Saudia | ATH - Various Asia | Business RT from 700
Dec 10, 2019, 1:29 am
#31
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Amsterdam DT, The Netherlands
Programs: FB Plat, SQ*G, OW Emerald, Hertz PC
Posts: 169
In KUL, a voucher for alcoholic beverages is given to you. You need to show it at the bar.
In JED/MED/RUH obviously no alcoholic beverage available or allowed. The have 0% Bud there.
Of course, you can bring it. But, this is NOT allowed. However, if you take the risk and hide it from crew, and dispose the items secretly somewhere on the plane, then you will get away with it. Not recommended though!
Honestly, you will survive 15-20 hours without alcohol. It's not a bad idea to travel sober once in a while!
Dec 11, 2019, 1:54 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2013
Location: west coast best coast
Programs: TINDER GOLD, STARBUCKS GOLD, COSTCO EXECUTIVE!!
Posts: 3,989
Not sure about Saudia and Egyptair. I'd imagine Egyptair is fine because alcohol is readily available in the country even if it's a dry airline.
Dec 11, 2019, 6:28 pm
#35
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,749
In my experience SV crew (in J) have always been extremely nice. And SV an excellent value prop minus the old JED transit experience. Nonetheless I would not take the risk to bring my own alcohol on board, and on top of that to drink it.
Dec 12, 2019, 3:48 am
#36
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,910
I've been on the fence about booking a couple of these. Have flown SV before, and found the 77W/787 seats to be excellent -- very likely the best seats out there (along with CX/BR) for very tall people. What kills the buzz is the terrible layovers in JED. Even assuming that the new airport is a lot nicer than the old (a somewhat safe assumption), 6-8 hours is a long wait. Just tried to book a 3.55am KUL departure, which would result in a mere 2:55h connection in JED, and SV throws up an error message alerting of a 180min MCT. So they really, really want us to spend those 6-8 hours there?
Dec 12, 2019, 5:32 am
#37
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 173
I've been on the fence about booking a couple of these. Have flown SV before, and found the 77W/787 seats to be excellent -- very likely the best seats out there (along with CX/BR) for very tall people. What kills the buzz is the terrible layovers in JED. Even assuming that the new airport is a lot nicer than the old (a somewhat safe assumption), 6-8 hours is a long wait. Just tried to book a 3.55am KUL departure, which would result in a mere 2:55h connection in JED, and SV throws up an error message alerting of a 180min MCT. So they really, really want us to spend those 6-8 hours there?
Dec 13, 2019, 3:28 am
#40
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Amsterdam DT, The Netherlands
Programs: FB Plat, SQ*G, OW Emerald, Hertz PC
Posts: 169
Dec 13, 2019, 3:31 am
#41
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Amsterdam DT, The Netherlands
Programs: FB Plat, SQ*G, OW Emerald, Hertz PC
Posts: 169
Sometimes, SV send the HZ-ASxx A320's over. They have recliner seats (but a brand-new seat, quite good as well honestly).
Dec 13, 2019, 3:47 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Paris/Milan
Programs: Flying Blue Platinium; All Gold, A3 Gold, Safar Flyer Gold (OW Sapphire)
Posts: 311
I'll see in March, hope they will change their schedule nevertheless
Dec 17, 2019, 1:43 am
#43
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Netherlands - AMS
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum; Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 196
SV: ATH-Asia (Business) | OW from 432 | RT from 738
The ATH-KUL fare has already been posted, but the fare is live again, the dates are much more wide open, many more destinations are available and stopovers are possible (for those interested in visiting Saudia).
Examples:
ATH-MNL
ATH-KUL
ATH-SIN
ATH-DEL
ATH-BOM
ATH-CMB
ATH-MLE
ATH-SUB
For the best prices, search on OTA's.
Books into I, earning 150% RDM for most programs. Gives 45XP each way for Flying Blue.
Changes are 95, cancellations are 140.
It's a dry airline, but for the rest, the service is completely fine, and seats on the 787 are reverse herringbone (+ A320 from ATH is lie-flat).
All the Europe and Asia flights seem to leave from the new terminal in JED now, which I've heard is quite pleasant. Can't vouch for it.
Examples:
ATH-MNL
ATH-KUL
ATH-SIN
ATH-DEL
ATH-BOM
ATH-CMB
ATH-MLE
ATH-SUB
For the best prices, search on OTA's.
Books into I, earning 150% RDM for most programs. Gives 45XP each way for Flying Blue.
Changes are 95, cancellations are 140.
It's a dry airline, but for the rest, the service is completely fine, and seats on the 787 are reverse herringbone (+ A320 from ATH is lie-flat).
All the Europe and Asia flights seem to leave from the new terminal in JED now, which I've heard is quite pleasant. Can't vouch for it.
