To kick off the return portion of my downgraded journey to Oman, I flew Oman Air’s Airbus A330-200 enterprise class on the 7hr30min flight from Muscat to Frankfurt.
That is the place the journey actually takes a flip for the more serious. For one, my flight had an plane swap, so I used to be downgraded from firstclass to enterprise class. That was irritating, since that was one among my main motives for taking the flight, however oh effectively, stuff occurs.
On the plus facet, I used to be nonetheless flying Oman Air’s glorious enterprise class, proper? Whereas my Oman Air Boeing 787-9 enterprise class flight to Muscat was distinctive, sadly this flight was a very completely different story. Oman Air’s A330s are drained, the Wi-Fi was damaged, and the delicate product was additionally a lot worse, with missing facilities and unhealthy service.
On an excellent day, Oman Air has one of many world’s greatest enterprise class merchandise. On a nasty day, the airline leaves so much to be desired. Let’s get into the evaluate…
How I booked my Oman Air enterprise class ticket
I booked my Oman Air enterprise class ticket utilizing Air Canada Aeroplan factors. Particularly, I booked the next award in enterprise class for 45,000 Air Canada Aeroplan factors plus $62.57 in taxes and costs:
1/13 WY115 Muscat to Frankfurt departing 2:20PM arriving 6:50PM
I suppose to be extra correct, I ought to say that I booked that flight in firstclass for 65,000 factors, however I used to be downgraded because of the plane swap, so obtained 20,000 factors refunded.
Aeroplan factors are simple to come back by, as this system is switch companions with Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, and Chase Final Rewards. On prime of that, there’s the Aeroplan® Credit score Card (evaluate) in the USA, which is sort of rewarding.
Oman Air enterprise class lounge & boarding
In earlier installments, I reviewed the Oman Air First Lounge and Oman Air Enterprise Lounge Muscat, that are strong hub lounges. Muscat Airport is a improbable hub, however then once more, so are most hubs within the area these days — Abu Dhabi Airport, Bahrain Airport, and Doha Airport, are fairly superior as effectively.
My flight was departing from gate A11, with boarding scheduled to start out at 1:20PM. In actuality, that’s simply the time when the gate opened. Gates are one degree under the concourse, and your boarding cross is scanned as you enter the gate space.
Precise boarding ended up beginning at 1:45PM, with enterprise class passengers being invited to board first.
Oman Air A330 enterprise class cabin & seats
The model of Oman Air’s Airbus A330-200 that I used to be flying contains a whole of 30 enterprise class seats, unfold throughout 5 rows, in a 2-2-2 configuration. The ahead cabin has three rows, whereas there’s additionally a rear cabin with two rows.
Oman Air has Apex Suites on these A330s, which I rank as one among the very best enterprise class seats on the earth, and arguably the very best enterprise class seat that you just’ll discover on any A330. That is primarily the identical product you’ll discover on Oman Air’s 787s, besides the seats are a bit narrower, and the cabin additionally feels a bit extra drained.
I assigned myself seat 12K, the window seat on the best facet within the third (final) row of the ahead cabin.
The non-window seats on this configuration are first rate, with one good factor being that there’s no small footwell you must squeeze your ft into.
Nonetheless, it’s the window seats which might be most enjoyable. They function direct aisle entry, as every window seat has a small walkway by means of which you enter the seat.
Then you’ve gotten a seat that options an unparalleled degree of privateness, plus an enormous ottoman.
So far as seat options go, all of the seat controls have been on the armrest to the best of the seat, and so they have been simple to make use of.
In the meantime on the left armrest was the leisure controller, plus the buttons to manage the privateness partition between seats (which may even be up throughout taxi, takeoff, and touchdown).
Beneath the leisure controller was the USB-A and AC energy outlet. The AC energy outlet could be fairly tough to entry, given how far down it’s.
The tray desk additionally folds out from the middle armrest, and is sort of massive.
Then there’s a storage compartment beneath the seat and to the facet, which may retailer an honest variety of objects.
The one different storage possibility is which you could place objects beneath the ottoman — it will be fairly simple to retailer a private merchandise underneath there throughout the flight, for simple entry.
Sadly Oman Air A330s don’t have particular person air nozzles, because the overhead console simply has studying lights.
The laborious product was positively the spotlight of this flight, as A330 enterprise class laborious merchandise don’t get significantly better than this.
