Egyptair is Egypt’s national carrier and one of Africa’s largest airlines, connecting 78 destinations (13 domestic cities and 65 international cities) as a Star Alliance member. But before you book, there are some key differences from other carriers you should know about. The Egyptair fleet varies wildly, it’s a dry airline (no alcohol served), and navigating Cairo connections requires some insider knowledge.
Egyptair's fleet and what to expect onboard
The Egyptair fleet varies dramatically, and knowing which plane you’re on matters. The airline is modernising, but older aircraft with disappointing seating still operate, especially in business class.
For long-haul flights, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is your best bet with its 1-2-1 business class setup. I learned this the hard way after struggling to sleep in the angled cradle seats on an A330. The Boeing 777 is even more cramped in business with a 2-3-2 layout that includes a middle seat (and no, there’s no discount for it).
Economy class is different. The A330’s 2-4-2 configuration means no one climbs over more than one seat to reach the aisle. Boeing’s 3-3-3 setup on the 787-9 and 777 puts window passengers two seats away from freedom (though the 737-800 has a standard 3-3 layout).
The airline has added newer regional aircraft like the Airbus A321neo and A220. The A220, used on both regional routes like Cairo-Budapest and domestic routes like Cairo-Assiut-Sohag, is comfortable in economy with its unique 5-abreast 2-3 layout (no middle seat on one side).
The Egyptair flying experience
Egyptair does an average job with inflight service, and your experience 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, with nothing in between like premium economy.
A dry airline
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 mentions this on their website, but it’s not prominently advertised.
You can bring duty-free alcohol purchased at the airport onto the plane, but it must stay sealed in the bag. Egyptair doesn’t sell alcohol in their onboard duty-free catalogue either.
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, and while meals are tasty, portions are small. For a dry airline, Egyptair should get creative with mocktails and juices instead of basic soft drinks.
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 Hollywood films and sitcoms seems smaller than expected for such long flights.
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.
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 help pass the time, the airline offers Wi-Fi on its A220 aircraft (with streaming capabilities), but the system has been buggy when I’ve tried to use it. This is something the carrier is working to improve.
Making the most of Cairo layovers
With an extensive global network, many travellers may find themselves with more time in the Cairo airport than they’d like. Egyptair has several services that can help pass the time.
Lounges
There are several Egyptair lounges across Cairo’s terminals (Terminal 3, Terminal 2, and the Seasonal Terminal), 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.
Several factors can disqualify you, including fare type (discounted fares of 50% or more are excluded), and you must arrive on the last available flight and depart on the first available connecting flight. The service is available for a maximum of 24 hours. Ask in advance if you qualify and get it in writing. Every time I’ve tried to claim a hotel during qualifying transits, agents found excuses unless I pressed them with proof of the offer.
You also won’t get a hotel if you need a visa to enter Egypt. The airline expects you to take the fastest connection available.
Connections between airlines
Transiting without a visa in Cairo can be confusing, and I’m lucky someone explained what to do in advance. If you’re connecting on two separate tickets or between airlines that don’t partner together, you can still make it happen.
Once you arrive, follow the signs to the transit security area. It may look empty, so be assertive and look for someone to help you. Be sure to arrive with printed documentation of your connecting flight. Someone will walk you to a transit room where you’ll probably have to give your passport to an official who will call the connecting airline to verify you’re flying with them. The waits can seem long, but eventually, you’ll be taken to your connecting flight. Visa requirements may vary depending on your nationality and specific routing.
Egyptair loyalty programme and partnerships
The EGYPTAIR Plus programme isn’t worth joining if you don’t live in Egypt. Instead, I recommend using another Star Alliance partner program (usually one based closer to where you live) because you’ll find their miles easier to use. If you have Star Alliance Gold status, Egyptair offers priority check-in, priority boarding, and airport lounge access (plus one guest), which can meaningfully improve your travel experience.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up to date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
