Find cheap Egyptair flights

As the national carrier of Egypt, Egyptair is often the first introduction visitors have to the nation before they arrive. It is also one of the largest carriers in Africa, and brings people to and from the country, but also connecting those travelling between the airline’s more than 100 destinations. Egyptair is a member of Star Alliance, which only helps it to expand its wings across the globe by making it easier to fly beyond its own route map using partners. The airline has a few key differences from other carriers that you should consider before booking your next flight. Let’s explore those.

An enormous and varied fleet

While Egyptair is working to modernise its fleet with newer planes, it still has a large number of aircraft with older seating options, especially disappointing in business class. The best planes for long-haul sectors are the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner since all seats have a newer design. The worst seats are on the Airbus A330, which has, for example, angled, lie-flat seats in business class.

I learned the hard way when flying a long-haul flight on an A330 in business class having a hard time trying to sleep in those cradle seats. But, my disappointment was redeemed when experiencing the Boeing Dreamliner in a 1-2-1 flat-bed setup in business class. Even more dense is the Boeing B777 aircraft in business class, which is 2-3-2 with a middle seat (no, there is no discount for that seat!).

In economy class, the opposite is true since the Boeing planes have a 3-3-3 setup in economy class. On the A330 plane, it is 2-4-2, which means that no one has more than one seat to climb over to reach the aisle. On the larger Boeing planes, people at the windows have to climb over two seats.

Now, the airline is adding newer planes like the Airbus A321neo and the A220, which are used on regional flights. The A220, often used on domestic flights, is one of the most comfortable for economy class because it is in a 2-3 layout. This means no middle seat on one side of the plane.

Inflight service, but missing one thing

Egyptair does only an average job for inflight service, and the experience you have will often depend on the energy level of the crew. Some are more engaging than others. The airline only has two cabins: business and economy (nothing in between like premium economy).

A dry airline

While Egypt is not a dry country, many of its residents abstain from partaking in alcohol. And whether you are travelling to Egypt (or just connecting through the country), its national airline does not serve alcohol on any of its flights. It is a dry airline, which for some travellers, discourages them from flying with the Star Alliance carrier.

On short flights, this is rarely an issue, but I have seen surprised looks on people seated next to me on longer flights when they are told they cannot have a drink with dinner on a 12 hour flight. The airline shares this information on its website, but it is rarely advertised clearly.

There are some important caveats, however. You are permitted to bring alcohol purchased in duty-free at the airport onto the plane. Egyptair does not sell alcohol in its duty-free catalogue on board. No matter where you buy it, alcohol must remain sealed in the bag though.

Business class

When flying with Egyptair, your experience will vary. This is because the business class seat and layout can be so different depending on the plane. On the Boeing 737-800 or Airbus A220, 320 or A321 planes, it is a recliner seat in a 2-2 layout. Long-haul flights, however, can leave some travellers scratching their heads unless they do some research, because each aircraft can be different.

On long flights, there are supposed to be printed menus, but they are not always delivered, in my experience. Amenity kits are average at best, and the meal service is tasty, but not in great quantity. The airline could invest some effort in serving more Egyptian fare, in my opinion. On top of that, for a dry airline, Egyptair should spice up the menu with mocktails and creative juices.

I am not the only traveller to say that Egyptair could improve their customer service training, both on the ground and in the air. Egyptian hospitality is exceptional, but for some reason, it is not always present when travelling with the airline.

Much like the seating, entertainment offerings can vary from small business class screens on the A330 to larger screens on newer planes. The selection of international Hollywood films and sitcoms seems smaller than expected for such long flights. There is a lot of Arabic and foreign language content, which makes sense.

Economy class

Egyptair seating can be tight, but pillows and blankets (while not great quality) are available. On almost all flights with enough time, a meal is complimentary in economy class with soft drinks. On shorter flights, do not expect much.

Try your best to fly on one of the airline’s newer Airbus or Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes. You will be rewarded with larger entertainment screens and more content to enjoy on the flight, no matter where you are sitting.

To pass the time, the airline is adding Wi-Fi for a fee to its aircraft, but the system has been buggy when I have tried to use it. This is something the carrier is working to improve.

Special services for long connections

With such an extensive global network from Europe and North America to the Middle East, Asia, and a huge African network, many travellers may find themselves with more time in the Cairo airport than they would like. Egyptair has several services that can help to pass the time.

Lounges

There are several Egyptair and Star Alliance lounges in Cairo’s various terminals, but they are also dry and have a very basic spread of snacks and light meals. Wi-Fi is free, but not always easy to connect to (I have always had difficulty staying connected).

Transit hotels

On select itineraries with a long layover, Egyptair will offer travellers a transit hotel near the airport where they can sleep if they have an especially long time to wait. You will need to have at least six hours between flights when in business class or at least eight hours when in economy class to be eligible for the complimentary transit hotel.

There are several caveats that include the type of fare, the cost of the ticket, and your origin and destination that can snag your efforts. Ask in advance if you qualify, and get it in writing. Each time I have tried to get a hotel during my ‘qualifying’ transits, agents would find an excuse to not provide one unless you press them further and show proof that you were offered one.

Another important thing to consider before requesting a transit hotel is whether you need a visa to enter Egypt as well as whether you are taking the fastest connection to your destination. If there is another connecting flight before yours that you could have taken, you will not get a free transit hotel.

Connections between airlines

Transiting without a visa in Cairo can be confusing, and I am lucky that someone explained to me what to do in advance. If transiting Cairo on two separate tickets or between airlines that do not partner together, you can still make it happen.

Once you arrive to Cairo, follow the signs to the transit security area. Chances are that it may look empty if there are not many flights arriving at the same time. Be assertive and look for someone that can help you. Egyptians are friendly, even if they may seem stern at the airport.

Be sure to arrive with printed documentation of your connecting flight. Someone will walk you to a transit room where you will probably have to give your passport to an official. They will then call the connecting airline to verify you are flying with them. The waits can seem long (usually 30 minutes to an hour), but eventually, you will be taken to your connecting airline flight (no visa required).

Loyalty partnerships

The airline’s Egyptair Plus programme is not worth joining if you do not live in Egypt. Instead, I recommend using another Star Alliance partner programme (usually one based closer to where you live) because you will find their miles easier to use. If you have elite status with Star Alliance, Egyptair offers priority check-in, boarding, and lounge access perks, which can meaningfully improve your travel experience.