Romania’s Lawless Airline? My Bizarre Experience with TAROM

• Airline: Tarom
• Class: Business
• Route: Munich (MUC) to Istanbul (IST) via Bucharest (OTP)
• Aircraft: Boeing 737-700 & ATR 42-600

Welcome to 2026! For my first flight of the year, I decided to check out Romania’s national carrier, TAROM. At $760 for a business class ticket from Munich to Istanbul (via Bucharest), I was curious to see if this SkyTeam member could hold its own.

What I found was a mix of world-class catering, “time-capsule” aircraft, and a cabin crew that—quite literally—disappeared, leaving passengers to run the show.

Stepping onto the Boeing 737-700, two things hit me immediately:

1. This plane is a vintage 22 years old and looks like it hasn’t been refurbished since the day it was delivered.
2. Unlike almost every other European airline, TAROM actually has a dedicated business class cabin with real 2-2 seating—not just a blocked middle seat..

While the cleanliness was questionable (I found a glass left over from the previous flight), the comfort of a “proper” business seat on a short-haul European flight was a rare treat.

If there is one reason to fly TAROM Business Class, it’s the food. I opted for the beef ravioli, and it was spectacular—tender, juicy, and easily 5/5 stars.

Unfortunately, the service didn’t match the meal. The crew spent the entire flight hiding in the galley. There was no follow-up for drinks, no “how do you like your coffee?”—just a total lack of presence.

I took advantage of my layover to head into the city. A few quick tips if you’re visiting:

• The Train: It’s only €1 (6 Lei) from the airport to the city center and, surprisingly, it actually runs on time.
• The Parliament Building: It is the heaviest building in the world and an absolute must-see, though the history behind it is quite dark.
• The Cost: Surprisingly, my taxi driver told me Romania is now becoming more expensive than Germany for basic goods like chocolate and fuel.

The second leg was on an ATR jet, which—if you know me—is my least favorite aircraft. It’s loud, bumpy, and the business class is a bit of a scam. On an ATR, you board from the back, so being in “Row 1” means you are the last to board and the last to get off.

But here is where it got weird. After the crew “dumped” two plastic cups of water on us, they disappeared again. Seeing the vacuum of authority, economy passengers simply walked up and upgraded themselves into the empty business class seats.

The crew didn’t notice, didn’t care, and didn’t return until it was time for landing. It’s a bit unsettling when the crew isn’t in charge of the cabin; it just feels… lawless.

TAROM is an airline of extremes.

• The Good: Incredible food and a “real” business class seat on the 737.
• The Bad: No dedicated lounge at their own home airport, aging aircraft, and a “can’t-be-bothered” crew.
• The Weird: Passengers helping themselves to premium seats because nobody is watching.

Final Score: 6/10 (mostly saved by that ravioli!)

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This is it guys, wherever you’re off to, have a safe trip!