I’ve got a review trip coming up and have a choice before me when it comes to which TAROM flight I should take in business class: an Airbus A318 or a Boeing 737-800.
TAROM Business Class: 737-800 Or A318?
There’s actually very little info online about TAROM, the flag carrier of Romania, when it comes to the onboard product. There’s a few YouTube reviews, an A318 review from One Mile At A Time, and that’s about it…as far as I can tell.
There is also mystery surrounding the product itself. Other than Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot, TAROM is the only European airline that has “real” (as in different than economy class) business class seat. On its 737 jets (or at least some 737 jets), it has 2-2 seating rather than 3-3 seating with a blocked middle seat. Whether that is true on some A318 jets is not clear, though we certainly know from Ben’s review that not all A318 jets have “real” business class seats (on the other hand, the coach seats are the old-school well-padded seats that look quite comfortable).
Here’s my dilemma. I can take an easy TAROM flight from London to Bucharest on the A318 and get in at a decent time. The upside is I get in at a decent time, not at midnight. Most importantly, barring an unforeseen aircraft swap, I will get to fly the A318 “baby” for the first time…that jet has eluded me for years.
My other choice is to fly via Amsterdam. If I fly via Amsterdam, I’ll get the 737-800 from AMS-OTP, meaning I will likely have a “real” business class seat and I simply do not see another comprehensive review of this seat or aircraft online in business class. As an added upside, I will get an extra KLM flight out of it too, though I do not think the 737-800 on KLM is much to get excited about.
The downside is that I get into Bucharest at midnight instead of 8:00 pm. That’s a bit annoying considering I’ll only have till the following evening in Bucharest.
I won’t put it up for a vote, but I am curious your thoughts on this. Am I missing anything? The cost is essentially neutral so cost is not a concern as much as the time in Bucharest (I’ll likely stay at the JW Marriott) and the onboard product. I could also spend night in Amsterdam instead, but I was just in Amsterdam last year and I am not sure an updated Hyatt Regency or Andaz Prinsengracht review would be as helpful.
I’ll provide more details about the trip in due time. There’s a number of exciting trips coming up. I’ve got quite a list to whittle down!
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image: TAROM
TAROM does not sell business class seats on flights op by Y189 B738. So you’ll fly on one of the other two B738s (ex-MH), which have same interior as they did before joining TAROM fleet. Ofc, bear in mind as there might be a last minute change for ac.
A318 is in a standard “eurobusiness”
I would choose the A318 because it’s a rare aircraft indeed, but, if you do fly KLM, perhaps it would be more interesting to do it from LCY and review the experience there, including a café and/or restaurant.
What I would say, however, is that I would much rather see a review of a midscale hotel (maybe pay a bit extra for a junior suite too) than a JW Marriott where a night in a 23sq.m. base room costs half the median monthly salary in the city. If you do want to stick to chains, you can look at Mercures, as they can range from the diabolical to the amazing and it’s hard to figure which is which from the drivel in TripAdvisor.
Has been years since I flew out of LCY (flew AZ) and would love to check out the airport again.
My readership is pretty loyal to US chain hotels. Difficult to divert from JW and at $120/night the price is pretty decent Can you recommend another hotel that has wellness (sauna / steam room)? I wouldn’t mind $25/night for an independent property just to experience something different. In fact, that’s what I did the first time I went to Bucharest (stayed at a hostel near the airport for about $5/night).
either this or, depending on the days, you could try one of the real weird London airports with flights to Amsterdam (I know Southend has a flight to Amsterdam some days)
If he’s feeling adventurous, he could try one of the more exotic UK airports from which KLM fly, the blogosphere isn’t exactly overflowing with reviews of the facilities at NWI or HUY, let alone ‘Great coffee in Grimsby’ posts!
Unfortunately, I have never been to Romania, I keep saying every year that I will go there and I never quite manage to do it! In fact I am thinking to fly RO next time I need to go to Greece or IST and force myself to do a stopover! $120 doesn’t sound too bad, it must be one of the cheapest JWMs out there!
This site has a bunch of reviews of the airline but the most recent busienss class review is from 2017 (the most recent review of economy is from 2022).
https://flight-report.com/en/search/result?airline=5173&classes=1&classes=4&classes=2&classes=3&classes=5&year_min=1976&year_max=2024
I find it hard to trust pre-COVID reports, though I bet very little has changed onboard.
But it should give you an idea of at least of the hard product; one if not more of the post-Covid reports in economy has a picture of the real business class seats.
I would do the A318 – the combo of sensible arrival time and the unique aircraft
One thing to consider for the AMS connection is you’d get to see how Bucharest handles Schengen arrivals which Romania just joined a couple weeks ago.
