Cheapest Route | $123 |
---|---|
Most Popular Route | KWI to DXB |
Shortest Flight | 1h 10m |
Longest Flight | 18h 25m |
The flag carrier of Kuwait, Kuwait Airways operates primarily from its hub at Kuwait International Airport (KWI). If you’re interested in this western Asian country (roughly the size of Hawaii), flying this airline and doing a small layover here means you can explore it easily. Kuwait City is close to the airport and taking a cab to go see the city is absolutely worth it during a layover. Make sure to stop at the National Museum for some history buffing.
I have successfully used KWI as a hub to hop around much of western and central Asia and the Middle East, but Kuwait Airways also has regular flights to major international hubs like London and New York. This is a boutique airline that does not have a giant network of flights, but being a smaller operation affords KA passengers a few bonuses.
One of my favorite perks of flying on Kuwait Airways is that, because they are a smaller airline with less overhead, they are extremely competitive when it comes to pricing. I find that they achieve cheaper flights than most other airlines, especially for flying around the Middle East, which is a major reason I have booked this airline so often.
Another favorite small touch is the limousine service available for premium first class passengers flying through Heathrow Airport in London. In Kuwait this service is offered for all premium customers traveling from the city to the airport. This luxury add-on must be booked in advance through customer service, though, so don’t expect it automatically.
Kuwait Airlines sells tickets in first class, business class, premium economy and economy class. There is also an economy saver ticket that offers discounted seats, but with limited privileges. And then there’s the unique royal class (it’s first class), which is only available on the flagship aircraft for long haul flights.
Royal class has more attentive staff (the ratio of crew to passengers is better than in any other cabin) and offers its very own private everything from check-in and lounge to boarding.
I was lucky enough to be spontaneously upgraded to royal class on Kuwait Airways once. Since there are only eight of these seats per plane it was a fabulous, private experience that I don’t think I’ll be able to easily replicate on another airline.
The first class seats on Kuwait Airways come with with doors for extra privacy and the suites are comfortably outfitted in leather. They also have extra wide beds with enough space for someone who is 6-feet-tall, like me.
With many oil executives flying this airline, business class is an important focus for Kuwait Airlines. This cabin offers lie-flat seats for full comfort and proper rest. Premium economy seats have a bit of extra legroom at 35 inches and are slightly wider than main economy but are not available on all flights.
Economy seats offer the least space with 32 inches available, but the middle section contains only 3 seats across instead of the more common 4, so the cabin feels less crowded than on many other airlines.
For cultural reasons, Kuwait Airways is one of the few airlines that does not serve any alcohol onboard, with absolutely no exceptions. The meals served onboard have an international focus with touches of French and Italian cuisine influencing many menu choices. In my experience, the snacks are by far the most interesting, reflecting local tastes. I’ve most enjoyed the pistachios, salty roasted chickpeas and unique gummy candies popular in Kuwait.
The airline provides free messaging capability for your devices, and you can upgrade to full Wi-Fi for a fee. A nearly forgotten touch that this airline still offers is newspaper service. You can choose from an array of financial and daily papers, fortunately available in English. I’ve also seen toys provided to children on board, ensuring everyone is entertained.
There is a wide array of entertainment options on Kuwait Airways, including TV shows, games, music and a strong selection of movies. I love having access to some of the Arab movies that I can’t easily catch stateside, giving me plenty of new material for long flights. The newest planes in the fleet have larger entertainment screens, and in royal class I felt like I was in a tiny cinema.
The best way to check in is through the airline’ mobile app, which is quite easy to use. There you can get your boarding pass and quickly make any changes to your ticket. The website is admittedly less user-friendly, but also works well enough to check in online and print a boarding pass. Desk check-in is available at JFK airport, the only US airport serviced by Kuwait Airways.
Kuwait Airways does not have official partner airlines, so you can’t use miles or points across an alliance. But they do codeshare with some other airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Aegean Airlines, SriLanka Airlines and Air Europa, so you can book tickets to more destinations through KA.
Oasis Club is the loyalty program of Kuwait Airways. It comes with the standard four tiers of most airline loyalty programs, in this case labeled blue, silver, gold and platinum. Increased tiers are achieved through dollar spend with the airline and mileage flown on airline flights.
I find lounge access for silver, gold and platinum members to the strongest benefit of Oasis, but only if you live in Kuwait or visit the country often. Otherwise, you’re unlikely to fly frequently enough to achieve these levels of status and reap the rewards. I also love the program’s automated access to free seat selection and upgrades for members.
Kuwait Airways is more lenient with change and cancellations than many other airlines. There is a dedicated customer service number, and I have used this to make edits to my flights with no charge and no fuss.
Keep in mind that the official policy only offers free changes within 24 hours of booking, and refund requests are case dependent (especially for US flights and passengers), so this isn’t a guarantee. It’s important to be mindful when booking and not depend on free changes later. Also note that these policies can change in general so double check before booking new flights if you think you might have to make a change.
Royal and first class tickets come with a baggage allowance of 3 complimentary bags up 70 pounds each. Business class passengers can check 2 bags up to 70 pounds, and economy class passengers can also check 2 bags, but only up to 50 pounds each.
The primary exception to these general baggage allowances comes with the economy saver ticket. One of the reduced privileges of this discounted fare is that you can check only one bag. Thankfully, your weight allowance is increased to 70 pounds for that single bag, though. And if you’re traveling with an infant, the little one is also allowed an extra small bag.
Kuwait Airways requires all crew to speak English, so you’ll always be informed and received full customer service. Since I don’t speak Arabic, this was a great comfort to me. Crew uniforms are more charming and formal than you’ll find on most US airlines, reminding me of a more romantic era of vintage travel.
If you’re an Oasis member at the gold and platinum levels, or if you’re traveling first class, you can access the airline’s flagship lounge in Kuwait. Just look for signs to the Kuwait Airways Elite lounge and present your boarding pass. Entry requirements are strict, and this helps keep the space exclusive and uncrowded for maximum enjoyment.
Unlike many elite lounges, you won’t find any alcohol here for the same cultural reasons it’s not served onboard Kuwait Airways flights. You’ll find plenty of alternatives to accompany the wide assortment of food offered here, though. Also, unlike many lounges, this one is open 24 hours. Because KWI airport operates flights at all hours, this is a great benefit for those making connections en route to faraway destinations like Shanghai or New York.
This Cheapflights-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
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