Saudi Arabian Airlines

RUH-KUL-RUH appalling service I don't know how they get away with it. Flight delayed three hours leaving RUH absolutely no explanation or attempt to apologize. When we get on board they decide that it is free seating we sit anywhere (although we would have been more than happy with our original seating) then get told to move when I complain a supervisor comes on shouts at my family and I and than threatens to have us offloaded by the police. All in all it takes an extra hour to move everyone around and find enough seats (although even then some passengers appear to be seated in the galley the whole journey). Flight attendants have no concern whatsoever for safety never checking seat belts or providing extensions for children. Plane (747-400) in a mess with bits falling off inside the cabin. Return journey we have 1 business class seat and 4 economy - better (ie. on time at least and good service in business) but very rude attendants in economy demand my wife to prove we have booked the seats before serving a meal - only start backtracking when we realize that we also have a business class ticket. Although I am based in Riyadh I will try very hard never to fly Saudia again on international flights.

Heathrow - Jeddah - Riyadh - Heathrow. Check-in at LHR for lunchtime departure was instant - no queue. Boeing 777 2x5x2 seating. Comfortable seats decent legroom economy about half- full. Newspapers offered (mainly Arabic) followed by soft drinks. Typical airline food. Seatback screen but not AVOD - system had to be re-set twice by cabin crew early on but otherwise no problems. Flight smooth with the exception of a couple of Arab children running repeatedly up the aisles - fairly normal on MidEast airlines where parents rarely discipline their offspring. Major stroke of luck on arrival at Jeddah as I was attending a conference for which Saudia was handling many of the arrangements so whisked through VIP lounge passport stamped and into a taxi within 20 minutes of getting off aircraft. Jeddah-Riyadh again a 777 an 80-minute hop. Aircraft packed which made the serving of a full breakfast particularly impressive : full marks to the cabin crew. Not a lot of smiles from them but understandable when concentrating on serving 300 people in such a short time. Riyadh-LHR another 777 but this time 10-abreast (3-4-3) and seats noticeably thinner and less comfortable. Felt as though there was around an inch less legroom too which made an appreciable difference. Cabin crew helpful: one FA volunteered that my seatback screen was not working and offered to re-seat me. Only problem was again children running around and one little girl was actually standing on her seat as take-off started. Toilets acceptable. In all a series of flights I would rate as better than average and around 30% cheaper than British Airways.

My family went to Khartoum from Jeddah. The trip is only one and a half hours long but it was a disaster. Check-in staff at the airport had no concept of client service. Check in itself took about one hour because the system was down. Once my wife and kids (one child and one infant) boarded the plane they found that it was an old leased 747. They were seated all the way in the back - tables and footrests were broken. The level of service was extremely poor. Unfortunately the Jeddah - Khartoum route is completely neglected by Saudia in terms of quality standards (even though they are profitable routes) and i can't wait for the free-skies policy to take effect so that the competition either forces Saudia to raise its standards or to disappear. For me I have experienced similar problems on the Jeddah - Paris route and that's why I think that a three star rating is exaggerated - two stars maximum.

DXB to RUH. 20 minutes out of RUH we are served a lunch box - Iftahar meal for breaking the fast. On landing all lunch boxes are still with passengers tray tables are down seat belts are not checked prior to landing. Safety is not a priority. RUH to DXB late afternoon flight. Still Ramadan. Just prior to take off cabin crew serve us dates and a glass of water - for breaking the fast. Cabin supervisor decided it was time. 40 minutes after wheels up they announce the breaking of the fast. Obviously no concern for safety standards as pax placed their tray tables down to put their water and dates on during take off. Where are the CAA safety inspectors when you need them.

LHR-RUH C class I was upgraded and delighted to get it. About 14 passengers in Business class and 6 were children under the ages of 6 - who were let do what they wanted causing major annoyance to other pax. Parents didn't care less and crew did nothing to stop them. Food was good being Saudi no booze but plenty of other options etc Avod available though choice not great! New seats lie flat seats in First as are business - I see that in economy that was ere known for the 34" pitch is not any more - with 10 seats across instead of standard 9 across and 31" pitch. Some staff work hard male crew looked fed up and did little but chat amongst themselves. Overall Saudi are cheaper they give a a strong 3 star product and service.