Flying Saudia from Jeddah during Ramadan (Business class to MYSELF!) 777-300 review
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Date of Travel: MAY 2018
Airline: Saudia
Livery: Saudia standard
Route: JED-CGK
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300
Registration: HZ-AK25
Flight Number: SV 818
Miles: 4950
Airborne time: 9h05m
Notes: Fifth of 25 legs, round the world
Cost to book: £407, fare details in the Rome-Jeddah video (exchange rates and fare adjustment mean the same fare is now slightly more to book)
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Look, even us as Saudis we try to avoid Jeddah's airport and go instead to Riyadh's. We are waiting for the new airport to open, the airport is so fascinating, spacious and amazing. The business class is incredible and spacious. We all can't wait for the new airport to open. And oh yes the food Saudi airlines serve is absolutely one of the best it's truly a very high quality.
Your channel is first-rate, mate. You're extremely comprehensive in the details of each flight, which make me think at the end of the each video that I've traveled to your destination as well. And your production values are very good, given your equipment and script.
I'll never go to many of the places you visit, so each vlog feels like a surprise mini-vacation. What a terrific hobby you have, and I hope you keep it interesting for yourself for a long time to come. Well done!
Well said....my sentiments exactly!
Who pays for all this chaps travel?
@@Jack51971, presumably Patreon money.
Mostly the channel is funded through advertising revenue and (lately) through brand sponsorship - around 2 million hits a month. Patreon is about 10% of the channel’s income.
Wingin’ It! Paul Lucas it’s not HZ-AK25 because K25 have a new SAUDIA livery and full flatbed business class seat and different design
Oh the memories. Saudia was my first job as cabin crew.
If you guys are wondering what Arabic is written at 5:23, it's a prayer we say before going on a trip on car or on a plane to keep us safe and nothing will go wrong
Hi Paul, great video and pretty cool being the only passenger! cheers D
Hi, Dennis.
Impossible to get ice cream wrong? More than once on United the ice cream is so cold I can bang my spoon on it and hear the clank! :)
You ain't the only one mate
A little later than I’d have liked thanks to a problem with the subtitles - if you need subtitles for accessibility reasons, I’ll have these fixed by tomorrow so you might want to check back then.
Not long left of the weekend now... hope everyone has had a good one! Going back to two videos a week, so see you Sunday with Indonesian budget airline, Citilink, and then Thursday with Malindo Air - a low cost premium carrier from Malaysia.
Paul's Trip Reports AK坎坎坷坷坎坎坷坷
Not accessibility reasons, but I do prefer subtitles on most YT videos, thanks for making them work properly! Will be interesting to see the contrast between long-haul business and a regional low-cost option, too. (Though I did have a surprisingly good experience with the bright orange lot going AMS-EDI last week.)
Paul's Trip Reports it wouldn't be rude to eat in front of Muslim people on a plane during Ramadan because Muslims aren't allowed to fast on planes
Paul's Trip Reports none of those people would’ve been fasting because if you travel you are excused from having to fast.
In some very conservative countries people do fast. That’s why Saudi hand out the packed lunches.
2:31 Wow - a Tim Horton's in Jeddah. A long way from its origins in Hamilton, Ontario!
And in the UK now.
s125ish There are several branches around Jeddah, mostly in shopping malls. Because that's literally where everyone goes on weekends.
Man I’m from Saudi and we Love TimHortons!
@@n9rawii It's awesome innit? IDK if anything is gonna happen to it now that Canada is supposedly getting ties cut.
Theres atleatst 11 tim hortons in dubai itself
During my time, living and working in Saudi Arabia, I found Saudia to be an excellent airline when flying. What let them down was their ground staff and lounges. I would actively avoid Jeddah, especially at Ramadan, but the timetables were amended so Riyadh was often only reached by indirect flights via Jeddah. Jeddah's lounge has improved and what you filmed was the upgraded lounge, so imagine what the old one was like! Connecting to domestic for flights to Riyadh is tricky for the uninitiated and you have to pass through Visa & Immigration Control - again avoid if possible during Ramadan.
But the airline are great, staff very friendly and the new jets in the fleet are modern and very comfortable. They just need to make the lounges like the Alfursan in Riyadh which is excellent.
A nice update to an old video thanks for sharing. Haven't been to Saudi Arabia worth a look? Did enjoy Oman and Dubai though. One thoroughly modern the other still preserving much of its past.
With your videos it really feels like we're traveling with you. Your voice, accent and tone are definitely enjoyable and the comment are always interesting, you're a keeper mate !
