Having an honest, unbiased, un-sponsored review is a rare thing to come by in this day and age, keep doing what you are doing Kevin, I am booking my flights based on your reviews.
Great review! I'm enjoying the fact that you're reviewing the flights and airlines as you experience them; it's your main focus. So many other reviewers are too concerned about showing themselves all the time or just showing how biased they really are.
Hello Kevin, as usual this is a very well edited and fun review, thank you for your hard work. I've flown on Saudia this year from CDG to KUL on a return flight (outbound in Economy with transit in RUH and inbound in business with transit in JED). The flight in economy was one of the best I had in recent memory (It's been a while since I flew with Emirates so i don't have any comparison) and much better than some European airlines. Not only crew was great and meals excellent but their 777s come in a 3-3-3 config in economy something I had never encountered before, so the flight was very comfortable and spacious. The flight in business was also great, with a friendly crew and great service. i appreciated the dine-on-demand, especially on the KUL-JED segment as it allowed me to sleep as soon as we took off and eat what I wanted when I woke up. I was very surprised by the quality overall given the price I paid, 700 euros for the business class segment. Given their competitive prices and service, i intend to fly them again to Asia in 2023 and will again book a flight to KUL and use a LCC towards my final destination.
Now that relations were restored- Saudia also has nonstop service to Bangkok for great prices… so another option for the region. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Once again loved the review - Food looked very good - Having travelled to the Kingdom itself a few years ago I never felt comfortable but that’s another matter- watching this made me feel like a drink and I don’t mean a soda - thanks
Love the background information of the airline, so interesting! Another informative and beautifully filmed review! Thank you Kevin for your unbiased reviews, love each and everyone. After this video I might consider flying Saudia when they show up as a viable option in my travel plans! (Funny to see the Flip Flop Traveller sans flip flops though 😆 although I fully understand your reasoning behind it)
I’m curious which other airline you’re flying and where are you connecting (Since Oman Air doesn’t fly to Australia)? My guess is CDG-MCT-BKK on Oman Air then Qantas to Sydney?
How come you didn’t show the seat diagram and talk about which seats to avoid? Are you no longer doing that on the flight reviews now? Other than that great video as always! I am so jealous that you are going to KL have a good time there!
I generally don’t do it on narrow body planes. It’s a lot of time for those graphics and on a narrow body plane there’s just not much to show. If there were seats to avoid/pursue I would surely mention it though. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Very nicely made video and I enjoyed it very much, especially since it was narrated with proper observations and reflections. Thanks, Kevin again for the nice review! (p.s. any consideration to cover mid-tier/HIX&Fairfield type hotels as well? Not much to cover service-wise but probably will be helpful for many of your audience as well!)
Great review! And i was actually on the same flight as you ahaha i was on seat 3A I actually enjoy this flight and i think Saudia really much improve since 2016 when i took them for the first time See you around, hope i can catch you really next time
07:37 Notice that the amount of the Arabic coffee is the same as the one on the Gulf Air.. not sure if it's coinsident or that's their practice to just give small amount of coffee.. Thanks for sharing the video.. i love traveling too and an aviation enthusiast. :)
In Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, filling a coffee cup to the half point only is an ancient hospitality tradition. I'll explain: When you’re the guest, your host would love to come around and serve you more coffee every time you finish your cup without asking you if you want more (that would be rude). This coffee refill action would continue until you shake your cup as you hand it to them, which is a sign of you not wanting more. Serving you a giant mug of coffee would deprive them from repeatedly coming around and serving you.
Great video, as always. I'm wondering. Did you consider the airside transit hotel for your 6h layover? Apparently there is one available but they don't have much info online.
6 hour layovers are pretty common for me, I have a work routine down for when I have one. At the Saudia lounge I was able to snag one of their slumber rooms and enjoy the private space. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
You are so honest and respectful and deserve increased viewers hip. Regarding camera working utubers hide their cameras and do not ask about filming and have had altercation several times with Sam Chui, the most disrespectful and arrogant of them all. He emailed to say it is a public place and can do it if he likes.
One of the reasons that there's a new airline for Riyadh is that attempts to move Saudia HQ from Jeddah to Riyadh were heavily resisted by many in Saudia due to the fact many of the veterans of the airline are from Jeddah themselves and that the Flag carrier is in their town is a point of pride for them and the Hijaz, necessitating a second flag carrier for the capital.
