#19 out of 94 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings.
123 reviews
This is the second leg of an AMS-JED-DXB route. This report will focus more on the new Al Fursan lounge in Jeddah than on the flight as such, which ultimately remains quite classic (though arguably good for a regional flight). This is also a good report to see what the service is like on Saudia in mid-2022 (post-covid).
Itinerary:
After going through security from my AMS-JED flight (a breeze), this is where I land. After exiting the elevator, you essentially land in …a mall (I don't really have any other words to describe it :) ). Everything is organized around a plaza filled with overpriced shops on the ground level ($250 for a CK belt, seriously?) and restaurants on the first floor, accessible through multiple elevators.
There are signs pointing toward the lounge. Can't really miss it.
Told you it was hard to miss :)
Self-scanning gates are available, but the staff is also available to register your entry. Speaking of Saudia staff, I just wanted to mention something that I think isn't really acceptable in a flagship lounge: no actual Saudia staff in the lounge! So if you want to swap seats, for instance, you have to find a gate that is open for boarding (regardless of the flight) and ask the agents there (which I will do).
There is a FIDS facing the entrance to the lounge.
The lounge itself is quite large, brand new, and organized around multiple areas. Once you go through the main gate (see photo above), you find yourself on some kind of walkway that will supply you with: a game room (pool table available!), a smoking lounge for men, and one for women (we are in Saudi Arabia, afterall), a luggage storage room, as well as prayer rooms (segregated man / woman of course)
Once you're in, you can essentially go right to the Business & FF section, or left, in a First-class passengers-only section of the lounge.
A small shop is available. Didn't check the prices.
Let's explore!
Robots are rolling everywhere, though I had a hard time understanding why they were there…
Catering is limited in the middle of the night, and the pizzeria is unfortunately closed. But there is still some on-demand offer available for pasta! The other items available are quite for a lounge.
There is also a coffee shop for on-demand cappuccino and whatever else you'd like.
And an island dedicated to Gulf cuisine. Though it seemed to be closed when I visited.
My order - spicy pasta with tomato sauce and olive and mushroom.
Unfortunately, I couldn't visit the showers because they had run out of towels, and won't be replenished overnight…not on par with a flagship lounge!
I am starting to write the first leg of this report (available on the French version of the site at the time of writing).
I was then able to sleep a little in one of the break rooms. Thanks god I had both eye masks and ear plugs. Lights don't turn off and it was quite noisy (the area isn't really secluded).
I'm able to doze off for about 3 hours before taking a couple of additional pictures and go to my gate.
This terminal opened very recently and you can feel it! Everything is new and shiny (not necessarily in a good way - but hey, it's the Gulf, what can you do…)
My gate is located on the lower level. More than likely a bus boarding.
Last pictures of the ground level.
And let's roll!
In front of my gate (indeed bus boarding)
Boarding is about to start, but I still have time to grab a couple of pictures of the outside, including the tower, which I find quite beautiful.
Let's go!
5 min later, we're in front of the plane
Boarding
True J seats.
My exit row seat that I was able to grab for free when at JED (SV wanted to charge me when checking in online though).
Nice personal space
Seat is comfortable, and does come with electronic plug (no USB though)
Boarding is still ongoing
And completed!
Light load…
Hygiene kit is provided
Taxiing is quite fast; a prayer is broadcasted on the shared IFEs, as it's always the case on SV flights.
Views of the Kingdom tower after take-off. Construction is on hold, but it should reach 1km height when completed (!).
Lie flat of the poors.
A meal is provided about 30 min after take-off.
As provided.
After I took care of making it more presentable.
IFE is indicating where it Makkah/Mecca so that you can pray accordingly should you want to.
I doze off for the remaining of the flight and wake up 20 minutes before landing.
Yep, we're in Dubai
A319 from Shiraz by IranAir, parked next to us.
Let's stand up way before the door opens, because why not…
Our plane as seen from the gate!
Didn't take a lot of pics afterward, since I was quite tired and I think DXB arrivals are already heavily available on this wesbite.
Thanks!
Flight plan
A very nice regional flight with Saudia - with solid catering compared to what I'm used to on European flights! The lounge is definitely an upgrade compared to the former JED terminal! A good option for transit if you need to go to the Gulf region. 8h a bit too much (as it would be anywhere I guess). A hotel with day-use is available in the terminal as well - can be a good option if no lounge access (or to be in a quiet environment).
3 Comments
Wow, the airport and lounge are both impressive in an overly blingy way lol, minus the lack of towels for showers, which is crazy.
The cabin looks nice and is only missing an IFE option.
Looks like a combo AC/USB unit to me....blue light at the top is a USB port
Always nice to have an empty flight, especially in Covid times. The meal looks great, especially for a 2h regional flight. As you mention, we definitely don't get anything close to that on a 2h flight in North America or Europe, haha.
Thanks for sharing!
I think I was tired (and probably still tired by the time I uploaded the picture - of course that's a USB port :)
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