No alcohol and no knees to the wind, here are the rules for flying aboard this airline
Next week I will take off for the first time with the national airline of Saudi Arabia, Saudia Airlines. This airline is [...]
Saudia
SkyTeam
Saudi Arabia
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Next week I will take off for the first time with the national airline of Saudi Arabia, Saudia Airlines. This airline is one of the few in the world that has very strict rules for occupants both in terms of dress code on board and in terms of what is offered on the plane and in the lounges.
My first time in Saudi Arabia
It will be many firsts in one trip, as the first flight will be from Athens to Jeddah, capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. King Abdulaziz Airport is the largest Arab state in West Asia by area and the largest in the Arab world after Algeria. My flight, as mentioned, will land in Jeddah, a popular destination on the Red Sea.
It will also be an opportunity to visit one of the world's largest terminals opened in early 2019. T1 at King Abdulaziz International Airport occupies an area of more than 850 thousand square meters, and inside there is a mosque capable of accommodating more than 3,000 worshippers, the world's largest airport lounge the Al Fursan, and an immense aquarium 10 meters high and 14 meters in diameter.
My first time with Saudia
Saudia, the Saudi flag carrier, is one of the members of the Sky Team alliance the same as ITA Airways, flies in Italy on Rome and Milan to its hub in Jeddah and from there to just under 100 destinations worldwide, mostly in the Gulf region, Asia and Africa. It also flies to some destinations in the United States. but these combinations are not convenient for us Italians.
From Italy, direct flights from Rome and Milan are currently only to the capital Riyadh and are operated by Airbus A320s outfitted in two classes: business and economy. In my case, however, I will not be flying from Italy but from Athens since I have taken advantage of a Amazing offer to fly to Kuala Lumpur in business class for just under €1,000. Instead, the flight from Athens, again aboard the small A320, will be to Jeddah.
Dress code on board
The in-flight dress code is now a thing of the past, clothes don't make the man, let alone business class or first class passengers are forced to have to dress like at the premiere of La Scala. Saudia, however, is one of the few, or perhaps the only, in the world, to request to passengers to respect the decorum, under penalty of non-boarding. We read about stories of Passengers bounced at the gate for too skimpy clothes, Models stay down for too tight pants and so on.
SAUDIA is requesting from their guests to abide by a dress code where by they are clothed in a manner that is inline with public taste or not offensive to other passengers.
That's the phrase on the company's website, a phrase that says everything and nothing in Italian as it does in English. Technology, however, helps the curious passenger and so, using a feature on the WayBackMachine site, you can retrieve the old version of the company's website where there was the same sentence and more.
Here we read what he meant: simply put, the meaning of the rule on the outfit allowed aboard Saudia aircraft, which it must be remembered is a very practicing Muslim nation.
- Women are not allowed to show their legs and arms, so no miniskirts or sleeveless blouses. Nor will it be possible to embark in too light or tight-fitting clothes.
- For men, the only recommendation is not to wear shorts.
No alcohol in lounge or on board under penalty of arrest
In Saudi Arabia we do not mess with laws, especially those related to religion. For this the carrier does not offer any type of alcoholic beverage on board its aircraft, let alone being allowed to bring alcohol from home on pain of arrest.
Saudia therefore does not fall under the best cellars in the skies, the only bubbles served in the lounges are sodas or a rosewater drink like that used in F1 podiums at local grand prix races.
In conclusion
These will be two very interesting flights. The first because very few carriers in Europe fly true business class on single-aisle aircraft, and the second because it will be aboard the company's flagship. This, combined with my first time in Jeddah's mega airport and the incredible Al Fursaan lounge, will give me a new experience to tell about in the pages of our website.
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