| Ryanair | Marseille (MRS) → Marrakesh (RAK) | 737-800 | Economy Class | 28/04/2023 | Short review - 2.6/5 |
| Ryanair | Marrakesh (RAK) → Nîmes (FNI) | 737 MAX 8 | Economy Class | 04/05/2023 | Current review |
| Ryanair | Marseille (MRS) → Marrakesh (RAK) | 737-800 | Economy Class | 28/04/2023 | Short review - 2.6/5 |
| Ryanair | Marrakesh (RAK) → Nîmes (FNI) | 737 MAX 8 | Economy Class | 04/05/2023 | Current review |
Hello and welcome to this new Flight review for an exclusive flight between Marrakesh (RAK) and Nîmes (FNI) with a Ryanair “B737-8200”, more likely known as the B737-MAX 8. Personally, this will be my first time on this aircraft type. I'm very excited to try out this new product, after many years of being grounded due to its tragic past.
We meet at Marrakesh Menara Airport under the heavy sun.
From the outside, the airport's architecture is very pleasing.
From the inside, the airport is bright and spacious.
I immediately head to the check-in desk.
Please note an important point: Not everyone is aware of this, but with Ryanair, it is mandatory to check in online before the flight, even if you don't think it is necessary! Customers who did not check in online will be charged an airport check-in fee of 55€ (30€ for flights from Spain) per passenger. Moreover, if you checked in but did not print your boarding pass, you will be charged a boarding pass reprint fee of 20€ per passenger. Yes, you are not even allowed to keep them in digital format on your phone. This raises real questions about respect for the environment. For every flight, unnecessary printing of a hundred papers is made. In addition, many passengers were tricked on our flight. This poses big problems for uninformed people who rarely fly.
Anyway, once the check-in was done, I had to go through the security checks, as well as the customs, before arriving in a beautiful duty-free. All in all, it must have taken about 30 minutes to get to the duty-free.
There are many shops of all kinds throughout the airside area.
Unfortunately for aviation enthusiasts, the windows are covered, probably to protect against the sun.
You can still see the apron through the few drawn designs.
My boarding gate - B8 - is located on the lower floor.
From below, we have a view of the parked Ryanair aircraft.
Throughout the terminal, there are seats equipped with charging stations. Very useful!
My aircraft arrives from Milan.
After a few minutes, we are invited to pre-board. Indeed, we will wait for a few moments outside.
Finally, we are called to board.
I am very excited as I get closer to this 737 MAX 8!
Of course, the fuselage shot is done.
Then we arrived on board a modern cabin, similar to what we find on other Ryanair aircraft.
My seat is 6A.
I take my seat, the boarding is still going on.
It will be difficult to get a good view of the engine from my window.
As always on Ryanair, the safety card is printed directly on the seat.
We are really in a "737-8200" ;-) It is not written anywhere that we are in a MAX!
About the QR code, remember to scan it before you take off when you still have a phone network. Otherwise, it will obviously be impossible for you to get to the page during the flight!
The boarding is finished, and we begin to taxi to the runway.
We line up on the runway, before taking off!
Some views of Marrakech during the initial climb.
We can distinguish the airport from which we have just taken off.
Then the landscapes become more and more arid, and unhabited.
After a few minutes, we cross the cloud veil.
The crew can unbuckle their seatbelts and they begin to prepare for the service. Many announcements will be made during the first part of the flight. It was getting annoying because no one could doze off.
A few minutes after starting the cruise, we pass the Strait of Gibraltar.
About the seat, the review will be brief. We have a tray table and...that's it! Neither seat pocket, nor cup holder nor USB port.
Outside, a cloudy veil will cover the Spanish sky during a good part of the journey.
And this, until the approach of the "Costa Brava".
The city of Barcelona appears below.
Then we start our descent to Nîmes. We cross some turbulence zones, and the "Fasten your seatbelt" sign lights up.
We pass over the ponds of the South of France.
Spoilers are out to slow down the beast.
By approaching the ground, we can see better and better the beauty of the territory, notably the gorges of Gardon.
We are aligned with the runway, the landing is imminent.
Our shadow is chasing us...
The airport of Nîmes is a place for aircraft storage. That's why you will be able to observe A330 and C135 of the French Air Force as well as planes of other airlines.
We continue to taxi, before going up it in the other direction to join the parking area.
Once arrived, everyone stands up.
The fuselage shot, as well as other pictures of the aircraft, are made while deboarding.
It is very impressive and sad to see all these aircraft stored here.
As soon as we enter the terminal, we go through customs. Three checkpoints are open, so the wait is not too long.
Then it's time to collect the luggage. The latter will take time to arrive and there are no seats in the waiting area. It's a pity.
Once the luggage is collected, I enter this terminal for the first time. Modern and pleasant, there are many references to the monuments of the region.
Marrakesh Airport is a bright, modern, and clean airport. Except for the lack of visibility on the aircraft, I did not find any defect! The presence of many seats, with the possibility of recharging its electronic devices is a very good point.
When you are careful to respect the travel conditions, Ryanair is a very useful airline. It allows to connect remote areas of Europe while ensuring low fares. The cabin of this 737 MAX 8 is much nicer than the one on the classic 737. Nevertheless, the sales announcements on board should be better regulated, because it becomes annoying very quickly.
A small airport in the South of France, modern and well-equipped. The only negative point would be the lack of seating in the baggage claim area for people who have difficulty standing.
