Oman Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 Economy Class Review [GOX to MCT]

Airline: Oman Air (WY)
Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8
Flight #: WY0220
Route: Manohar International Airport (GOX) to Muscat International Airport (MCT)
Date: February 15, 2025
Duration: 3 hours, 10 minutes
Cabin and Layout: Economy class, 3-3
Seat: 23D
Cost: $184.37 per ticket one-way from Goa, India, to Doha, Qatar, via Muscat, Oman

I’ve been eyeing traveling to Goa, India, from my home in Doha, Qatar, for several years, as the beach destination is one of the cheapest flights from the Middle East. Unfortunately, the only nonstop routes are redeyes, which has made the journey less than ideal.

After finding a great deal on a 1-stop flight from Doha to Goa with Air India, I was lucky to spot a day-flight return on Oman Air via Google Flights that would allow us to maximize our morning in Goa and return home around bedtime ahead of school the next day.

Read on to learn more about my family’s experience in Oman Air economy class, from booking to boarding and the inflight journey.

Booking Oman Air Economy Class

I booked directly with Oman Air and paid ₹79,470 ($921.86) for the 5 tickets, which cost $184.37 each.

I paid with my Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card for its great travel insurance and earned 2x Ultimate Rewards miles on the travel purchase.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
• 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

I added Qatar Airways Privilege Club numbers for the adults to the reservation, but the children’s account numbers wouldn’t attach. The Avios for the 2 adults were never credited, so I opened an investigation with the airline to follow up on earnings for all 5 passengers. Ultimately, each traveler was credited 300 Avios each.

These were Economy Super Saver fares, so we did not get a checked bag. Each passenger received 7 kilograms (15.4 pounds) of carry-on luggage. At the time of booking, the fare difference to Economy Comfort, which included 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of checked luggage, was only about $13 more (before taxes and fees).

Checked luggage added à la carte at the time of booking would have cost $30 for 5 kilograms (11 pounds), $50 for 10 kilograms (22 pounds), or $90 for 20 kilograms (44 pounds). If purchased at the time of check-in, those prices soared to $49, $80, and $176. Bottom line: Selecting a fare type with luggage included at the time of booking would have been a cheaper option than à la carte.

I received an invitation to upgrade via email and when I checked in online. The range for the GOX-MCT segment was from $100 for a fair chance to $350 for an excellent chance. The range for the MCT-DOH segment was $200 to $575. Considering that I had Priority Pass lounge access and it was a day flight, this was an easy pass for me.

When I reviewed my autoassigned seats, I noticed that a 360-degree tour of the seat was offered.

This was especially cool because my kids were super concerned that this flight might not have inflight entertainment (IFE) screens. By clicking on the 360-tour, I could easily see that the aircraft would indeed have screens. Cue the sigh of relief.

Manohar International Airport (GOX)

After a 45-minute taxi ride from Le Méridien Goa, Calangute, in North Goa, we arrived at Manohar International Airport (GOX), also known as Mopa. Goa’s newest airport opened in late 2022 and is the second airport in the area after Goa International Airport (GOI), known as Dabolim.

Check In

We approached a sprawling line for economy class and were instantly glad we had no luggage to check in.

Even though we had checked in online and had no checked baggage, we knew we needed to present our Qatar resident identification cards when flying to Doha. As such, we entered the short Web Check-in/Baggage Drop queue. Our documents were quickly checked, boarding passes were printed, and we were on our way to the lounge!

Encalm Lounge (International Terminal)

Priority Pass cardholders can access 2 Encalm Lounges at GOX: 1 in the domestic terminal and 1 in the international terminal.

The international location is immediately on the left after exiting the duty-free area. It has no privacy screens on the windows and is fully visible to anyone walking past.

My family gained lounge access using the complimentary Priority Pass™ membership from my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which is my absolute favorite benefit of this card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Top rated mobile app

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

In addition to Priority Pass members, the lounge is open to eligible cardholders with India-issued cards from AU Small Finance Bank, Federal Bank, RuPay, SBI Card, and Visa.

Guests can also pay a day rate of ₹2,898 ($33), excluding tax, for 2-hour access. Additional hours are ₹1,296 ($15), and children 6 to 11 are priced at ₹1,864 ($22).

So, is Encalm Lounge worth a stop? Sure, for a bite to eat and a quick drink.

During our midday visits, the space had plenty of seats, including many armchairs and a few dining table and chair sets.

The tables between the chairs had USB-A and USB-C inputs and a Type M/D outlet.

We may have just arrived after a rush, as trash and discarded dishes were awaiting cleanup.

When entering the lounge, the main seating area was to the left, and the buffet and additional dining tables were to the right.

The dining area was small, but after a big hotel breakfast, we just needed a nibble ahead of an anticipated meal on board our flight. The buffet started with a few cold vegetables and dips for salad, as well as donuts … because donuts truly belong on a salad bar (according to my kids, at least).

Next to the salad bar was a cooler with watermelon, sweet boondi (fried chickpea flour), brownies, and cake.

Most hot dishes, including chicken tagine, Goan fish curry, vegetable korma, paneer curry, and dal, had the same orangish hue. Rice, roti, and cream of mushroom soup were also available.

The buffet finished with various cold salads: Mexican tri-bean salad, Moroccan beetroot salad, German potato salad, and grilled chicken salad.

For beverages, a water dispenser and self-service coffeemaker were available. A small fridge contained small cans of regular soda, including Thums Up. No diet sodas were available.

An attended bar had beer in a cooler and liquor available for purchase.

A menu detailed pricing for aperitifs, whiskey, scotch, vodka, gin, and rum.