Oman Air enterprise class facilities
There have been some highs and lows when it got here to the facilities on this flight. On the plus facet, this flight had the total Oman Air bedding setup, together with a pillow, blanket, and mattress pad. Oman Air’s bedding is superb, and makes it tremendous simple to get snug.
There have been additionally a pair of headphones, which have been mild however moderately snug.
As soon as settled in, the crew got here by means of the cabin to supply pre-departure drinks, with the selection of a lemon mint juice or orange juice, plus a heat or chilly towel. I had the lemon mint juice plus a heat towel.
Subsequent up, Arabic espresso and dates have been distributed.
Lastly, menus have been handed out.
What I discovered unusual is that there have been no amenity kits or pajamas. On my in a single day Oman Air flight (which was two hours shorter) I used to be supplied each amenity kits and pajamas, whereas neither have been supplied on this flight.
It’s my understanding that Oman Air affords these on demand in enterprise class on longer daytime flights, however the flight attendant taking good care of me claimed that’s not the case (which I’d normally take at face worth, however service on this flight wasn’t good, and the crew’s sole focus gave the impression to be to offer as little service as potential, which is why I’m skeptical).
I can completely respect not providing pajamas, however not even an amenity package on a virtually eight hour daytime flight? That appears a bit low cost. In order you’ll be able to see, the amenity scenario on this flight was a blended bag.
Oman Air A330 enterprise class leisure & Wi-Fi
I’ve blended emotions about Oman Air’s A330 leisure system. On the one hand, the choice is first rate. Alternatively, the system is a ache to make use of. The leisure monitor isn’t touchscreen, however fairly you must use the little controller to make all of your alternatives.
Sadly there’s not even a means to make use of the controller to view the choice on the principle display screen, however fairly you must view all of the leisure choices on the little controller, and it certain isn’t simple to make use of. I discover this to be such an annoying setup, as that is a lot worse than on the 787.
So for essentially the most half I simply used the leisure system to look at the map function, which I all the time get pleasure from.
Right here’s my different level of frustration. Oman Air’s A330s have Wi-Fi. I’ve used it many occasions earlier than on earlier Oman Air A330 flights. Nonetheless, it wasn’t engaged on this flight.
Once I approached the flight attendant about this (since usually the crew can repair this situation by resetting the system), she claimed that A330s on Oman Air don’t have Wi-Fi. I requested her to double verify, and she or he insisted that was right. I don’t perceive how a senior cabin crew member could be so unknowledgeable about primary options?
Oman Air A330 departure from Muscat
The boarding course of was environment friendly, and was full by 2:10PM. All through the boarding course of I loved listening to Oman Air’s boarding music, amongst my favourite on any airline.
At 2:15PM, the principle cabin door closed. Enterprise class was simply over half full, with 17 of the 30 seats taken. The seat subsequent to me in addition to the 2 seats throughout from me have been empty, in order that was fairly good.
As soon as the door closed, the Omani cabin supervisor made his welcome aboard announcement. He shared all of the languages spoken by the crew, together with Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Hindi, Malay, Swahili, and Tagalog. Curiously (however maybe not surprisingly), there was no German speaker.
At 2:20PM we started our pushback, proper subsequent to an Oman Air Boeing 787-9 certain for London Heathrow. At that time the security video was screened.
We began our taxi at 2:25PM…
…and by 2:30M we have been cleared for takeoff on runway 8L.
I’ve gotta say, this needs to be one of many quickest departures I’ve ever had. From beginning push again to taking off in about 10 minutes is lightning quick. The views on the climb out have been nice, and the seatbelt signal was turned off about 5 minutes after takeoff.
I beloved the view of the coast on our departure, and specifically beloved how round 35 minutes after departure, we had epic views of Dubai and the Palm Jumeirah.
Oman Air enterprise class lunch service
Oman Air has a dine on demand idea in enterprise class, however not within the conventional means. That’s to say that it’s not a menu with a bunch of choices you’ll be able to order any time, however fairly you’ll be able to order your typical meal at any level throughout the flight. You could find the menu and drink record for this flight under.
I’ll discuss extra about service in a bit, however first let’s give attention to what was really supplied. I kicked off the meal with a glass of champagne, served with some room temperature blended nuts. Oman Air pours Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Brut in enterprise class, which is sort of good.
Subsequent up, my desk was set for the lunch service. I respect how Oman Air doesn’t have trays, however fairly affords a restaurant-style expertise.
