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Oman Air Boeing 787-9 Business Class Review (Muscat to Bangkok)

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Cherag Dubash

Former Content Contributor

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Based in Abu Dhabi, the London City University graduate is regularly seen on Instagram, traveling over 100,000 miles each year in first and business class while holding down a regular job.
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Airline: Oman Air (WY)
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 (A4O-SD)
Flight #: WY 815
Route: Muscat International Airport (MCT) to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK)
Date: June 22, 2019
Duration: 6hrs 5min
Cabin and Layout: Business Class, 30 Apex Suites in a 2-2-2 configuration
Seat: 12A
Miles Used: 34,000 Etihad Guest miles + AED 580 (~$158) per person one-way including taxes and fees
Fare Paid: N/A
Typical Retail Fare: AED 4,907.50 (~$1,336) per person one-way including taxes and fees

Introduction

Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman and the perennial underdog to the ME3 (Emirates (EK), Etihad (EY), and Qatar Airways (QR), operates a mix of narrow and wide-body Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer aircraft out of its hub in Muscat.

Having heard and read good things about its world-class Apex Suite on the Boeing 787, which is now complimented with a world class airport and lounge, I was keen to give them a go for my travel to Bangkok.

Booking

Oman Air’s business class can be booked with points using the carrier’s frequent flyer program, Sindbad, and the Etihad Guest program.

Out of the 2, booking with Etihad Guest miles is a convenient option, considering points can be easily transferred from various credit cards and hotel partners as an Amex transfer partnerCapital One transfer partnerCiti ThankYou transfer partner, and Marriott Bonvoy transfer partner.

Hot Tip: Even though Etihad’s award chart displays Oman Air first class redemption, it’s not possible to redeem these seats. This was confirmed by the Etihad staff when I tried to redeem Etihad Guest miles for a first class ticket to London.

A one-way business class ticket from Muscat to Bangkok will set you back just 34,000 Etihad Guest miles, which I redeemed from the 50,000 Etihad Guest miles I earned as a sign-up bonus on my ADCB Etihad Guest Above Infinite Card.

ADCB_Etihad_Guest_Signup
ADCB Etihad Guest Credit Card Sign Up Bonus

Unfortunately, there is no provision to search and book Oman Air award space online through Etihad’s website. Hence, you need to call in and keep your fingers crossed that award space might be available on the day you intend to travel. Being based in Abu Dhabi, I called Etihad Guest’s Abu Dhabi call center, and after a few minutes, the agent on the line was able to confirm that award space was available on the date I had planned to travel, and proceeded to book and confirm the ticket.

Oman Air_B787-9_Business_Class_Ticket_Cherag_Dubash
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Ticket

At Muscat International Airport

I arrived at the airport a bit early, around 5:00 a.m., 4 hours before scheduled departure, as I was looking forward to exploring the new state of the art terminal at Muscat International Airport (MCT) which opened May 20, 2018. The new terminal is a huge step up from its predecessor with 86 check-in counters, 45 gates, upgraded duty-free shops, and a brand new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower.

Muscat_Airport_Cherag_Dubash
New Muscat Airport

On arriving at the terminal, I proceeded to Oman Air’s dedicated first and business class check-in area for premium passengers. The premium check-in area has 12 counters and a seating area to the side which is similar to but not as opulent as Qatar Airways’ first and business class check-in area at Doha’s Hamad International Airport.

Oman Air B787-9 First and Business Class Check-in - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air B787-9 First and Business Class Check-In

The check-in area was relatively quiet, bar a handful of passengers.

Oman Air B787-9 First and Business Class Check-in - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air B787-9 First and Business Class Check-In

Oman Air B787-9 First and Business Class Check-in - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air B787-9 First and Business Class Check-In

Bags checked in and with my boarding card in hand, I headed to the far end of the premium check-in area which leads to a priority immigration and security section. After completing the requisite formalities, I took the escalator to level 5 (a level above the duty-free shops) where the Oman Air First and Business Class Lounge is located, along with the Primeclass Muscat Lounge and the Aerotel Muscat Transit Hotel.