The lounge did not appear to have a Wi-Fi network, and we had difficulty accessing the airport’s network, which required sending an OTP to a phone number.

Bottom Line:

I wouldn’t expect to be blown away by Encalm Lounge, but if all you require is a quick drink and a snack, you’ll find a comfy seat to pass the time in instead of waiting at the terminal gate.

Boarding

The flight was scheduled to depart from gate 7 at 2:50 p.m., and boarding commenced at 2:10 p.m. directly to the jet bridge with no official announcement.

From the jet bridge, I caught a very small glimpse of the narrow-body 737 MAX 8 we would be flying on.

On Board Oman Air’s Boeing 737 MAX 8

Business Class

I first passed through the business class cabin, which has 3 rows of seats in a 2-2 configuration. Because the seats have a fixed shell back, they slide down into a recline position and are not fully lie-flat. The cabin has a 46-inch pitch, a 17-inch inflight entertainment screen, and a privacy divider that pulls out to separate the seats.

These seats were preset with a pillow, and blankets were stored nearby in the economy overhead bins (for both cabins).

Economy Class

The economy class cabin has 150 seats in a 3-3 configuration across 25 rows. Each seat has a 30-inch pitch with a 5-inch recline. My family sat in row 23 across seats A through E.

The seats feature a 4-way adjustable headrest that you can raise or lower and bend toward your head.

The seatback features a 10.2-inch touch-screen monitor, tray table, and mesh pocket. This design differed slightly from the 360-degree rendering at online check-in, which showed an additional small dropdown cupholder.

The tray table easily unlatched, folded down, and could be extended toward your body.

Below the tray table was a mesh pocket with a safety card. I’m 5 feet 7 inches tall, and the legroom was a bit tight, though I was comfortable with my legs extended.

A rectangular button on the armrest operated the recline function.

Below the seat was a universal power outlet.

Above the seat was a standard overhead bin. The top of the overhead bin space was black, which lent a modern touch to the cabin.

The black interior of the overhead bins, coupled with blue recessed lighting in the roof molding’s oval design, made the cabin ceiling look unique and contemporary.

The windows had a standard pull-down shade, and ours offered a great view across the wings.

Hot Tip:

Oman Air has a unique program for children ages 4 to 12 called Junior Sinbad. Kids can collect a Junior Sindbad Flyer passport from a crew member and get it stamped and signed by the captain each time they fly. Once they’ve collected 10 stamps, they can swap the passport for a free round-trip economy class ticket to any destination Oman Air serves.

Food and Beverages

We took off just after 3 p.m., and meal service began around 3:45 p.m. Each flight attendant had their own cart to serve passengers in various sections of the aircraft more efficiently, rather than from the front to the back.

The meal options were vegetarian or chicken, and I opted for chicken. The curried chicken was topped with biryani and accompanied by a roll with butter, rice pudding, and a bottle of water.

I don’t typically love biryani, but let’s take a moment to appreciate its colorfulness. Turmeric and saffron give the rice playful hints of yellow and orange. The chicken underneath was nicely spiced, and I enjoyed the fried onion topping. Unfortunately, my kids barely touched this meal.

Drinks were also served with the meal, with sodas offered primarily from larger bottles. I asked about diet soda, and the flight attendant told me he would return soon with some for me. Not too long after the service wrapped, he brought me 2 small cans of Diet Coke.

The trays were cleared less than 40 minutes after meal service began.

Inflight Entertainment

The 10.2-inch touch-screen monitor featured inflight entertainment branded as “Aria.” It featured movies, TV shows, music, and games. The movie selection didn’t have many new releases, but there were lots of options to choose from.

What I loved about this screen was that it had a privacy filter. I am always mindful of watching kid-appropriate content when flying with my preteens, and having a privacy screen keeps their wandering eyes on their own screens.

Single-connector earbuds in paper bags had been preset on each seat.

The bottom of the screen could be slightly tilted and had headphone jacks and a USB-A input.

As I ran my fingers along the touch-screen to scroll through movies, it was clear that my screen hadn’t been cleaned before my flight. It had a crusty liquid residue along the right side of it, right where one would scroll. Ick.

Hot Tip:

This aircraft did not offer Wi-Fi. Currently, the only aircraft in Oman Air’s fleet that does is the 787.

Lavatory

I visited the rear lavatory at the start of the flight. Neither towels nor seat covers were available.

A small mounted shelf had travel mist, body lotion, and disposable cups (a bit strange since this sink water shouldn’t be potable).

Similar to my experience with the dirty IFE screen, the surfaces here seemed to have been missed by the cleaning crew. The mirror was quite dirty and had drippy stains.

Service

My interactions with the crew were minimal, but the experience that stood out was the flight attendant remembering my Diet Coke. That would have been an easy detail to miss, and I appreciated that he brought the cans to my seat without me having to ask further for them.

Arrival

We arrived at our gate at Muscat International Airport about 12 minutes ahead of schedule. After disembarking, we passed a security scan and took the escalators into the terminal. We then made our way to the excellent Primeclass Lounge ahead of our next flight.

Final Thoughts

Both of our Oman Air flights were comfortable and on time, with screens that kept our kids entertained. You can’t ask for much more.

The cleanliness details missed on this flight are the oversight of the cleaning contractors, but ultimately, how the aircraft presents itself reflects the airline and its crew. I’m sure the flight attendant team could have cleaned some superficial, drippy stains as they prepared for passengers, but I understand they’d be easy to miss.

I wouldn’t hesitate to fly Oman Air again if the price is right.