Saudia A320 business class

JEDDAH-FRANKFURT

BACKGROUND Saudia operates the A320 on routes with lower demand and also on some European routes such as Frankfurt, Munich and Geneva.

CHECK-IN I arrived at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International airport at 0730 for flight SV168 to Frankfurt departing at 0955, a flight of five hours and 30 minutes. (Schedule times vary; in May, departure times alternate between 0230 and 0950.) Saudia’s priority check-in is quick and easy to find. Security took about two minutes to clear but I have heard it can get busy – before night-time departures, for example.

BOARDING At 0915 I headed for Gate C11. All gates at Jeddah are bus-gates, so regular flyers will be looking forward to the new terminal opening in May 2018.

There was a separate line for business class and Saudia’s top-tier loyalty members. The bus was already waiting and the ride was smooth to the aircraft, which was parked far away, nearer to the Hajj terminal. The bus ride took about 15 minutes and so I was at my seat at 0935.

On board, I was welcomed with a choice of water, fresh orange or diluted lemon juice, and was offered a selection of international newspapers and magazines. The generous amenity kit contained socks, an eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush, lip balm, hand cream and face moisturiser. A blanket and pillow had been placed at the seat. Headphones (noise-cancelling) were handed out after take-off.

THE SEAT This Saudia A320 had 20 business class seats set across five rows, configured 2-2 (A-C, H-K) and 96 economy class. Business has one washroom at the front. A bulkhead and curtains separate the cabin from economy class at the rear. I sat in 2A, a window seat. The load was light, only four passengers in business class.

The recliner-seat leans back 54 degrees, and was comfortable and spacious; similar to some of the old business class seats of the 1980s. These seats can tilt to a lie-flat position. My seat was 21 inches wide with a pitch of 54 inches. I had an adjustable headrest. The middle armrest, which I shared with my neighbour, had a built-in space for a drink; it also houses both IFE screens and handsets, while the tray table folds out from the opposite side.

All business class seats have a Thales i-5000 system featuring AVOD (audio-video on-demand). However, the IFE system was broken on this flight. When it’s working it has about 80 films, TV, music and gaming options. Wifi was available on personal devices so you can access an in-flight map, news and a survey, but there was not enough bandwidth to check emails.

BEST SEAT All business class seats are the same. The front row is closest to the washrooms and galley. The back row is nearest the bassinets in the front row of economy, although I wasn’t disturbed on this flight. Otherwise, choose a window or aisle seat from rows two to four.

THE FLIGHT We pushed back a few minutes ahead of schedule at 0952. A menu for breakfast was brought around, and juice or water was offered about 20 minutes into the flight. Hot and cold refresher towels were also offered.

Saudia offers dine on demand, so I decided to work and ordered my meal to be served after an hour. On the menu were fresh and dried fruits, nuts and cheese. I had cereal to start. There are three hot main course options, western or Arabic, all served on elegant dishes. Saudia is a “dry” airline, meaning there is no alcohol served on-board; its absence wasn’t felt on this morning flight.

I reclined my seat and rested for about an hour, appreciating the comfort of the seat. The flight passed quickly and before long it was an hour and a half until landing, and a hot, tasty chicken sandwich was served. Other options included chicken breast salad or fruit salad.

ARRIVAL We landed at Frankfurt T2 ahead of schedule at 1438. Immigration was quick and, as I had no bag, I didn’t have to wait for luggage.

VERDICT A good service for a mediumhaul flight. The food and drink offering was adequate for this route. It would be interesting to compare the long-haul product, especially on the new B787s and 777s. When the new terminal at Jeddah airport opens in May, there will be better ground comfort as well. Kurt Hofmann

Saudia is a “dry” airline, so no alcohol is served on board; its absence wasn’t felt on this morning flight