My short TAROM flight from Bucharest to Sofia on the ATR 72-500 in business class was a reminder that “business class” in Europe means something very different than much of the rest of the world.
TAROM ATR 72-500 Business Class Review
This was part of a connecting itinerary from London to Sofia via Bucharest on TAROM. I flew from London to Bucharest the previous day on an Airbus A318.
Check-In
I checked in online and already had my boarding pass, but I proceeded to the check-in desk at Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport because I was not sure which lounge TAROM used. While TAROM once had its own lounge at OTP, its hub airport, it no longer does–the lounge is called the Dacia Business Lounge and is operated by the airport. You can read my review of that lounge here.
My trip was just days before both Romania and Bulgaria joined the Schengen Zone and the counters were ready for the new border scheme, though still closed.
OTP is really not a pleasant airport. After leaving the lounge I went downstairs to board my flight and found a rather sterile waiting area with no concessions or power plugs. We departed via bus to the aircraft. Larger bags were tagged since the ATR 72-500 cabin could only accommodate smaller personal items in the overhead lockers.
TAROM 397
Bucharest (OTP) – Sofia (SOF)
Wednesday, February 20
Depart: 06:00 PM
Arrive: 07:15 PM
Duration: 1hr, 15min
Distance: 187 miles
Aircraft: ATR 72-500
Seat: 2C (Business Class)
Boarding is via the rear on this aircraft, creating a dilemma for business class. There is a wall in front of row one that separates the passenger cabin from a cargo area and the cockpit. Passengers cannot pass through it.
Seat
TAROM offered two rows of business class on this flight; the first two rows of the aircraft (this could be adjusted based on loads). The entire aircraft (68 seats) has 2-2 seating and in business class adjacent seats are not blocked, so eight passengers were squeezed together just as in regular economy class. I also did not notice any extra legroom in business class.
Overhead reading lights and a personal air vent are available.
Had I purchased business class on this flight I would not have been a happy camper, but I considered this part of my ticket from London to Bucharest so it really did not matter to me…I was amused to see what business class would be like on a flight of 187 miles on a turboprop.
Food + Drink
A small meal was served after takeoff, the only thing that really separated business class from economy class. I did find that impressive for a flight that was in the air for only little more than a half hour. There was also a curtain closed behind row two.
Sadly, the FA could not be bothered to unwarp the meal (or perhaps that is protocol, but it screams tacky).
I did appreciate the effort and the ham and cheese was actually pretty good, though the quiche wasn’t great. The tiramisu is also decent (same as the cake served on my London – Bucharest flight), but I skipped it to leave room for my dinner in Sofia.
Beverages including water, soft drinks, beer, wine, juice, coffee, or tea were offered with the meal.
IFE + Wi-Fi
The aircraft had no in-flight entertainment or wi-fi internet. I was seated in an aisle seat so I could not even look out the window and the legroom was too tight to even think about pulling out my laptop.
Lavatory
I checked out the aircraft’s single lavatory in the rear of the aricraft and it was so tiny I could barely turn around in it.
CONCLUSION
Thankfully, it was a short flight to Sofia. It’s somewhat novel these days to fly on a turboprop, but I really don’t like the noise or how congested the ATR 72-500 is. Business class does not even include a blocked adjacent seat, so I would not bother to book the premium cabin unless part of a connecting ticket.
We landed at a remote stand and were bussed into the terminal.
Hi Matthew,
Yes, on a short flight like this, Business Class is going to get you a meal, lounge access, better service if the flight is delayed / cancelled, but little else.
It should be noted that on 2×2 seating, some airlines do keep business class as 1×1, notably Lufthansa Cityline. BA, even on the smaller planes out of LCY, seat 2×2 even in business class.
I don’t think that TAROM would sell a business class ticket for this flight, it may well be only for connecting pax.
TAROM sells it as a standalone leg in business
Which makes sense – if someone is silly enough to buy it standalone, why not sell it to them?
I slightly prefer the ATR to the Dash-8 but neither is really up to anything more than economy service on very short hops.
Regarding your bag, did you drop and retrieve it planeside as you would in the US on a E45 or CR7, or did they actually check it to SOF?
Are there trains between these cities?
Seems like a pain to do security, trek to and from airports if a train exists.
Only second class available and it takes 10 hours!
Hi Matthew,
Can I ask did tarom ask the hand luggage to leave with them when boreding ? If Tarom take it will the passengers get it back when they get down the flight .. I do NOT trust some airports,..from the experiences.
Hand baggage was not closely controlled on my flight…though I didn’t notice anyone with more than three bags.
I am flying TAROM in business as part of a Turkish business flight from LAX to Bucharest in April, so I am thankful for this info! I enjoy your content.
Thanks, Michael! I hope your flight goes well.