On my way from the Middle East to South East Asia, I had the pleasure of once again flying with Oman Air. I’ve previously tried the airline’s excellent First Class, but this time I’d be flying the Oman Air 787 business class product instead.
While Oman Air may not be as widely known as other Gulf carriers, I’ve always heard excellent reports about the business class experience on this boutique airline, so I was naturally eager to see what they had in store for me en route from Muscat to Jakarta.
Oman Air 787 Business Class – Booking
Oman Air operates a limited number of weekly flights to Jakarta using their two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. In addition, the airline also has nine slightly larger Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, all of which are also equipped with the same business class product.
I secured this flight as part of a routing that took me from Doha–Abu Dhabi–Muscat with Etihad Airways, and finally to Jakarta with Oman Air, for a total of 60,000 Aeroplan points.
Due to the relatively new partnership with Aeroplan, there are now more opportunities to book First Class or business class flights with Oman Air than before.
The airline’s network is relatively strong in Europe, the Middle East, and South East Asia, so be sure to consider it when you’re planning a trip in any of these parts of the world.
In terms of redeeming points for premium travel with Oman Air, Aeroplan is definitely the best choice for now, due to the relative ease with which you can accumulate points. In 2024, Oman Air will join Oneworld, which should open up far more redemption possibilities via Oneworld airlines’ loyalty programs.
Oman Air 787 Business Class – Ground Experience
Prior to boarding, I popped by the Oman Air Business Class Lounge. The lounge is a seriously impressive space that strikes the perfect balance between function and design.
I’ve previously reviewed this lounge as part of my visit to the Oman Air First Class Lounge. As the larger of the two lounges, it’s able to accommodate a sizeable crowd without sacrificing the sense of exclusivity that one hopes to find in a lounge.
Passengers flying in business class or First Class with Oman Air, or Oman Air Sindbad Silver or Gold members, are eligible to access the business class lounge.
Inside, you’ll find not one, but two dining areas that offer a tempting spread of self-serve options, along with a well-stocked bar.
The lounge also boasts a range of amenities, including private nap pods and sleeping rooms – which are actually even larger than the ones in the First Class Lounge.
Additionally, the lounge offers two small shower cabins, private cinemas, a shared spa, and even a popcorn machine!
With a glass of Lallier Champagne in hand, I enjoyed some time at the lounge bar while I patiently anticipated the boarding call for my business class flight with Oman Air.
Oman Air 787 Business Class – Cabin
The business class cabin on tonight’s Boeing 787-8 features just 18 Apex Suites arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration across three rows.
(On the larger Boeing 787-9, there’d be an extra row of business class seats for a total of 24 Apex Suites.)
Upon finding my seat, I noted the elegant business class cabin, adorned in a tasteful blend of cream tones, reflecting Oman Air’s brand identity.
As is standard in the Apex Suites configuration, the windows seats are staggered, whereas the middle seats are directly in line with each other.
The window seats have a small, dedicated walkway providing direct aisle access, and thus are ideal for passengers seeking privacy – although it’s worth noting that they offer limited storage.
On the contrary, the non-middle aisle seats lack privacy, but have a small storage nook behind the window seat next to them.
For couples traveling together, selecting a window and an aisle seat can offer one passenger the ultra-private Apex Suite experience, while still allowing for conversation with the divider down.
Those seated in the middle seats can converse with one another by lowering the centre divider of the suites.
In my case, I selected Seat 12A, the window seat on the left side of the second row in the business class cabin.
Oman Air 787 Business Class – Seat
As I took my seat, a member of the crew came by shortly thereafter to offer me a choice of pre-departure beverage.
To my delight, they had mango juice available, which is one of my favourite drinks – I definitely already had a feeling this was going to be an outstanding flight!
I had flown on the Apex Suites with Japan Airlines business class a few times before, but I was still eager to explore Oman Air’s version of the seat further upon sitting down.
Immediately upon taking your seat, you’ll notice the 17-inch high-definition entertainment screen positioned directly in front of you.
Below the screen, there’s an ottoman that provides ample legroom and ample storage space, which is large enough for a bag or larger item. It’s worth noting that the space and ottoman here are quite a bit larger than those of the seats in the middle rows.
To your right, a small console runs the length of the seat, with just enough space at the far end to hold a drink.
Near your fingertips, the console houses the entertainment controller, which can be withdrawn and held in your hands.
Two small storage compartments are located on the lower front part of your seat wall, though these are the only storage units available and not all that useful.
One of them holds the set of headphones provided, while adjacent to the storage compartments is a literature pocket.
Towards the bottom of the console, you’ll find a headphone jack and two USB outlets, with a reading light located just above.
Meanwhile, all the seat controls are located on the left armrest. These controls include three preset functions, while also allowing you to fine-tune the seat positions to a very high level of granularity on a separate set of controls.
The tray table is a sturdy piece, located in the armrest of the seat. It’s easily accessible and can be pulled out and adjusted to your preferred height and angle.
The surface of the tray table is finished in a sleek and stylish material that complements the design of the Apex Suite cabin, and it can also be swivelled by a 90˚ angle to give you some room to exit your seat even when it’s deployed.
Lastly, one of the most remarkable features of the Oman Air business class Apex Suite is the adjustable divider that affords unparalleled privacy.
Positioned conveniently on the side of the seat and easily operated by the push of a button, the door transforms your seat into a private cocoon in the sky.
Oman Air 787 Business Class – Amenities
The crew came by to offer each passenger Arabic coffee and dates before takeoff, which is a lovely touch that adds an authentic and cultural element to the flying experience.