Hi kevin...love ur trip report videos...USD500 for this flight was an awsome deal...how did u come across such a deal? Any tips for looking for cheap airfares?
I can only afford to fly business class 1 out of 3 or 4 flights, and it is always special and never a bad experience (except when others use their bare feet on the IFE screen). You mentioned dress codes. I have never worn flip-flops on a plane in my life though I wear them 80% of the time at home and in town. My only problem with your commentary is you say you wore shorts that covered your knees. They are no longer shorts at that point, but kind of capris. And also on the border of female clothing. Lol, remember this and continue your great videos. Yes, that's right, I said great and stand by it.
Amazing fare to KUL I flew Saudia CMB ,/JEDDAH/JFK return for 3k use and others double and do not drink alcohol so do not mind service faults for that fare. Heard their F class is good but very high price and J is ok product for that fare.
Great video! Can you try Iraqi Airways? Americans have visa on arrival and we just got some A220s. Rare in the Middle East as only Egypt Air have them. They fly from Baghdad to Beirut, Amman & Istanbul.
Erbil has actively been on my goto list for a while. Knowing what you’ve just told me about the A220s, I’ll surely need to take a look at Baghdad as well! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft Great to see that! The A220s have yet to go much to Erbil but we have 3 more on the way. Hope to see you in Iraq soon. Take care & thanks for the amazing videos!
I went to Jeddah on business (tourism was not discouraged) a few times around 2003-2006. If you pulled out a camera in public, you could be arrested. Even in the main road the business district, I was told that a palace of the Crown Prince was at the distant end of the street, so no photography. I had the last laugh when leaving at night in a port side window seat. the Pilot pointed out the palace and I took shots just because I could! Jeddah was mostly OK, but when we went to Riyadh, you could not relax. My host (Syrian) who had lived in Saudi for years, did not want to attract the attention of the religious police.
I’ve flown Dubai to Manila and back several times on Saudia. Security (just outside the plane door) leaving Manila is a bit overwhelming and slow but the rest was great. Jeddah is a far, far better airport than Riyadh.
Yes it definitely is- but the Kingdom just released plans for a brand new airport in Riyadh being build around the current structures. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
I love your trip reports. In this case I would not fly them if I was not able to have an alcoholic beverage. An airline needs to realize that their customer base is international and alot of people like to have wine or cocktails while flying. They really need to get with the program and come into the modern age,, otherwise they really are not competitive.
how would they provide you with somebtign that is illegal in their home country? It's like asking american airlines to provide you with a dose of heroin on the the way to JFK.
Alcohol was was illegal in many circumstances in the UAE until 2020. You could have (and many have) been arrested for simply having alcohol in your system… alcohol that you consumed on Emirates or Etihad… when entering the country.
You've chosen your words carefully, so I will too. One of the factors I now apply when choosing an airline for a trip is a 'rule of law' test. That means that half a dozen or so airlines - even Cathay - are now on my 'no fly' list. 'Nuff said. That fare looked like a great deal. Enjoyed the corporate affairs coverage. Anyways, you're still producing great output. Yesterday I was looking at the work of someone with 500K subscribers and found it unwatchable drivel. His particular crime? Habitual use of a collar-mic and failing to say something intelligent when seated. It just doesn't work!
This is nothing. In Dubai El Al was parked next to Mahan Air. TWA used to fly to Dharan in the 40s'. On Etihad they asked not to include other passengers in the video. Food looks great.
Sure, my point was that the current (updated) dress code is very vague. It would be a reasonable assumption that shorts are officially okay, but there’s definitely room in there for ground staff to make their own judgement calls. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
As you know by now being Swiss I will maintain a neutrality regarding any and all political or social issues. I do have my personal no-fly list as well. But let it be said that your work is always outstanding and respectful. Flag carriers bare the burden of representation of their nations and efforts to be accommodating are appreciated. If I were to fly with an airline that had well known rules, I would abide by them or simply choice another.
Yes, I’d like to think that while I am American and have my own opinions, this channel is and will always be Swiss-esque. If I avoided every airline associated with a challenging political situation, I wouldn’t get very far 😂 Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
I’ve explained it pretty clearly in the video. Whether or not an airline, hotel or restaurant serves alcohol is not my be all and end all. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Having an honest, unbiased, un-sponsored review is a rare thing to come by in this day and age, keep doing what you are doing Kevin, I am booking my flights based on your reviews.
