Are you thinking of flying Saudia? Here are 5 aspects you need to consider

Increasingly, perhaps also because of Preparing for the real takeoff of Riyahd Air., it is easy to come across attractive fares to fly from Italy to the East with Saudia, Saudi Arabia's national airline I have already flown with several times.

Here's what to consider before being lured by a price, which is often very attractive In both economy and business.

#1 So many different machines and so many different booths.

In Italy Saudia flies from Rome, Milan and Venice, toward Jeddah and the capital Riyadh. And he does it with 2 different machines: from Rome and Venice flies the A320 outfitted with two cabins, while from Milan it flies only the A330, again configured in business and economy.

For long-haul it also has 777/300s, some with first class, and Dreamliners /9 and /10. The constant is the inconstancy of the fittings. Virtually every model has a different set-up. 

If you fly business only the 787s and the 777/300 set up with first class offer direct aisle access, otherwise you go from a 2-2-2 to the 2-3-2 you some 777s.

#2 Chef on board and service level

The Jeddah-based company is one of the few in the world to have a chef figure on board-not a real cook, but still a dedicated food preparer. All very nice, except that this leads to very, very, slow service.

For a time Saudia also distributed a SUPER amenity kit, among the richest ever seen around the world.

#2 Beware of visa

The information that the company gives on the website, the info that can be found on the net is absolutely misleading. If you make double stopovers, that is, you arrive in Jeddah to depart to your final destination from Riyadh it will be compulsory to apply for a visa (at the airport) and pay over 100€, and if the itinerary is the same on the return it will mean paying twice.

There is no free visa, there is no transit visa, I say this because in network you can find content that speaks Of this possibility, But this is not the case, or rather it is no longer the case. The visa is applied for online, or directly at the airport where you can pay about 100$ by credit card.

#3 If you have a domestic stopover, it's a huge slam

In addition to the visa, be careful because a stopover means that if you arrive in Riyadh and have to fly to Jeddah, one will have to change terminals, and the two terminals are 10 minutes apart by bus. You will then have to exit, retrieve your luggage, do outbound immigration, post check-in security checks.

An absurd jolt

#4 no alcohol

No alcohol on board, at the airport, in the lounge anywhere. I remember, This is an absolutely dry carrier. This means that not only is it not sold, but it is not even allowed to be brought from home, and there are not even those "in-between" solutions i.e. zero-alcohol beers, only substitutes.

Bellini that is carbonated water or wine that is actually water colored with grape juice

#+1 because this article

I decided to make this article to invite people interested in taking advantage of one of Saudia's double-stop fares carefully. Certainly the price can be attractive, and it travels very well, but it is not like leaving from Milan to fly to New York with stopovers in Amsterdam and Paris. Extra costs, stress, and lost time must be factored in and evaluate whether the game is worth the candle.