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 London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) as well as Manchester. 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 with them. If you're travelling from the US, 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.

For example, AT offers a generous checked baggage, even for economy travellers.

This is a big win for AT over the budget airlines.

Second, there's a notable difference between the business class and economy experience. In that case, it can be worth connecting via a partner airline to an AT hub in order to enjoy a more comfortable long-haul journey.

Finally, if you’re a loyal oneworld Alliance traveller, 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 (76 cm), while the larger 787-9 offers a standard 32 inches (81 cm).

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: some partner airlines may price AT’s Economy fares more cheaply. For example, Eco Serenity may be sold under a different fare name, without flexible options like Eco Flex, but often at a lower price.

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 UK cities it serves. The schedule can vary, though. From London Heathrow, services operate from the airline’s designated terminal, though frequencies vary by season. From other UK airports, including Manchester, service patterns can also change 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 check in 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.

Remember that you can apply for fast track services at an additional fee for UK airports. Availability and pricing vary by airport, and you’ll usually need to book in advance via the airport’s website Because of this, I always plan for a little extra time to get through security.

While the boarding experience in the UK has improved (perhaps due to AT joining the oneworld Alliance), it can still be quite hectic in Heathrow. 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).

UK travellers can earn oneworld miles via partner airline loyalty schemes, or by transferring points from programmes such as American Express Membership Rewards  to partners like Etihad Guest, which can then be used to book AT flights. American Airlines has since moved Morocco into its Europe award region, lowering the number of miles required compared to the old Africa pricing.