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Great review! I'm enjoying the fact that you're reviewing the flights and airlines as you experience them; it's your main focus. So many other reviewers are too concerned about showing themselves all the time or just showing how biased they really are.
Thanks for the kind words and for watching 🙏🏻
Hello Kevin, as usual this is a very well edited and fun review, thank you for your hard work.
I've flown on Saudia this year from CDG to KUL on a return flight (outbound in Economy with transit in RUH and inbound in business with transit in JED).
The flight in economy was one of the best I had in recent memory (It's been a while since I flew with Emirates so i don't have any comparison) and much better than some European airlines. Not only crew was great and meals excellent but their 777s come in a 3-3-3 config in economy something I had never encountered before, so the flight was very comfortable and spacious.
The flight in business was also great, with a friendly crew and great service. i appreciated the dine-on-demand, especially on the KUL-JED segment as it allowed me to sleep as soon as we took off and eat what I wanted when I woke up. I was very surprised by the quality overall given the price I paid, 700 euros for the business class segment.
Given their competitive prices and service, i intend to fly them again to Asia in 2023 and will again book a flight to KUL and use a LCC towards my final destination.
Now that relations were restored- Saudia also has nonstop service to Bangkok for great prices… so another option for the region. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft you're welcome 😁. Thanks for the advice!
Thanks
Once again loved the review - Food looked very good - Having travelled to the Kingdom itself a few years ago I never felt comfortable but that’s another matter- watching this made me feel like a drink and I don’t mean a soda - thanks
Can’t wait to go myself. Likely when The Red Sea Project begins to open. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Another nice video Kevin! Cant wait to see your videos in KL, going to Singapore end of February and your videos were again very helpful!
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Love your totally honest unbiased reviews.....look forward to 2023 for more of the same Kevin! Xmas greetings from Thailand!
Lots more to come next year :) Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Saudia’’s Lockheed L1011s were beautiful planes.
Would have loved to fly on one! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
An amazing video! You are honestly my new favourite flight reviewer, keep up the great work, Kevin!
Appreciate that! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Love the background information of the airline, so interesting! Another informative and beautifully filmed review! Thank you Kevin for your unbiased reviews, love each and everyone. After this video I might consider flying Saudia when they show up as a viable option in my travel plans! (Funny to see the Flip Flop Traveller sans flip flops though 😆 although I fully understand your reasoning behind it)
Also, I have big feet so if I need to travel with shoes… they take up way too much room in my bag 😂 Thanks as always for the support 🙏🏻
Really like your work! I’ll keep watching!
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Booked a flight from Paris to Sydney on Oman Air based on your BC review. Thanks for your lack of bias & exceptionally good reviews.
I’m curious which other airline you’re flying and where are you connecting (Since Oman Air doesn’t fly to Australia)? My guess is CDG-MCT-BKK on Oman Air then Qantas to Sydney?
@@tfft via KUL then Malaysian to SYD.
Ah ok, that was my next guess! Hope you enjoy all of it.
Oman airs a330 is awesome in business.
This Seat is stunning for an a320. I Flew the exakt Same Route in September. Great review!
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Remote boarding gives the best thumbnail and impressive views of the plane 👍
Yes! Love a stair boarding thumbnail.
How come you didn’t show the seat diagram and talk about which seats to avoid? Are you no longer doing that on the flight reviews now? Other than that great video as always! I am so jealous that you are going to KL have a good time there!
I generally don’t do it on narrow body planes. It’s a lot of time for those graphics and on a narrow body plane there’s just not much to show. If there were seats to avoid/pursue I would surely mention it though. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Very nicely made video and I enjoyed it very much, especially since it was narrated with proper observations and reflections. Thanks, Kevin again for the nice review!
(p.s. any consideration to cover mid-tier/HIX&Fairfield type hotels as well? Not much to cover service-wise but probably will be helpful for many of your audience as well!)
Starting with the trip I’m on now, my cheaper and/or quick stop hotels I’ll be making Shorts for. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Great review! And i was actually on the same flight as you ahaha i was on seat 3A
I actually enjoy this flight and i think Saudia really much improve since 2016 when i took them for the first time
See you around, hope i can catch you really next time
I suppose I was bound to catch a viewer in a video eventually! 😅 Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft ahah seems more than normal !
Funny to see myself in a video to be fair
Keep going like this anyway !
