TAROM Airlines Review: Is Romania’s National Airline Worth It?
During my summer 2024 trip through Europe, I flew TAROM from Budapest to Bucharest aboard an ATR-72 turboprop. I chose Romania’s national airline over Wizz Air because I’ve always enjoyed flying on propeller planes.
So, is TAROM a good airline? Based on this flight, I would fly with them again. Check-in and boarding were straightforward, and we arrived on time. The main drawbacks were the cramped seating and lack of food or drinks in economy. This review covers my experience on that flight.
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Booking My TAROM Flight from Budapest to Bucharest
I started by comparing prices and flight options on Google Flights. The TAROM price shown was for a light fare, which did not include a checked bag. I booked the saver economy fare directly through the airline’s website instead because it included a checked bag.
At the time of my trip in summer 2024, my fare did not include advance seat selection. I paid an additional €11 to choose my seat, bringing my total one-way cost to €151. These prices reflect what I paid for that trip.
Check-In at Budapest Airport
I arrived at Budapest International Airport about three hours before departure and headed to Terminal 2A. The TAROM check-in counter opened two hours before my flight, so I found a comfortable spot upstairs to wait and look out over the airport.
When check-in began, I went downstairs to the airline’s desks. Two counters were open, and the process was quick. The agent checked my passport, weighed my luggage, and handed me my boarding pass.
Boarding TAROM Flight 238
After clearing security, I had about twenty minutes before my gate appeared on the departure board. I used the time to grab something to eat from the upper-level food court.
TAROM Flight 238 to Bucharest was departing from Gate A6. From the gate, passengers were taken to the aircraft by bus. There wasn’t much reason to rush to be first in line, since we would all be waiting on the bus before heading to the plane.
We boarded the ATR-72 using the stairs at the rear of the aircraft. My seat was near the front, which meant a longer walk through the cabin and a longer wait to get off after landing.
Onboard the TAROM ATR-72
After finding seat 3C, I noticed a spider caught between the inner and outer window panes. I wondered how many Budapest–Bucharest round trips it had made while stuck there. It might have been TAROM’s most frequent flyer.
I hoped the seat next to me would stay empty, but the last passenger to board was assigned seat 3D. He was also a larger traveler, so the space felt tight for both of us. Our elbows bumped occasionally during the flight.
I had flown on ATR turboprops before, so the tight seating wasn’t a surprise. The air conditioning also seemed limited while we were taxiing. I still enjoyed flying on a propeller plane, but the seating wasn’t particularly comfortable.
No food or drinks were offered in economy on my short flight, not even water. The two passengers seated in the business class section received a small snack and a bottle of water. Their seats appeared to be the same as those in economy, but each had an empty seat beside them, giving them more room.
Is TAROM a Good Airline?
My TAROM flight from Budapest to Bucharest was mostly positive. Check-in was efficient, boarding was straightforward, and the flight arrived on time. I would have appreciated more room and at least some water, but those drawbacks wouldn’t stop me from flying with the airline again.
I like supporting smaller airlines and appreciated having another option on this route. For this trip, TAROM worked well for me, and I enjoyed the chance to fly on the ATR-72.