Information on SAUDIA Flights

Saudia Airlines (SV) is the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia and a member of the SkyTeam alliance, represented by Delta in the US. Based at the King Abdulaziz Airport (JED) in Jeddah, the country’s second-largest city, Saudia flies to 90+ destinations in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America. The airline’s secondary hub is located at the King Khalid Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, the country’s capital.

While Saudia has traditionally lagged behind its regional counterparts like Emirates or Qatar Airways, it’s catching up. The SV economy cabin rankings by the Skytrax World Airline Awards continue improving each year.

Why fly Saudia

Saudia Airlines operates weekly direct flights to Jeddah and Riyadh from 3 North American cities: Washington DC, New York and Toronto. It also flies seasonal direct flights from LAX to Jeddah. For US travelers, this means nonstop access to Saudi Arabia and easy flights to nearby destinations like Cairo or Amman.

In addition to hot spots like Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt or Abu Dhabi in the UAE, SV connects US travelers to a host of Saudi destinations such as the ancient Nabataean city of AlUla, the future-forward Red Sea resort town of NEOM and the holy Islam city of Al Madinah. If you’re planning to travel within Saudi Arabia, SV is the fastest way to get there.

For Muslim travelers visiting the holy cities of Mecca and Al Madinah during the Umrah or Hajj pilgrimage, Saudia offers convenient connections and special services such as booking the Umrah permit and providing information on Umrah rituals or visa requirements.

Cabin classes, seats and legroom

On flights to and from the US, Saudia operates 3 cabins - First, Business and Economy - on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft exclusively.

First Class

Saudia’s First Class (the airline calls it Saudia First Suite) is on par with other first-class cabins worldwide: an inflight butler and a private chef, lots of space and storage, excellent cabin service throughout the flight and great meals.

In First, there are 12 seats arranged in 3 rows of 1 - 2 - 1 seats each. With sliding doors, ample legroom and a pitch of 82”, it’s a spacious and private cabin experience. At 22”, the fully lie-flat seats are not the widest in the industry, but I find them comfortable nonetheless.

Depending on the route and seat availability, First Suite fares can cost up to 20 times more than economy and 3 times more than business. Pro tip: SV offers an option to bid for a cabin upgrade and, if you book in Business, bid upgrades for First can be more cost-effective than rebooking in First.

Business

The long-haul SV flights from the US offer business as well. This cabin has 9 rows of 1 - 2 - 1 seats with a reverse herringbone configuration. Since galleys and lavatories are located at the front of the cabin, I recommend booking a seat in the last few rows - 22 or 23 - for the quietest time. I typically choose a window seat on either side.

At 60”, the pitch on these seats is not the best in the industry, but it’s sufficient. Still, it lags behind Qatar Airways’ QSuite in privacy or comfort. The seat width is 21”.

SV offers 3 Business fares: Basic, Semi Flex and Flex. The differences include change and refund policy (Flex has free changes while Basic and Semi Flex allow changes and cancellations for a fee) and a preferential mileage accumulation in Flex.

Economy

Saudia economy cabin (SV calls it Guest) offers 242 seats in a 3 - 3 - 3 configuration. These seats have a 32” pitch and an 18” width, which is pretty standard. In my experience, this cabin tends to get full and crowded, so booking a good seat is important.

In the SV’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, the Guest cabin is separated into 3 sections, with the first section featuring only 3 rows. If possible, I recommend booking a seat here, in row 30 (choose a window if you can). You’ll get the best legroom and avoid feeling cramped.

In Economy, SV has 3 fares: Basic, Semi Flex and Flex. Basic fare is the most restrictive with fees charged for seat assignments, flight changes and cancellations. Semi Flex allows free regular seat assignments and slightly lower change fees. Flex has the best rules with free preferred seats and no-fee flight changes.

Take note that, depending on your route, it may be more cost-effective to choose Flex with a free preferred seat assignment than to book Basic and pay for that seat.

