Flight Review: Oman Air Muscat – Jakarta – Muscat (Business)

I flew these legs as parts of my AUH-MCT-CGK-MCT-AUH trip. You can find the review of the other two legs (AUH-MCT-AUH) here. In my previous post, I wrote about me being a very selective spender when it comes to flying, splurging on a J Class seat (that’s Business for us non-aviation freaks) only if I see the value in it. Well, my decision to fly Oman Air (a GCC airline relatively unheard of even in its home region) was primarily because of their premium products, which are probably among the best in the world.

The Ground Service (Muscat)

I opted for a 19-hour stopover in Muscat on my way to Jakarta despite having the option to wait only 70 minutes or so at the airport. I had never been to Muscat before and it was not on the top of my bucket list, so I thought I would use this opportunity to tick it off without spending much (see how frugal a traveller I am?)

Unsure of the transit visa procedure and all, I tried to get in touch with their Contact Centre team several times via email (responses took forever and did not even address my concerns) and phone (the waiting time was absolutely frustrating and my queries were still not fully addressed) – management, please look into these two areas! Two days prior to my flight, however, their representative in Abu Dhabi (which obviously I had also tried to contact but to no avail) called up to confirm my itinerary and told me they would not provide me a transit visa as there were earlier flights available. I did anticipate this answer but I decided to go ahead with my plan, anyway, since I knew that Indonesian citizens can apply for visas on arrival at the borders at a fee of OMR 20/USD 52 (quite steep considering I would only spend a bit over half a day in the city). She was not aware of this fact, but again, it did not matter to me.

On the day I travelled, though, I was in for a big surprise. Arriving in Muscat quite early in the morning (around 7 AM), way too early to explore the city, I tried my luck and enquired at the Transfers Desk if I would be able to use their lounge for a few hours just to sleep and take a shower. The employee told me it was not possible since the lounge is only for departing passengers BUT he would get me a transit visa AND a hotel room too (I did not ask for either of these)! So fifteen minutes later, we (myself plus three Italian passengers) were whisked away to the hotel car (click here for the hotel review). Even without taking into consideration the room charges, the whole thing had already saved me approximately OMR 30-35 (yes, airport taxis are expensive in Muscat).

Later that night, I went back to the airport for my flight to Jakarta and was subsequently directed to Oman Air Business Class Lounge next to the duty free area (review coming out soon).

The Ground Service (Jakarta)

Two weeks later, I went to Oman Air’s Business Class check-in counter at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta, to drop my luggage and print my boarding pass (having checked-in online the previous day). I noticed that apart from the staff manning the counter, there was a hostess stationed next to it to welcome passengers (totally a waste of manpower, if you ask me).

Perhaps because they did not expect any other Indonesian passenger onboard, the check-in staff immediately addressed me by name even before I presented my identification. Very well done (!), although sadly that was the first and would be the only time I was addressed by name in my entire Oman Air experience. For some reason, the check-in process took considerably long, although the chatty (read: curious) hostess kept me engaged by asking a lot of questions about Abu Dhabi and what I do there.

I was then directed to the Emerald Sky Lounge, which was also used by Garuda Indonesia and some other airlines. The lounge looked like it had been recently renovated and had ample seats (considering the size of the airport), although it could quickly feel crowded when occupied by over 30 people as was the case when I visited. The lounge was clean and well-maintained, and even the toilets were cleaned at least twice in the hour or so I was there. Note that this is not a quiet lounge, so expect to hear boarding announcements every now and then.

The food & beverage offering was sufficient and had Indonesian delicacies, including Indonesian-style siomay dumplings, gorengan (fritters), and kue basah (traditional desserts). The taste was not comparable to the real Indonesian street food (as any Indonesian would tell you) but nonetheless, I was happy to find them there.

The Flights

Now here comes the grand prize! I have never flown Oman Air on Economy (nor First!) Class, so I cannot comment on their products in those cabins. But given its price tag, their long-haul J product was superb. Both legs (MCT-CGK and CGK-MCT) were serviced by their newer Airbus A330-300, which feature 289 seats in two classes, 265 Economy and 24 Business seats. The latter is designed in a 2-2-2 configuration, which is on par with the industry standard, albeit considerably higher in density than their old product (which, at a straight - not staggered - 1-2-1 configuration was similar to First Class in most airlines).

(Intermezzo: I was pleasantly surprised to hear one of my all-time favourite but otherwise relatively unknown music being played in the background as we stepped onboard – click here for the artist’s official video).

The new seat was extremely comfortable with a width of 21” that converts into a 77” fully flat bed (everything, including the backrest, the seat bottom, the seat depth, and the leg rest, is individually controllable at your disposal). There is also one-piece meal table and a bit of space to your side for cocktails or champers, and an ottoman in case you need to invite somebody over.

