Unexpectedly Great! · SAUDIA Economy Class A330 🇸🇦 Jeddah - Cairo 🇪🇬 Red Sea Express

[@hanzlott]

FROM SAUDI ARABIA!!! as a citizen, im excited to see where the avaition industry is heading. were truly writing a new chapter in history. im glad you had a good time!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Thanks for another year of great entertainment.

[@tfft]

Appreciate that! And I forget if I ever mentioned this, but thank you for all of the comments over the years as well. Your first ever "dry sandwich" comment on my Easyjet video was literally what made me start ordering food on every low cost carrier I fly (tbh, I didn't see the benefit of it then- but surely do now...).

[@TheBudgetTraveller786]

I second your sentiments, I took 4 long haul flights with Saudia and found the crew to be absolutely amazing. You can tell they are happy with their job, every single crew member I interacted with just seemed so approachable and not overtly stressed out. The lavatories were consistently clean as well even at the end of my LAX - JED flight. This combined with an above average economy class seat with 34 inch pitch and 3-3-3 on their 777 really adds to an comfortable experience with Saudia. I look forward to flying with them again.

[@tfft]

Yeah it's amazing that 34" and 3-3-3 is now a game changer haha. I remember a decade ago when I was flying those exact measurements on Asiana regularly and it was nearly industry standard.

[@TheChosenRed]

Got to love a 'turn and burn' take off ❤ another fantastic review Kevin 🤌🏽

[@DeniseSommerRoque]

Some spectacular views of The Red Sea Project and of the Pyramids! Thank you for this great video 🙏🏼

[@tfft]

The Red Sea Project is certainly beautiful, but I think the pricing is likely to make it look a bit less beautiful lol

[@MattBlankenshipPhotography]

Always until the end!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@vareast]

Glad to see Saudia doing well. I lived in Saudi 40 years ago and often flew them, and they were always fine. Better than the rowdy 'party' flights on other airlines that most expats preferred...

[@notactuallymyrealname]

That's some beautiful scenery on the approach! Thanks for another great video.

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@pacmanc8103]

I’ve flown into and out of Jeddah for decades on Saudia and other carriers and spend winters in the city now that I’m retired (perfect weather - not so much between May and November!). The city is fascinating and very historic (and is named ‘grandmother’ in Arabic after Eve) - the government is doing a superb job renovating the entire old gated city, which is a UNESCO site. It’s spectacular and very authentic, filled with narrow alley ways and tall buildings with balcony-like wooden meshed windows, where women could sit and look down on the streets without being seen. Jeddah is, of course, very connected to the Red Sea, and its Corniche runs miles up the coastline - very modern, lush with plantings, and immaculately clean. The new airport is immense and well-kept -- my only criticism is that it could be anywhere. I wish it had more of a Jeddah vibe throughout the terminal, like the foreign airlines’ premium class lounge has. Saudia, itself, is a solid airline. While it lacks the flair of Emirates and Qataria, service is usually good and food is always nice (at least in business and first). I’d definitely recommend people consider visiting Saudi Arabia- you’ll be surprised and impressed. I would say, however, that while the tourism industry is certainly developing, it isn’t at the same level as, say, Turkey, Egypt, or Morocco. Unless you’re very adventurous, it’s probably best to join a travel group rather than solo travel. English, particularly in urban areas, is easily used. By the way, I noticed you were wearing shorts on the aircraft. Saudis are very polite and would never say anything, but long pants (even for men today) are what people wear. I suspect you were the only passenger in the airport and aircraft wearing shorts. Great review!

[@leorione]

It's not just the busiest route out of Saudi Arabia, it is the busiest international route in the world in 2024, with over 5 million seats. Busier than anywhere in Europe, it is crazy.

[@tfft]

That depends on how you define "international" lol

[@greensky5]

Thanks for another great video!!

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching

[@LibertaliaExplorer]

I will be flying with Saudia for the first time soon. I was a bit skeptical about the journey, but this video reassures me about my choice.

[@GuillermoGomezGG1959]

Dios Mío… You’re a dare devil!!! Saudi…They’re finally opening up and enhancing their services.Thank You for all you do!!Simply TheBest Channel in KZbin!! Felices Fiestas- Año Nuevo!!🎉❤

[@tfft]

Gracias y igualmente! 🥂

[@CJM2015]

Saudia in general is underrated. When it’s good, it’s great. When it goes into irregular ops, things can be spicy

[@danielcoa2189]

Always fascinating to see the parallels between Saudia and Ethiopian. Both started in 1945 by their respective governments with assitance and intial management from TWA. Followed virtually identical trajectories to where they have now very similar numbers by all measures- nearly 80yrs later. Yet, the two countries coudn't be anymore distinct. Maybe that says a lot more about TWA than the two airlines, and its own ptitful demise due to gross mismanagement.

