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    I Flew Royal Jordanian for 27 Hours in Economy; Wouldn’t Do It Again

    Press RoomBy No Comments6 Mins Read

    • I flew with my family in economy with Royal Jordanian for four flights spanning about 27 hours.
    • The meal I had didn’t impress me, and I was disappointed by the lack of snacks and amenities.
    • This wasn’t my best flying experience, but the seats were comfy and I got to my destination safely.

    When I booked a last-minute family trip to Jordan with Intrepid Travel, I was worried about how much last-minute flights would cost.

    To fuel my travel addiction, I prioritize value over luxury and typically choose affordable seats over upgraded ones. This is especially true when I’m traveling with family, and the flight costs are multiplied many times over.

    Since I usually opt for the value option when I travel, I try to keep my expectations low.

    Fortunately, after a bit of searching, I found reasonably priced seats on a nonstop route Royal Jordanian had recently launched from my hometown of Washington, DC, directly to Jordan’s capital, Amman.

    I didn’t know much about Jordan’s national airline, but the price was right — these flights were hundreds of dollars less than other options I’d been viewing.

    So, I booked four tickets to take my family from Washington, DC, to Amman. Since I also wanted to see the nearby pyramids in Egypt, we also booked flights from Amman to Cairo, then Cairo back to Amman to continue our trip, and, finally, Amman back home to Washington, DC.

    These four flights for three adults and one child came to $3,968, and my family used just under 400,000 credit-card points to cover them.

    Altogether, I spent about 27 hours flying with Royal Jordanian. Here’s what my first experience was like.

    Initially, I had high hopes for the first long-haul flight.


    Row of Air Jordanian plane seats with red blankets, pillows on seats

    The seats weren’t the prettiest, but they were comfy.


    Jamie Davis Smith

    In my experience, long-haul international flights are usually more comfortable than shorter domestic ones, often because they use wider planes. So, I was cautiously optimistic that my Royal Jordanian flight would exceed my expectations, just as some others have in the past.

    However, I felt disappointed once I stepped onto the plane. The seats looked old and worn, though the bright-red blankets tied with ribbons did make the plane more inviting.

    Despite appearances, I was happy to find that the 17-inch-wide seats reclined and felt quite comfortable. I also had enough legroom.

    Though I was given a pillow and blanket, I was disappointed not to get an amenity kit, which some airlines provide to all classes on long-haul international flights.

    For example, on my recent economy flights with Turkish Airlines and Etihad Airways, I received nice amenity kits with items like hand lotion, an eye mask, and lip balm.

    Though the items are often small and inexpensive, they help economy seats feel more luxurious. To me, the lack of an amenity kit on a flight lasting over 11 hours felt like a sign I was probably headed for a bare-bones experience.

    I wish I’d liked the food more — and that there had been more of it.


    Napkin, yogurt, apple juice, sandwich on plane tray table

    I wasn’t thrilled by the veggie sandwich.


    Jamie Davis Smith

    Airplane food doesn’t have the best reputation, but I usually enjoy my in-flight meals.

    On my Royal Jordanian flight, however, my meal felt pretty mediocre. My veggie sandwich seemed stale, but I was glad it also came with a salad, fruit, and a roll, so I didn’t go hungry.

    I was also disappointed that the crew didn’t serve complimentary snacks on this flight (or any of the others I took).

    Though not all airlines provide snacks on long flights, it’s very common. I’ve typically gotten at least a bag of pretzels or cookies on even short, domestic flights.

    Snacks help break up the monotony of a long trek and help my growing kids stay happy and full, so they were missed.

    Still, the experience wasn’t so bad.


    Seatback screen on Air Jordanian flight

    I was able to watch movies during my flight.


    Jamie Davis Smith

    The plane’s seatback screens felt a bit small to me, but I was relieved they had a good selection of movies and games loaded onto them.

    As I found out the hard way, the one time I sprung for a first-class ticket, some long-haul flights don’t have seatback entertainment at all, even at a premium cost.

    I also really liked Royal Jordanian’s main airport.


    Stairs and escalators with one person on them

    I didn’t mind spending some time in the Queen Alia International Airport.


    Jamie Davis Smith

    I was pleased to find that Royal Jordanian’s main hub in Amman, Queen Alia International Airport, felt bright and modern.

    Though not exclusive to Royal Jordanian, the airport has a fantastic lounge I was able to access with a Priority Pass membership I get through one of my travel credit cards.

    It was a great place to hang out and grab a bite to eat as I waited for my next flight.

    All in all, Royal Jordanian got me where I needed to go.


    Side view of Row of Air Jordanian plane seats with red blankets, pillows on seats

    This wasn’t my favorite flight, but it wasn’t bad by any means.


    Jamie Davis Smith

    Sometimes, I’m pleasantly surprised by the budget seats I book — like when I discovered I had free WiFi on my latest Delta flight or that Turkish Airlines serves fantastic meals in coach.

    However, flights like these remind me that you often get exactly what you pay for.

    Still, despite not offering many frills, Royal Jordanian got me to and from my destination safely. At the end of the day, that’s what’s most important to me.

    The airline wouldn’t be my first choice for another long-haul flight, but I’d consider trying its business class if I found a good deal.

    My thrifty side may get the better of me, and I might fly with Royal Jordanian again. If that happens, I will be sure to pack more comfort items and snacks in my carry-on to help my flight be more enjoyable.

    Business Insider reached out to Royal Jordanian for comment.

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