Hey, giving the Saudi Lounge in Jeddah: it has probably not seen major updates due to the new Jeddah International Airport that is currently undergoing soft opening and should be opened fully early next year. So I guess that Saudia is putting all it's efforts there. Giving that the lounge in ryiadh is supposed to be really good and the overall plans for the new jeddah airport look amazing.
Indeed .
This is incredible ....this trip is the dream of a lifetime. Thanks for taking us all along.
Nice review!
As other already mentioned: Fasting is not mandatory for travelers thus most passengers would be eating.
Nice report - I really liked the balance between the voiceovers and letting the shots/music speak for themselves in this video. Thanks again for sharing your hobby!
I've had business all to myself twice on European flights, both with Swiss. One was LCY-ZRH, the other was VCE to ZRH. The flight from Venice was not long after my partner's death and funeral and I was looking wistfully at the mountains as we passed over. Somehow I had got myself talking in my rusty German with the stewardess and I explained about my bereavement and also how in 1962, when I was 7 years old, we flew over the Alps on our way to join my father in Aden, and how my partner always recognised when I was thinking of my mother when we were flying. I was treated like royalty before I told my tale, and my champagne glass was never empty! Thankfully I had some strong coffee once we were back on terra firma!
I remember quite clearly my mother telling me she went on holiday in Switzerland with her sister when she was younger and I part retraced that trip 60 years later. Understandably, crossing the Alps is probably my favourite moment on a flight, and I've done it, let's say more than a few times!
I’m so sorry for your loss
These videos have become part of my weekly routine! Another great one Paul!
Was one of 2 in the premium economy BA from Rio to Heathrow once. The other bloke tried to sit directly next to me so I moved further away.
That lounge though! 😂
Really enjoyed the indepth video, your content gets better all the time.
Must be a weird but also cool experience to be the only passenger in Business Class. Became a Patron a few days ago after watching your channel for several months. Anyway, can’t wait until the next video! Greetings from Corne.
Thanks for all the support Corne! So much more to come this year 🙌🏻
Suggestions. Making England from La on budget airlines with no checked bags
Been looking forward to this all night!
“I ordered ice cream, which all airlines should serve as it is almost impossible to get wrong”
Delta: *allow me to introduce myself*
Thanks again Paul for another enjoyable video. With all the turmoil we get bombarded daily it is refreshing to remember that the journey of life is to be savored
Wonderful. Thought you were going to let us down today. So glad a quick glimpse on iPad on going to bed revealed your latest report.
Really loving the voice overs, Paul. You have got it to a t. The food looked absolutely delicious. Jeddah airport looked busy (understatement).
Looking forward to flight No.6 on Thursday. You do this better than anyone else Paul.🤓
Your video is outstanding. 10/10! By the way, IranAir also offers prayer facilities on board.
I love watching aviation trip reports as well as train trip reports and your channel is the only one i see does both.
I know this is an older video, so I'm not sure if you will read this, but when I was a kid in the early-mid 80's, I lived in Jeddah, right across from the airport. We flew in and out of that airport many, many times. Of course I was very young and it was a very long time ago, and it's dark in your video, so it's hard to see what does and does not look the same. But it was really really cool to see it again, after over 30 years. Thanks for this awesome video. You have a new subscriber!
Man, all the memories I have of the Jeddah airport, and it's antiquated terminals. 👍for surviving a transit through one of those, during Ramadan! I'm guessing you were in the South terminal, which is better than the even older North one. I personally would have chosen to transit through Riyadh at that time of the year.
The South terminal does have boarding gates, but not enough to handle the volume of flights, so, they are only used for certain destinations.
The catering looked good, and I probably would have asked the crew for all 3 lunch choices, just to taste them.
Try Saudia on one of their better routes, which use their newer aircraft, but after they open the new terminal.
Ziaur Khan Nope, no boarding gates in Terminal S. Yes, he was in Terminal S, Terminal N is even more miserable. The boarding gates are actually in Terminal H (Hajj), and in Terminal 1 (New).
Yousef Noori I guess you're right, I mixed up Terminals H and S. Every time I've used the South terminal, they provided those elevating buses. Not sure if they are still used though.
Ziaur Khan They're still being used, same old buses
@@yousefnoori ---- but in 6 months or so, the new terminal will be fully operational. Thus no more buses
@@9LimaAlpha7 Yes, that's true. It'a mostly gonna be domestic or international Saudia flights for the next six months.
I flew Saudia business a few years ago in their old 1st and this business layout. I was really surprised with them. The food was great.
