Find cheap Royal Air Maroc flights

Royal Air Maroc (AT) is the national air carrier in Morocco and one of the largest airlines in Africa. Operating out of Casablanca, it connects nonstop to several US cities like New York, Miami and Washington DC. While this airline has become part of the oneworld Alliance in recent years, the experience remains inconsistent. Your flight quality depends heavily on which class you book and which aircraft you get.

Why fly Royal Air Maroc?

Let’s be honest about the downsides. Some of AT’s planes show their age with worn-out seats and grimy cabins.

Economy service is hit-or-miss with sometimes chaotic check-in and boarding, packed flights and cabin crew who aren’t always attentive.

Here’s why I still fly them. AT is the only airline with nonstop service to Casablanca, letting you skip layovers at Heathrow or Charles de Gaulle. The flights are short (about 7 hours from JFK, just over 8 from Miami), making AT an easy choice when you’re pressed for time.

That said, there are 3 important caveats.

First, if you live near one of AT’s US departure cities, the economy flight is a quick, if not luxurious, hop across the pond. If you have to connect from elsewhere in the US, you might be better off with an airline that offers a more consistent experience.

Second, the business class experience is decidedly better. In that case, it can be worth grabbing a connecting flight on American Airlines to an AT hub for a much more comfortable transatlantic journey.

Finally, if you’re a loyal oneworld Alliance traveler, flying Royal Air Maroc is a great way to rack up points and enjoy your status perks (more on that in a bit).

Onboard Royal Air Maroc

Your experience in the air with AT will really depend on which cabin you’re sitting in. Let’s break it down.

Economy

AT economy seats aren’t particularly comfortable with limited legroom. I pack extra cushioning (a thick scarf and pillow work well) to make the flight more bearable.

Aircraft matters for comfort. The 787-8 Dreamliner has seat pitch as tight as 30 inches, while the larger 787-9 offers a standard 32 inches.

There’s Sky-RAM, AT’s onboard wireless service that lets you stream movies and TV to your personal device, though full internet connectivity isn’t available on all aircraft. The inflight entertainment is decent if you get a working screen (not always guaranteed in my experience). USB outlets are available on the 787 fleet, though individual ports may occasionally need maintenance, so bring a portable charger just in case.

Business

Business class varies by aircraft. The 787-9 features the popular reverse herringbone 1-2-1 configuration, while the 787-8 has a traditional 2-2-2 layout. Both offer lie-flat seats, but the 787-9 feels roomier and more comfortable.

If you have schedule flexibility, book the 787-9. These newer planes have soothing LED mood lighting, beautiful cabin design and better seats (though aircraft types can change before departure).

I enjoy AT’s business amenities: the kit includes toiletries from Nectarome, a local Moroccan producer, and the Moroccan mint tea arrives in a traditional silver teapot.

AT baggage woes

Now for some real talk. Royal Air Maroc has a reputation for mishandling checked luggage.

I almost always fly carry-on only, but I make a special point of it when flying AT. If you can manage it, I’d advise you to do the same. If you absolutely have to check a bag, I highly recommend tossing a luggage tracker in your suitcase for some peace of mind.

Fare classes

Royal Air Maroc has two main classes of service economy and business. Within each of those, you can buy different types of fares with their own rules and restrictions.

Economy class

AT offers three economy fares for long-haul flights. Eco Essential is the baseline fare with hand baggage only and limited flexibility. Eco Classic includes checked baggage and seat selection but charges fees for changes. Eco Flex offers total flexibility with fully flexible tickets and even lets you fly earlier on the same day with their GoShow service.

Here’s an insider tip: check American Airlines first. I’ve booked Eco Serenity through AA at roughly 20% off. American calls it “Main” instead of Eco Serenity and doesn’t offer Eco Flex, but the savings are worth it.

Business class

In business, you’ll find three fare types: Essential, Flex, and Serenity. The main difference is the flexibility. Essential fares can be changed for a fee but aren’t refundable. Flex allows the first change for free with subsequent changes subject to conditions, and refunds come with a fee. Serenity lets you change or refund your ticket for free.

And yes, I have the same advice for business class: check American Airlines first. You might find better pricing through AA compared to booking directly.

Booking a flight

Booking a flight with AT is straightforward, especially if you’re flying from one of the US cities it serves. The schedule can vary, though. From New York, service operates from JFK Terminal 1, but frequencies vary by season. From Miami and Washington DC, service patterns also vary throughout the year.

The same goes for the return journey, so you’ll need to be a little flexible with your dates when planning your trip.

AT pre-flight experience

You can checkin online for your flight to Morocco (opens 48 hours before departure), but on the way back from Casablanca, you’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way at the airport counter. Departing from Morocco, passengers must go to the check-in desk to collect the boarding pass required by Moroccan airport authorities. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time.

Royal Air Maroc doesn’t participate in the TSA PreCheck program. And if you’re flying out of JFK Terminal 1 (the airline is scheduled to move to the New Terminal One soon), you won’t find a CLEAR lane either. Because of this, I always plan for a little extra time to get through security.

While the boarding process in the US has gotten better, it can still be pretty hectic in Casablanca. In my experience, they don’t really board by zones, and while some gates have jetway bridges, you’ll often take a bus to remote stands. Long waits aren’t uncommon, so a little patience goes a long way.

If you’re flying business class from Casablanca, there’s a separate Business Class Bus to take you to the plane when boarding from remote stands, but you often have to ask for it. I’ve missed it before because no one announced it at the gate. It’s a small thing, but it’s nice to board first while everyone else waits on the bus.

Oneworld Alliance

For all my fellow points and miles collectors, this is the good stuff. Since Royal Air Maroc joined the oneworld Alliance, there are more ways to earn and redeem miles for your flights.

As a oneworld Ruby status holder, I get some nice perks like using the Business Class priority check-in counters and access to preferred seating. If you’re a Sapphire member or higher, you get priority boarding, an extra baggage allowance, and access to business class lounges, including the Royal Air Maroc lounge in Casablanca (though it’s not available for Priority Pass holders).

You can earn oneworld miles through American Airlines’ co-branded credit cards from Citi or by transferring points from programs like American Express Membership Rewards to partner airlines like Etihad Guest, which you can then use to book AT flights. American moved Morocco to its Europe award region, reducing award costs by about 25% compared to the old Africa pricing.