Royal Air Maroc Biz Class, 2 Seats
While Royal Air Maroc used to be a reliable option for two award seats, but that hasn't been the case for a while now. Heck, we used to see some great business class fare deals as well, but fares aren't great these days.
Royal Air Maroc can also be a great way to get to Europe if you're struggling to find a flight from the US. For example, I found space to Madrid.
Now, let's get into!
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Straight To The Points:
Routes: IAD/JFK/YUL-CMN
Operating airline: Royal Air Maroc
Class of service: Business class
Dates: January - August 2024
Seats available: 2
Cabin layout: 1-2-1 or 2-2-2
Book with (per person, nonstop one-way):
- Cathay Asia Miles: 61,000 miles
Other programs are only seeing one award seat. It might be possible to book one seat with the programs below and a second with Cathay's program.
- *American AAdvantage: 57,500 miles
- British Airways Executive Club: 62,000 Avios
- Etihad Guest: 80,000 miles
- JAL Mileage Bank: 42,000 miles (80,000 miles round-trip)
- Qantas Frequent Flyer:
- YUL: 61,200 points
- JFK: 75,000 points
*No surcharges
Taxes/fees (per person, one-way) with Cathay Asia Miles:
- From US: ~$218 (~$236 from YUL)
- From CMN: ~$291 (~$252 from YUL)
- Surcharges to/from: $186
The taxes/fees can vary a bit depending on which program you use to book.
Bank transfer partners:
- American: Bilt, Marriott
- British Airways: Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Marriott
- Cathay Pacific: Amex, Bilt, Brex, Citi, Capital One, Marriott
- Etihad: Amex, Capital One, Citi, Marriott
- JAL: Marriott
- Qantas: Amex, Citi, Capital One, Marriott
Let me know if you book!
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Flight Experience
Currently, the flights to/from JFK have Royal Air Maroc's newest business class cabin. It's a simple 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout so each seat will be lie-flat, have direct aisle access, and plenty of privacy.
While Royal Air Maroc (AT) 206/207 to/from Montreal will have the newer cabin, AT 208/209 will have the older 2-2-2 business class cabin. The seats are still lie-flat but only the middle seats are guaranteed aisle access with no one needing to step over you.
Regardless of which aircraft type, Royal Air Maroc has gotten solid marks for its inflight food and beverage options as well as friendly crew members.
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Available Dates
JFK-CMN 787-9
January: 1, 2, 4, 6-9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 19-24, 26-29
February: 6, 8, 13, 16, 17, 19, 24
March: 18, 25
April: 2, 7, 8, 27, 28
May: 6-8, 14, 15, 19
June: 24-30
July: 1-3, 5-31
August: 1-21
CMN-JFK
January: 11, 15-19, 21-24, 26, 31
February: 1,2, 4, 6-9, 11-17, 22, 23, 26, 27, 29
March: 1, 2, 5, 6, 11, 20, 26, 27, 29
April: 7, 10, 17, 19, 24, 26
May: 18, 29
June: 7, 11, 12, 14, 22, 25, 26, 28
July: 1-13 15-31
August: 1-21
YUL-CMN 787-8
January: 1-31
February: 1-29
March: 1-31
April: 1-30
May: 1-24, 26-31
June: 1-9, 11-16, 18, 19, 22, 24-30
July: 1-30
August: 1-21
CMN-YUL
January: 3, 9, 10, 15-24, 26-31
February: 1-25, 28, 29
March: 1-10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 20-23, 25-31
April:1-30
May: 1-31
June: 1-30
July: 1-5
IAD-CMN 787-8/787-9
January: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12-14, 17, 21, 26, 28
February: 4
March: 20, 27. 31
April: 14
May: N/A
June: 23, 26, 30
July: 15, 17-19, 21
CMN-IAD
January: 31
February: 2, 4, 7, 9, 14, 16, 28
March: 1, 3, 8
April: 17, 21, 26, 28, 29
May: 1, 3, 13
June: 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26-28
July: 1, 3, 4, 10-12, 14, 15, 17
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Best Ways To Book
Please keep in mind that Cathay Asia Miles was the only program seeing award space for two.You might be able to book one ticket with AA miles or BA Avios then a second with Asia Miles.
Cathay Asia Miles: More Award Seats, Solid Rate
At 61,000 Asia Miles one-way, Cathay provides a great way to book. However, the big advantage with Cathay Asia Miles is that you can book two seats while other oneworld programs only see one award seat.
Additionally, you can connect to some cities in Europe for no additional miles. You can transfer points from Amex, Bilt, Citi, Capital One.
If you connect on a second oneworld carrier, the rate will be set by Cathay's multi-carrier chart. To include a connection on AA, you'll need to call to book.
American: No Surcharges, Great Award Rate To Europe
If you have 57,500 American miles (or Bilt points), this will be the best way to keep the cash portion to a minimum. You won't need any additional miles to connect to Europe.
Note: If you can see space to Casablanca, but not a connection to Europe, search the connecting segment separately. If it shows on its own, you might be able to get the ticket book over the phone.
For example, if you can see space JFK-CMN and CMN-MAD when searched separately but not when you search JFK-MAD, call AA to book.
British Airways: Option For Chase Points
If you have Amex, Capital One, Chase points, British Airways is an option at 62,000 Avios. Amex is running a 30% transfer bonus through August 31 and Chase is running a 30% transfer bonus through September 22. With the 30% bonus, you'd only need 48,000 Amex or Chase points to book.
I will note that their online search platform didn't show space so you'll have to call to book. British Airways has a distance-based award chart so connections will require more Avios.
You can use GCmap to calculate flight distance.
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How To Book
You can search with AA if you want one seat and are booking with AA miles or BA Avios.
- Go to AA's site
- Select Advanced / Multi-city search
- Select Redeem miles
- Select One way or Round trip
- Enter From & To cities
- Select departure date(s)
- Choose the number of passengers
- Select Class as Business/First
- Click Search
- If you're searching for a nonstop, select Calendar then sort by nonstop.
To search with Cathay:
- Log into your account
- Select Redeem flights
- Enter origin/destination
- Select one-way or return
- Select class of service and number of passengers
- Select dates
Airline Contact Numbers
- American: 800-433-7300
- Asia Miles: 833-933-2244
- British Airways: 800-452-1201
- Etihad: 877-690-0767
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Final Thoughts
If the cash fare out of Montreal I sent yesterday didn't work, this opens up some more options out of New York and Washington, DC.
Whether you plan to visit Morocco, somewhere in Africa, or somewhere in Europe, this could be a great way to book!
Happy Booking!
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