Introduction
Staff disappearing with your passport for 2.5 hours at Manila airport?
That’s how my Saudia business class journey began.
What happened next completely changed my mind about this airline.
The Manila to Jeddah leg showed Saudia’s old-school approach, while Jeddah to Amsterdam delivered something more impressive.
Manila Ground Experience
The journey started at Manila’s Terminal 1, where things didn’t exactly run smoothly.
The document check was slow, and the ground staff seemed unsure about Schengen visa rules.
At one point, a staff member disappeared with my passport for 2.5 hours, only returning with my boarding pass just 30 minutes before departure.
Not exactly confidence inspiring.
Saudia uses the Marhaba Lounge, which does the job but was nothing special.
Manila to Jeddah
Stepping onboard the older 2-2-2 business class cabin, it was clear this was Saudia’s legacy product, which has since been phased out.
Pre-Departure Service
Arabic coffee, dates, and a welcome drink showed they take hospitality seriously.
Hot towels, menus, and amenity kits were provided before takeoff.
Inflight Dining
The inflight menu offered four different appetisers and a choice of three main meal options.
While the mezze was fresh and flavorful, the chicken was nothing to write home about.
Cabin crew knew what they were doing, with regular check-ins throughout the flight.
After six hours of sleep, I was offered a light meal before landing.
I chose the chicken biryani, which was excellent—aromatic, well-seasoned, and far better than my earlier meal.
Final thoughts on this leg: The cabin was outdated, but the warm and well-organised service delivered a classic Middle Eastern hospitality experience.
Jeddah Lounge
Transiting through Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, I expected a seamless premium experience, but it was a mix of highs and lows.
The first/business class transfer counter was unhelpful, so I switched to the economy counter, which was faster.
The lounge was modern, accommodating up to 450 passengers, with dedicated areas for first and business class travellers
To my surprise, I had unwittingly walked into the first class section without being checked for eligibility.
I took advantage of the opportunity to explore the luxurious facilities exclusively offered to first class passengers.
Including exquisite seating areas, an ice cream station, dining areas, and a date bar.
Despite being a beautiful and peaceful lounge, the state of the showers left much to be desired.
When I asked for a clean shower, I was given some towels and told to use one of the dirty ones.
Still, not a deal-breaker.
The lounge was not just stunning in terms of its design and facilities, but it also featured robots that roamed around offering drinks to passengers.
This high-tech addition to the lounge experience was truly extraordinary and added a cool touch that made the place feel more futuristic.
Jeddah to Amsterdam
Boarding the Saudia flight from Jeddah to Amsterdam on a Boeing 787 in a 1-2-1 configuration was seamless.
My flight attendant, Tania, introduced herself with a warm welcome and assured me of excellent service throughout the flight.
The Missoni men’s amenity kit really impressed me. It featured high-quality items, including a collaboration with Grown Alchemist.
As a fan of their shower gels, I loved this amenity kit.
After take-off Tania took my meal order, although there were no menus on this flight, she was fantastic at explaining all the dishes and dressed my tray table immaculately.
I opted for the contemporary Arabic cuisine option, which included Shakshuka eggs, potatoes, caramelized onions, falafel, various pastries, tomato/cucumber salad, and fresh fruit.
It hit the mark – glad I chose it.
As I dozed off for a few hours, the inflight chef noticed my interest in the service and food aspect of the flight.
He introduced himself, and we chatted about the menu, his job, and how Saudia had transformed its inflight service.
He suggested I try something else, and before I knew it, he had whipped up an Arabic mezze.
The Saudia Arabic mezze was a delight, starting with Tabbouleh, hummus, and muhammara dip served with cheese sambousek.
The muhammara was a rich, smoky blend of red peppers, walnuts, and pomegranate molasses.
I’ve had mezze on Qatar Airways and Oman Air, but this was one of the best.
Service was spot-on, food was great, and the crew made it feel special.
Conclusion
Two very different experiences on one ticket – but both showed why Saudia’s worth considering.
The Jeddah-Amsterdam leg especially impressed me. When the chef comes over for a chat and whips up extra mezze just because he can tell you’re interested?
That’s the kind of service that makes a flight memorable.
If you’re flying this route, the 787 service beats the older Manila aircraft hands down.
Consider timing your booking to receive the newer product.