Air Mauritius CDG-MRU Business Class Review
Flying new airlines is one of my favorite things to do. I always see interesting looking jets at airports and wonder what it's like inside their cabins. And when I spot decked-out flight attendants I wonder if their in-flight service is even half as good as their immaculate outfits!
Last summer I tested out Air Seychelles, which was a really unique experience (see those reports here and here). While the seats were outdated recliner style business class, the service was great and the food and amenities truly unique. I mean how many times have you gotten scented home aroma oil and cocoa de mer shaped soaps on a flight?!
Anyway, I was excited to be able to book Air Mauritius as part of my 120,000 mile Delta summer award which also included business class on Air Europa, Air France intra-Europe and KLM World Business Class (reports to come). Air Mauritius and Seychelles are not part of Skyteam, but because their flights are loaded as Air France flights and Air France assigns availability in award buckets, you can use Delta miles to book them, which is one of the best uses of Skymiles in my humble opinion.
I had flown Barcelona to Paris earlier in the day and had a couple hours to kill, which I did in the lounge and browsing nice terminals in the CDG lounge (which prompted me to write my post about duty-free shopping). Many people complain about CDG, but I think its a pretty decent airport to kill a couple hours.I like the sunny, open terminal and decent shops.
I ended up waiting at the gate for a while, because I wanted to people watch and get a flavor for who was flying CDG-Mauritius. It was a good amount of honeymooners, but since it's winter in Mauritius I feel like the flight was filled with a lot of business people. The gate area was packed and before I knew it, they were calling business class passengers to board. I like taking pictures when the cabin is empty, so I was one of the first people to board our A340 "The Pink Pigeon." This trip was already starting off on the right foot!
I snapped a couple pictures of the coach cabin before turning left to business class. The coach seats were a bright yellow and business class a deep orange. I loved how Air Mauritius was unapologetically tropical in the decor. The coach seats actually looked really comfortable and padded and the bulkhead seats had tons of legroom. While I still wouldn't want to ride in them for 11.5 hours, I was impressed.
Business class was a 2x2x2 configuration of shell style seats.
Flight attendants soon came around with choice of champagne or fruit juice (not sure which kind, because I obviously opted for the champers). While awaiting take-off I occupied the time by reading their in-flight magazine, "The Islander" and learned all about their frequent flyer program: Kestrel Flyer. An interesting aspect of their program is that upon reaching elite status, you can add relatives to your account and get 50% of the miles they travel. I think that's pretty interesting that they let you take a cut of your family's travel since most individual non-frequent flyers don't earn enough miles to reach an award (I don't think big-time credit card bonuses exist in Mauritius!).
After take-off the flight attendants were quickly in the aisle passing out menus, which looked pretty good. Some solid wine choices and a very inspired list of options. The starter was duck liver with fig mango and papaya chutney and for entrees a choice of either Salmon with Saffron and Citronella, Chicken with Green Curry or Pan Fried Lamb with Rosemary and Cream. I chose the Salmon, which would end up being the least impressive part of the food experience. The wine was great - I went with the 2002 Brio de Cantenac Brown Margaux 2002 (note: when they poured the wine, the bottle said 2007, so I think 2002 was a typo).
Overall, the food was above average, but not mind-blowing. I always give points for creativity and maybe I was just blown away by the "raspberry dacquoise with raspberry coulis" dessert, that I forgot about the underwhelming and dry salmon.
After dinner, I popped my 2mg Lunesta and headed for la-la land. Before I entered my artificially induced slumber paradise, I checked out the in-flight entertainment, which looked decent at first glance. An average-sized personal screen that came out of my armrest. Except you could only watch the movie selection that was playing on the main screen. That's right - even the music was at the mercy of whatever choice they had playing on the one music channel. Overall, a very disappointing experience, but it didn't really affect me because my main goal was to eat and sleep on this flight.
I changed into my British Airways First Class pajamas, which I bring on 10+ long flights because they are light and comfortable. Although they weren't made for long-term use, so if anyone has any other in-flight pajama solutions for a 6'7" person, please comment below!
The bed was an angled lie flat, similar to the seat on the Delta 747. I found Delta's business class to have more legroom - I felt a little bit cramped when fully stretched out, but that didn't really stop me from getting at least 7.5 hours of sleep. The pillow and blanket were meager, but luckily the in-cabin temp was kept pretty neutral, so I didn't end up waking up with teeth chattering or in a pool of sweat.
I was woken up for breakfast, which was a nice tray of fruits, cereal and yogurt. After I finished, they also asked if I'd like an omelet, which I declined - to me airlines and eggs rarely mix to make an enjoyable combination. Plus, I was just happy sipping on my instant coffee (which actually wasn't bad) and getting ready to hit the ground running.
Landing was smooth and I was one of the first people through customs. I was waved through after a 10 second glance through my passport and I was on my way to enjoying Mauritius! Unfortunately, Hertz had lost my reservation and I had to make a last minute reservation with Europcar, but that ended up being a blessing in disguise. The hotel was a solid hour-long ride from the airport and I really would not have wanted to do the drive just getting off a 12-hour flight, especially since there ended up being crazy rush hour traffic.
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.