For the following phase of my Allegris around the world journey, I flew Kuwait Airways’ Airbus A330-200 first-class on the 2 hour flight from Cairo (CAI) to Kuwait (KWI).
I don’t wish to be too essential of a brief two hour flight, since you’ll be able to solely anticipate a lot (and it’s not like Kuwait Airways is considered one of many world’s finest airways). Whereas the flight was completely nice, there was nothing first-class about it. Truly, all the pieces in regards to the expertise, from the seats, to the meals, to the service, felt like what you’d anticipate in enterprise class.
Nonetheless, this was actually solely the teaser of the Kuwait Airways first-class expertise, because it was the connecting flight on the 777 that I used to be most wanting ahead to.
How I booked my Kuwait Airways first-class ticket
Kuwait Airways doesn’t belong to any of the most important alliances, and doesn’t even have many airline partnerships. There’s no sensible option to redeem companion miles for journey on Kuwait Airways, so I as an alternative booked a horny first-class fare. That’s the entire cause I positioned to Cairo, for the reason that airport is thought for its good premium fares.
Now, understandably, some could also be questioning why I’d even wish to fly Kuwait Airways first-class, given the shortage of choices to redeem miles for the product, plus the provider’s mediocre fame. Nicely, the reason being as a result of Kuwait Airways is likely one of the final two airways on the earth that I hadn’t flown in first-class, so I wished to examine the expertise off my record.
So I booked the next ticket in first-class for $2,042:
5/03 KU546 Cairo to Kuwait departing 11:20AM arriving 2:00PM
5/04 KU413 Kuwait to Bangkok departing 2:40PM arriving 1:40AM (+1 day)
I truly not directly redeemed factors for this. I used Amex Pay With Factors, so since I’ve the Amex Enterprise Platinum, this ended up costing me 132,730 Amex Membership Rewards factors, with no money out of pocket. Whereas not the world’s best deal, I figured this might be pretty much as good because it will get, if I wished to evaluate Kuwait Airways first-class.
Kuwait Airways first-class lounge & boarding
After spending an evening on the Le Meridien Cairo Airport, I arrived at Terminal 2 at round 9AM, a lot early for my 11:20AM flight to Kuwait. The check-in course of was fast sufficient, and I then headed for immigration and safety.
Touring via Cairo Airport is… an journey. All the time. It requires a whole lot of persistence, and simply going with the circulation. After a predictably inefficient safety screening course of, I used to be airside. Terminal 2 is certainly the nicest at Cairo Airport, although that’s not ] saying a complete lot.
I briefly visited the Ahlein Premium Lounge, which is the place Kuwait Airways sends its passengers. It’s one of many higher lounges within the airport, however I nonetheless determined to only head to the gate space a bit early, since I discovered the seating there to be extra snug.
My Kuwait Airways flight was departing from gate E6, with boarding scheduled for 10:20AM, an hour earlier than departure.
I noticed the Kuwait Airways A330-200 on the gate. Whereas Kuwait Airways initially had 5 A330-200s, the airline now solely has one, which is a nine-year-old aircraft with the license plate 9K-APE, nonetheless carrying the corporate’s outdated livery. For what it’s value, of the 4 different A330-200s, two are actually saved, and two fly for the Canadian authorities. Hah.
Anyway, boarding ended up beginning at 10:35AM. There was no precedence name, however somewhat it was only a basic boarding name for everybody. The thrill of Cairo…
Kuwait Airways A330 first-class cabin & seats
I boarded via the second set of doorways, the place I used to be welcomed by one of many flight attendants. He motioned for me to show proper, although I identified that my seat was to the left, which he then acknowledged.
Kuwait Airways’ A330 first-class cabin consists of a complete of 17 seats, unfold throughout 5 rows, in a 1-2-1 configuration. There are 4 full rows of seats, after which the fifth row has a single seat on the left, which is the place I sat.
Kuwait Airways’ first-class is unnecessary to me. It’s an enormous cabin, and the seats are actually what you’d anticipate in enterprise class somewhat than first-class, provided that they’re outdated reverse herringbone seats. Heck, Kuwait Airways additionally has new A330-800neos, and people planes have extra trendy reverse herringbone seats in enterprise class, with no first-class cabin.
