that is to be avoided!
Emirates already serves North Africa quite well. They are more reliable than RAM, and offer a one stop flight from Australia to Casablanca in better aircraft. Unless of course one world benefits are more important.
Emirates serves North and (particularly) West Africa quite poorly.
I fly into Nouakchott regularly and it's usually RAM I go with these days. Getting into Ouagadougou or Niamey or many cities is not really possible on Emirates which only serves major markets.
I've had more reliability issues with Air France than with RAM, in fact RAM is seamless when connecting West Africa to Europe & their short-haul product (both in Y & J) are pretty good.Casablanca is an excellent airport too (by African standards).
silentiger86
silentiger86
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Dec 2017
Total posts 90
Though still speculation...what does the Ausbt community think of this? Would this be a useful option for some Ausbt readers? Wondering if availability would be good for award redemptions with QF points?
I am personally planning a trip to West Africa and hoping to give this airline a go!
Ross
Ross
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 May 2014
Total posts 83
Himeno
Himeno
Member since 12 Dec 2012
Total posts 295
Yet another repeat of an old rumour.
adethyasjce
adethyasjce
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 03 Jul 2018
Total posts 66
Tried to search for a ticket on Royal Air Maroc - website isn't working - got 502 Bad Gateway error!
moa999
moa999
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Jul 2011
Total posts 835
Plenty of smoke this time.
btaus
btaus
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 15 Dec 2016
Total posts 171
They fly from Casablanca to Doha, the home of Qatar Airways, is that not easy enough from Australia?
djtech
djtech
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Sep 2018
Total posts 375
They fly from Casablanca to Doha, the home of Qatar Airways, is that not easy enough from Australia?
In that case, wouldn't it be better to redeem for emirates with Qantas points instead of Royal Air Maroc? Unless, you have the angle flat 777 of course.
ratrace
ratrace
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 01 Apr 2018
Total posts 50
Not a very reliable airline.
kimshep
kimshep
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 11 Oct 2014
Total posts 412
Whilst this report is speculation and 'an old repeat of a rumour', talk about RAM joining oneworld has been consistent over the years.
Would RAM joining be advantageous to oneworld? Hell yes. It opens up the whole of North Africa for oneworld - an area that has previously been poorly served. RAM also codeshares with existing oneworld carriers such as Qatar, S7 and Iberia. Let's not forget that oneworld looked to Sabena / Brussels Air numerous times to expand into North Africa before Brussels Air was ultimately absorbed by LH.
Would it be valuable for Australians? Depends. Not currently a great deal for direct travel ex Australia (and even via PER to JNB, since Comair is probably a better choice from South Africa to parts of middle Africa). However, for connecting to Africa from major points in Europe, it would provide one stop connections to much of Africa via Casablanca. With QF fishing around Paris and Germany for possible B787 non-stops, RAM could provide more efficient routes to Africa for European travellers on ROW fares where the necessity to backtrack to LHR could be eliminated.
Given RAM's CEO will be in attendance at the oneworld meeting next week, one has to wonder why he would be present, if not for joining purposes? RAM is not currently a oneworld member. The ultimate irony, of course, would be if Qatar (QR) chooses to withdraw from oneworld - but subsequently turns out to be RAM's sponsor carrier into oneworld.
MKS11
MKS11
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 05 Oct 2016
Total posts 58
They fly from Casablanca to Doha, the home of Qatar Airways, is that not easy enough from Australia?
I'm more worried about the rumours of QR leaving oneworld..... That is much more of a concern. QF should get into bed with QR not EK.
AALF
AALF
QF
Member since 31 Dec 2014
Total posts 8
My take on it:
FFTrev
FFTrev
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Sep 2013
Total posts 11
I too am more concerned about QR leaving Oneworld instead of AT joining - very little value with AT !
EKdevotee
EKdevotee
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
Member since 05 Jun 2017
Total posts 9
Emirates already serves North Africa quite well. They are more reliable than RAM, and offer a one stop flight from Australia to Casablanca in better aircraft. Unless of course one world benefits are more important.
1Worldfreqflyer
1Worldfreqflyer
Member since 29 Jun 2016
Total posts 15
Oh dear Royal Air Maroc is heaps better than RJ or Royal Jordanian especially if flying out of Paris or Madrid to Marrakesh or elsewhere in Morocco. RJ is one of the worst airlines in the Oneworld alliance. The crew is horrendous and the purser just cannot be bothered, food is unpalatable in business class and the entertainment system just downright bad. They have no biz class amenities and no idea of customer service. The only good thing is that they operate Boeing 787 Dreamliners so they are a lot more comfortable but certainly an airline that is to be avoided!
Dredgy
Dredgy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Apr 2017
Total posts 180
Emirates serves North and (particularly) West Africa quite poorly.
I've had more reliability issues with Air France than with RAM, in fact RAM is seamless when connecting West Africa to Europe & their short-haul product (both in Y & J) are pretty good.Casablanca is an excellent airport too (by African standards).