Egyptair

Rome to Cairo and Cairo to London. Both flights were quite pleasant meals were average economy standard meals. B737-800 from Rome and B777-300 to London. B777 had a more up to date inflight entertainment system but I didn't find a lot that appealed to me. Newspapers (English and Arabic ) offered on both flights. The flight attendants were ok if somewhat distant. One in particular on the London flight was an expert in looking busy but actually doing very little. During the newspaper offering service her interpretation of service was pushing the trolley down the aisle past expectant passengers without glancing up at anyone as she was too busy reading the paper herself.

A mixed bag describes my recent experience on flights between Bangkok/Cairo and Cairo/JFK. As another writer recently bemoaned the aircraft used on the Bangkok/Cairo sector was truly ancient. I do not honestly recall having riden an airliner that looked as worn as that used on this route. I too rode in Business Class yet felt like a sardine in coach class given the paltry amount of leg room available. A complete disaster was averted by fairly decent (but not great) meals and a hard working flight crew. The trip from Cairo/JFK was a totally different story. This time we were on a new 777 with lie flat seats. We had a very caring crew that kept on feeding us meal after meal. Both flights were relatively on time and both captains kept passengers reasonably informed.

LHR to JNB return. LHR to Cairo on new aircraft clean good inflight entertainment staff very good and food not too bad. Cairo to JNB was on an older aircraft with the old TV on the wall service was pretty good though. Would have preferred the newer planes on the longer leg of the journey. Return trip was the same JNB-CAI an older plane and CAI-LHR new plane! Expectations were too high in the first place so not bad at all.

BKK-CAI Business class. A terrible experience. Star Alliance standards? The flight was terrible an extremely old 777 with economy class legroom and no proper recline. Only 21 seats and no service. I asked for juice and the empty glass was in the arm rest for only 8 hours. Not even once a cabin attendant asked if needed something. A third class breakfast was served. I cannot understand how Egypt air was accepted to Star Alliance with such a low standards.

Heathrow to Johannesburg via Cairo and back. Heathrow to Cairo was excellent with a comfortable seat food and service good. Cairo to Johannesburg not as good as - an older aircraft with no seatback entertainment but cabin staff were good. The return flights were pretty much the same. Good value for money if you book early and get cheap tickets.

LHR-CAI with 2 day stopover before continuing CAI-JNB and then back to LHR. First flight a BMI codeshare - attendants pretty disinterested and plane was tatty. Cairo to Joburg on the old Airbus - no personal TV but midnight departure I was interested in sleeping. Got the Airbus back to Cairo where a lost walking stick threatened to derail my impressions of EgyptAir up to that point. Ground staff were quite apathetic although at the last minute a very good manager took on my complaint and was waiting for me at the departure gate to London with my stick - excellent. Flight back to London was on the new Boeing which was lovely. Food on all legs acceptable for economy class although I would have preferred more drinks rounds. Attendants pleasant enough - no complaints.

BRU-CAI-SSH. Snow disruption. Flight delayed 3 hours. Snow can happen but we were boarded in the plane (old A321) even as MS knew the luggage handling was delayed for hours more. We were sitting in the plane for 2 more hours without any communication about the reason of the extra delay. Cup of water after more than 1.5 hrs and passengers complaints. Push-back with more than 5 hrs delay. Still no comment from crew. Pilot never addressed passengers during flight safety demo aborted for take-off crew unsmiling inedible food. Arrival in CAI with big delay connection to SSH was gone. Kept us waiting until 05.30 in the morning in the transit zone. Only then they said us there was no seat on any flight for SSH during the day and that we had to go to hotel. We had to argue very strongly to get our boarding passes printed before we left for that hotel. They knew it already 99during the night but wouldn't put us in hotel too early because they have to pay for extra night in the hotel. We only got voucher after asking for it. This is not the Egyptian hospitality I know. Shame on you Egypt Air.

CAI-BRU return Business Class old A321. One meal was served food. No personal TV screen and seat was not even reclining. Check in smooth new terminal in Cairo is very nice. Lounge also nice. Crew friendly and attentive.

EgyptAir coach class JFK to Cairo bulkhead seats were roomy plane was immaculate and the hot meal served above average for airlines. The flight attendants were pleasant and professional. During our trip we flew Egypt Air from Cairo-Luxor Aswan-AbuSimbel-Cairo flights on time and planes clean with ample leg room. On our return we had the opportunity to fly business class on new B777-300 - plane was immaculate service and food exceptional.

JNB-CAI-AMS A340 and B737. We thought we were mentally prepared for Egypt Air but no. The A340 business class seats would not have been out of place in a premium economy cabin : hardly any recline no leg room video monitors in front of cabin only. B737 had better leg room video on demand but no foot rest. This means when in a reclined position legs start hurting after a while. Verdict on Egyptair : cheap but certainly not cheerful.