Compelled to reschedule my return journey from 26th Nov to 12th Dec, I battled initially to get an extension on Air Mauritius. Reason - Expensive options due to peak holiday season in South Africa.
Forced to scout out alternatives, one airline suited the budget.
Saudi Airlines!! One glaring thing one must get used to.... No alcohol on these flights and till you conclude your journey! It didn't make a difference to me but to some it can be a journey breaker.
With the minimal difference between one-way and return options, I chose the return.
My grouse started when I tried checking in online. For whatever reason, I wasn't allowed to choose my seats for the connecting flight from Jeddah. Even the assistant at the check-in counter couldn't help me with choice of seats.
Proceeding further, agnostic of how the food on the flight would be, I was glad to have access to the lounge where I had my brunch, well almost!
Flight was at 11:00 and I was shocked 😳 to see that there was no entertainment console for such a long flight. Anyway, I was equipped with my cellphone full of content to keep me contented throughout the flight. But the plight of families travelling with kids, young and teens, was a sore sight, I wish to forget very quickly!!
The highlight of the otherwise insipid flight was the exuberant and enthusiastic hostesses, ever smiling and taking care of even minor requirements with great aplomb!!
I don't want to prejudge this attitude of the hostesses, as a means to cover-up the non-availability of basic amenities for a long flight.
Be that as it may, the in-flight service was top-notch!!
Probably that was the only saving grace of this airline.
Dog tired due to my hectic activities in Johannesburg, I could sleep well on the flight and this was one more feather in the cap for the airlines, as there was no entertainment console, by design, to disturb my sleep...
On landing at Jeddah, we were shuttled to the old block of structure which vaguely resembled a terminal building. Crossing over again through security check, I entered the duty free outlets, a pale comparison of duty-free shopping in terminals elsewhere...
Wading through these outlets, I was aghast and dumbfounded to see the crowd of at least several hundred in the cramped building.
Being a holder of Priority Pass, I quickly searched for the lounges and was ushered to the one just before the duty free.
On reaching there, I felt like dropping down from frying pan to 🔥!!
No access was granted to my card that is normally accepted in almost all airport lounges across the 🌏!!
Had to kill 7 hrs somehow but the density of crowd in the terminal was almost like travelling in Namma Metro at peak hours.
The joy was short-lived. Since the seat was adjoining gates, I couldn't even catch a wink as the gate counter assistants were yelling at the top of their voices... Dubai, Dammam, Multan, Cairo (Kaheraa), Islamabad, Dubai, Etc.. as and when the flights were ready for departure... So primitive that it reminded me of the conductors yelling and attracting passengers for their respective buses at Bengaluru's Kalasipalyam bus stand in the yester years...
My ordeal didn't end here. I tried to locate the washroom for relieving and to my utter shock found only one block for men and another for women perhaps housing not more than 5 toilets each. One peep from the door, I withdrew and held back using a washroom till I got in to my flight in the wee hours of the morning, consoling myself *'All is well'*!
I'm sure there would be lots of people contracting UTI 😷☹️forced to use the facilities..with such pathetic infrastructure. My sympathies to them.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, my flight was announced.
I dashed towards the gates and was one of the first to board the flight.
Securing my luggage in the hatrack, I sneaked into the fresh (?) toilet to relieve myself of all the toxins that was accumulated over the last couple of hours.
Tears of relief rolling down from my eyes, I had a quick face wash and snuggled into my seat for the last leg of my return journey. Hostesses were equally charming as on my first flight but not as exuberant. Reasons could be the demanding Indian crowd on these leg of the flights into Indian cities. I don't blame the hostesses but ourselves for the apathy.
Had an excellent company in my co-passengers, a lady and a gentleman. Greetings and pleasantries behind us, I had a jolly good time with them and we exchanged our coordinates.
On the whole it was quite a journey with all sorts of emotions running through and I was glad it came to an end a tad earlier as the flight landed ahead of schedule.
Hello Bengaluru!!!
Home sweet home!
My cent or two, advice to travellers on Saudi Airlines:
1. Expect the unexpected chaos at Jeddah airport.
2. Be stingy on liquid and solid intake unless if you can bear the stench and risk UTI by using ablution facilities at Jeddah Terminal.
3. Don't expect liquor to be served in the flights or at lounges across Saudi Arabian airports, not even '0%' alcohol beers.
4. Lounges are the preserve of only Business and First class passengers unless you are ready to pay.
5. Depending on the aircraft features, I'm sure you will otherwise enjoy the experience with good team of host/esses.
Forced to scout out alternatives, one airline suited the budget.
Saudi Airlines!! One glaring thing one must get used to.... No alcohol on these flights and till you conclude your journey! It didn't make a difference to me but to some it can be a journey breaker.
