We arrived in Riyadh at around 7PM, while our flight to Los Angeles was around 1:30AM, meaning we had about a six hour layover. In June I reviewed Saudia's first class lounge at Riyadh Airport, so I won't be reviewing that again. Instead I'll be reviewing the transit experience and Saudia's business class lounge, which…
Continue reading: Review: Saudia Business Class Lounge Riyadh Airport
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
As I commented in a previous post, I've yet to see a worker look at the x-ray monitor. A prize should be offered for the first person to spot one actually looking at it.
@ Lucky- According to Emirates, passengers departing Dubai to Toronto (their only Canadian destination) must go through extra security screening at the gate before boarding, just like flights to the USA and the UK. Electronic devices must also be switched on at the gate before boarding. Apparently this is due to Canadian security regulations. I am assuming a similar rule applies for the Saudia flight to Toronto from Riyadh and Jeddah.
Ha! As Jerry Seinfeld once said, "Always feel safe in the airport. Thanks to the high-calibre individuals we have working at X-Ray security. How about this crack squad of savvy, motivated personnel; feel pretty good with them at the helm?"
I have diabetes, so I am always curious (and worried) if these exotic airlines have Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, or other non-caloric soft drinks available, both on board and in the Business and First Class lounges. Anyone have knowledge or experience of this? I know everyone has bottled water, but that won't do for me as I prefer something with flavor and fizz and WITHOUT calories/sugar.
@Dr. stan De Loach yes saudia offer diet and sugar free and sweeteners on-board and in the first class lounge and business class lounge as well.
@mohammed Thanks for this info! You may not know that the pink, yellow, blue, or green paper packets/small envelopes with artificial sweeteners contain 97% glucose/dextrose/sugar (all the same thing!) and therefore are not appropriate for use by those of us who have diabetes. So, they won't do, but the canned diet or sugar-free drinks will work. Hope that is what you meant (Diet Coke, Coke ZERO, Diet Pepsi, for example).
CX (Cathay Pacific) and CZ (China Southern) both have an adequate supply of canned sugar-free drinks in Business; UA puts only 4 cans of Coke ZERO on the whole plane (in most cases, from to/from Hawaii, for example), 2 for Business and 2 for Economy...so you have to order early.
Will check availability on QR when I fly paid Business IAH-DOH-CMB-DOH-IAH in October.
No more grab-the-serving-spoon-handled-by-50-other hands-and-dig-in lounge buffet for me.
Kudos to Emirates and those who offer INDIVIDUAL SERVINGS of most food items.
Saudis and their lounges have plenty of diet drinks. Saudis have the highest rate of diabetes in the world at over 20%.
The lounge at RUH is amazing. Shockingly good with a ton of food. Here's a secret: way over in the sitting area is a geezer filled with amazing ice cream!!!
Do you know if the airport allows transit passengers to check into their flights at the airport and print their boarding pass?