Royal Air Maroc: How to Fly The Oneworld Airline With Moroccan Hospitality

Royal Air Maroc, the national carrier of Morocco, became the newest member of the Oneworld alliance in April 2020. And with that new partnership comes a fresh set of benefits for air travelers — particularly those trying to get to Africa. That's because Royal Air Maroc is Oneworld’s first full member on the African continent (and first full member since 2014).

With Royal Air Maroc's addition to the Oneworld alliance comes dozens of new airports to the Oneworld circuit. Add that to the 12 other Oneworld member airlines and connected partners — from American Airlines to Qantas to Fiji Airways — and you have a network that serves over 1,100 destinations in more than 180 territories around the world.

Royal Air Maroc is a Moroccan state-owned airline, and it's generally considering one of the fancier airlines you can fly. From the intricate geometric designs adorning the cabin to the aroma of freshly brewed mint tea, the airline creates an authentic atmosphere even before takeoff. Even in economy class, the snacks are free (you'll typically be served a cold sandwich one flights ranging from one hour to about three hours, and you'll get a hot meal on longer flights).

» Learn more: Which airline credit card is best for international award travel?

New destinations and connections

With its hub at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, Royal Air Maroc services more than 100 destinations in more than 5 countries, including direct flights to Casablanca from a handful of North American cities, such as Miami, New York and Washington, D.C.

And growing demand means more flight options. In summer 2023, the airline announced plans to quadruple its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037. It's all part of the Moroccoan government's quest to boost tourism in the country, which saw roughly 11 million tourists in 2022 (down from the 13 million in 2019). Morocco aims to surpass pre-pandemic records with a goal to attract 17.5 million tourists by 2026.

Beyond Morocco, Royal Air Maroc regularly flies to hubs of other Oneworld members, including:

• Amman (base for Royal Jordanian).

• Doha (base for Qatar Airways).

• London Heathrow (base for British Airways).

• Madrid (base for Iberia).

• Miami (base for American Airlines).

• Moscow Domodedovo (base for S7).

• New York-JFK (base for American Airlines).

As part of the same alliance, Oneworld airlines can connect flights to create one ticket using multiple airlines to reach your destination.

Take advantage of Royal Air Maroc's transfer partners

Given its membership in the OneWorld alliance, you now have many more opportunities to book a Royal Air Maroc flight on points and miles. Here are some of the smartest ways to fly:

Use AAdvantage miles to get to Morocco and beyond

Royal Air Maroc’s membership in Oneworld opens up a wealth of new mileage redemption opportunities from the U.S. to North Africa and beyond, namely through partners American Airlines and British Airways. On its routes between the U.S. and Casablanca, Royal Air Maroc operates Boeing 787-8s and 787-9s with fully flat business class seats.

Better yet, American Airlines’ AAdvantage program has recategorized Morocco from its Africa region to its Europe region for purposes of mileage redemptions.

This means you should be able to get there with considerably fewer miles. For comparison: One-way mileage redemptions to Africa on partner airlines from the contiguous U.S. and Canada cost 40,000 AAdvantage miles in economy and 75,000 miles in business class. But to Europe, one-way mileage redemptions on partner airlines from the contiguous U.S. and Canada cost just 30,000 AAdvantage miles in economy and 57,500 miles in business class.

American’s shift of Morocco to its Europe region is also good news for travelers heading to Europe from Morocco. Partner mileage redemptions within the Europe region run 12,500 and 22,500 AAdvantage miles in economy and business, respectively, versus the 30,000 AAdvantage miles it takes in economy (or 55,000 in business) to go from the Africa region to Europe.

» Learn more: The complete guide to American Airlines partners

Use your British Airways Avios

You can also redeem British Airways Avios points for Royal Air Maroc flights. British Airways’ distance-based Avios program offers excellent opportunities for shorter distance redemptions and direct flights. Plus, the program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Unlike AAdvantage, British Airways has already uploaded Royal Air Maroc inventory into its online search engine, making it easy to price out Royal Air Maroc award tickets. For a Miami-to-Casablanca flight on Nov. 18, 2020, an award search quickly revealed four seats in economy and two seats in business on Royal Air Maroc AT0205.

This flight cost 25,750 Avios plus $130.10 in taxes for a one-way economy class ticket, or 77,250 plus $180.10 in taxes for a one-way business class ticket.

Based on our searches, it appears Royal Air Maroc has released a number of award seats on flights throughout late 2020, including several pairs of business class seats between its hub in Casablanca and its five North American destinations.

Earning miles and scoring other Oneworld perks when flying Royal Air Maroc

Travelers can also earn miles on qualifying Royal Air Maroc flights. Just be sure to supply your frequent flyer number for the Oneworld member airline you want to earn miles with. Each member airline’s mileage program differs when it comes to how many miles you can earn flying Royal Air Maroc. For example, those choosing to earn miles with American Airlines AAdvantage may get a certain percentage of base miles, cabin bonuses and the like depending on the fare booked.

Travelers who have Oneworld status — whether Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald — have a variety of benefits when flying Royal Air Maroc. These benefits may include priority check-in, excess baggage and preferred boarding.

Flying (and redeeming miles) with Royal Air Maroc: is it worth it?

Don't overlook this opportunity to get to Africa, particularly if you're a Oneworld loyalist seeking to use miles from other airlines.

By strategically aligning with transfer partners such as Oneworld members or other key airlines, you can unlock a world of possibilities, stretching your miles further than ever before. Keep in mind that while Royal Air Maroc's cabin ambiance exudes an authentic North African charm, it's the partnership dynamics that truly shine.