Oman Air First and Business Class Lounge

Having lived in the Middle East for the past 6 years, I have grown accustomed to being surrounded by bling and it was no different here. The entrance doors, ornately decorated with gold latticework, give you the feeling of stepping into a royal palace.

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air First and Business Class Lounge

Once past the lattice gold entrance doors, I was greeted at the reception area by the ground staff, who, after verifying my boarding pass, directed me to the Business Class section.

The reception area is impressive with the gold design and decor accentuating the culture and terrain of Oman.

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air First and Business Class Lounge — Reception

On the left-hand side of the reception area is a portrait of Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, the ruler of Oman along with a model of an Oman Air Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air First and Business Class Lounge — Reception

The First and Business Class Lounge is spread over 2 stories and divided into multiple zones with 2 expansive dining areas, private family rooms, a business center, prayer room, children’s playroom, showers, and a spa and wellness center (which was not open to guests during my visit).

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air First and Business Class Lounge

A small passageway leads you from the reception to the main lounge area.

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Passageway to the Main Lounge Area

Throughout the lounge, there are various seating arrangements — regular chairs, lounge chairs arranged in a circle for families to gather around, and high top chairs near the First Class Lounge entrance.

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Circular Seating Arrangement

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — High-Top Chairs

There are 2 dining areas in the Business Class section of the lounge — 1 near the entrance and the other a bit further ahead after the bar area. Both offer identical food selections and only differ in size and orientation.

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Dining Area Near the Entrance

The food selection was decent with a variety of cold and hot dishes, salads, desserts and fresh fruits on offer. Around 6:00 a.m. they started changing out the dishes for breakfast.

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Hot Buffet

Oman_Air_First and_Business_Class_lounge_Cherag_Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Hot Buffet

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Salads

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Mezze Selection

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Dessert Selection

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Cheese and Dry Fruits Selection

At the far end exit of the first dining area, there is a smaller standalone bar serving dates and non-alcoholic beverages such as “Suleimani Tea,” Arabic coffee, and LeMillion, a Halal-compliant non-alcoholic sparkling grape drink of which they had 3 varieties — Blanc, Royal, and Rosé. I tried a glass of LeMillion Rosé and it was surprisingly tasty and refreshing.

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Non-Alcohol Bar

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Suleimani Tea

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — LeMillion

As you venture further in, you come across the main bar which is located near the First Class Lounge entrance. The bar houses a decent collection of liquor. I knocked back a glass of Lanson Brut Champagne at the bar, which was good enough to fuel me up for the remainder of my lounge excursion.

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Bar

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Bar

Next up is the second dining area, which as I mentioned earlier offers the same food selection but only differs in set up.

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Second Dining Area

If you are connecting and have a long transit, you can relax in one of the day rooms with curtains for privacy or in one of the 4 fully private nap rooms. The nap rooms can be booked on the spot at the reception, subject to availability.

Oman Air Business Class Lounge --- Day Room
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Day Room

Oman Air First and Business Class lounge - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air Business Class Lounge — Nap Room

By the time I completed a full tour of the lounge it was 7:30 a.m. I decided to have a light breakfast and then head to the gate at 8:00 a.m., an hour before the scheduled departure.

Boarding

When I arrived at the gate, it looked more like a melee than a boarding process. There was no separate line for premium passengers, more like a first-come, first-served basis, and surprisingly boarding was only via 1 jet bridge through the L2 door. This meant we all just begrudgingly trudged along and I missed my opportunity to click some clean cabin shots.

Flight

Aircraft

Oman Air operates a thrice daily frequency on their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners from their Muscat hub to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

The airline currently has 9 Boeing 787 series aircraft in its fleet, 2 of which are of the 787-8 variant and the remaining 7 are the 787-9 variant. Only 2 aircraft (A4O-SF and A4O-SG) in the 787-9 fleet have a 3-zone configuration (i.e. first class, business class, and economy class) and are exclusively operated on the Muscat (MCT) – London Heathrow (LHR) sector. The rest are configured to 2 zones (business class and economy class).