Additionally, the crew also passed out a set of pajamas, which is more commonly offered in First Class than in business class. Indeed, along with EVA Air and Qatar Airways, Oman Air is one of the few airlines that provide business class passengers with dedicated sleepwear.
The pyjamas have a pleasant colour scheme that reflects the airline’s identity and are quite comfortable – they’ve certainly passed the “wearing around the house after the flight” test.
On the other hand, the amenity kit provided by Oman Air is somewhat disappointing. An unbranded pouch was handed out, and it contained only a few basic items such as socks, eyeshades, and earplugs.
Given the high standard of other amenities provided by the airline, the amenity kit here falls short of expectations and has a lot of room for improvement.
Prior to takeoff, a member of the crew distributed the food and drink menu for me to peruse before taking my meal order.
Oman Air 787 Business Class – Snack Service
The meal service concept on this overnight Oman Air business class flight was particularly interesting.
Given that the flight departed at around 2am, the crew first served a quick snack shortly after takeoff, before serving the main meal approximately three hours before landing (roughly six hours into the flight, after guests have had ample time to rest).
This was a welcome departure from the norm, as some other airlines insist on serving a full meal in the middle of the night for these kinds of early-morning departures, which can be jarring for passengers trying to get some sleep.
The initial snack service featured fairly standard items like a chicken and vegetable quiche, a side salad, and a Danish. Nothing here stood out particularly; however, I was quite happy to have it out of the way so I could get some rest.
Oman Air 787 Business Class – Bed
The restrooms on board are what you can expect to find on most 787s. They’re somewhat limited in size, but just large enough to manoeuvre comfortably.
The restrooms were thoughtfully equipped with Amouage amenities, which is an Omani luxury fragrance brand. Wouldn’t it be nice if we also received an amenity kit with some of these Amouage items? Alas, it seems that’s strictly reserved for Oman Air First Class passengers.
The bed in Oman Air’s 787-8 business class is a lie-flat bed that measures 77 inches in length and 22 inches in width, offering ample space to stretch out. Moreover, since there’s no footwell constraining your movement, the Apex Suite is excellent to sleep in.
The bedding is comfortable, with a light blanket and pillow provided. In addition, window seat passengers enjoy a cozy nest in the sky with the Apex Suite’s privacy screen fully closed, and I therefore slept very soundly until waking up for the meal service.
Oman Air 787 Business Class – Meal Service
Six hours into the flight, I was excited to finally get a proper taste of Oman Air’s catering in business class.
On this flight, the food menu read as follows:
Although I opted not to drink on this flight, the Lallier Blanc de Blancs Champagne and wine selection looked excellent. The drinks menu read as follows:
Kicking off the meal service, I ordered a delicious red pepper tomato soup that was perfectly seasoned and had a lovely creamy texture.
I was also delighted with the presentation of the meal, in which every dish was plated in elegant tableware and placed individually on the table.
I also asked the crew if I could try the Arabic mezze platter if there were any extra portions, and they were happy to oblige.
I found the mezze platter to be different from what’s typically served on other airlines such as Emirates and Qatar Airways, featuring unique items like lamb puff and chicken kofta in addition to the usual breads and dips.
The highlight of the meal was undoubtedly the main course: braised lamb in pearl onion sauce. It was exquisitely tender and flavourful, and the rice was perfectly fluffy.
The accompanying carrots were simple but expertly cooked, allowing the flavours of the lamb to truly shine.
I wrapped up the meal with a delectable ice cream garnished with strawberries, which was an ideal sweet finish to the meal.
Overall, the meal service on Oman Air business class was outstanding in terms of both presentation and taste, thanks in particular to a memorable main course that really packed a punch.
The service style and flow were also commendable, with the crew delivering a very attentive and efficient style of service throughout the meal that added to the satisfaction.
Oman Air 787 Business Class – Entertainment
The high definition 17-inch entertainment screen can be easily controlled by the touch-screen or the entertainment controller, and both have a responsive user interface.
Oman Air’s ARIA in-flight entertainment system offers a selection of film and TV titles that is wide-ranging for the journey, with many of the latest releases across a variety of categories, including entire seasons of select TV shows.
Additionally, you can opt for the airshow option on the IFE system and track your flight progress in real-time. Personally, I always find it exciting to see where I am in the world and how my journey is progressing.
However, note that Wi-Fi on board doesn’t come cheap. There are various Wi-Fi options, but they’re all restricted in terms of duration and data caps, and the prices are relatively high.
(Note that while Oman Air First Class passengers receive complimentary Wi-Fi, no such courtesy is extended to business class passengers.)
I ended up purchasing just a one-hour pass for $11.90 (USD), since I only needed to check a few emails briefly, but the 10MB data allowance was gone before I knew it.
As my final act of indulgence on this flight upon our descent into Jakarta, I asked the crew for a cappuccino, which came in a paper cup due to our imminent landing.
Conclusion
Oman Air’s Boeing 787 business class is an overall exceptional product. There are only minor shortcomings, such as the lacklustre amenity kit, that are mere trifles in the grand scheme of things and can be overlooked considering the general quality of the product.
The comfortable Apex Suite, with its refined aesthetic and spacious layout, afforded me a restful sleep and seamless flight experience.
Other touches, such as the stylish pajamas, didn’t go unnoticed, while the dining experience on Oman Air business class is also top-notch.
From the meticulous presentation to the delectable taste of the dishes to the genuine Omani hospitality offered by the crew, I was left feeling more than satisfied as I traversed the Indian Ocean on this overnight journey.
Overall, Oman Air 787 business class has a lot to offer in terms of both the hard and soft products, and I’d very much recommend seeking out a flight with Oman Air when it next fits your schedule.
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