I love your videos. Very clear and informative.I hope you also do a mumbai to jeddah via Saudia business class. Thank u
I have another 'via Jeddah' booked for next year, but not from Mumbai. Thanks for watching 🩴
07:37 Notice that the amount of the Arabic coffee is the same as the one on the Gulf Air.. not sure if it's coinsident or that's their practice to just give small amount of coffee.. Thanks for sharing the video.. i love traveling too and an aviation enthusiast. :)
Generally the cups are filled half way. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
The Arabic hospitality rule for serving Arabic coffee is not to fill the cup
In Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, filling a coffee cup to the half point only is an ancient hospitality tradition.
I'll explain: When you’re the guest, your host would love to come around and serve you more coffee every time you finish your cup without asking you if you want more (that would be rude). This coffee refill action would continue until you shake your cup as you hand it to them, which is a sign of you not wanting more.
Serving you a giant mug of coffee would deprive them from repeatedly coming around and serving you.
Great video, as always. I'm wondering. Did you consider the airside transit hotel for your 6h layover? Apparently there is one available but they don't have much info online.
6 hour layovers are pretty common for me, I have a work routine down for when I have one. At the Saudia lounge I was able to snag one of their slumber rooms and enjoy the private space. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
You are so honest and respectful and deserve increased viewers hip.
Regarding camera working utubers hide their cameras and do not ask about filming and have had altercation several times with Sam Chui, the most disrespectful and arrogant of them all. He emailed to say it is a public place and can do it if he likes.
Sound like you should watch my Gulf Air BKK-BAH video haha. Thanks for watching 🩴
Really enjoying your content.
How does one find such good value business class fares?
Daily searching beginning 360 days in advance. Thanks for watching 🩴
Noted no hoochie daddy shorts on Saudi’s, great review, Aloha from Hawaii
Those are two words you don’t see together everyday 😂 Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
ENJOYED UR REVIEW
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
One of the reasons that there's a new airline for Riyadh is that attempts to move Saudia HQ from Jeddah to Riyadh were heavily resisted by many in Saudia due to the fact many of the veterans of the airline are from Jeddah themselves and that the Flag carrier is in their town is a point of pride for them and the Hijaz, necessitating a second flag carrier for the capital.
Thanks for sharing ✈️
You were in KL?? Did you go to Langkawi Island too?
I was in KL yes. Langkawi I’ll be visiting next year. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Hi are you allowed to put alcohol inside checked in luggage or not? Im transiting to riyadh
You’d need to check directly with Saudia. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Very nice video! Thank you
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Hi kevin...love ur trip report videos...USD500 for this flight was an awsome deal...how did u come across such a deal? Any tips for looking for cheap airfares?
Tracking many Facebook groups and Google articles and daily price checking! 50% is luck and 50% is flexibility. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Does any one know what registrations of the Saudia a320 will have lie flat seats and which won’t?
There's likely a thread on FlyerTalk
The registration starting from HZ-ASA to HZ-ASG have lie flat seats
You are finally in the city of Jeddah
I was! Just for 6 hours though. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
I can only afford to fly business class 1 out of 3 or 4 flights, and it is always special and never a bad experience (except when others use their bare feet on the IFE screen). You mentioned dress codes. I have never worn flip-flops on a plane in my life though I wear them 80% of the time at home and in town. My only problem with your commentary is you say you wore shorts that covered your knees. They are no longer shorts at that point, but kind of capris. And also on the border of female clothing. Lol, remember this and continue your great videos. Yes, that's right, I said great and stand by it.
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Nice airline, good food
Thanks for watching 🩴
Amazing fare to KUL
I flew Saudia CMB ,/JEDDAH/JFK return for 3k use and others double and do not drink alcohol so do not mind service faults for that fare.
Heard their F class is good but very high price and J is ok product for that fare.
Thanks for watching 🩴
Great video! Can you try Iraqi Airways? Americans have visa on arrival and we just got some A220s. Rare in the Middle East as only Egypt Air have them. They fly from Baghdad to Beirut, Amman & Istanbul.
Erbil has actively been on my goto list for a while. Knowing what you’ve just told me about the A220s, I’ll surely need to take a look at Baghdad as well! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft Great to see that! The A220s have yet to go much to Erbil but we have 3 more on the way. Hope to see you in Iraq soon. Take care & thanks for the amazing videos!
I went to Jeddah on business (tourism was not discouraged) a few times around 2003-2006. If you pulled out a camera in public, you could be arrested. Even in the main road the business district, I was told that a palace of the Crown Prince was at the distant end of the street, so no photography. I had the last laugh when leaving at night in a port side window seat. the Pilot pointed out the palace and I took shots just because I could!
