Anyone flown with Egypt Air?

[dajop]

I'm seriously thinking of taking MS to Europe ex-BKK (in business class) as their fares are only marginally more than economy fares ex-SIN, and as it involves two intercontinental flights in each direction (Asia-Middle East, Middle East-Europe) it is a nice little earner of NZ Airpoints.

However, I have only read ghastly reviews of MS, but with what I've read and the pricing I am expecting it to be more akin to Star Class or Premium Economy than genuine business class.

Anyone with any experience of them?

 

[UP4014]

Why would you......


Only second hand via my brother who flew them last year between Iritrea to Egypt. He didn't think he would ever be flying them again. He thought BA via somewhere in Europe would be a better choice as they fly/flew to both places but not direct.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

I did Munich to Cairo and Cairo to Vienna 2 yrs ago.
Not much to say, it was comfortable, was J, I think, or F if they had it. Took off, ate, read a book, landed.

Newish Boeings both ways.

 

[docjames]

I suspect the pricing tells you the relative quality of the product and/or airline.

Why not just go QF Y+ or TG J?

 

[dajop]

Why not just go QF Y+ or TG J?

Ok the mere mention of QF Y+ gets me onto my soapbox. Huge ripoff. No way am I going to pay $3.5K SGD for Y+ to Europe, as I don't consider it good value for money at all. Better OW options are RJ ex-BKK ($100 less) or RJ/CX ex-CMB (less again) both in J ... rack up more SC's in the process and get proper J.

But in any event, I am after star alliance status credits (NZ), and I am heading to eastern part of Europe (probably ATH or IST) so that's another reason why QF are not on the list. TG is my preferred option but it comes at a price premium to MS of over $1.5k. FWIW MS is charging ~ $2.5K SGD ($2.1K AUD) and I can earn $580 AUD worth of NZ Airpoints in the process (vs $260 airpoints on TG ex-SIN).

But as mentioned am expecting, based on all reviews for MS to be akin to Y+.

 

[samh004]

If the purpose is to rack up the AirPoints, not comfort and quality onboard, then I don’t see why you shouldn’t fly them, they’re also cheaper which is a bonus. Just don’t expect a lot

 

[markis10]

I am not sure I would fly with any airline whose website features only health tips in the "onboard" section!

 

[docjames]

Ok the mere mention of QF Y+ gets me onto my soapbox. Huge ripoff. No way am I going to pay $3.5K SGD for Y+ to Europe, as I don't consider it good value for money at all. Better OW options are RJ ex-BKK ($100 less) or RJ/CX ex-CMB (less again) both in J ... rack up more SC's in the process and get proper J.

But in any event, I am after star alliance status credits (NZ), and I am heading to eastern part of Europe (probably ATH or IST) so that's another reason why QF are not on the list. TG is my preferred option but it comes at a price premium to MS of over $1.5k. FWIW MS is charging ~ $2.5K SGD ($2.1K AUD) and I can earn $580 AUD worth of NZ Airpoints in the process (vs $260 airpoints on TG ex-SIN).

But as mentioned am expecting, based on all reviews for MS to be akin to Y+.

OK , useful info re: pricing etc. I can see why you dont want QF Y+ with those pricings (althouh QF Y+ to me is worth it over MS if the seats are similar - ie cradle not lie-flat - I guess another dmonstration of YMMV!).

I presume it's a quirk of the pricing structure that MS garners you more Airpoints than TG for both in J.

What about Turkish (SIN or BKK to wherever via IST)?

 

[dajop]

OK , useful info re: pricing etc. I can see why you dont want QF Y+ with those pricings (althouh QF Y+ to me is worth it over MS if the seats are similar - ie cradle not lie-flat - I guess another dmonstration of YMMV!).

I presume it's a quirk of the pricing structure that MS garners you more Airpoints than TG for both in J.

What about Turkish (SIN or BKK to wherever via IST)?

Yes agree re MS seating vs QF Y+ but if I was looking at QF Y+ then I would take CX J from CMB with a stopover in SIN enroute:!: Also looking at Turkish, but not ex-SIN, they are Ok pricewise out of other ports (basically except for TG & QR most pricing for J ex-SIN is a lot more than nearby cities).

As for the Airpoints, it operates on a geographically based zone system, which is probably unfamiliar to those used to QF's distance based zoning. Any flights from Asia to Europe on partner airlines come with a points earning penalty as NZ also fly from Asia to Europe (compare in J MEL-SIN gets $150 Airpoints vs the longer SIN-LHR only $95). But going via anywhere in the Middle East (excluding IST, as NZ classify Turkey as Europe), gets a really good "double" dose of points (for example BKK-CAI-LHR becomes $290 one way or 3x the points of BKK-LHR direct). Completely confusing to the uninitiated!

