Air Mauritius boasts stunning new A350-900s with a luxurious business class cabin. But what about their older A330-200 aircraft? We recently flew business class on an Air Mauritius A330-200 from Mumbai to Mauritius and were disappointed by the outdated cabin and lack of basic amenities. With no working personal IFE screens or WiFi connectivity, this six-hour overnight flight felt more like a premium economy experience. Was the food and service enough to salvage the journey? Read our detailed review of the Air Mauritius A330-200 Business Class experience to find out if this aircraft is worth booking or if you should seek out alternative carriers for your travels to Mauritius.
Introduction
Flying business class on Air Mauritius’ older Airbus 330-200 aircraft (nearly 20 years old) from Mumbai to Mauritius turned out to be a disappointing experience compared to our outbound flight on their newer A350-900 aircraft. While the airline is working to modernise its long-haul fleet, the hard product, soft product and crew training on some of its older planes still need refinement.
In this review, we will take you through our experience of Air Mauritius’ A330-200 business class on flight MK749 from check-in at Mumbai airport to arrival in Mauritius. We will cover the airport lounge, cabin details, amenities, food and beverage, entertainment, service and more to help you make an informed decision when choosing to fly Air Mauritius business class on this routing.
Website: www.airmauritius.com
Mumbai Airport Experience
Our journey began at Mumbai’s Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport Terminal 2, where we arrived well in advance of our evening Air Mauritius flight to Mauritius.
Check-in and Boarding Pass
Air Mauritius check-in was quick and efficient. As a business class passenger, we were able to use the dedicated premium check-in counters with no wait. We had checked-in online beforehand but boarding passes were printed at the airport as Air Mauritius does not offer digital passes.
The agent was pleasant as she issued our boarding passes and luggage tags. With everything checked and tagged, we headed for immigration and security which were straightforward thanks to business class being able to use the priority lane and automated gates.
Business Class Lounge Review – the Adani Lounge
Before the flight, we spent a couple of hours in the comfortable Adani Business Class Lounge near gates 65/66. As an Air Mauritius business class passenger, we were admitted for free.
The lounge was clean and spacious with a good selection of hot and cold dishes on the buffet. Highlights included lamb biryani, vegetarian curries, pastries, sandwiches and fresh fruits. The food was delicious and there was plenty of variety.
Beverages included wine, beer and spirits along with soft drinks, juices and hot drinks like coffee and tea. Free high-speed WiFi worked flawlessly during our time in the lounge.
Overall, we were very impressed with the Adani Business Lounge and it exceeded the Air Mauritius lounge in Mauritius itself. Definitely a highlight of our airport experience.
Boarding and Departure Gate Experience
Unfortunately, our Air Mauritius flight MK749 was delayed by over two hours. As a small mercy, we were able to wait out most of the delay relaxing in the lounge.
When we finally headed to the departure gate, boarding was disorganized and slow. Not an ideal start to the journey.
Onboard Air Mauritius A330-200 Business Class
Settling into our seat, it was instantly apparent this was an older aircraft. The cabin looked old, had an odd configuration and our first impressions of the hard product were underwhelming.
Seating and Cabin
Business class was arranged in a 2-2-2 layout with 18 lie-flat seats compared to the 1-2-1 layout on their newer A350-900. The seats on their A330-200 aircraft were from an older generation and felt narrow and uncomfortable compared to the cabin on Air Mauritius’ A350-900 planes. Legroom was adequate but the seat configuration did not make us feel at ease, especially as we were in the middle seats. Window seats looked more comfortable.
Pillows and blanket were provided for each seat. However, when reclined into bed mode, the flat surface was very hard with minimal padding. This made sleeping nearly impossible as it felt like lying on an operating table. The tray table is located within the arm rest.
The cabin itself was clean. With an 80% load, business class was nearly full on this flight.
Disappointingly, there were no AC power ports or USB ports that we could find at the seats. This should be standard in business class nowadays.
In-Flight Entertainment (IFE)
Shockingly, this aircraft did not have working personal IFE screens in business class. On a 6 hour red-eye flight, working IFE screens and an on-demand entertainment system are essential.
Not having any working IFE really detracted from the experience and made the time pass slowly. Air Mauritius should urgently retrofit modern seat-back screens or else switch to wireless streaming IFE on these planes.
WiFi Connectivity
With no seatback screens for entertainment, WiFi would have been a saviour. Unfortunately, there was no WiFi connectivity whatsoever on this dated aircraft.
While WiFi is still a luxury on long-haul flights, it is inexcusable to have neither WiFi nor working IFE in business class on an overnight route. This urgently needs addressing by Air Mauritius.
Amenities
Air Mauritius provides Payot-branded amenity kits in business class including dental kit, lip balm, moisturizer, eye mask, and socks. A nice touch, though the bag itself felt rather flimsy.
The bathrooms were maintained well and had no issues with cleanliness or supplies during the flight.
Food and Beverage Service
Catering is a crucial part of any business class experience. On this flight, the food quality was generally good but service was lacking.
Breakfast Service
No pre-departure drinks were offered onboard. Once airborne, the cabin crew sprang into action with the breakfast service.
We opted not to have breakfast on this flight as we already had quite a bit of food at the Adani lounge. Their breakfast selections included fresh fruit, yoghurt, breads, frittatas and Indian dishes like dosa.