Jeddah was mostly OK, but when we went to Riyadh, you could not relax. My host (Syrian) who had lived in Saudi for years, did not want to attract the attention of the religious police.
Thanks for sharing and watching 🙏🏻
I’ve flown Dubai to Manila and back several times on Saudia. Security (just outside the plane door) leaving Manila is a bit overwhelming and slow but the rest was great. Jeddah is a far, far better airport than Riyadh.
Yes it definitely is- but the Kingdom just released plans for a brand new airport in Riyadh being build around the current structures. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
I love your trip reports. In this case I would not fly them if I was not able to have an alcoholic beverage. An airline needs to realize that their customer base is international and alot of people like to have wine or cocktails while flying. They really need to get with the program and come into the modern age,, otherwise they really are not competitive.
This is why I believe they’re creating the new airline RIA- I explain it all in my next video coming out. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
how would they provide you with somebtign that is illegal in their home country? It's like asking american airlines to provide you with a dose of heroin on the the way to JFK.
Alcohol was was illegal in many circumstances in the UAE until 2020. You could have (and many have) been arrested for simply having alcohol in your system… alcohol that you consumed on Emirates or Etihad… when entering the country.
You've chosen your words carefully, so I will too. One of the factors I now apply when choosing an airline for a trip is a 'rule of law' test. That means that half a dozen or so airlines - even Cathay - are now on my 'no fly' list. 'Nuff said.
That fare looked like a great deal.
Enjoyed the corporate affairs coverage.
Anyways, you're still producing great output. Yesterday I was looking at the work of someone with 500K subscribers and found it unwatchable drivel. His particular crime? Habitual use of a collar-mic and failing to say something intelligent when seated. It just doesn't work!
I’d be willing to bet I was watching the same channel today, specifically his El Al video 😅 Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Sorry, Kevin!
I can’t suggest any improvements you can make, just keep doing what you are doing.
I’m shit at videography so no complaints from me👍🏻
😂 Thanks very much 🙏🏻
Wow wow wow good brother TNX GOOD business ok thanks good Saudi Arabia ok thanks good
Thanks for watching and Happy New Year 🎉
This is nothing. In Dubai El Al was parked next to Mahan Air. TWA used to fly to Dharan in the 40s'. On Etihad they asked not to include other passengers in the video. Food looks great.
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
They serve you Nova water in business class? 😂🤣
An A320 w/ lie flat seats isn’t something you see everyday.
Sure isn't!
It's not true about the shorts btw .. I am Saudi and I wear shorts on Saudia and in my country .. the rules has been changed last 2 years
Sure, my point was that the current (updated) dress code is very vague. It would be a reasonable assumption that shorts are officially okay, but there’s definitely room in there for ground staff to make their own judgement calls. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft Got your point. Thank you
As you know by now being Swiss I will maintain a neutrality regarding any and all political or social issues. I do have my personal no-fly list as well. But let it be said that your work is always outstanding and respectful. Flag carriers bare the burden of representation of their nations and efforts to be accommodating are appreciated. If I were to fly with an airline that had well known rules, I would abide by them or simply choice another.
Yes, I’d like to think that while I am American and have my own opinions, this channel is and will always be Swiss-esque. If I avoided every airline associated with a challenging political situation, I wouldn’t get very far 😂 Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft Looking forward to some Aeroflot content soon then!
7:58 ,There is no language called 'Indian' 🤣
Which is why I made fun of him for saying it lol. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
"speaking English, Arabic, Albanian and Indian to meet your needs.” whats Indian? :P
My thoughts exactly. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
There is no language called indian, Sir
…I was quoting the flight attendant… to showcase the irony of there not being a language called ‘Indian’…
Food looks boring to compare with turkish and etihad airlines.
Ironic that I think Turkish has the most boring food selection of any decent airline these days.
@@tfft maybe they’ve changed thier menu. I flew with it in year 2019 from Munich- Ist and ist -kl
Lol, INDIAN Is not a language.
Aware 😂 Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Just FYI Indian is not a language
I’m well aware, I pointing out how ridiculous it was that the purser said it.
Indian language?
🤷🏼♂️
Why didn't you fly on another airline in Business Class that serves alcohol????? I don't understand you
I’ve explained it pretty clearly in the video. Whether or not an airline, hotel or restaurant serves alcohol is not my be all and end all. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