In 2019 I decided to visit the north-most country of North Africa (also known as the Barbary coast), Morocco. I chose Gulf Air, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, to travel to and from Casablanca. The Gulf Air is well known for its good in-flight service, and the flight timings were perfect for my itinerary. Here is a short review of my experience flying the Gulf Air.
Flight timing and ticket cost
I always book my tickets last minute. Therefore, I did not get the best deal in terms of price and cost INR 50,794 (two-way). You can get a much cheaper ticket if you plan at least two months ahead of your trip. The flying time from Delhi to Casablanca was 12 hours 15 minutes, along with a 2 hours 10 minutes layover in Bahrain. The return flight was 10 hours 10 minutes long with a 4 hours layover in Bahrain.
Boarding
I reached the Delhi airport (Indira Gandhi Airport, Terminal-3) 3 hours prior to my flight and self checked-in at the kiosk near the Gulf Air check-in station. I then headed to the main check-in counter to deposit my luggage. It was quick as I was the first person to check in. The boarding started 45 minutes ahead of the departure, which was at 21:30.
Flight details:
Delhi (DEL) – Casablanca (CMN)
Friday, March 15, 2019
Departure: 21:30
Arrive: 11:55 (-4:30 hours)
Duration: 4hr35min (Delhi to Bahrain), 2hr10min (layover in Bahrain), 7hr40min (Bahrain to Casablanca)
Aircraft: Boeing 747
Casablanca (CMN) – Delhi (DEL)
Friday, March 25, 2019
Departure: 10:00
Arrive: 19:40 (IST)
Duration: 6hr40min (Casablanca to Bahrain), 4hr (layover in Bahrain), 3hr30min (Bahrain to Delhi)
Aircraft: Boeing 747
In-flight experience
The flight from Delhi to Bahrain was in a small but spacious air carrier. Since it was a night flight, pillows and blankets were complementary. I was able to get a window seat that allowed me to enjoy the marvellous view of the island nation, Bahrain. The flight from Bahrain to Casablanca was a Boeing 747 Dreamliner aircraft and was gigantic. It was my first ride in a Boeing 747 aircraft that made it more special. Plus, I got a window seat that enabled me to watch one of the best sunrises in my life.
Food and beverage
Both my flights included a meal. On the Delhi-Bahrain flight, an hour after the take-off, the flight attendants served us food. The dinner tray was a fusion of Indian and Lebanese dishes like kidney beans salad, biryani, palak paneer, pita bread, etc. The Bahrain-Casablanca flight served breakfast, which was all the more delicious. However, the meals provided on my return flights were not up to the mark as the menu was not very appealing and tasted average. Moreover, on my return flight, they served me pork instead of chicken. Therefore, I had to survive mainly on cookies and dates.
Transit & Immigration
You don’t require a transit visa to transit through Bahrain. However, a VISA is a must for Indian nationals to enter Morocco. The immigration process at Casablanca was simple. I filled the immigration form provided in-flight that included all the essential details like the address, the number of days staying in Morocco etc. I presented the customs form to the immigration officer at the counter. After verifying all the details, the officer stamped my passport and welcomed me to his beautiful country.
Overall
Overall, I had a smooth journey with Gulf Air. I liked the hospitality, the leg space, the comfort, and the amenities provided in-flight. The two-hour layover can give you a bit of anxiety in case the flight gets delayed. However, the staff is cooperative and will help you to transit smoothly to your connected flight.
P.S: The attendants prohibited us from taking pictures during the flight. I still managed to squeeze in a few pictures. Also, here’s a quick video of my journey, where you can see some amazing aerial view of the three cities (Delhi, Manama and Casablanca).