Flight WY 815 was operated by a 2-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner registered A40-SD, which was the second 787-9 delivered to the carrier in April 2017.

Hot Tip: Want more? Read another of our writer’s reviews of an Oman Air Boeing 787-9 flight from Muscat (MCT) to Bangkok (BKK).

Oman Air B787-9 Dreamliner --- A4O-SD
Oman Air B787-9 Dreamliner — A4O-SD

The aircraft had a total seating capacity of 288 seats configured as follows:

Business Class Apex Suites: 30 seats in a staggered 2-2-2 configuration with 24 seats in the forward cabin and the 6 seats in the mini business class cabin behind the forward galley.

Economy Class: 259 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration spread across the remainder of the 2 cabins.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air B787-9 Dreamliner — 2-Class Seat Map;
Image Credit: Oman Air

Cabin

After finally making it through the chaotic boarding process, I turned left towards the forward business class cabin and made my way to my assigned seat 12A.

The cabin was beautiful with a simple finish, and with no overhead bins above the middle rows, it had an open and airy feel. The orange, dark brown, and light brown seat upholstery complemented the white bulkheads well.

Oman Air B787-9 Forward Business Class Cabin
Oman Air B787-9 Forward Business Class Cabin

Oman Air B787-9 Forward Business Class Cabin
Oman Air B787-9 Forward Business Class Cabin

In total there are 3 standard-sized lavatories for business class passengers — 2 lavatories on either side at the forward end of the main business class cabin and 1 between the main business class cabin and the mini business class cabin. The toilets are also equipped with bidets and the lavatories are stocked with Amouage toiletries, including hand cream and fragrances for both sexes.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- Lavatory
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — Lavatory

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- Lavatory
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — Lavatory

The Apex Suite

And now to the star of the show — The Apex Suite.

This fantastic product was originally designed by B/E Aerospace as a high-density first class product. However, with the growing demand for privacy and lie-flat beds among business travelers, it has evolved into a business class product and is currently in use by Oman Air (WY), Gulf Air (GF), Japan Airlines (JL), and Korean Air (KE) on their Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleets and other select aircraft.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Apex Suite 12A and 12B
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Apex Suite 12A and 12B

Even with a 2-2-2 configuration, the cabin is quite spacious and the all-forward-facing staggered configuration offers some of the best privacy in the absence of a privacy door with direct aisle access for every passenger.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Apex Suites 12A and 12B
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Apex Suites 12A and 12B

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Seat 12A
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Seat 12A

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Apex Suites 12A and 12B
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Apex Suites 12A and 12B

Opposite the seat is an ottoman which provides additional leg support when the seat is in bed mode.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- Ottoman
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — Ottoman

There is a large tray table that is housed under the right-hand armrest and it turns 90 degrees, enabling you to leave your seat without any inconvenience.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Table
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Table

If you are traveling solo, seats in rows A and K are the ones are to go for. They offer the best privacy and a view out of 3 windows, except for row 12, where a window is missing. Unfortunately, I had the unfortunate privilege of sitting in 12A.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Seat 12A, Missing Window
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Seat 12A, Missing Window

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Seat 12A
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Seat 12A

For couples, the middle seats ending in D and G would be the best choice.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Middle Row Seats
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Middle Row Seats

Seat and Seat Controls

With a pitch of 80 inches and a width of 22.8 inches, the seats are ergonomically designed, well-padded, comfortable, and convert into a 180-degree lie-flat bed.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Seat 12A
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Seat 12A

There are 3 sets of seat controls located on a panel which is built into the left-hand armrest:

  • The first set has 4 pre-set positions for takeoff and landing, recline, dining, and flatbed.
  • The second set is to independently control the backrest, leg rest, and adjust the seat back and forth to your individual preference.
  • The third set activates the massage function and adjusts lumbar support.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Seat Controls
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Seat Controls

