Originally Posted by
radovanj
Fresh travel experience from BKK - JED - VIE with a 14.5 hour stopover.
As EU citizens, we have the option to use visa on arrival, so no one checks for a visa at check-in in BKK.
Luggage was checked through to Vienna and check-in in BKK was for both segments.
After arriving in JED, we simply passed through the transfer desk followed by a security check (no one checked the length of the stopover). Right after security, we took the escalators to the main hall, where there is also the entrance to the Aerotel transit hotel, where we booked a room for 10 hours. The room was pleasant with a large bathroom, WiFi and a comfortable bed. In the morning after waking up, we went for breakfast in the Alfrusan lounge and then straight to the gate.
Summary of our experience:- You do not need a transit visa for a 14.5 hour stopover (applies to those who have the option of visa on arrival).
- You can spend a long layover at the Aerotel hotel in the transit area of the airport.
Yes, good point, you will not be refused on the first leg since you can get VOA. The 6 times or so I did a transfer internationally in JED, most of the time I had to have my boarding pass checked/stamped at the SV transfer desk before going to security. At security no one checks anything. I guess the SV transfer desk will hardly notice and if so be lenient in general, but if you have someone there who strictly follows the rules.....I was all the time below 11 hours.
Aerotel is indeed a good option, used it 2 times with pleasure and will do so again in a few days. I am still a bit frustrated that my transfer visa did not work and I had to cancel my free SV hotel night, but it saves the hassle of leaving the airport and arranging transport back (return not included in the free hotel package that you could get until recently, and my particular hotel easily asked 25-30 Euro for the hotel transfer). You easily lose 1 hour with that and it can be stressy if you need to arrange an Uber or a cab at an unghastly time of say 4:30 am to be at the airport at say 5 am for the famous JED-TUN flight.