Originally Posted by
danger
I'm two-thirds the way through a lengthy oneworld Explorer where the final sector is LHR-JED. Only now, however, have I discovered that Saudi Arabia does not have a tourism industry. To get a visa you must be on business or visiting family; there's no such thing as a tourist visa. Serves me right for only looking for the best mileage!
I think they also grant visas for visits to Mecca. But perhaps you don't qualify?
So I'll have to incur the USD125 re-route fee which is fine. But where to go to.
I expect it will be DOH, DXB or AUH, only AUH of which I have not been to.
Since you must have started in the Middle East (in order to be ending at JED) - you can finish anywhere in the Middle East; so in addition to DOH, DXB and AUH there are AMM, CAI, BAH, KWI, MCT, BEY and possibly TLV (this perhaps depending on where you originated). This assumes you have only one segment left to get from LHR to the Middle East; if you have more, then there would be more options - fancy a trip to KRT perhaps?
Will I have taxes reassessed on the entirety of the remaining itinerary (about six flights) or just the LHR-wherever? Is my understanding correct that QF and BA to DXB, BA to AUH or QR to DOH will all see me hit with a fair bit of tax (upwards of USD100), in addition to the USD125?
My understanding is that only the changed segments are re-assessed.
Your departure taxes from LHR should be the same (the APD tax is distance-based, but I expect all the Middle Eastern destinations will fall into the same distance band. And the BA fuel fines will be similar.
So the difference will be in the arrival taxes at your destination. (According to itasoftware JED has no arrival taxes)