I have a bit of dilemma I'm trying to work through. For background, I'm taking a trip to Morocco in January (Marrakesh followed by Rabat). For my return, I originally booked Air France Business RBA-CDG-PHX (for 60k Flying Blue miles); AF has since cancelled the CDG-PHX nonstop for Sunday in the winter schedule, requiring me to reroute if I wanted to keep my return to Sunday, which I selected RBA-CDG-JFK-PHX. My thoughts on that routing is potentially upgrading to La Premiere on the CDG-JFK route, though I know that is very unlikely to be possible with AF cracking down on upgrades for award tickets. It does allow me to visit the Delta One Lounge JFK (which I believe I have access to) or the T4 credit card lounges. The biggest issue for this flight is the 5am departure from RBA, which would be a bit brutal.
Yesterday, I decided to do a search on Roame for alternatives, and found an alternate routing out of Casablanca (CMN) with one stop in JFK that is currently slotted on the 787-9 (in 1-2-1 configuration) for 57.5k AAdvantage miles. It would give me an afternoon departure, which would allow me a proper night's sleep, but with the addition of a train to CMN and dealing with exit immigration from a much busier airport. The other issue is the short connection at JFK (90 minutes), which gives me little room to maneuver (and none if I check a bag, which is undecided), and would get me stuck in NYC for the night if I miss it. And while I could visit the Soho lounge, it's likely I won't have the time to bother (or only have a few minutes there at most).
I am personally leaning toward keeping my original flights just because I hate the stress of a short connection (the short CDG connection doesn't concern me because I don't have to deal with the border or baggage like I would with the short JFK connection), and also I heard CMN can be "fun" to travel through, but I'm curious what opinions others will have. I'm in no rush to cancel either flight (especially the Air France flight since I'd have to pay a cancellation fee), so I have plenty of time to decide my route.
Comparison below generated by Gemini:
Flight & Transit Comparison: Rabat (RBA) vs. Casablanca (CMN)
Date: Sunday, January 24, 2027 Origin: Four Seasons Hotel Rabat Kasr Al Bahr Destination: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Side-by-Side Comparison
Metric / Touchpoint |
Option A: From Rabat (RBA) |
Option B: From Casablanca (CMN) |
|---|---|---|
Routing & Connections |
2 Stops: RBA \rightarrow CDG \rightarrow JFK \rightarrow PHX |
1 Stop: CMN \rightarrow JFK \rightarrow PHX |
Airlines & Alliance |
Air France / Delta (SkyTeam) |
Royal Air Maroc / American (Oneworld) |
Flight Numbers & Times |
AF 1359: Dep RBA 05:00 AM \rightarrow Arr CDG 09:05 AM |
AT 200: Dep CMN 02:50 PM \rightarrow Arr JFK 05:55 PM |
Layover Durations |
CDG: 1h 25m (Standard / Manageable connection) |
JFK: 1h 34m ⚠ (Tight connection T1 \rightarrow T8) |
Cabins |
Business (RBA–CDG–JFK) / Economy (JFK–PHX) |
Business (CMN–JFK) / Economy (JFK–PHX) |
Hotel Logistics |
2:00 AM wake-up; depart hotel by ~2:30 AM; forfeit sleep & breakfast |
7:30 AM wake-up; depart hotel by ~8:30–9:00 AM; full Four Seasons breakfast |
Ground Transport |
~20–30 min night taxi/car to RBA (~200–300 MAD / $20–$30) |
ONCF Train (~9:30 AM from Rabat Agdal to CMN Terminal 1) or private transfer |
Exit Immigration |
Low Volume: ~10–15 min queues at RBA (early morning 3:00 AM arrival). |
Peak Volume (Fast-Tracked): Mid-day peak at CMN; RAM Business ticket grants Fast-Track access (~10–15 min). |
Transatlantic Hard Product |
1-2-1 layout (reverse-herringbone with sliding doors on 777-300ER / A350); 100% direct aisle access. |
1-2-1 layout (787-9) or 2-2-2 layout (787-8 lie-flat, subject to aircraft assignment). |
Transatlantic Soft Product |
Michelin-curated French dining, Laurent-Perrier Champagne, expansive IFE library. |
Authentic Moroccan gastronomy (tagines, pastilla, mint tea service), attentive hospitality. |
Moroccan Airport Lounge |
Pearl Lounge (RBA) — Basic contract lounge space. |
Zenith VIP Lounge (CMN) — Average food selection, prone to crowding. |
Mid-Trip Layover Lounge |
AF Terminal 2E Lounge (CDG) — Quick visit possible during 1h 25m layover. |
N/A (Direct transatlantic flight) |
JFK Terminal Transfer |
Arrive T1 \rightarrow AirTrain to Terminal 4 |
Arrive T1 \rightarrow AirTrain to Terminal 8 |
JFK Connection Buffer |
Generous (5h 05m): Ample time to clear T1 customs, re-drop bags, transfer to T4, and enjoy T4 flagship lounges. |
Tight / Risky (1h 34m ⚠): Clearing T1 customs, baggage claim, re-drop, AirTrain to T8, and T8 security in 94 mins is very tight. |
JFK Layover Lounges |
Delta One Lounge, Capital One Lounge(Level 3 Retail Hall), or Chase Sapphire Lounge (Concourse A). |
Soho Lounge (T8 via Oneworld Emerald) or Greenwich Lounge (T8) — subject to connection time. |
Strategic Trade-Off Summary
1. Connection Timing & Feasibility
-
Option A (RBA / Air France): With AF 1359 landing at CDG at 9:05 AM and AF 4 departing at 10:30 AM, you have a 1-hour 25-minute connection at Paris (CDG). This is a realistic, legal connection time. At JFK, you have a 5-hour 05-minute layover, giving you plenty of time to transfer from Terminal 1 to Terminal 4 and relax in the Delta One, Capital One, or Chase Sapphire lounge.
