Visa for 26 hr layover Jeddah? on Saudia
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: TPA Bay area
Posts: 485
Visa for 26 hr layover Jeddah? on Saudia
Saudia has some great biz fares from YYZ but with 26 hour layover in Jeddah. What kind of visas would we need (and wondering if it worth the cost when added to hotel room, etc). Is there a transit visa? We would be flying Saudia both legs.
#2
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 539
Transit visas are almost impossible to get so you may end up spending that layover in the airport. Check with the consulate before you buy the ticket. I went to the one in LA and was told no for a 36 hour layover. Glad I hadn't bought the ticket yet.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: TPA Bay area
Posts: 485
Thanks! You saved me (literally) thousands of dollars. If Saudia put some kind of capsule hotel or onsite layover arrangements, like a great lounge with showers and real meals, then I would definitely fly them. But until then, nope.
#4
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Midwest/Mideast (ORD/DTW/FNT/BAH)
Programs: QR Gold/Gulf Air Gold/UA Gold
Posts: 345
Previously there was a transit visa, but I have heard they no longer issue it. Depending on your nationality, you may want to splurge and try to get a 5 year business visit visa (available for US citizens). Requirements are a simple invite letter from a company in Syria (you could try through the chamber of commerce otherwise), and the rest is online/at the embassy. There are agencies who can help with that for a fee.
The airport for transit royally sucks. Once the new airport opens in a year or two, it should be a marked improvement, but transit in the current airport (even the Saudia terminal which is better than the international terminal) is torture.
The airport for transit royally sucks. Once the new airport opens in a year or two, it should be a marked improvement, but transit in the current airport (even the Saudia terminal which is better than the international terminal) is torture.
#5
Not that I've been to JED, but the SV Al-Fursan at RUH is quite alright, and they have a compact but adequate sleeping area too. The food does it well enough, and there are a bunch of computer terminals.
(By the by, your flight memory link should look like this:
http://my.flightmemory.com/your user name here)
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,602
I am also looking at an overnight layover at RUH and I was wondering if there was any update on the transit visa situation. Is it totally a no go just for an overnight in a hotel?
Failing that, is it possible to camp out in the Alfursan lounge in the sleeping area, or does it close at some point during the night?
I did read a trip report somewhere here about a FTer who managed to do a TWOV (I think) in JED and had just under 24 hours in that city, which gave him the chance to see something. He was on his way from the US to Eritrea, and Eritrea was the focus of that very interesting trip report.
Failing that, is it possible to camp out in the Alfursan lounge in the sleeping area, or does it close at some point during the night?
I did read a trip report somewhere here about a FTer who managed to do a TWOV (I think) in JED and had just under 24 hours in that city, which gave him the chance to see something. He was on his way from the US to Eritrea, and Eritrea was the focus of that very interesting trip report.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Dubai
Programs: Bonvoy Gold, QRPC Gold
Posts: 144
Transit visas do exist and cost approximately $80 but it's one of those situations where the embassy might be clueless about it or be fully familiar and do it easily - YMMV.
Jeddah airport's lounge (at least from my experience last year) is not sleeping friendly. It just has couches/sofas and a buffet. I was told that I cannot be there for more than five hours (I had nine hours till my next flight - ridiculous story about why). If you can get the visa & go into the city, it would be preferred. The airport is not great and immigration wait times can get nasty real fast.
Riyadh on the other hand has a more substantial airport and the new Wellcome lounge in Terminal 2 (Skyteam + FlyNas) is really decent though I don't remember if they have a sleeping area. Alfursan on the other hand is equally ok - business class does not have access to the showers (as per the website) but the lounge does have 'rest areas' where you might be able to sleep. Immigration at RUH is equally variable but I have seen a fast track in operation at times for biz passengers.
If you can manage a transit visa and can budget 90 mins for immigration then it's infinitely better to go to the city and sleep at a proper hotel. Even though the airport is far, it won't ever be more than $25 by Uber each way (both Riyadh & Jeddah).
Traffic in both cities is bad and getting taxis from the airport (Uber or otherwise) is a thoroughly unpleasant experience so unless the deal is truly fantastic (and you don't mind a non-alcoholic J experience), I would skip.
Ro
Jeddah airport's lounge (at least from my experience last year) is not sleeping friendly. It just has couches/sofas and a buffet. I was told that I cannot be there for more than five hours (I had nine hours till my next flight - ridiculous story about why). If you can get the visa & go into the city, it would be preferred. The airport is not great and immigration wait times can get nasty real fast.
Riyadh on the other hand has a more substantial airport and the new Wellcome lounge in Terminal 2 (Skyteam + FlyNas) is really decent though I don't remember if they have a sleeping area. Alfursan on the other hand is equally ok - business class does not have access to the showers (as per the website) but the lounge does have 'rest areas' where you might be able to sleep. Immigration at RUH is equally variable but I have seen a fast track in operation at times for biz passengers.
If you can manage a transit visa and can budget 90 mins for immigration then it's infinitely better to go to the city and sleep at a proper hotel. Even though the airport is far, it won't ever be more than $25 by Uber each way (both Riyadh & Jeddah).
Traffic in both cities is bad and getting taxis from the airport (Uber or otherwise) is a thoroughly unpleasant experience so unless the deal is truly fantastic (and you don't mind a non-alcoholic J experience), I would skip.
Ro