When you’re touring with somebody, you might desire to pick the middle pair of seats, as a way to form of benefit from the flight collectively (although you continue to need to lean ahead to speak).
In the meantime solo vacationers are higher off choosing the window seats.
These are nearly probably the most outdated reverse herringbone seats you’ll discover in service these days. The seats don’t have any storage compartments, they usually’re additionally fairly slender, provided that the A330’s fuselage isn’t very extensive.
The aspect of the seat contained a studying gentle, leisure controller, seat controls, headphone jack, AC energy outlet, and USB-An influence outlet.
The tray desk folded out from the console to the aspect of the seat. While you launch it, it’s folded over in half, however you’ll be able to then flip it over to double the scale of the desk.
The non-public tv was linked to the seat in entrance. It’s ordinarily angled towards the home windows, however you’ll be able to push a button to increase it, as a way to have a extra direct view of the display.
Given the slender width of the A330’s fuselage, the footwell on this seat is basically tight, which you’ll undoubtedly discover when making an attempt to sleep.
The overhead console had studying lights and particular person air nozzles, so I used to be at the least glad that I may management the airflow to the seat.
So yeah, Kuwait Airways’ A330-200 first-class exhausting product is unnecessary. It’s worse than the provider’s new A330-800neo enterprise class exhausting product. I suppose it’s no shock that the airline is beginning to part out these jets. For these curious, the A330-200 enterprise class consists of angled seats in a 2-2-2 configuration.
Kuwait Airways first-class facilities
I wasn’t anticipating a lot in the way in which of facilities on this wanting a flight, so in that sense, my expectations had been met. There have been a good pillow and blanket ready at every seat. I wouldn’t be glad if this was all of the bedding on an extended haul flight, however for a flight of this size, it was greater than enough.
There have been additionally a pair of first rate high quality noise canceling headphones, which had been offered in a pleasant leather-based Kuwait Airways branded pouch.
Then there was a bottle of Acqua Panna water.
The one cute facet of the service was the crew coming round with a number of pre-departure sweets, with the selection of dates, some pistachio treats, and extra. This was complemented by Arabic espresso.
Lastly, menus had been additionally distributed for the flight.
Kuwait Airways A330 first-class leisure & Wi-Fi
Kuwait Airways’ A330 first-class options audio and video on demand, by way of the seat again display. This was undoubtedly one of many older programs that I’ve seen in a while, and the choice was additionally fairly restricted. There have been a complete of simply over 50 motion pictures and 25 TV exhibits, however that included choices in English and Arabic, in order that’s actually limiting.
I didn’t find yourself watching something, excluding the map function.
Whereas there’s additionally a nostril digital camera, that’s not practically as thrilling as a tail digital camera, particularly when it’s not excessive definition.
I’m somewhat confused by Kuwait Airways’ A330 Wi-Fi state of affairs. The aircraft is meant to have Wi-Fi, although in actuality, I solely noticed an possibility for a complimentary messaging cross. There was no possibility to purchase a Wi-Fi cross past messaging. Unusual.
Kuwait Airways A330 departure from Cairo
At 10:55AM, boarding was full, and the primary cabin door closed. This flight was fairly empty throughout the board — there have been three different individuals in first-class, 11 individuals in enterprise class, and financial system didn’t appear too full both.
As quickly because the door closed, the friendly-sounding Kuwaiti captain added his welcome aboard, informing us of our flight time of two hours. After that, a prayer was performed over the PA, adopted by the security video being screened.
At 11AM we started our pushback, after which at 11:05AM we started our taxi.
Our taxi was lengthy however fast, and at 11:15AM we had been cleared for takeoff on runway 23C.
On non-US airways, I’m used to the seatbelt signal being turned off inside minutes. On this case, it stayed on for 25 minutes, regardless of a easy climb out.
Kuwait Airways first-class meal service
After takeoff, lunch was served. You could find the menu and drink record beneath (as you’ll be able to see, Kuwait Airways is a dry airline).
About half-hour after takeoff, I used to be requested what I wished to eat and drink. I ordered a glass of glowing water and a lemon mint juice to drink, and that was served fairly rapidly. I used to be stunned that there have been no nuts or some other snacks to go together with it.
