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CX- Bahrain flight dress code for Riyadh stop

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CX- Bahrain flight dress code for Riyadh stop

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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 12:23 am
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CX- Bahrain flight dress code for Riyadh stop

I have a HK- bahrain flight which stops in Riyadh first. With one hour on the ground in Riyadh.

I understand there is strict dress code or women in Saudi Arabia. What happens at the Riyadh stop? Would CX hand out an abaya while we wait at the terminal?
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 5:21 am
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It's a very long time since I was in Saudi, but I don't believe that they will force you to cover up. That said, if you don't at least wear a headscarf you will get stared at as you'll stick out like a sore thumb.
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 5:49 am
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IIRC you stay on the plane, so no problem.
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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 2:48 pm
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But this flight is a one way loop- HKG-RUH-BAH-HKG which means they will definitely pickup passengers in RUH and must get everyone off to clean the plane in RUH.

Though I doubt there will be any religious police to arrest us at the airport but I remember when arriving in Tehran from Europe, there was an announcement on the plane that everyone must wear a head scarf as soon as the plane landed- this included all the air hostess who did not get off the plane in Tehran.

Headscarf is not compulsory in Saudi Arabia but a abaya (long black cloak) is for a woman.
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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 5:08 pm
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Originally Posted by jcjchung
But this flight is a one way loop- HKG-RUH-BAH-HKG which means they will definitely pickup passengers in RUH and must get everyone off to clean the plane in RUH.

Though I doubt there will be any religious police to arrest us at the airport but I remember when arriving in Tehran from Europe, there was an announcement on the plane that everyone must wear a head scarf as soon as the plane landed- this included all the air hostess who did not get off the plane in Tehran.

Headscarf is not compulsory in Saudi Arabia but a abaya (long black cloak) is for a woman.
I have never been to Saudi Arabia but in you seems to think that since there are passengers coming on, that means people have to get off for them to clean. That is not true. In YVR the passengers are told to stay on the plane, and the cleaning crew clean around us, and the new passengers come on. So it is possible that you may be order to stay on the plane.

So I think the previous poster is right, you will most likely remain on the plane.
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Old Nov 8, 2009 | 8:55 am
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I'm doing this route in reverse (BAH-RUH-HKG) this coming Wednesday night/Thursday. I'll try and get back here to report on what happens.

It's also been my experience that offloading/loading passengers and cleaning doesn't equal everyone getting off the plane. This was in Mumbai on the DXB-BOM-BKK-HKG run.
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Old Nov 8, 2009 | 9:04 am
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I never get off the plane when they clean it. I like having the plane to myself (and marvel at how quickly 10-12 cleaners can clean an entire 777 or 747 in 20 minutes flat. Also, it saves me from dealing with the always incoherent re-boarding process.
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Old Nov 9, 2009 | 5:58 am
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I have flown this route several times. There is no concern whatsoever with regard to dress code. The regulations calls for ALL passengers to remain in the aircraft. No one is allowed out unless in case of extreme emergency and at this occasions there should be no issue with dress code.

The only restriction with regard to Saudi "way of life" is the ban of alcohol consumption on board of the flight while grounded!!

The only concern one should have would be the condition of the airplane!! Very dated.. almost the worst of CX regional fleet operate this route!!

Last edited by dabbagmm; Nov 9, 2009 at 7:38 am
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Old Nov 9, 2009 | 6:07 am
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I'm writing this from Riyadh...

As long as you stay on the airplane or in the terminal you shouldn't have a problem.
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Old Nov 9, 2009 | 7:27 am
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I've lived in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia as an expat for 15 years. Riyadh is more conservative than here, but even so, non-Muslim women do not have to wear head scarfs or an abaya (the black cloak). But, covering from the neck down (no cleavage and no legs showing and no arms showing) with loose fitting clothes would be respectful and appropriate.
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Old Nov 9, 2009 | 7:37 am
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. .

Last edited by dabbagmm; Nov 9, 2009 at 7:37 am Reason: error
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Old Nov 9, 2009 | 8:54 am
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Originally Posted by dabbagmm
I have flown this route several times. There is no concern whatsoever with regard to dress code. The regulations calls for ALL passengers to remain in the aircraft. No one is allowed out unless in case of extreme emergency and at this occasions there should be no issue with dress code.
Tell that to the girls who were forced back by Saudi Morality Police into a burning school to die because they ran out without what was regarded as suitable covering. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1874471.stm

Saudi Arabia is a medieval, barbaric state by any objective assessment.
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Old Nov 10, 2009 | 7:42 am
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Originally Posted by christep
Tell that to the girls who were forced back by Saudi Morality Police into a burning school to die because they ran out without what was regarded as suitable covering. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1874471.stm

Saudi Arabia is a medieval, barbaric state by any objective assessment.
Yes, there are horror stories all around the world. Some get reported and others don't. What I would consider a healthy attitude is to refrain from generalizing and unnecessarily bashing.

A couple of FTers who lived there addressed the question raised here with objectively and no "warnings" given whatsoever.

I can only sympathize with you if one of your dear ones of friends were among those suffered in the indecent you referenced.
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Old Nov 10, 2009 | 7:50 am
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Originally Posted by dabbagmm
Yes, there are horror stories all around the world. Some get reported and others don't. What I would consider a healthy attitude is to refrain from generalizing and unnecessarily bashing.

A couple of FTers who lived there addressed the question raised here with objectively and no "warnings" given whatsoever.

I can only sympathize with you if one of your dear ones of friends were among those suffered in the indecent you referenced.
OK, Gutsy will ban this soon, but I'm still going to post it. This isn't generalizing, this is fact. Fact is due to political correct and post-modern philosophy somehow we are supposed to look the other way when something hideous or disgusting happens, because it is "just their culture." And the counter argument "you are not that much better" is irrational and illogical either, by that argument the world should have no laws and no police, because "no one is that much better" than another person.
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