Sydney Airport to Welcome EgyptAir from 2027

[anat0l]

Only going by what a lot of the internet seems to be saying about CAI.

https://onemileatatime.com/insights/cairo-airport/

Oh well, maybe I had good luck on my side then.

Main frustration was domestic travel from CAI, or at least on this carrier that operated from a small butt-end of a terminal. There were so many domestic flights in that morning (e.g. just to Luxor) that the area between check-in and security screening got flooded with people in a slow moving blob. Yes, people pushed in (and others resisted them), but that's mostly a people thing rather than squarely Cairo Airport's fault.

On entering Egypt, I didn't get a visa fee stamp before I got to immigration. The kind enough guard pointed to the cash window where I had to buy the stamp, then I got it and was promptly processed into Egypt. Outside, while trying to locate my tour driver, I asked a kind kiosk attendant to help me call my driver and speak to him in Arabic so he could track where he is and tell him my exact location. Very helpful and didn't ask for anything at all.

On departure from Egypt, I was flying MS J and I had no porters bothering me. I can't remember if I tipped my shuttle driver who dropped me off at the airport. Star Alliance Gold / MS J check-in was quite empty and friendly. Screening was screening. Finding the right lounge was a bit confusing, and I think I was accepted into the wrong lounge (a better one) before being sent to the correct one.

Was a bit scared boarding would devolve into a mess featuring shoving, though there were tapes or metal barriers that made it difficult to push in, so it was fine and J pax boarded first onto a bus, plus some other elites. We left for the plane before the bus was full.

 

[lovestotravel]

More J capacity between Australia and Asia can only be a good thing.

Yep, I wish EK would bring back MEL-SIN-MEL again

 

[eminere]

Last time I went through CAI (both into and out of Egypt, and on a domestic sector), I didn't have to bribe anyone.

More so the endless touting.

 

[Happy Dude]

Oh well, maybe I had good luck on my side then.

or maybe it's improved since that article was published.

 

[Saab34]

Not via the middle east.

That’s obviously a key factor here also, a whole bunch of premium travel is now avoiding the regular ME operators and now going via Asia, seems like many now want a piece of that pie!

I know a few who are in the avoiding ME basket and spending with SQ/TK instead via Asia.

Not sure how long this will last until overcapacity starts to settle in on the Asia routes, the ME will get their time back again.

 

[elanshin]

or maybe it's improved since that article was published.

There was also this they posted.

$75USD being charged at customs for having a second tablet. Possibly profiling a young solo female traveller as an easy target.

Cairo Airport Customs Officials Demand Money: Extortion Or Hidden Rule?

Immigration officials in Egypt demanded payment from a young woman for having two tablets. Was an actual import rule violated, or...?

onemileatatime.com

 

[anat0l]

or maybe it's improved since that article was published.

Quite possible. That said, my sample size is 3 (1 arrival into CAI, 2 departures from CAI).

If there was any touting, I either couldn't remember or had become nearly immune to it, or there wasn't any or I managed to sidestep it.

Certainly in Egypt there was plenty of places where tipping is needed (or needed to get things going smoothly), though I found both greenbacks and local currency seemed sufficient to effect the same thank you. (But that's all for another thread)

There's probably a non-trivial Egyptian diaspora throughout Australia that might find these new services interesting. Even those from northern Africa. All of them would have had one of EK, EY or QR as a crutch, but maybe pressure from this war is shaking that up a bit.

 

[DC3]

Last time I went through CAI (both into and out of Egypt, and on a domestic sector), I didn't have to bribe anyone.

 

[kpc]

Maybe I was lucky but i have arrived in Cairo as a destination, transitted internationally through Cairo (see my post above) and taken 1 domestic flight from and to Cairo airport...and it wasn’t too bad!

My best suggestion for the first time arrival in Cairo is to pay for a greet and escort service. We were met just after getting off the plane, and the guy took our passports (he also häd the Visa stamps if you needed one) and laughed with the immigration officer (Im sure he got a cut of the fee) as the officer stamped our passports without barely looking at it...we were then escorted to collect our luggage, then he called our driver as he handed us over. I gave him a small tip maybe US$10 and he was very happy and bid us a safe trip.

I suspect the airport staff are extremely poorly paid and do whatever they can to earn extra. Just a couple of $s here and there will "smoothen" the process. PS I normally hate tipping but I also hate being hassled and stressed after a long flight...we had just floiwn Syd-Sin-Ist-Cai !

Ps spend a couple of days in Cairo...it is a fascinating city but get a guide as it is a confusing city and if there are signs, it will be in Arabic. if you have a guide, the touts will leave you alone...some unwritten rule!

 

[clifford]

I've flown MS Internationally and Domestically quite a bit as a *G (but not that recently) and there's no way I'd be flying with them to CAI (or anywhere else). In business class they're not too bad (if you're a teetotaler), but really, they don't compare well with the alternatives, if you're heading to CAI (why else would you fly them?).

Egypt is an interesting place, but the baksheesh culture is all prevalent, and you really have to go along with that if you want to have a reasonable experience (especially when checking in for your departure from CAI).

 

[lovestotravel]

Friend of mine is Egyptian, went there for a holiday and to visit family a year ago.

Said he wouldn't' return. A male took a liking to his Wife at a hotel, the hotel advised him it would best to leave, if she didn't want to become friendly with the male.

So they had to change hotels, but felt like they were still being watched for the last few days of their trip.

He's not one to make up a story either

 

[anat0l]

Friend of mine is Egyptian, went there for a holiday and to visit family a year ago.

Said he wouldn't' return. A male took a liking to his Wife at a hotel, the hotel advised him it would best to leave, if she didn't want to become friendly with the male.

So they had to change hotels, but felt like they were still being watched for the last few days of their trip.

He's not one to make up a story either

Well, can only hope that this doesn't happen (or devolve into violence) at the airport, where people may be transiting rather than entering Egypt.

That brings up an interesting point about MS starting these services. There must be a belief that many pax will be final destination Egypt, because unless you have clean transits available, entering Egypt will be necessary (forced if you have separate tickets), and for most people that is not free of charge. Can't imagine what happens if people miss onward flights (e.g. due to inbound delay) and are rebooked for the next day.

CAI itself is also not a stones throw away from Cairo or a part that could be called the "city centre" (which it kind of doesn't have, vs just a big city), compounded by Cairo traffic.

 

[QPProletarian]

Don't think Egyptair was on my bingo card, but what an exciting route if it gets off the ground. Surely will push Ethiopian into doing something too you would think.

Will make that Sydney-Singapore routing very competitive with 5 carriers doing non-stop (Qantas, SQ, BA, TK (from next month) and now EgyptAir. Let's hope they offer something other than the overnight into Sydney.

BNE is tight without QF to HKG and EK to SIN anymore. MH has just come back though.