Love it Paul, but keep the train reports coming i like them aswell, for me that is what makes you channel great!
and ferries
He's not a millionaire, he can't afford to travel by UK train. It's cheaper for him to fly everywhere in business class.
LOL
I love how this channel has gone from “oooh I haven’t gone on a train in a while” to “I will never be able to afford any of this”
Next up, Citilink Indonesia... cost: £34 one way. 😉
Completely agree with you on angled seats. I've never understood the complaints about them because, ironically, the best sleeps I've ever had were always in angled seats, not fully flat.
Wow! A Tim Hortons in Jeddah! I never knew they had one there. I live in Canada and love Tim’s.
It's a real shame you don't actually get to spend time in the locations you are going to. It would have been so awesome to get to see all these places.
Wish you come back to Jeddah here and see the new terminal! It’s worth coming and seeing it! Better than the old one *dozens* of times 😄😅
You have to try the (new) Saudia business class product too! Like on the A320’s, the 777-300’s and the 787’s! They’re definitely worth it!
My pleasure to be one of your subscribers! ☺️😊🤗
Stay safe
Greetings from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦♥️💚❤️👍😂🇸🇦
You should visit Jeddah airport now.... Your jaw will drop with amazement because of the great changes there.... Biggest airport aquarium too....
Looks like pretty good value-for-money in Business Class. I'm impressed.
I used to live in Jakarta, then I moved to Ethiopia. But originally I am from Toronto Canada, so glad your visiting my most loved city, much love from Ethiopia.
£400 for that flight . That’s a steal . Business Class is very variable in quality not only between airlines , but sometimes within the same airline too . I enjoyed as I always do your good honest trip reports . I’ve flown a few times with QR and EK during Ramadan and apart from the “ turning day into night “ routine by closing the blinds find the service the same . I know how busy your life is , and appreciate the time you take in giving us all your videos to enjoy .
Another awesome video Paul, very informative. I have flown many airlines and to be honest with you my experience flying on Saudi airlines into and out of Jedda was the best, and just like you, the food and service were excellent as well as the entertainment selection. I like the music used for this video, easy on the ears. Thank you for posting.
Love your trips, you've inspired me to bite the bullet and take a trip like yours in September - cheers for your videos Paul and keep up the good work :D
Another great video! I always look forward to seeing your videos!
Jeddah airport looks a lot like what Doha and Abu Dhabi used to be like. It always seem like the middle eastern airlines expand at such a rate that their hub airport just can't keep up. At least Doha and Abu Dhabi are much improved now.
Anyway another great video Paul. I'm loving the voice over, really adds an extra dimension to the videos.
MrToastbotable Jeddah now has a new airport. Much better than the old one. Google it
I am enjoying your round-the-world 2018 trip. The leg from Jeddah during Ramadan reminded me of an overnight flight from Chicago to Munich on a Lufthansa A340-600. I was the only passenger in the First Class cabin. Needless to say, the service was wonderful. I even had a guided tour of the A340-600 by one of the flight attendants. Probably, one of my best flights ever!
This notification just made my evening
Yep notifications FTW
Paul ' that was just great!
Really cool/interesting about the onboard prayer room! Thanks for adding that in, otherwise I never would've thought of that being added into an airplane.
Really looking forward to your thoughts on Denpasar. I loved the view of the waves crashing next to runway.
Ah...brings back many 'memories' (no adjective provided) of when I lived and worked in Jeddah; the fun of the North Terminal check-in; the cases being thrown over your head; the screaming arguments from customers and staff; the sweat dripping from ones hands at emmigration in case the computer didn't let you out; the swimming pool inside each toilet cubicle; the pleasant sound of the call to prayer when one is trying to Skype; the wonderful food offerings in the restaurants; the pleasant bus excursion to watch the aeroplanes........
Paul, thanks for another good report.
A few years ago I flew LHR to Jeddah direct on a BA 777, having come direct from SYD/JFK/LHR in Business - part of an RTW that could not be altered. The Jeddah/Kuwait trip was added as a side trip in PY. I was getting ready to put my roller-bag in the overhead locker when an FA walked up and said that I had a choice of seats I was the only person in the PY cabin that night! As it turned out, this was only the fourth flight since that service was new and had started that week.
It was a tad lonely. Meal service was announced by the rumble of the beverage and food trollies - each with two FAs. Service was fast, we had a laugh and then off they all went.
If you go back to Saudi Arabia, flying Jeddah to Ryadh is interesting. The vibe in Ryadh is let's say, a tad more formal.
