Saudia | ATH - Various Asia | Business RT from 700
Jan 21, 2020, 4:39 am
#151
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AA Exp
Posts: 836
Jan 21, 2020, 9:27 pm
#152
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,918
Anyway you'll end into a not busy security check. A further escalator and you're landing at departures level of T1. The lounge entrance is just there on the left but I was denied access and told to use the one in South terminal after the bus transfer. And that's where things are turning interesting : nobody really knows were the shuttle bus leaves from (at some point I was told my connecting flight didn't exist). Go gate 26 the lounge dragon said... See gate 30 another guy told... 15 min after a couple of frantic phone calls (to a dispatcher) a bus appeared. 15 more minutes and you're left at a gate of south terminal (gate 10 or so, anyway there were pax making the opposite journey).
Jan 23, 2020, 7:11 am
#153
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: PAR, TYO, SEL, SIN, SYD
Programs: AF/KLM Platinum Ultimate, VA Velocity Platinum, ALL Platinum
Posts: 716
On some days CGK seems to get a 773 with lie-flat (same seat as A320). Its not all aisle access but it makes this deal even sweeter.
Jan 26, 2020, 10:23 am
#156
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: Flying Blue (plat), Eurobonus (gold), Accor (plat), Bonvoy (plat)
Posts: 290
What was the lounge experience at south terminal?
By the way, mind you : the new lounge at T1 simply has no shower. There's something looking like a stockade so perhaps it is planned to open one at some point in the future ? "Inch'Allah" the dragon answered me.
Jan 29, 2020, 9:52 am
#157
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: WORLD
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Flying Blue (KLM) Platinum, Oneworld (BA) Sapphire, *A (Aegean) Gold, IHG Spire RA,
Posts: 555
Anyone else had his Athens Riad flight cancelled? Seems its. It seems not flying anymore that day.
call Saudia? As this is not really and error fare should be allright to call?
call Saudia? As this is not really and error fare should be allright to call?
Jan 30, 2020, 4:29 am
#160
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OTP
Programs: AF/KL platinum, Turkish gold, QR gold
Posts: 1,573
Saudia has by the way greatly improved their soft product compared to the last flights I took of them a year or so ago. A proper 'chef' on board in the same style as Turkish Airlines, improved food (which already was good to begin with) and some nice non-alcoholic cocktails (Bellini) and selection of teas, as well as proper espresso.
Even more important, I thought that the cabin crew were all going through great lengths to welcome you on board, thank you for flying Saudia etc. They were also constantly checking on you if you want anything. Heck, even the Arab male senior purser on both flights were truly amazing, hard working, warm and eager to have a chat. Before they were the most arrogant, bossiest and laziest of people on board. Is this the same Saudia which I flew in the last few years? What an absolute steal for 350 EUR one-way.
Jan 30, 2020, 6:35 am
#161
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 36
Nothing yet as of today - just came of the KL flight, departing as usually from the south terminal.
Saudia has by the way greatly improved their soft product compared to the last flights I took of them a year or so ago. A proper 'chef' on board in the same style as Turkish Airlines, improved food (which already was good to begin with) and some nice non-alcoholic cocktails (Bellini) and selection of teas, as well as proper espresso.
Even more important, I thought that the cabin crew were all going through great lengths to welcome you on board, thank you for flying Saudia etc. They were also constantly checking on you if you want anything. Heck, even the Arab male senior purser on both flights were truly amazing, hard working, warm and eager to have a chat. Before they were the most arrogant, bossiest and laziest of people on board. Is this the same Saudia which I flew in the last few years? What an absolute steal for 350 EUR one-way.
Saudia has by the way greatly improved their soft product compared to the last flights I took of them a year or so ago. A proper 'chef' on board in the same style as Turkish Airlines, improved food (which already was good to begin with) and some nice non-alcoholic cocktails (Bellini) and selection of teas, as well as proper espresso.
Even more important, I thought that the cabin crew were all going through great lengths to welcome you on board, thank you for flying Saudia etc. They were also constantly checking on you if you want anything. Heck, even the Arab male senior purser on both flights were truly amazing, hard working, warm and eager to have a chat. Before they were the most arrogant, bossiest and laziest of people on board. Is this the same Saudia which I flew in the last few years? What an absolute steal for 350 EUR one-way.
So glad to hear that. I couldnt resist and have booked one for every second months into next year for Flying blue status and loads of miles to go on KLMs monthly redemption discounts.
Especially the bit about mocktails... was dreading Coke Zero and plain juice for the year!
Jan 30, 2020, 7:18 am
#162
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OTP
Programs: AF/KL platinum, Turkish gold, QR gold
Posts: 1,573
Don't forget to watch the crowd in ATH - as many others in business class are properly connecting on similar flights having booked the same deal. The five or six hours layover in JED went by unexpectedly fast after another passenger turned out to be a Flyertalk member - which always makes for some good fun sharing travel and flight stories. Another passenger bound from ATH to KUL (who as far as I know isn't on Flyertalk but accidentally found the deal as he had to go to KUL in the first place) turned out to be a great conversation partner as well for the time spent waiting in Jeddah for the transit bus to the south terminal. There is always some form of camaraderie having booked the same unusual deal and transiting through the same third world facility which is JED's south terminal.
PS. It was written before that the transit bus at JED departs gate from gate 30 at the new terminal, but there are actually four gate 30s! There is 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d.. in our case the transit but left from 30c. Just approach a member of staff as soon as you arrive. Unfortunately I did not manage to get into the new lounge as we were flat out refused and told we needed to go to the south terminal. Even a quick peek was out of the question!
PS. It was written before that the transit bus at JED departs gate from gate 30 at the new terminal, but there are actually four gate 30s! There is 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d.. in our case the transit but left from 30c. Just approach a member of staff as soon as you arrive. Unfortunately I did not manage to get into the new lounge as we were flat out refused and told we needed to go to the south terminal. Even a quick peek was out of the question!
Jan 30, 2020, 2:58 pm
#163
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 36
Don't forget to watch the crowd in ATH - as many others in business class are properly connecting on similar flights having booked the same deal. The five or six hours layover in JED went by unexpectedly fast after another passenger turned out to be a Flyertalk member - which always makes for some good fun sharing travel and flight stories.
Jan 31, 2020, 1:20 am
#164
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Paris/Milan
Programs: Flying Blue Platinium; All Gold, A3 Gold, Safar Flyer Gold (OW Sapphire)
Posts: 311