Jeddah Airport Alfursan Lounge review. Probably the best in the world

Saudi Arabia is going all-in for To enter the world of tourism by force, we are not at year zero but neither are we at the levels of the Emirates or Qatar. The possibilities are enormous, but there is a really long way to go, and it touches not only purely commercial issues, but also people's freedom, civil rights, all the way to the possibility of drinking a beer, which is absolutely forbidden throughout the nation today.

This airport was built to welcome millions and millions of tourists each year. Jeddah is a Red Sea resort that could compete with renowned resorts in Egypt and beyond, but most importantly it is close to Mecca, a holy place for the Muslim world.

The new Terminal 1, built in nearly 10 years, is an architectural masterpiece and this lounge, opening in December 2021, perfectly sums up what Saudia aims to become: the number one carrier in the Gulf area.

The shape of the terminal is three side-by-side crescents, a true work of art. Among the follies of this airport is a million-liter aquarium and more than 200 different fish.

Access

To enter this lounge, the options are essentially the usual three:

• Traveling in business or first with Saudia
• Departing from this stopover with a Skyteam airline in business or first
• Have at least the equivalent of Elite Plus status in the SkyTeam alliance with a flight departing with Saudia or an alliance carrier.

In Terminal 1, the one where Saudia mainly operates, there are 2 other VIP lounges. The Welcome Lounge is 3 minutes away from the lounge under review, is the one connected to Priority Pass, and also serves some airlines operating at this airport.

Then on the ground floor there is a small Plaza Premium, probably the smallest lounge I have ever seen.

Location and services

Having passed the security checkpoints, one arrives at the center of the terminal, impossible not to be open-mouthed as one admires the architectural structure towering over the immense plaza. On the ground floor is the duty free area, one thousandth the size of Dubai or other large airports.

On the upper floor are the food court and lounges. Impossible to miss the entrance to this room: it is topped by an immense LED panel.

The reception area is outside the lounge, with stadium-model turnstiles. You pass a bridge connecting the two facilities and enter the actual lounge.

The lounge

The first word is "wow." I have seen many lounges, but this one redefines the concept. Indeed, one must always keep well in mind what one is comparing and with what. For example, I can't compare this lounge with the Lufthansa lounge at Malpensa, but I can compare it with the one at Etihad in Abu Dhabi or that of American Airlines in New York.

The point is that there is no match for anyone else, not even the emblazoned Emirates or Singapore.

The lounge has a teardrop-shaped floor plan; the heart of the structure houses the kitchens and technical rooms, while all around are the guest spaces.

La  lounge is one, but it is divided into two. The right side is open to all guests; the left side, controlled by an attendant, is instead available only to first-class passengers or those with the highest levels in Saudia's Al Fursian loyalty program or SkyTeam carriers (I fall into this category).

The status allows, at times, benefits beyond those of mere business class passengers, and this is a classic example.

Listing everything this lounge offers is difficult because you risk losing something along the way.

This I think is also the first time I don't regret the absence of a runway overlook. Everything is so beautiful, functional and bright that you don't miss the direct light.

Welcoming visitors as soon as they enter is a food court, dedicated to ethnic cuisine, with a white grand piano in the center.

On the right is a small shop, and behind a door is an actual movie theater. 

Continuing into the hall, there is a self-service bar area, again with seating and plenty of space.

Various sofa areas, bar model seating and more comfortable areas. 

Then there are Nap Rooms where you can take a nap while waiting for your flight, perfectly isolated from the rest of the lounge even acoustically.

On the left is the pizzeria: a real oven with a pizzaiolo ready to prepare pizza in the pan. I've tried the margherita, there's worse, but this is where the pizzaiolo influencer Porzio would be needed.

Around the corner is the buffet, open and operating H24. Here you can also ask for dishes from the menu that are prepared on the spot by the staff. Pasta included.

On the opposite side is a barista ready to prepare from espresso coffee (it was drinkable) to more sophisticated drinks to cocktails (without alcohol of course).

The last area in this area houses a chocolate bar. Hot, in chunks or in cakes, here you can taste chocolate in a variety of ways and it's all free, of course.

Turning back and heading from the opposite wing, you come to the part of the hall reserved only for first and most loyal customers: you have to pass the checkpoint to gain access.

The facilities here are similar to those on the opposite side, but everything is more polished and elegant.

There is no buffet or pizzeria, but there is a real restaurant with an a la carte menu. From lobster to filet, from caviar to salmon. You order what you want, and the dishes are really good and well cared for (except for the pasta, not that one, don't get it)

There is also a bar here, but it is inside a sphere...in this area of the lounge everything is more elegant.

There is also an ice cream shop, too bad there were only two flavors.

There is the cigar room, with cigars stored in the ad hoc display case, available to passengers.

Last but not least, a much more elegant nap room than the one in the other wing of the lounge.

Also available to guests is a fully equipped and soundproofed meeting room that also serves as a digital library.

Of course there are endless seats, all with power outlets popping up everywhere and wireless charging points. In short, they have thought of everything.

Unbelievable that in such a setting there are also things that do not work, such as wi-fi. Very few showers then for such a lounge, just three and two are out of order. 

And then something even more serious: there are no monitors with departures even though announcements are made.

The only screen available is outside the lounge from the reception desk, it's really an absurd lack considering all the monitors scattered around the room.

There is a game room with pool table and augmented reality games.

There are robots that deliver food and drinks to the table.

There is a bubble where children can play safely.

There really is everything for everyone.

Food & Beverage

Drinking alcohol is forbidden in Saudi Arabia, and this airport is not a free zone, so no alcohol or anything even resembling it.  I, for example, tried a bellini, carbonated peach juice.

On food, however, Saudia really surpassed all expectations. Being able to eat at the restaurant, I did not take advantage of the buffet, here everything I tasted was excellent in both presentation and flavor.

I tried three appetizers: buffalo mozzarella made in Italy, salmon caviar, and lobster bisque.

For the main course I had the filet, only problem they don't serve the meat rare only well cooked. Good, but maybe I should have tried the salmon.

Finally among the desserts I had the pistachio cheesecake, perhaps the least good thing on the entire menu along with the pasta. To finish I didn't let a couple of pieces of chocolate get away. Rating for the restaurant 8

In conclusion

I thought I was going to "commit suicide" by having a 6-hour layover in Jeddah, but thanks to three Italian guys I met in the lounge, the time flew by between restaurant and pizzeria stops.

This lounge is probably destined, once the small problems highlighted are resolved, to become one of the best if not the best in the world.