Great report Paul! I have a few recent reports up for Saudia, and am currently working on my Jeddah to Washington D.C report. I had the same experience with the layover, only I had no lounge access haha. It was so exhausting. I can't wait for the new terminal to open up!
Wow man, your reports continue to get better and better!!👍👍
Reminds me of a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Miami on Christmas Day many years ago, my wife and I were alone in Upper Class. The whole 747 only had 50 passengers and the crew gave us a great Christmas experience and even donned fancy dress!!
The shot of the contents from the amenity kit shows a Lightning style Apple product charger. Thank all known gods in the universe they provide that. It’s a rarity to see Airlines provide charging cables, let alone Lightning jacks
Many of the airports around the equator use night-time arrivals and departures, due to air density. @ 3:40 there's bleed from the original sound, under you and the music, That trip round the aeroplanes would be a spotters daydream. I really like the clarity on your narration. Blimmin' good trip, Boss!
Waited for this for a week glad to see your uploading again!! :)
Great review! Also did the JED-CGK flight in Business Class on their 777. However I got the newer Business Class Cabin with 180 degrees lie flat seats :D
Wowza, the lighting in that Jeddah lounge. Would give a headache, for sure. I also don't have a problem with a flat-angled seat, sure beats the alternative being squashed in back. Another very interesting video and looking forward to the next leg to Bali. I hope you got to spend a few days there, one of the most beautiful and unique travel destinations on earth.
You should record spoken audio books, your voice is extremely soothing.
I've been constantly refreshing your page to see when you'd post this tripreport! I have to say Saudia are indeed incredibly surprising in terms of their product! It'd be great if you could get a chance to try their new business cabin at some point. I've not experienced it myself nor have I seen it before but I'd much rather see you doing a trip report on it. Hope to see the next video soon!
Your trip reports are now so much better when you do voice overs. Waiting to see next trip report.
You have such a soothing voice. This flight looked very nice. I like how you can eat on demand and you can order as you like so you won't be over full. Only seriously bad part was the bus and stairs to the airplane. What about old people like me? I have a bad hip and that would be humiliating to struggle up th stairs.
I'm a Jeddah citizen and honestly you should check out the new airport.
I'm going to Italy next week in business class too.
Great review. I will now book my DXB/JED/JNB/JED/DXB in J Class based on your review.
It's Skyteam & not Oneworld but I guess we can't have it all.
Enjoying the new style of video Paul, think it's a real step up from before.
Lovely report. Never been to Jeddah airport but assumed it was another showcase of Middle Eastern style and modernity, surprised that at present it is not so good. Hopefully a future visit by yourself will show us the new Jeddah. Food looked very good.
Great stuff, Paul - really enjoying your round the world trip. Thank you for sharing with us!
How you say, that its not their best plane and there is gona be another terminal open very soon that should be better. just shows how good of a reviewer you are
I’ve tried being the only passenger in Business Class 7 years ago on a 6AM flight from MNL to SIN (it was an A330). Felt really cool but I guess it would be much cooler having an entire 777 Business Class all to yourself! Nice video as always! Interesting that they serve Filipino food on a flight not bound to the Philippines.
Yup. I was travelled from Riyadh to Karachi in March on a 777 and the whole plane had only 27 passengers on board. It almost felt like I'm a zombie apocalypse survivor!
Thoroughly enjoyed that Paul. You really are very good in front on the camera!
Paul:Ice cream is impossible to get wrong!
Delta Airlines:Hold my scrotum spoon.
This took me right back to 2000 when I had a forced landing and got stranded in Abu Dhabi. The terminal was the old circular one with one cafe that took only cash and the weirdest tiling!! There was no lounge back then either. Got stranded in Ramadan with only one flight out for 2 days. Not been on a flight via there since!!
Excellent and informative video - thanks. I did once fly Qantas in business Hong Kong-Melbourne (about 10 hours I recall incl time-change) when I was the only passenger in business, I think there were quite a few in economy, but it was by no means full. The curiosity was the way the plane was configured, first and business were at the front, but the unusual thing was that these two classes were separated by a solid partition down the middle of the cabin, business on the left at front, first on the right - not sure if first was empty, but it certainly would not have had more than a couple of passengers. It was an OK flight, service/food also OK for business, but certainly not one of my more memorable flights. "Efficient" probably sums it up best.
I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for posting
Only pax in business! My uncle once flew Gulf Air L1011 Muscat - Heathrow and was the ONLY pax in any class! (Guess the flight back was heavily booked as the outbound was not cancelled). He enjoyed the trip... but they lost his luggage!