You’re right about that – I am glad that Romania joined the Schengen Area. On the other hand, I’d like an OTP stamp in my passport…has been 13 years since I visited!
You can possibly still get it if you have the time and travel by land…Schengen (for now) only applies to air and sea travel.
You said you were flying from London. You will get an OTP stamp because you’re entering Schengen.
Right, but I meant if I started from AMS.
I’d actually think the 737 would add more value to the blogosphere – even if you get swapped for a 737 with a blocked middle seat, it’s not a commonly reviewed product. That being said, the A318 seems like it’s on its way out. How likely are you to fly TAROM in the future?
You are absolutely correct, as usual. A 737 review would really be valuable. But it does seem like TAROM is notorious for aircraft swaps.
On the other hand, I’ve never flown the A318…I better do it before it is too late. I don’t plan on a return to OTP, but I suspect the 738s from MH will be around for some years and if TAROM takes delivery of 737 MAX aircraft, hopefully those will have new seats and that will be a reason to return:
https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/135664-romanias-tarom-to-retire-a318s-in-2024-add-two-b737-max
You may or may not remember that TAROM’s frequent flyer programme is Flying Blue! As such, there’s some information about it on the relevant FT board. I seem to recall reading that for a very long time they had been using the pandemic excuse to serve absolutely no catering whatsoever in either class of service.
Go with the time because all these European airlines love to swap planes frequently!
Carfield
No question, choose A318 because the chance to fly aboard the type is diminishing.
Just flew them in Nov from Bucharest to CDG on 737-800 in business. It was horrible! I regret every penny I paid for that ticket especially that I found out that AF serves the route! I actually filed a complaint but never heard back. Trust me, skip this review!
What was wrong with your flight?
Hard product is nothing to be excited about (old, dirty and aging), soft product is lacking but ok. Check’in experience was the worst. I’m a million miler, elite plus and they insisted on checking in my carryon bag because it was 10kg and they only allow 8kg. Long story short, after the took it, I needed something from it (I never check in my carryon, so that part is my fault), I had to go back to Lost&Found in the arrival which is a whole different terminal and waited 40 minutes without any results. The lounge is awful too! At that point, I had travelled between 6 different European cities, flying both Star Alliance and Skyteam and never having to check this bag in.
For hotels, if you want a unique experience, try the Marmorosch, as a Bonvoy ambassador I got upgraded to an amazing room that I don’t know how to describe it without looking up their site (they only have 3 rooms like that at the hotel), but the hotel is in an excellent location, great dinner options (skip the breakfast), and a vault bar in the basement.
I think I will try the Marmorosch!
Personally I’d go for the A318, but then again, I get irrationally exuberant at the opportunity to fly something less common. And an extra evening in Bucharest never hurt anyone.
I’d go with the A318.
I flew the A318 LHR-OTP about 5 months ago. V tired interiors, no special business class seats. But the small plane is sort of cute.
JW Marriott is a bit far from the action if you want to be able to walk the city on foot a lot. Have you considered the Marmorosch if you want Marriott, or the Interconti is the ‘historic’ points hotel.
The one recommendation I would give in Bucharest is to go to the Ceaucescu’s house (the private villa, not the government palace which is also fascinating). A very very eye-opening and enraging insight into 20th century history.
Thanks. Great tip on Ceaucescu’s house.
If you have to be at the parliament building early in the morning stay at the jw otherwise stay at the radisson or at the marmorosch. Have a coffee at origo aNd depending on when you will be in bucharest i would love to take you out as i am a long time reader of your blog. I am currently writing from odessa as i am on a trip here
Exact date of trip still up in the air. Will keep you informed.
I’ll take that FA and you can have both the A318 & B737 🙂
Flew yesterday the klm 737-800 and its true nothing to be excited for. But still better than any american Y as you got the sandwich which was quite tasty (also in Y).The seats looked lil worn out. Also some older FA but not to comoare with grannies on DL where i had mixed feeling aboit whether they do have to work still at that age or they like that work.
I would say go with the A318 as Tarom is planning to sell all their Airbus aircrafts in the near future. As to hotels, you could go to the Radisson, it‘s very well located right in the city center or at Hotel Caro which is located in the business quartier and is closer to the airport. Both have a pool and wellness services and the prices are comparable.
@matthew, TAROM is planning on retiring their A318s this year, and with Air France also replacing their’s with A220s, it won’t be long before you won’t have the chance to fly on them so my call would be to fly on the A318.
I missed out on flying BA’s one to JFK and I regret that so just thought I would let you know so you didn’t miss out on the info.
Slightly off topic from your question, but Luxair offers a proper business class seat on some of their 737 aircraft.