-
Option B (CMN / Royal Air Maroc): AT 200 departing CMN at 2:50 PM lands at JFK at 5:55 PM, leaving a 1-hour 34-minute connection at JFK before AA 636 departs at 7:29 PM. Transferring from Terminal 1 to Terminal 8 requires clearing U.S. Passport Control, collecting checked bags, clearing Customs, re-dropping bags, taking the AirTrain, and re-clearing TSA security at T8 in 94 minutes. This leaves minimal margin for error.
2. Hotel Morning Schedule
-
Option A (RBA): Requires arriving at RBA by ~3:00 AM for the 5:00 AM flight (2:00 AM wake-up call, departing the Four Seasons around 2:30 AM).
-
Option B (CMN): Requires arriving at CMN by ~11:50 AM for the 2:50 PM flight (7:30 AM wake-up call), allowing you to enjoy breakfast and take a ~9:30 AM train or private car from Rabat.
I’d stay with Air France. The 5am departure is brutal, but at least the pain is predictable. A 94-minute international connection at JFK involving immigration, baggage, the AirTrain and another security checkpoint is the sort of itinerary that looks perfectly reasonable right up until it isn’t. I’d take one very early morning over spending the entire transatlantic wondering whether I’m sleeping in New York.
Woah!! Another epic Samar itinerary?? You really get-around!!
Great initial find on the 60K in J via Flying Blue; so, are you saying, you can leverage that into something else (because of the schedule change)? I'm not familiar with the La Premiere upgrades via points (are you FB Platinum?), but if that can be done, somehow, that'd be my priority.
I've taken an early flight from RAK (ironically, to CDG, on AF, scheduled 6AM, which wasn't too bad), but haven't been to RBA; would be a shame to miss an included breakfast at a Four Seasons.
As for JFK, I would not chance 94 minutes connection, especially if international-to-domestic and transferring T1 to T8 (besides, you won't really get time to enjoy Soho, etc.) Like, if that RAM option is delayed at all, you're likely missing that domestic flight; then again, plenty of luxury hotels to burn some points on in NYC!
Either way, hope this trip goes well for you.
@1990_ I already made the change to the 2-stop itinerary after they canceled CDG-PHX, so I'd have to pay the 70 EUR fee if I were to change/cancel it now.
For the LP upgrade, mu understanding is AF will offer cash upgrades from J at check-in, though it was only for cash tickets, and award tickets weren't eligible (but many still received the upgrade option for a while). Supposedly that loophole has since been closed. Might just have to shoot for FB Platinum one day instead to get my opportunity to fly LP.
@samar That's a good point! I recall Ben's post on the cash-upgrades to AF LP ( https://onemileatatime.com/insights/air-france-first-class-cash-upgrades/), where he cited it's usually $1,000-2,500, if available. I'm yet to experience LP, but have enjoyed AF's new J (suites with doors) on their a350 (BOS-CDG) and 773 (CDG-JFK) within the last year.
Thanks @seat1a @1990_ when I first saw the AT itinerary it felt obvious that it'd be the better option, but the more I dug into it, that 90 minute connection at JFK just sounds brutal unless I avoid checking a bag. I'll hold on to the reservation for now in case AA moves that connecting flight back further (costs me nothing to hold on to after all).
@samar More recently, I've been advocating for back-up itineraries, mostly because airlines (in the US) can be so unreliable and there's little recourse when things go wrong (no EU261, etc.) So, having refundable, cancellable back-ups is really wise in this environment.
Just brainstorming here: For JFK-PHX, doesn't jetBlue occasionally operate Mint on that route? If there's a decent deal, either using B6 points or United points, might be nice to experience; you'll probably be exhausted after the TATL earlier flights; even if it's a separate ticket, so long as using points, can cancel before departure (B6 keeps the $5.6 as a credit, though; they really should just refund if cancelled.)
@1990_ I took the Mint route in January (cash fare) to JFK (really enjoyed it). Checking Google Flights, AA is the only carrier with a flight to PHX after 7pm, so it's my only option outside of just staying overnight.
AA just rescheduled the JFK-PHX flight, but moved it in the wrong direction and violated MCT, so they rescheduled me into a connection via ORD that would require an overnight and a 5am flight home, so that's a big nope. Just canceled that trip and will deal with the early morning out of RBA (though I am debating canceling Rabat entirely and visit somewhere else Morocco).
@samar A win for SkyTeam, and for you, if everything goes according to that plan (Option A); 5 hours is healthy buffer at JFK, in case there are any delays on your TATL flight, and even with Global Entry, etc., immigration and customs, then going back through security does take time. If you do have DeltaOne access on that itinerary, you'll be in for a treat, regardless. Ample time to go through dedicated DeltaOne security, have a shower, book time in one of their massage chairs, and have a full meal at the Brasserie, etc., before heading to your gate an hour or so before that next leg. Looking forward to your updates on this trip! Safe travels!
@1990_ ironically, I just canceled the Rabat portion of my trip and will be going home after spending the weekend in London (Flagship Suites!), so the D1 Lounge JFK will have to wait.
@samar Niccce! Huge fan of AA's new Flagship Suites; tried the 789P in the Preferred (bulkhead) on LHR-JFK earlier this year. If you get access, definitely prioritize Cathay lounges (if F is too crowded, start with J, great food, better than QF and AA's options at T3).
@1990_ I have bulkhead booked both ways for this trip. There’s a chance I’ll swap to the BA nonstop on the return. Looking forward to it (and to sleeping in on the last day).
