When to go and flights for Jordan/Egypt tour
We are considering booking this tour in early Feb., 2025. Do you recommend this time to go there? Also, what airlines do you recommend? Someone who has traveled a great deal and just returned from Amman on business recommended flying direct from the US to Amman on Royal Jordanian Air, but I have read a lot of negative reviews about the airline.This friend said it is better to fly directly to Amman from the US because you should avoid flying over Israeli air space during troubled times, and that is what will happen if you fly from Europe on an airline other than Royal Jordanian Air. If you have been on the tour, what airline(s) did you fly and how was your flight?
Thanks.
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I did the Israel/Jordan trip several years ago. I recall reading lots of negative reviews about Royal Jordanian Air. I'd also avoid Air Egypt.
Regarding flying over Israel, you are wrong. Planes fly great circle paths, not Mercator map paths. The heading from Frankfurt, for example, to Amman is about 145 degrees. I'd be more concerned about flying over Russia. While American, Canadian and some EU airlines don't fly over Russia these days, what if you're on a plane that does and has to make a landing there due to mechanical issues. They might lock you up as a spy.
I have flown Turkish from Jordan (and other countries) and Air France from Egypt (twice), all business class. All flights were good, as were the connecting flights to the US. I think that the Turkish experience is superior to Air France, but I would not hesitate to fly AF anytime.
We did the Jordan & Egypt small group this year in February. It was a fantastic time of the year to travel. Most of the time we were in long sleeves and even wore a jacket early in the morning or evening. (see attached photo of our group) We flew business class on British Airways through Heathrow. Yes, Heathrow can be challenging but we had a long layover. We landed in Amman after midnight and our Tauck escort was waiting for us and helped us get our VISA quickly. Our daughter had the same concerns about us flying over there and tracked our flight. (see attached Flight Aware) We all thought it was interesting to see how the pilots avoided questionable air space. We felt safe the entire time we were traveling through Jordan and Egypt. Security is extremely tight at all of the hotels. Our coach would pull up at our hotel and be stopped at the hotel's gate. A dog would walk around our coach and check it out before we could proceed onto the property. At the hotels, our luggage would go through an x-ray machine and we were also screened like TSA would do at an airport in the US. We had an armed guard with us as we travelled but we never had an issue anywhere. It was a fabulous trip!!!
We took Qatar airlines after Emirates changed our flight to leaving 2 days early at the end of the trip. Qatar was outstanding without delays. We traveled in October and the weather was warm, but not unbearable. Tauck took great care of us the entire time and were always felt safe.
Ruby, we flew Turkish Air (business class)- ATL non-stop to IST (fantastic lounge) then to Amman. Turkish also has flights to/from Chicago and JFK. Aircraft and flights were great and no stops at Heathrow, CDG, AMS, or other marginal Euro airports and no Euro faux business class seats, not even on the IST to Amman leg. It looks like Feb 2025 is pretty much sold out - the website shows "limited" but for that tour that typically means they are saving one spot for a single. We went in mid-March- a bit warmer but really nice, even in Abu Simbel which was hottest. Some have experienced snow in Jan and Feb!!! I wouldn't go in April or later, too ho, so think for Spring, March is the best by far!!! All 4 departure in March are showing "Available."
HuntNfun
I flew Qatar business class...Dallas-->Doha-->Amman. FABULOUS. I traveled in December. The weather was glorious
We used Qatar to go to Israel and Jordan. Check temperatures and don’t book when it is too hot for your particular comfort
Egypt / Jordan was my first Tauck tour in 1996 almost 20 years ago, I traveled with Delta/Air France using miles and you'll be shocked to know it was 90,000 miles for a first class trip.