Damn, this music has me hooked! I'm dancing along to scenes of an empty cabin like it's fun.
Wow just seen this in the notes! "Notes: Fifth of 25 legs, round the world" cant wait for them all! When complete you should put those 25 legs in a playlist so we can watch the whole thing through in order :) Great video!
At 4:40. Yes, it happened to me but the other way around. BA 777 Baku - LHR. No seats in business, empty in Coach. Rows & rows to myself, lots of service, and vould lue out flat oon yhe centre row. They served an excellent curry for the meal, so I had three before sleeping. Meanwhile, in business, it was frantic, with crew rushing all over.
One of the bes flights ever!
Matter of fact, Yes! I have been the ONLY PASSENGER in
First Class, 4 different flights on Singapore Air. That was
back in the late 1980's/early '90's. It was rather odd.
However, I did not have to wait to be served & had a lot
of attention. I felt so special! heh!
The flights were from Asia to the US & back to Asia. Although,
I had flown many more times that same route over the years.
Have some of the same foreign airlines you have as well.
I am too old now to do all that flying and have health issues, so
it is absolutely a joy to be flying with you. I feel like I am sitting
next to you on each flight & enjoying all that glorious food!!
Fantastic report! I've actually never seen a Saudi flight reviews before
Excellent video Paul. Awesome work as usual.
The new Jeddah terminal is astonishing!!
uncivilized time LOL! I flew during Ramadan. There were 64 people on a 767 to Morocco.
Thanks for posting Paul , if you gonna give Saudia another try ,fly via Riyadh Airport it will be much better experience.
When i was younger I used to fly Gulf air and Saudia to and from england and saudi arabia. Always loved flying with them, especially since if we went anywhere else it was easyjet or ryanair lol.
I’ve had an empty business cabin once before, i was on the CTU-LHR BA flight, it was great!
That was so enjoyable to watch. Thank you!
Its not a Dry airliner! You Should ask for it! Just put the bottom 😉. And ask What you want. I flew in Business class too. London-KL (777 and 787) with a 6 hour transit in Jeddah.
How was it? I flown from JED to KUL via there 787-9
Another GREAT! report...it was nice to get an idea..of how Saudi Arabian..performed...not bad...not bad....at all...thanks again Paul!
Everything in Riyadh is better. Better lounges, a better airport, and better food!
But I can't get a beer!
You should have try the new Saudia dreamliner on routes to Casablanca and Toronto as well, the brand new 773 to Dubai or LHR and CDG. YOU WILL LOVE MORE. Anyways.. Wish you a happy break in Bally. Many thanks for your video.
The saudia dreamliner travels to MAN airport and their business class product is amazing you should definitely try that air craft
The aircraft Paul flew on looks like the 777's that were used out of JFK in the mid-1990's. I should know. I worked for Saudi out of JFK back then and at that time the 777 was brand spanking new and they had just added the prayer room. At the time, that 777 was award winning.
Awesome trip report Paul.
A 4:10am flight is ridiculous. Given how busy the terminal was I'm guessing that seems to be the norm in Jeddah.
Flights coming from Europe tend to land at midnight in the middle East. Hence, these early flights leave to with connecting pax from Europe. Also, the arrival time is super convenient compared to the morning flights which land at midnight in South East asia
That’s pretty much it. The flight times themselves were very convenient, it’s just the layover that was a pain. I think it’ll be a different story when a) you can get tourist visas later this year and b) the new terminal handles these flights. A top lounge and better facilities would make the layover 100 times nicer.
That's fair enough. I don't think could have the stamina to pull off Rome-Jeddah-Jakarta like this, I just cannot sleep on flights regardless of how tired I am. So hats off to you on managing to do it on like 3 hours sleep in nearly two days worth of travelling.
Its the same at Dubai - I've done transfers from London to India where you land and depart in the small hours arriving in India about lunch time.
Jeddah airport is heaving during Ramadan. You were lucky you didn’t got to the Haj Terminal
This is a much better format Paul. 100 times better than your other vlogs IMO. One thing you still need to fix though is the whole walking around with the camera bumping up and down. I know you said you were gonna get a gimble. That would complete the package IMO.
Ooh 😮 you liked the beef 🥩 tapa!? I’m glad. I saw an adobo dish there, too. I bet you that’s another Filipino dish, too.
Another super video!
DoubleDeckerAnton I love your videos
Anton what are you doing here ? 😂
You and Dennis real quality. Keep going Paul 👍
Another great report Paul
Wow Paul, was maybe a bit harsh on my comments last time about the tone of the voice over. But this is great, great trip report!