Introduction
Flying with Saudia is a unique experience that blends traditional hospitality and modern service.
On a trip from Manila to Amsterdam, I saw both sides of the airlineโa classic old-school product on the Manila leg and a sleek, more refined service from Jeddah to Amsterdam.
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.
It was not the most reassuring start.
Saudia uses the Marhaba Lounge, which is functional but unremarkable.
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 set the tone for a traditional hospitality experience.
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 forgettable.
Cabin crew service was efficient and structured, with regular check-ins throughout the flight.
Cabin crew service was efficient and structured, 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 excellentโaromatic, 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Final thoughts on this leg: The cabin was outdated, but the warm and well-organised service delivered a classic Middle Eastern hospitality experience.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.
Nevertheless, it was a minor inconvenience.
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 to the overall futuristic feel of the space.
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 was a standout. It featured high-quality items, including a collaboration with Grown Alchemist.
As a fan of their shower gels, I loved this amenity kit.
It was well-curated, and I’m looking forward to using the toiletry bag.
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 was delicious, and I was delighted with my choice.
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.
The service was impeccable, the meal quality was top-notch, and the crew delivered a boutique experience.