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Seat in Takeoff/Landing Mode
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Seat in Takeoff/Landing Mode

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- Seat in Recline Mode
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — Seat in Recline Mode

In bed mode, the armrest is lowered to allow for additional width.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- Seat in Bed Mode
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — Seat in Bed Mode

On the right-hand side, below the IFE controller, there are 3 additional controls — to raise or lower the privacy divider, switch on/off the overhead reading light, and the Do Not Disturb light on the outside of the suite shell.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Additional Suite Controls
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Additional Suite Controls

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Raised Privacy Divider
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Raised Privacy Divider

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Do Not Disturb Light in Off Mode
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Do Not Disturb Light in Off Mode

Storage Space

The only minor drawback of the Apex Suite is the lack of storage space. There is some storage space below the footrest that can accommodate a regular-sized backpack, however, it can be difficult to access once the seat is in bed mode.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- Storage Below Footrest
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — Storage Below Footrest

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- Seat in Bed Mode
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — Seat in Bed Mode

Smaller items can be stored in the space provided between the IFE screen and the ottoman.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- Storage
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — Storage

On the right-hand side of the seat, there are small storage pouches where the headphones and water bottle are stored. These can be used to store phones, charging cables, etc.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- Storage
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — Storage

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- Storage
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — Storage

Once unpacked, the headphones can be placed on a hook provided on the divider panel just below the reading light.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Headphone Hook
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Headphone Hook

There is a literature pocket that can be used to store tablets and slim laptops.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Literature Pocket
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Literature Pocket

Plugs and Power Supply

There is a universal power socket provided in an inconvenient position in the narrow storage nook between the seat and the privacy divider, above which there are 2 USB ports and the headphone jack.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- USB Ports and Headphone Jack
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — USB Ports and Headphone Jack

In-Flight Entertainment and Wi-Fi

The IFE selection of movies and TV shows, though not extensive, is decent and can be viewed on the 17-inch touch screen HD monitor. It also has an interactive 3D map display powered by Thales for those with an inner AvGeek.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- 17-Inch Touch Screen Monitor
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — 17-Inch Touch Screen Monitor

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- IFE
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — IFE

Though the monitor is a touchscreen and a standard-sized 17-inches as offered in most business classes, due to the distance between the seat and the monitor, the screen appears small and using the touch screen on the monitor becomes a moot point. However, there is a wired IFE remote housed in the right armrest which can be used to browse through the entertainment options.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Wired IFE Remote
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Wired IFE Remote

Unbranded noise-canceling headphones of decent quality are provided, which do the job.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin --- Noise-Canceling Headphones
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin — Noise-Canceling Headphones

Oman Air does not offer complimentary Wi-Fi to Business Class passengers and the paid options are pricey. Considering I did not have any pressing need to be connected with the world, I gave it a pass. However, should you be interested, below is the tariff:

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class Cabin - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Wi-Fi Options. Image Credit: Oman Air

Food and Service

After boarding, the purser came and introduced herself and offered a selection of pre-takeoff beverages — a glass of either Champagne, orange juice, or water. I opted for a glass of Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne that Oman Air serves in business class and Asiana Airlines formerly served in their first class before discontinuing the service in September 2019.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne

A few minutes later, 2 attendants — Khaled and Julie — started making the cabin rounds offering Arabic coffee and dates. This was a pleasant surprise, as this service is only offered in first class by both Emirates and Etihad. Oman Air certainly scores above its erstwhile cousins on this one.

By 8:45 a.m., boarding was complete, and I noticed that every seat in business class was taken.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Arabic Coffee
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Arabic Coffee

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Dates
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Dates

The pilot then announced that there will be a 20-minute delay, due to congestion over the busy air corridors of Oman, which only meant 1 thing — round 2 of the bubbly. Before I could press the call bell, Julie was promptly there pouring me another generous drop.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Round 2
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Round 2

We pushed back from the gate promptly at 9:20 a.m. and took off without any further delays. Once we reached cruising altitude, Khaled came to take the meal order.