 

[docjames]

As unreliable as wikipedia is as a source, the following Egypt Air fleet plans are listed:

Airbus A330-300 5 on order//
seats 301 (0/36/265)New business class featuring full lie-flat beds//
New economy cabins will be equipped with PTV //
Deliveries: From August 2010 - 2014

Airbus A340-200 3 in service // seats280 (12/24/224) //Fleet to be gradually retired from 2010

Boeing 777-200ER 5 in fleet //
seats 319 (12/21/286)//
3 aircraft to be retired in 2010

Boeing 777-300ER in fleet: 2// on order 4// seats 346 (0/49/297) // Deliveries: 2x 2010 (November and December) and 2x 2011
All leased from GECAS
New business class featuring full lie-flat beds
New economy cabins will be equipped with PTV

Last updated: August 2010

So, basically, look for the A330s as they will all have new J, but most of the 777s will also have the new product.

 

[markis10]

As unreliable as wikipedia is as a source, the following Egypt Air fleet plans are listed:



So, basically, look for the A330s as they will all have new J, but most of the 777s will also have the new product.

2 out of 7 is most LOL ! BKK is operated by the 777-200 so no luck there, while the 773 aircraft will operate daily service between Cairo and London Heathrow on the flights MS 777 and MS 778, while the second aircraft from the same type operates to Tokyo.

 

[docjames]

2 out of 7 is most LOL ! BKK is operated by the 777-200 so no luck there, while the 773 aircraft will operate daily service between Cairo and London Heathrow on the flights MS 777 and MS 778, while the second aircraft from the same type operates to Tokyo.

3 are being retired so 7 becomes 4 plus then add the new A330s so i'd say by late 2010 fleet fitted with new seating will be > 50% (= most). :-|

 

[markis10]

3 are being retired so 7 becomes 4 plus then add the new A330s so i'd say by late 2010 fleet fitted with new seating will be > 50% (= most). :-|

I think your forgeting the A330-200's and the A340s as well which number 10 in total, that means 4 from 17 will have new cabin, thats still not most . Current fleet from airfleets with first A330-300 due Aug 26:

 

[dajop]

So, basically, look for the A330s as they will all have new J, but most of the 777s will also have the new product.

Thanks, sounds like it might be worth paying an extra $350 SGD to travel out of KUL rather than BKK as KUL-CAI is on the A330. Or maybe not if they are the old 330's which I imagine they would be...

 

[markis10]

Thanks, sounds like it might be worth paying an extra $350 SGD to travel out of KUL rather than BKK as KUL-CAI is on the A330.

Nope, not the A330-300 I am afraid.

 

[Ewok]

I haven't flown them, but have been to their maintenance facility in Cairo that was very impressive.

 

[dajop]

Nope, not the A330-300 I am afraid.

Yep I see. Oh well. Anyway, having done about 70,000 miles in Y in the last 6 months, an old recliner style J seat is probably still an upside.

 

[browski]

If the connections are good, then flying MS in J would be OK, I guess. They also fly out of KUL, so that could be an option.

For Star Alliance earning, then another option from SIN, BKK, HKG would be Turkish Airlines. The only problem is they sometimes fly a 737 on the IST-LHR leg. Their new J product is reputed to be better than MS.

VS from HKG also have reasonable J fares and they are also NZ Airpoints earning.

Personally, I'd forget the Airpoints and pay a few hundred dollars more and fly Qatar from BKK.

 

[Alanslegal]

FWIW I flew with them 7 weeks ago BKK-CAI-BCN but in the economy cabin and it was satisfactory for the amount of $ I paid for the fare.

Anyway, when we landed into CAI we did not park at a gate but just on the tarmac where pax's jumped onto a shuttle bus to the terminal. The good thing they did for premium cabin passengers is that they given exclusive use of the first bus, whilst the rest of us in the back watched through the plane windows their half empty bus depart. Once our bus came, we got on and crammed in like smelly sardines - that was fun :shock:

 

[Evoqueth]

had the opportunity to experience egyptair as i bought a flight from Singapore - Cairo , and then Cairo - Bangkok-Singapore. november 2010
Singapore - Cairo sector - No issues. Singapore airlines!
Cairo - Bangkok sector - stewardess used their mobile phones while plane was preparing for take off! This was while they are strapped onto the crew seats. Incredible. Wonder what sort of training they underwent. haha!
Bangkok - Singapore sector - flew Singapore Airlines. No issues.

Star Alliance should kick Egypt Air out of their group. Seriously degrading.