• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Reviews » Flight Reviews » Review: Kenya Airways E190 Economy Class
Flight ReviewsKenya Airways

Review: Kenya Airways E190 Economy Class

Matthew Klint Posted onMay 12, 2023November 13, 2023 7 Comments

an airplane on the tarmac

I chose Kenya Airways to fly from Mombasa to Johannesburg, with a stop in Nairobi required. This review represents my first segment: a Kenya Airways E190 in economy class.

In This Post:

Toggle
  • Kenya Airways E190 Economy Class Review (MBA-NBO)
    • Seat
    • IFE + Wi-Fi
    • Food + Drink
    • Lavatory
    • CONCLUSION

Kenya Airways E190 Economy Class Review (MBA-NBO)

Intra-Africa tickets are quite expensive, so I used miles. My Kenya Airways flights were booked with Flying Blue miles at a rate of 22.5K miles and about $143 in taxes (versus nearly $600 for a paid ticket). That netted me about the two cents per miles I target when deciding whether to use miles or cash.

We arrived quite early to Mombasa and had plenty of time to sit in the lounge and then sit at the gate prior to departure. Our flight also ended up being delayed by about 20 minutes, though we still ultimately arrived in Nairobi five minutes early.

a car driving down a road

a sign outside of a building

a blue sign on a pole
A “Friendly” Security Check

a large white building with many people walking in it

The gate area features a glass partition which divides the international side from the domestic side. The domestic side was very quiet, with only a coffee shop and a “candy” shop once past security.

a large room with tables and chairs and people in it

a man standing at a counter in a building

a group of people sitting in a waiting area

a row of black chairs in a building

Boarding commenced from what looked like two booths at a state fair.

a large room with a few windows and a gate

a building with a large area with a barrier and a large window

After scanning my by boarding pass, I walked though the glass doors and onto a terrace from which I walked down to the jet bridge.

a man in a safety vest standing on a bridge

a hallway with plants on the floor

an airplane on the tarmac

Kenya Airways (KQ) 603
Mombasa (MBA) – Nairobi (NBO)
Thursday, December 1
Depart: 09:50 AM
Arrive: 10:50 AM
Duration: 1 hr, 00 min
Distance: 262 miles
Aircraft: Embraer 190
Seat: 18A (Economy Class)

I wound up in 18A because I could not stomach paying the extra $40 for a seat in the front half of the cabin. Even though I have SkyTeam Elite Plus status via ITA Airways, I was told I needed to pay…which was fair enough, but I decided to remain in my “free” seat for the short flight to NBO.

Seat

Business class is arranged in a 1-2 configuration with 12 seats (four rows of three seats).

a row of seats in an airplane

Economy class is arranged in a 2-2 configuration and includes 84 seats. I did not bring my measuring tape, but legroom was on the tight side and felt about 31 inches.

a row of seats on an airplane

a row of seats on an airplane

a row of seats in an airplane

a person standing in the middle of an airplane

a row of seats on an airplane

a row of seats in an airplane

a row of seats in an airplane

the seats in a plane

seats in an airplane with a window

a person's legs and a magazine in the seat of an airplane

Above each seat was a reading light and individual air vent. Seats did recline slightly.

a sign on a ceiling

Each seat also had a coat hook.

a seat on an airplane

IFE + Wi-Fi

Each seat included an individual monitor (seatback screens in all non bulkhead or emergency exit rows), though these were turned off during the flight. Not even a moving map was available.

a screen on a seat

There was USB-A charging available, though.

a close up of a device

Thankfully, there were picturesque views out the window which helped to pass the time, including Mt. Kilimanjaro sticking out above the clouds.

an airplane wing on the ground

a white airplane on a runway

an airplane wing on a runway

an airplane wing with clouds in the background

a view of a mountain from an airplane wing
Flying over Mt. Kilimanjaro on Kenya Airways

an airplane wing on a runway

an airplane wing on a runway

the wing of an airplane

an airplane on the runway
Always great to see a 737-200!

Food + Drink

Despite the short duration of the flight, flight attendants sprang up shortly after takeoff to offer a choice of beverage and light snack. I had a glass of water and was pleased to receive a package of nuts that included macadamia nuts (as the number one ingredient) and cashews. In the pecking order of my favorite nuts, macadamia is at the top (followed by pecans and pistachios). What a nice snack.

a clear glass of water and a packet of nuts on a napkin

a pile of nuts and a bag of water

a packet of dry spices on a towel

I also appreciated that flight attendants offered a moist towelette to every passenger prior to takeoff.

a hand holding a tissue

Lavatory

Economy class passengers had access to a rear lavatory, that was quite small but clean.

a sink and toilet in a plane

a sink with a soap bottle on the counter

a white box with a red lid and a red circle with a black button

a white ceiling with a red handle

a metal square with a hole in the wall

CONCLUSION

We landed to a very hazy day, though the temperature was significantly cooler than in Mombasa (what a relief to escape the heat). This flight could not have been smoother. Even though we left late we still landed early and I was happy to receive a great packet of nuts plus a beverage on a 245-mile flight.

I had a long layover ahead in Nairobi prior to my Dreamliner flight to Johannesburg. Little did I know how much walking the layover would entail…

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article American Airlines First Class Passenger So Angry Over Meal Choices He Pins Flight Attendant To Cockpit Door
Next Article Emirates Lavishes Employees With Massive Profit-Sharing Bonus

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • a inside of a plane with lights

    Review: Korean Air 747-8 First Class

    May 27, 2025
  • Delta Air Lines A321neo Economy Class Review

    Review: Delta Air Lines A321neo Economy Class

    May 14, 2025
  • United Airlines 777-200 Polaris Business Class Review

    Review: United Airlines 777-200 Polaris Business Class

    April 26, 2025

7 Comments

  1. Malik on Wall Street Reply
    May 12, 2023 at 8:28 am

    It’s a rarity to see seatback tv screens on E190s unless you fly on shorter B6 flights. Shame that they were turned off though.

  2. Aaron Reply
    May 12, 2023 at 10:35 am

    I wonder what business class gets served on a short flight like this.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 12, 2023 at 10:55 am

      I noticed a meal was served (I could see them serving the tray). Not sure if it was hot or how substantial the meal was.

  3. Richard S Reply
    May 12, 2023 at 1:12 pm

    Expensive for such a short flight!! How much would business have cost, I wonder ?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 12, 2023 at 1:22 pm

      In terms of points, it was roughly double. I didn’t check the cash price.

  4. simmonad Reply
    May 13, 2023 at 6:09 am

    On a 45 minute flight between Koh Samui and Bangkok, Bangkok Air serves a full meal, then juice, then tea or coffee on their A319s. I was impressed!

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 13, 2023 at 8:27 am

      Even on a turboprop Bangkok Airways manages a meal on even the shortest flights! Great carrier.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • United JetBlue Strategy
    Analysis: United Hopes To Contain Delta, Suppress American With JetBlue Partnership May 29, 2025
  • JetBlue United Blue Sky
    Details: New JetBlue – United “Blue Sky” Partnership Includes JFK Slots, Reciprocal Loyatly Perks May 29, 2025
  • Eurowings Real Business Class
    Eurowings Plans “Real” A320neo Business Class Seat On Medium-Haul Flights May 29, 2025
  • Turkey Fine Passengers Unbuckle
    Impatient Flyers, Beware: Turkey Will Fine You For Standing Up Too Soon May 28, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025
  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025
  • United American O’Hare gate dispute
    United Airlines To American Airlines: Fly More, Sue Less May 6, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.