For many years I have wanted to visit Algeria and fly Air Algérie. That trip is finally happening and I am excited.
Next Up, A Trip To Algiers, Algeria And A Flight On Air Algérie
My focus this year has been more on product reviews than destination reviews. I have had the chance to fly some amazing airline products around the world, some of which I will be sharing with you in the weeks to come.
But for my next trip, I wanted to visit a new country and try a new airline. Specifically, I wanted to visit Algeria and give Air Algérie a try, which offers modern Airbus A330 jets with a reverse herringbone product in business class.
I love visiting new countries and Algeria has always appealed to me as a well-developed Arab nation with French colonial influence and a rich history. It was Augustine of Hippo that hailed from what is today Algeria (Souk Ahras today, Thagaste then in the Roman province of Numidia).
The problem, as always seems to be the case, is that my time will be limited to three day. As much as I would love to spend a week there, I have too many other commitments, namely not wanting to be away from my family for too long.
As for my flight, rather than fly Air Algérie from Algiers to Montreal (which would make for a nice comparison with my Tunis to Montreal flight on Tunisair), I am going to fly to Doha.
Why Doha instead? Although the flight is two hours shorter, I will still get a chance to review the A330 and from there, fly home…on a U.S. carrier.
The original plan was to fly to Montreal and then take Air Canada to Los Angeles (just like I did with Tunis Air), but as it turned out the Air Canada A330 operating from Montreal to Los Angeles had no upgrade space and was actually sold out in business class. The ticket was too expensive to fly economy class…
So instead I’ll take a long way back and be able to review American Airlines’ longhaul service from Doha to New York in business class, then the A321T from New York to Los Angeles. My systemwide upgrades expired, so I had to use miles to upgrade.
CONCLUSION
I’ll provide updates along the way and when I write the full trip report, I’ll share details about I obtained a visa to Algeria (it wasn’t all that easy, but manageable). Will Air Algérie be a wonderful surprise or a disappointing waste of money? Stay tuned.
image: Air Algérie
Definitely interested in your trip report as Algeria is on our radar for 2023.
Looking forward to hearing about the visa. Algeria seems like it should be a bigger tourist destination.
A real sacrifice to deliberately choose AA instead of QR for the purposes of a review for the masses.
F.
Je m’attends à ce que vous évoluiez couramment le français au moment où vous y voyagerez.
Stuart and I are in Austria now, but we’re looking forward to joining you on the flight from Doha to New York.
You willingly chose AA over QR? Are you ill?
For comparison purposes. Should be entertaining.
Gross. I lived and worked in Algeria for a year. I would never imagine flying on Air Algier. No thanks.
Algeria could be such an awesome destination, but is very much held back by its authoritarian government.
Looking forward to read your views about the airline and the country, being algerian myself I live in London I like to fly air algerie but their prices are always higher than other airlines hence I always go for what I can afford, but in the other hand I have been flying with them for years because my dad is an ex Air algerie employee so I had free tickets, they provide the best meal on plane and as soon as I’m on board I feel home already.
As for the country its a beautiful country especially in spring, around March and April not too hot not too cold, people are very welcoming and giving I am sure you will love it over there.
Following for more…
Don’t fly air algeria is never in time
Hiya, good luck on your trip and make the most of it, some folks are still swimming in Algeria as we’re talking lol. I’ll be joining you shortly my friend..
I WOULD NOT GO THERE EVEN IF IT WAS FOR FREE. IT’S A NO MAN’S LAND. A MILITARY REGIME . NO DRINKABLE WATER, NO MILK, NO GOOD FOOD. DONKEY MEAT EVERYWHERE.
You’re a real Racist