As an appetizer, I ordered the Arabic mezze, comprised of hummus, tabbouleh, pickled greens, saffron labneh, crisp leaves, bell peppers, lamb kibbeh, cheese samboosa, and hen fatayer. To drink, I switched from champagne to sauvignon blanc.
For the principle course, I chosen the Omani fish with grilled prawns, zaatar hen kebab, spiced tomato sauce, herb crushed potatoes, roasted bell peppers, eggplant, and onion. The dish was scrumptious — Oman Air has nice meals, little doubt.
Lastly, to complete off the meal I had the tropical cheesecake with vanilla crumble and custard sauce.
This was a wonderful meal, so I discovered the meals to be good, as all the time on Oman Air.
Oman Air A330 enterprise class bathrooms
Oman Air has three enterprise class bathrooms on the A330 — there’s one on the very entrance of the cabin, after which two by the second set of doorways. That’s an excellent ratio of bathrooms to seats.
The bathrooms have been fairly normal, besides they did have a bidet function.
Moreover, additionally they had some further facilities, like a dental package, plus some Amouage hand cream and fragrances.
The one factor I seen is that the bathrooms have been in actually unhealthy form. Not when it comes to cleanliness (essentially), however they have been principally falling aside. These Oman Air A330s want some TLC, in my view.
Oman Air A330 enterprise class mattress
After the lunch service, I made a decision to get some relaxation. I made my very own mattress, after which obtained cozy. Because of the empty seats close to me, I may additionally seize an additional pillow and blanket, to get further snug.
I ended up going to sleep with simply over 5hr30min remaining to Frankfurt…
…and awakened with simply over 2hr30min remaining to Frankfurt. I used to be so completely happy to get some relaxation, because it had been a protracted couple of days.
Once I awakened, the cabin was totally darkish, and it stayed that means till our touchdown.
Oman Air enterprise class pre-landing service
Once I awakened, I ordered a cappuccino from the crew, which was served on a tray with a cookie.
Oddly, there was no pre-landing service by any means. This can be a almost eight hour daytime flight, so that you’d assume that one thing would even be served earlier than touchdown. Once I requested the crew about this, they informed me that there’s a fruit plate out there on demand, however that was additionally by no means supplied, so…
Oman Air enterprise class service
In a earlier submit, I wrote concerning the terrible service in enterprise class on this flight. I don’t wish to beat a useless horse, so I’m not going to cowl it intimately once more. I’ll merely state that the distinction in service between this flight and my final Oman Air flight was evening and day. It was clear the flight attendant serving my aisle didn’t wish to be there, and as a buyer, you actually really feel that.
This got here when it comes to basic items, like not following the proper protocols, and it additionally got here when it comes to zero proactive service. Like, once you convey somebody dessert and see that they’ve two empty glasses, wouldn’t you ask them in the event that they’d like one thing else to drink? There was merely none of that on this flight.
I ended up sharing some suggestions with the cabin supervisor concerning the unhealthy service, and that obtained tremendous awkward. I discover Oman Air has fairly inconsistent service, and this flight is the right instance of that. The primary purpose I’m giving this flight such a low rating is due to the service.
Oman Air A330 arrival in Frankfurt
Round 6:35PM, we started our method for Frankfurt. As quickly as we started our descent, the crew ready the cabin for touchdown, as is normal on Oman Air.
We ended up having a powder easy landing in Frankfurt at 7:10PM. From there we had fairly a protracted taxi to our arrival gate, the place we pulled in at 7:20PM.
From there I headed by means of immigration and to the Hilton Backyard Inn Frankfurt Airport, the place I’d be spending the evening.
Backside line
Whereas my Oman Air 787 enterprise class flight to Muscat delighted me, my Oman Air A330 enterprise class flight to Frankfurt was an enormous disappointment. On the plus facet, the seats have been snug, the bedding was nice, and the meals was tasty.
Nonetheless, the flight additionally had main points. The largest downside was the service, which simply made me really feel very unwelcome. Past that, the cabin felt fairly worn, there have been no amenity kits or a second snack on a virtually eight hour flight, the Wi-Fi was damaged, and I discovered the leisure tough to make use of.
So yeah, it’s laborious to know what to make of Oman Air. On an excellent day, Oman Air is outstanding. On a nasty day, Oman Air is sort of disappointing.
What’s your tackle Oman Air A330 enterprise class?
