Good evening fellow FRers,
it's been a while since I reported in English, so I'd like to share my experience with TAROM, the national airline of Romania.
I went on a business trip to Bucarest in October and on this occasion I had to take this slightly vintage 737-300.
The adventure starts in CDG in terminal 2E, gate L. Once more, the electronic passport gates for French citizens and those who register with another EU passport (like me) are broken, which seems to be the case 90% of the time. I don't really understand why these gates work perfectly fine in the UK and Ireland but never do in France?! Did they pick a wrong provider?
After customs, we're off to L gates with a metro shuttle. Our flight leaves from a gate at the very end of the pier, where we had a great view on the tarmac. This is where this report starts. I'm sorry it's not earlier, I simply had forgottes. I'm skyteam elite +, but my colleagues weren't, so no lounge on this flight.
Boarding started peacefully and I quickly took my seat at the very front of the economy cabin. On this old and worn 737-300, there are till real business seats in business class, which has become an usual sight in Europe.
My seat
I have something similar to a bulk seat because there is a real wall between me and the business cabin. The great thing is, that I spread my legs into the business cabin :))))
The business cabin
My "IFE" is switching from this fascinating picture of a sight in Bucarest and a grossly pixelled map. Long live the 1990s.
Some impressions
I found it funny that "floorlighting" is actually made of lights and not of fluorescent stripes
Lunchtime! On a state owned airline from a post communist country, you can still expect a real meal on a 3h flight :)
Nothing too refined, but creamy and filling this chicken and rice was!
However the red wine was disgusting! But I was fairly stupid to order it anyway since cream and red wine don't match (dare I say I am half french!)
Any allergies?
Signage in the loo
Yes, it's an old plane.
We've landed and this another view of the business cabin
Leaving the plane next to AB A321 from DUS
Finally able to catch a glimpse of the bird
And off to the terminal, where the arrivals hall is still very 90s too!
… and a FIDS to finish this FR, thanks for reading! The return leg will be on AF's A319 in a refreshed cabin
Nice report! Thank you for sharing. I am amazed that Tarom still operates the 737-300. Nice to be able to be in the bulkhead with some good legroom!
Thanks, yes the 733 is a real cutie.
Thanks for sharing this flight. I will soon fly Tarom on an airbus A318 and I am happy it's not this very old fashioned B 737. I find the seats of the Business cabin very weird looking.
The meal on this intra european flight is great despite not being well presented. The list of ingredients in the meal is scary however : I have always been told that the shorter it is the better.
Great to deplane by stairs which give a good opportunity to spot.
Thanks for your comment, the A318 won't be that much younger I fear ;)
Thanks for this FR.
Vintage experience, both regarding the interior and the meal received which has become very rare on European flights.
Romania is 3h away from Western Europe so many companies have a slightly better offer on this route than within Western/Central Europe. Bucarest is almost Istanbul!
Thanks for sharing this FR with the English community!
Wow, that is some vintage J seats in front of you, love the funky headrests on them^^ So, RO is definitely in need of some fleet rehaul, there is no way they can compete with JU or even FB/YM's new E-Jets.
The hot meal is nice, but the presentation is not the best. They should put it on a tray instead of just plopping a hot dish down on your tray table. Definitely better than what AF would offer as a ST competitor.