With the minimal difference between one-way and return options, I chose the return.
My grouse started when I tried checking in online. For whatever reason, I wasn't allowed to choose my seats for the connecting flight from Jeddah. Even the assistant at the check-in counter couldn't help me with choice of seats.
Proceeding further, agnostic of how the food on the flight would be, I was glad to have access to the lounge where I had my brunch, well almost!
Flight was at 11:00 and I was shocked 😳 to see that there was no entertainment console for such a long flight. Anyway, I was equipped with my cellphone full of content to keep me contented throughout the flight. But the plight of families travelling with kids, young and teens, was a sore sight, I wish to forget very quickly!!
The highlight of the otherwise insipid flight was the exuberant and enthusiastic hostesses, ever smiling and taking care of even minor requirements with great aplomb!!
I don't want to prejudge this attitude of the hostesses, as a means to cover-up the non-availability of basic amenities for a long flight.
Be that as it may, the in-flight service was top-notch!!
Probably that was the only saving grace of this airline.
Dog tired due to my hectic activities in Johannesburg, I could sleep well on the flight and this was one more feather in the cap for the airlines, as there was no entertainment console, by design, to disturb my sleep...
On landing at Jeddah, we were shuttled to the old block of structure which vaguely resembled a terminal building. Crossing over again through security check, I entered the duty free outlets, a pale comparison of duty-free shopping in terminals elsewhere...
Wading through these outlets, I was aghast and dumbfounded to see the crowd of at least several hundred in the cramped building.
Being a holder of Priority Pass, I quickly searched for the lounges and was ushered to the one just before the duty free.
On reaching there, I felt like dropping down from frying pan to 🔥!!
No access was granted to my card that is normally accepted in almost all airport lounges across the 🌏!!
Had to kill 7 hrs somehow but the density of crowd in the terminal was almost like travelling in Namma Metro at peak hours.
- After a good half an hour I could get a recliner seat and thank God for this!
The joy was short-lived. Since the seat was adjoining gates, I couldn't even catch a wink as the gate counter assistants were yelling at the top of their voices... Dubai, Dammam, Multan, Cairo (Kaheraa), Islamabad, Dubai, Etc.. as and when the flights were ready for departure... So primitive that it reminded me of the conductors yelling and attracting passengers for their respective buses at Bengaluru's Kalasipalyam bus stand in the yester years...
My ordeal didn't end here. I tried to locate the washroom for relieving and to my utter shock found only one block for men and another for women perhaps housing not more than 5 toilets each. One peep from the door, I withdrew and held back using a washroom till I got in to my flight in the wee hours of the morning, consoling myself *'All is well'*!
I'm sure there would be lots of people contracting UTI 😷☹️forced to use the facilities..with such pathetic infrastructure. My sympathies to them.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, my flight was announced.
I dashed towards the gates and was one of the first to board the flight.
Securing my luggage in the hatrack, I sneaked into the fresh (?) toilet to relieve myself of all the toxins that was accumulated over the last couple of hours.
Tears of relief rolling down from my eyes, I had a quick face wash and snuggled into my seat for the last leg of my return journey. Hostesses were equally charming as on my first flight but not as exuberant. Reasons could be the demanding Indian crowd on these leg of the flights into Indian cities. I don't blame the hostesses but ourselves for the apathy.
Had an excellent company in my co-passengers, a lady and a gentleman. Greetings and pleasantries behind us, I had a jolly good time with them and we exchanged our coordinates.
On the whole it was quite a journey with all sorts of emotions running through and I was glad it came to an end a tad earlier as the flight landed ahead of schedule.
Hello Bengaluru!!!
Home sweet home!
My cent or two, advice to travellers on Saudi Airlines:
1. Expect the unexpected chaos at Jeddah airport.
2. Be stingy on liquid and solid intake unless if you can bear the stench and risk UTI by using ablution facilities at Jeddah Terminal.
3. Don't expect liquor to be served in the flights or at lounges across Saudi Arabian airports, not even '0%' alcohol beers.
4. Lounges are the preserve of only Business and First class passengers unless you are ready to pay.
5. Depending on the aircraft features, I'm sure you will otherwise enjoy the experience with good team of host/esses.
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2 comments:
My daughter once travelled to India by Saudi in between her semesters. It was a return ticket. A few days after reaching here the return journey ticket was canceled by the airline without giving any reason. They returned half the money also as per the telescopic rates. Finally she returned by Etihad by paying more for a single journey.
One more thing; they have an unusually long layover at jeddah. Sometimes you may have to apply for a Visa if it exceeds the time stipulated as per Saudi rules.
I am not surprised. Other Middle East carriers are far better in their customer relations and accommodate passengers to the best possible extent.
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