What I personally found great about the new product, though, is the extra privacy afforded by the partial divider (there was none in the old J Class). You will even get your own fully private cubicle if you choose the window seat (I tried both seats and the window seat won me over because of this extra privacy). All seats come in pairs so no worries if you are travelling with your partner (holding hands would be awkward due to the aforementioned divider, though). Every seat is also forward-facing in a straight line (not angled), and offers direct aisle access, which I know some people would appreciate.

Another feature I liked about the seat was how the IFE screen is fitted at almost exactly the opposite end, so 1) it would not obstruct your movement - giving you that full sense of spaciousness and 2) it makes for a comfortable watching distance, especially since the monitor is rather huge at 17". I also found the overall finishing to be sleek and handsome, not to mention the absence of overhead bins above the middle row seats, making it felt even more airy and spacious.

On the downside, some people may find the storage space quite limited as the seat is not equipped with a proper built-in side table nor extra space to put your handbag on the side. Indeed, it could be inconvenient to have to reach out to the opposite side every time you need something from your bag, especially when lying flat (there are a few side “pockets” of space where you can store a few things, but not big enough). Aisle seats do have an extra space (see below), but I doubt it would make an ideal storage space. As I was travelling with just a tote bag, however, none of this mattered much.

Unfortunately, I completely missed reviewing their apparently quite advanced Thales AVANT IFE system as I was either too tired or too excited by the opportunity to lie flat (having quickly flipped through the entertainment lists, though, the offering seemed to be quite good). Inflight WiFi and mobile networks are available throughout the flight at a charge (did you know that Oman Air was the first airline offering these services back in 2010?) and if you need to catch up on work onboard, each seat is also equipped with a universal power outlet and USB ports.

As is the norm, each passenger is also provided with a toiletries bag, which in our case had a dental kit, an eye mask, a pair of socks, a mouthwash, a hair brush, a face mist, a lip moisturizer, and a body lotion - the last three were Chopard's. Admittedly, not the most exciting in the market (Etihad's Sougha pouch is gorgeous!) but I could not fault them.

The Service

On both occasions, I found the service to be way better than my AUH-MCT-AUH legs. The cabin crews were all very obliging and pleasant, although I felt that the service on the CGK-MCT leg was a bit too formal and reserved (although also attentive and thorough – for example, the cabin manager asked when taking my order if I wanted her to take me through the menu). Unfortunately, on neither occasion was I addressed by name, including when there were only two of us in the entire cabin. I also asked for a Business Traveller magazine on my CGK-MCT leg and after first bringing a copy of Conde Nast Traveller (also a personal favourite, actually) and giving me a confused look, the cabin crew later came back and apologized that they did not have the magazine I requested.

The next is their “anytime dining” service. I must admit that I was really tired on my way to Jakarta from Muscat, I immediately fell asleep after my third glass of Taittinger Brut Reserve NV (presented and poured in front of you) and only got up about 40 minutes prior to landing so I skipped their meal service altogether. However, I did have a full meal on my way back to Muscat, which comprised of Lime and Chili-Marinated Shrimp and Mango Salad, Asian Market Vegetable Curry, and Baked Mango Cheesecake. In total there were 3 appetizers, 4 main courses, and 3 desserts to choose from, with the first two also featuring local items.

So how was my meal?

The shrimp and mango salad was a big let down. The mango pieces were not flavourful and overwhelmed by other ingredients which as a whole did not combine very well on the plate (there was even a whole big red chili which looked out of place and to my view was just a waste). The dressing also looked – and tasted – artificial. The curry, however, was really, really good. It was lightly spiced but nonetheless very flavoursome with a hint of sweetness and the vegetable was not overcooked. Real curry fans may not find it authentic, but it suited my palate very well. If only the portion was bigger! And the cheesecake, well, it was not bad, but also not outstanding. I honestly could not really taste the mango, but the cake itself was soft and easy to the palate. If anything, the presentation (and this was true for the whole meal) was not very refined (look at the pictures). I finished the meal off with a cup of Earl Grey (and of course, more champagne). A few hours later I asked for some sliced fruits but they had none left, so I just had another cup of Earl Grey, which this time came with two delicious dark chocolate truffles.

The Touch Down

On both occasions, the flight touched down more or less on time, resulting to me being able to go swiftly past the passport control (in Jakarta) and having more time to enjoy their lounge (in Muscat). The only let down here was that my luggage was among the last to be delivered when I touched down in Jakarta (I was among the last passenger to receive mine, after waiting for almost an hour).

Verdict

Fantastic products (especially loved the seat design and privacy level) accompanied by a service that was way more pleasant, attentive and thorough compared to the short-haul legs. If anything, it could have been more personalized.

LIKE: Almost everything!

DISLIKE: The food did not match the quality of the other hard products.

PRICE: Fares vary depending on seasonality. Check their website for details.

DETAILS: http://www.omanair.com/

DATE OF FLIGHT: December 2015 (MCT-CGK) and January 2016 (CGK-MCT)

#review #flight