We noticed that the flight attendants were slow to respond and failed to check on passengers during the meal. Our impression was that the overall dining experience felt disorganised and rushed rather than the relaxed, fine dining experience one expects in business. Attention to detail was lacking.
Drinks Selection
The airline offers champagne, wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks to all business class passengers. The variety was adequate.
What was lacking was any signature cocktails or mocktails inspired by Mauritius to showcase local flavours. It is an area where the airline could enhance the experience.
Crew and In-Flight Service
Throughout the flight, the cabin crew tried their best but service never met business class standards. They seemed stressed and overwhelmed at times.
During meal services, crew were slow to respond to the call button and did not proactively offer drink refills.
More training is needed, especially for premium cabins, on providing personalised, attentive service. There is room for improvement in terms of service style and etiquette.
Arrival at Mauritius Airport
As we groggily deplaned after an uncomfortable red-eye, arrival at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport went smoothly.
Disembarkation
We parked remotely but deboarding the A330-200 via bus was swift. We quickly cleared immigration thanks to the priority line for business class. Do make sure to use this privilege as airport staff seemed oblivious as to where to direct you.
Luggage also arrived promptly at the dedicated business class belt, including our oversized bag. Do note that oversized bags have a separate belt (towards the back of the hall).
Baggage Claim
We were through customs and the baggage hall within 30 minutes of docking at our remote stand. There were no delays in retrieving our luggage.
For international arrivals, there are ATMs and foreign exchange counters before exiting the terminal which are very useful.
Insider Tips
For luggage collection, proceed to the dedicated belt for business class passengers.
Airport Facilities
The airport itself is small and quite modern, unlike Air Mauritius’ A330-200 fleet. Facilities like bathrooms were functional. We had pre-booked an airport taxi easily via the Ala-Lila app. The taxi driver was waiting for us just outside the airport and within 10 minutes we were on our way to our destination.
Website/App for taxi booking: www.alalila.mu
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Overall, flying Air Mauritius business class on their older, leased A330-200 was deeply disappointing compared to our fantastic outbound experience on the airline’s new A350-900. Let us recap the highs and lows.
Pros
- Comfortable lounge at Terminal 2 Mumbai Airport (Adani Lounge)
- Generally good food quality
- Efficient arrival and baggage claim in Mauritius
Cons
- Old, uncomfortable lie-flat seats without bedding for sleep
- No working IFE screens or wireless entertainment
- No WiFi connectivity whatsoever
- Lacklustre service from an untrained crew
- Flight delayed by over 2 hours
For an overnight business class flight of 6 hours, lack of WiFi and working IFE was a dealbreaker and made for an uncomfortable, restless red-eye.
Food and ground services were adequate without being memorable. But ultimately, the hard product and service failures ruined the experience.
Final Ratings and Recommendations
Outdated seats, no working IFE/WiFi and disappointing service merit just a 2 out of 5 rating for this business class experience.
Check in (Priority)
Lounge
Seat Comfort
Food
In-Flight Entertainment
Not rated (Unavailable)
Service (on-board)
Punctuality
Value for Money
OVERALL
We would caution flyers against booking Air Mauritius’ older A330-200 business class for long overnight flights. Far superior options exist via Vistara, Emirates and other 5-star carriers.
Vistara: www.airvistara.com | Emirates: www.emirates.com
Air Mauritius has fantastic new A350 business class cabins. But they urgently need to overhaul or replace older leased aircrafts like these A330-200s to remain competitive.
We hope this comprehensive flight review has provided insightful details to help you make the best choice in future!
For key takeaways in an easy-to-skim format, check out the 5 FAQs below.
FAQs about Air Mauritius A330-200 Business Class
How is the food and drink service in Air Mauritius A330-200 business class?
The food quality is generally quite good, with appetizing breakfast choices that blend Indian, European and Mauritian cuisine. However, drink refills and dining service were noticeably lacking.
What are the seats like in Air Mauritius A330-200 business class?
The outdated lie-flat seats are uncomfortable and narrow, with inadequate padding in bed mode. The cabin and seats are clean but tired and not up to modern standards.
Is there WiFi or inflight entertainment in Air Mauritius A330-200 business class?
Shockingly, there are no working IFE screens nor any WiFi connectivity on board (at least when we travelled). This is unacceptable for long 6 hour overnight business class flights.
How is the service from cabin crew in Air Mauritius business class?
While friendly, the crew lack proper training for a 5-star business class service. Standards were lacking in terms of attention to detail, drink refills and personalised service.
Is Air Mauritius A330-200 business class recommended for travel from Mumbai to Mauritius?
No, far superior options exist for this route on 5-star Middle East and Asian carriers in terms of hard product and service standards. we would only consider Air Mauritius‘ new A350-900 or A330-neo business class, not the outdated A330-200.
What is next?
We hope our in-depth review of Air Mauritius’ A330-200 business class has provided you with valuable insights to make an informed decision when planning your next trip to Mauritius. At TrippVibes, we are committed to delivering honest, unbiased and comprehensive reviews – based on our own experience – to help you avoid the disappointments and frustrations we have experienced due to inaccurate or misleading information.
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