Upon wrapping up our time in Mauritius, my wife Ashley and I flew to London with Air Mauritius’s flagship business class product.
Air Mauritius is the country’s official airline, and despite its smaller fleet compared to major carriers, it’s earned itself a good reputation for flights to and from the island nation.
In 2020, the airline formed a partnership with Aeroplan and launched its flagship Airbus A350-900. I had previously chatted with one of Aeroplan’s executives at an event, who gave the product a glowing review.
Intrigued by the positive feedback, I anticipated experiencing it firsthand on the return journey of this trip.
Air Mauritius A350 Business Class – Booking
I managed to snag this flight as part of a larger booking using Aeroplan points.
We cashed in two Super Elite Priority Reward vouchers, cutting the cost from a hefty 466,000 to just 233,000 points for two round-trip long-haul business class tickets.
I was quite satisfied with this redemption, especially because we hit the highest distance band in the “Between North America and Atlantic zones” section of the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart.
It’s worth noting that Air Mauritius now flies its London route to Gatwick Airport instead of Heathrow.
Air Mauritius A350 Business Class – Ground Experience
Before heading on our journey to London and then onward to North America, we enjoyed some time at the flagship lounge, Air Mauritius Amédée Maingard Lounge, thanks to our Air Mauritius business class tickets.
Spanning across two levels, the upper Chamarel Lounge and the lower Tamarin Lounge, the lounge boasts an open and airy design with skylights with modern appeal.
As we explored the upper tier, we discovered a bustling hub of activity, encompassing the main buffet, bar, bathrooms, and shower facilities, all spread across a generous 20,000 square feet.
Diverse and comfortable seating arrangements prevent the space from feeling overcrowded, even as it accommodates a considerable number of guests.
The main buffet area was a highlight, featuring an attractive selection of both traditional and international dishes. Notably, the tandoori tacos stood out to me, and I helped myself to several servings.
The lounge also houses a separate bar area, where local beer, wines, spirits, and cocktails are on offer.
With convenient access granted to business class passengers and Priority Pass members, the the Air Mauritius Amédée Maingard Lounge is a great departure facility in Mauritius.
Review: Air Mauritius Amédée Maingard Lounge
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Air Mauritius A350 Business Class – Cabin
Stepping onto the plane, we were greeted with a warm reception from the flight attendants, who guided us to our seats.
The business class cabin of the Air Mauritius A350 boasts 28 seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.
The cabin features a modern and elegant aesthetic, adorned with a soothing colour palette of blue and grey tones.
Particularly noteworthy was the replacement of the conventional large logo at the back of the cabin with a small, tasteful picture of Mauritius.
Delving into the specifics, there’s an alternating pattern of seats closer to the window and aisle seats along the window side. Seats are accompanied by a slightly raised divider.
Solo travellers may prefer the even-numbered rows with seats closer to the windows, offering privacy and comfort. Conversely, companions may opt for the “honeymoon” seats in the middle, found in odd-numbered rows, for a shared travel experience.
Air Mauritius A350 Business Class – Seat
The business class seats on the Air Mauritius A350 are sourced from Stelia Solstys III, offering a fully horizontal lie-flat bed and direct aisle access.
Directly in front, a generously sized entertainment screen captures your attention, complemented by a convenient USB port situated to the right.
The open footwell towards the aisle below offers ample legroom, with discreet storage beneath for personal belongings.
A table tray is integrated into the vertical surface on the right, unfolding for dining or work. Next to this, a coat rack adds a touch of convenience.
For added flexibility, the table tray can be positioned into the footwell, allowing for easy movement around the seat.
A literature pocket below, surface space between the seats, and a comprehensive set of buttons for lighting and seat adjustments complete the well-designed layout.
Above, near your shoulders, a reading light and a removable entertainment controller enhance the in-flight experience.
A small armrest on the right-hand side provides additional comfort.