Then about an hour after takeoff, the meal was served, all on one tray. This included an appetizer of hen and spinach roulade with sautéed candy potatoes. Then there have been two most important course choices, and I chosen the grilled hen with caramelized carrot, served with creamy mashed potatoes and sautéed broccoli. This was served with a pleasant bread basket that had a number of choices.
Lastly, for dessert there was a tasty darkish chocolate cake, and I had a cup of espresso to go together with it. Whereas the menu indicated that there have been cappuccinos, I used to be knowledgeable that the machine was damaged on this aircraft.
On the conclusion of the meal, heat towels had been distributed.
The meal was advantageous, however there was nothing about it that was first-class somewhat than enterprise class. The hen in each the starter and most important course was somewhat chewy, and the casserole dish presentation for the primary course additionally didn’t really feel very first-class.
Kuwait Airways A330 first-class bathroom
Kuwait Airways has a first-class bathroom on the entrance of the cabin by the cockpit. It was completely normal and never significantly spacious. The one particular factor was that there have been some dental kits, in addition to a few merchandise from PAYOT.
Kuwait Airways A330 first-class mattress
This flight was too brief to sleep, although I did briefly take a look at out the mattress. Whereas that is undoubtedly extra snug than being in financial system, this is likely one of the narrowest and tightest reverse herringbone seats I’ve been in for fairly a while, so it undoubtedly didn’t really feel very spacious in mattress mode, particularly across the knees.
Kuwait Airways first-class service
The crew on this flight was a combined bag. There was one male Kuwaiti flight attendant, a number of Filipino flight attendants (each female and male) and a few North African flight attendants (feminine).
The Kuwaiti flight attendant was stellar, as he was real, hospitable, and enjoyable, although sadly he wasn’t serving my part for probably the most half. As an alternative, I used to be being served by a male Filipino flight attendant, who simply wasn’t very polished or enthusiastic.
There was no being addressed by identify, no supply for drink refills, and many others. He was simply going via the motions. Once more, none of this can be a big deal, however if you happen to’re going to have a cabin above enterprise class, one thing needs to be finished to distinguish it.
I additionally discovered it irritating how pillows and blankets had been collected practically an hour earlier than touchdown, principally on the midway level of the flight.
Kuwait Airways A330 arrival in Kuwait
At 12:45PM Kuwait time, the captain was again on the PA to announce that we’d be descending shortly, and can be touchdown at 1:20PM. Positive sufficient, the descent began at 12:50PM, after which the seatbelt signal was instantly turned on.
It had been a while since I’ve been in Kuwait, so my eyes had been glued out the window on method, as seeing a metropolis from above is all the time a deal with.
I had a terrific areal view of the outrageously lengthy Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway.
Then the Kuwait skyline got here into view.
Then I noticed The Avenues, which is the most important shopping center in Kuwait, and one of many largest on the earth. It’s additionally the place I’d be spending the night time, because the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait is linked on to it.
We touched down in Kuwait at 1:15PM.
From there we had a ten minute taxi to our arrival gate, which included passing the brand new Terminal 2, which is anticipated to open within the close to future.
We pulled into our arrival gate at 1:25PM, 35 minutes forward of schedule.
I then needed to get a visa on arrival, which took about 20 minutes, after which I cleared immigration. Kuwait Airways presents a complimentary chauffeur service for first and enterprise class passengers, so I used that to get to the Waldorf Astoria.
Backside line
In the end my Kuwait Airways A330 first-class flight was nice, which is to say that it was completely snug for a brief flight like this, and we even arrived method forward of schedule.
On the identical time, Kuwait Airways markets this as first-class, and there’s merely nothing first-class in regards to the expertise. That is a mean enterprise class product in each method, and because of this, my score displays that. In any case, Kuwait Airways’ A330-800neo enterprise class is a greater exhausting product than the provider’s A330-200 first-class.
I perceive Kuwait Airways is now all the way down to a single A330-200, so in the end not many passengers can have this expertise. Apart from, this wasn’t the explanation I used to be flying Kuwait Airways — I used to be wanting ahead to the connecting flight on the 777-300ER, to see what the lengthy haul product can be like.
What’s your tackle Kuwait Airways’ A330 first-class?