The food and beverage menu was presented in a brown leather folder.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Food and Beverage Menu
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Food and Beverage Menu

Oman Air has a “dine on demand” service which means you can choose to eat at your time of preference. Since I had been up since early morning, I decided to eat right away and get a nap in.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Wine List
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Wine List

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Wine List
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Wine List

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Wine List
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Wine List

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Alcoholic Beverage List
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Alcoholic Beverage List

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Menu and Beverage List
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Menu and Beverage List

Post-takeoff, I continued with a glass of the Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Champagne
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Champagne

For the meal, I started with the delicious amuse-bouche of crusted chicken with vermicelli and tamarind chutney.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Amuse-Bouche
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Amuse-Bouche

This was followed by an appetizer of classic Arabic mezze with chicken kofta, which lacked in presentation but made up for this in taste.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Arabic Mezze
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Arabic Mezze

For the mains, I chose the fish — pan-fried coriander hamour with coconut and lemongrass served on a bed of steamed rice — which I paired with a glass of Chateau Laroque.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Chateau Laroque
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Chateau Laroque

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Pan-Fried Hamour
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Pan-Fried Hamour

Unfortunately, the fish was chewy, lacked taste, and seemed like it wasn’t heated properly. Not wanting to take a risk, I requested Khaled to replace the fish with the duck. After a few minutes, Khaled returned informing me that they had run out of both of the other main options — the duck and the roasted artichoke, mushroom, and pimiento lasagna. This was disappointing! He later explained to me that they had not loaded any extra meals and profusely apologized.

No point being grumpy, nothing much I could do about it, so I ordered the cheese platter and a large serving of vanilla and pistachio ice-cream with summer berries, chocolate sauce, chocolate shard, and whipped cream.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Cheese Platter
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Cheese Platter

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Dessert
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Dessert

As compensation for my disappointing main dish and the inability to replace it, the crew brought me a full bottle of Laurent Perrier to drown my sorrows in, which went some way towards redemption and service recovery!

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne

The crew onboard was fantastic. They did seem a little overwhelmed and understandably so since the cabin was full and everybody wanted to eat at the same time. However, they carried out service delivery in an impeccable manner. As I further interacted with Khaled, he mentioned to me that he was Omani — this was refreshing as you will never find an Emirati or Qatari employed in the working-class service industry. Omanis are an exception, whom you will find in all walks of life.

After the meal, I decided to get some shut-eye and got in a solid 2 hours. Though there was no mattress provided, the bed was firm and comfortable.

Amenities

Oman Air provides Amouage amenity kits in business class that include an Amouage-branded hand and body lotion, moisturizer, lip balm, dental kit, shaving kit, mouth wash, eye shades, earplugs, socks, and comb.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Amouage Amenity Kit
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Amouage Amenity Kit

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class --- Amouage Amenity Kit
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class — Amouage Amenity Kit

Since this was a day flight, no pajamas or bedding was offered. There were only a plush pillow and thick blanket on offer which was decent to sneak under.

Final Thoughts

Oman Air ticked quite a few boxes for me.

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class - Cherag Dubash
Oman Air B787-9 Business Class

The hard product is fantastic, the new terminal and lounge are world-class, the flight crew was excellent. However, there are a few gremlins that need to be ironed out before they can start punching in the same weight category as the ME3 (Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways). The boarding process was a mess and the catering out of Muscat was a letdown. These are issues you do not expect to encounter at a carrier’s hub, especially for an airline renowned for its catering.

Would I fly them again? Absolutely, but I will definitely be avoiding the fish.

Maasalama!

Cherag Dubash's image

About Cherag Dubash

Cherag was born in a family associated with aviation and was hooked on to planes since the age of 3, the time he undertook his first flight on an Airbus A310 from Mumbai to Dubai.

Based in Abu Dhabi, the London City University graduate is regularly seen on Instagram, travelling over 100K miles each year in First and Business Class while holding down a regular job.

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