Notably, the seat functions include an open footwell towards the aisle and a tilting tray table, providing a smooth escape during meal service, as needed.
Overall, I found Air Mauritius’s business class product to be solid. It’s not revolutionary and doesn’t feature privacy doors, but it’s an entirely comfortable way to fly on long-haul flights.
Air Mauritius A350 Business Class – Amenities
As I settled into the comforts of my business class seat, a selection of sparkling wine, juice, and water were offered, providing a refreshing start to the flight.
The amenity kit for the Air Mauritius business class is presented in a stylish blue leather casing, a stylish touch that caught my eye.
Inside, passengers are treated to a selection of essential items, including an eye mask, a face cloth, a pen, earplugs, and Payot Paris hand creams. Noise-cancelling headphones were also provided.
Adding a tactile element to the service, paper menus were distributed for the meal selections. Being able to physically browse the menu always added a personal and traditional element to the meal service.
Air Mauritius A350 Business Class – Meal Service
Shortly after we hit cruising altitude, I was presented with a glass of Duval-Leroy Brut Champagne.
The appetizer was a pleasant surprise – a mix of chicken, salmon, and prawn tikka, accompanied by mint chutney, kachumber salad, and a wedge of lemon. It was a burst of flavors that got my taste buds excited.
When it came time for the main course, I had a choice to make – poultry, lamb, or pasta. I went for the braised lamb with rosemary jus, mashed potatoes, green beans, and onions, and it didn’t disappoint.
To pair with it, I was presented with a Crozes Hermitage 2021 Valée du Rhone.
Despite having snacked a bit in the lounge earlier, I couldn’t resist, and ended up finishing every bit of it.
The indulgence continued with a cheese plate, and dessert this time was a delightful panna cotta with a sweet red berry compote – a perfect ending to the meal service.
Air Mauritius A350 Business Class – Entertainment
These business class seats are equipped with high-definition 15.6-inch screens with the airline’s interactive AVOD system.
Navigating through the selection of movies and TV shows, I found a fairly standard selection of classics and the latest releases.
Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided exclusively for business class passengers and KestrelFlyer Gold members.
Accessing the Wi-Fi was straightforward – selecting the Promo Code option on the portal and entering the unique eight-letter code already provided.
This allowed me to stay connected throughout the flight, and I particularly appreciated the freedom to stream a live hockey playoff game on the radio.
Air Mauritius A350 Business Class – Bed
The restrooms in Air Mauritius business class are fairly run-of-the-mill, with the provided products matching those in the amenity kit. Despite its standard features, it served its purpose effectively.
The bed was notably comfortable, allowing me to enjoy around six hours of on-and-off sleep during the flight.
It’s worth mentioning that there were no air nozzles, but this didn’t significantly impact my overall comfort on this particular journey.
Air Mauritius A350 Business Class – Second Meal Service
Breakfast was served as we made our way to London.
To kick things off, I enjoyed a refreshing combination of orange juice and a smoothie featuring banana, mango, and passion fruit.
The breakfast spread continued with a selection of fresh fruits, offering a healthy and vibrant start to the meal. The Greek yogurt, paired with an exotic fruit compote, added a creamy and flavorful element.
For the main course, I opted for a tomato and parsley omelette, grilled chicken medallion, cheddar cheese potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and buttered broccoli.
I couldn’t help but smile at the inclusion of a parsley omelette on the menu, as it reminded me of the many I’ve had on Air Canada flights.
The breakfast experience on Air Mauritius was a great way to start the day, offering a mix of familiar and unexpected flavours at 30,000 feet.
Conclusion
If you’re flying to or from Mauritius, I’d certainly suggest giving Air Mauritius a try. From the comfortable seats to the delicious meals, the entire journey was marked by positive elements that contributed to a memorable trip.
The service from the staff was also noteworthy, and they checked in on us and the rest of the cabin throughout the flight.
I’d gladly choose this airline again for future journeys to the Indian Ocean destination, especially given the ample award availability.
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