Pro tip: Delta Silver Medallion and above members get free preferred seat assignments, so be sure to enter your membership details during the booking process.

Pre-flight experience

Here’s what you need to know about the SV pre-flight experience.

Baggage policy

In each SV cabin, passengers traveling from the US are allowed 1 carry-on bag of up to 16 pounds and 1 personal item.

SV's long-haul checked bag policy is comparable to that of other airlines flying routes from the US. Economy passengers are allowed 2 bags of up to 50 pounds each. Business and First passengers can check in 2 bags of up to 70 pounds each. Take note: for SkyTeam Elite and above members (Delta Silver Medallion or higher), SV offers 1 additional checked bag in each cabin.

Check-in

At participating US airports, SV offers dedicated SkyPriority check-in counters for First and Business passengers as well as SkyTeam Elite and above members. In Jeddah, Saudia has a new First and Business lounge with dedicated check-in counters, a much-needed upgrade from its prior haphazard check-in and boarding experience.

The check-in and boarding for Economy passengers at JED and RUH remains inconsistent. Be ready for long lines and chaotic boarding if you’re traveling in this cabin class.

On-board Saudia

Here’s what it’s like flying with SV.

Amenities & meals

In First Class, expect to see pajamas, a thick mattress and gender-specific amenities by Missoni. Business cabins could use more bedding. Only a thin blanket and a pillow are typically provided, so it’s a good idea to pack a thick scarf for more comfort. In Economy, the kit includes socks, an eye mask, and a toothbrush.

I’ve found that the Saudia experience varies greatly by cabin. Service in Business, for example, is not as attentive as it is in First, especially if you’re used to the excellent Qatar Airways QSuite attendants.

While Saudia lags behind its regional competitors in indicators like service or seat comfort, there is 1 area where it shines. SV meals, particularly in First and Business, are among the best I’ve ever had in the air. Don’t skip the dishes like the Arabic mezze appetizer spread or kuzbarya, a traditional Saudi dish of rice and prawns.

Take note that Saudia is a dry carrier with no alcohol on board. The airline makes up for it with a large selection of juices and other non-alcoholic drinks (ask for the date milkshake in Business and First and Arabic coffee with dates in Economy).

In-flight entertainment

SV in-flight entertainment equipment is of good quality, but the movie selection might not be sufficient. Depending on how many movies you can power through (I usually stop at 3), you might want to load your own. Wi-Fi is available for purchase in Economy and free of charge for the higher cabins, but be aware that it’s not always reliable.

Lounges & fast track

First or Business Saudia passengers as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus members can access Saudia-operated AlFursan lounges in Jeddah, Riyadh, Al Madinah, Dammam and Cairo. The massive AlFursan International lounge in Jeddah’s Terminal 1, in particular, deserves a visit - it’s a step above Priority Pass lounges in Jeddah.

If you’re continuing with SV elsewhere in the country after arriving in Jeddah or Riyadh, you will need to transfer to a domestic flight. In my experience, it’s a smooth experience - but be sure to give yourself plenty of time for immigration procedures and additional security clearance.

For Economy passengers flying with Saudia, the airline offers Fast Track service through check-in, security and boarding on certain routes. While the Saudi airport experience is typically efficient, with this service you can get Business class treatment while on an Economy fare.

The SV Fast Track costs about 2-3 times more than typical fast-track options that only get you through security, but it’s significantly cheaper than comparable door-to-door VIP services elsewhere.

Loyalty programs and credit cards

Saudia is part of SkyTeam, allowing multiple partners like Korean Air, Air France/KLM and Delta to earn miles and book SV award flights. Delta SkyMiles program often offers the best deals when compared to Delta’s own flights, which can cost double the miles, and other SkyTeam partner flights, which usually cost more miles, too.

Beyond Delta’s partnership with American Express, several US-based credit cards help you access SV flights via the SkyTeam network. Citi ThankYou Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards both partner with Air France/KLM. Marriott Bonvoy also transfers points to many SkyTeam carriers at their standard rate of 3:1.