[@tfft]

It's incredible how many honey pots TWA had their hand dipped in over the years lol.

[@ramyfares9099]

Bruh that Trent 700 grind on takeoff 😢🥺❤️

[@tfft]

So happy it makes you sad? lol

[@Adnan71584]

Very interesting approach

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching

[@Sporty12boy]

I think Saudia might have to have a look into starting operations to Australia! They have a relatively big route network but it neglects a country who travels with Middle eastern airlines on the connection to Europe! Not sure if they don’t want to compete or offer a different experience but like you said Saudi wants to grow its tourism and its airlines

[@tfft]

Based on the split I mentioned in my Flynas video, I doubt that will happen as Saudia will focus mainly on religious tourism. But, Riyadh Air has already made their intentions to serve Australia clear.

[@charliebrown5]

Thank You ✈️

[@sushi777300]

Two years ago I took Saudia on 5 flights between Germany and Southeast Asia and found their crews to be the biggest weakness. They didn't really care about safety and let passengers (especially kids) just run around the cabin during takeoff and landing without ever interfering. The cabins of the 787 were quite worn and dirty, which surprised me. The 320 flights were better in that regard. Even though cabins were quite comfortable, I have some mixed feelings about them. In February I'm flying Saudia again (FRA-JED-CAN, KUL-JED-FRA) and am curious if there have been noticeable changes.

[@tfft]

From what I've heard and seen myself, Saudia today is a VERY different airline compared to pre-Covid. I'd go as to say the most improved airline globally in the past five years.

[@sushi777300]

@tfft My flights with them were not pre-Covid though but in 2023. I'll see how they are in 2025 and of course crews vary a lot. Anyway, looking forward to your remaining kangaroo series 🙂

[@tfft]

Ahh, just realized my 5:00am eyes read the first part as 2 flights 5 years ago lol.

[@mfn2482]

Saudi airlines never failed to ruin any flight for me, even when half the seats were empty they gave me seats I didn't want despite the fact I have pre-selected my seats. They are so bad it was the first public entity to be privatized in the nineties, but until now there is no more plans to do so even after privatization of the unthinkable (Aramco). Just look how many CEO's they had just recently. Now they are on a frenzy campaign with influencers, hint the marketing title of the this video.

[@jeromejosephphilip4706]

My mums going to be on a saudia from London to Mumbai hope she has a good flight

[@tfft]

Me too! (as in, hope it's a good flight...)

[@alifasworld253]

Can you do next time with Air Arabia?

[@tfft]

No plans for them atm.

[@sarthaksingh5321]

Hey Kevin! Are you also filming the hotels you're staying at during your Routes and Hubs series? If yes, when can we expect those videos?

[@tfft]

Just a handful of them and they've all been published already throughout this series.

[@theogtimeclock]

I love saudia, but if i was flying internationally and on business, I would choose qatar because for us Saudis, we don't have the deals You get like 400$ business class and it's priced like qatar so I would just get them, but economy everywhere else saudia all the way

[@tfft]

Yeah I get that. Sometimes it feels like if you live in Tunis, you can fly Saudia business to anywhere for nearly free! haha.

[@AudyBharksuwana]

16:03 Ngl I misheard this as the Side-eye peninsula.

[@Hiro-eb4zx]

Hope you were able to see Mt. Sinai? You had the right side (from the right window, lol). Despite another theory suggesting the "real" Mt. Sinai existing in Saudi Arabian territory, the one in Sinai Peninsula is majestic and quite special.

[@tfft]

I probably did see it, but in the far distance. We only grazed the southern tip of the peninsula.

[@berberbro]

The exterior of JED airport is bold and beautiful, it's a shame the interior especially airside is so bland with long repetitive corridors. Also, Saudia really needs to get rid of that pingelly welcome on board tune that follows you all the way to their lounge and then again when boarding a connecting flight.

[@tfft]

I actually quite like their on board music 😂- but wish it wouldn't be played in the lounge.

[@berberbro]

@@tfft to each their own ! 😅 Tnx for the TR!

[@cheapercharlie]

Nice econ meal for a 2h or so flight. Meanwhile at UA... 🙃

[@jeffreyrivera8158]

Hi Kevin, I am still wondering why you only have 136K subscriber. Maybe it's time to show your face 🙂 , anyway thanks for the review. I am excited to try Saudia JED to IAD business next summer.

[@MrTomcat104]

I must say this is one of your most fascinating video. Any idea why Saudia is going with a retro 80's style livery now? Kinda curious on that. And how would you compare it to the leading Middle Eastern airlines like Emirates and Qatar Airways? As for Jeddah, interesting destination, although probably still some ways to go compared to more established tourist and western business-friendly Dubai, Abu Dhabi and to a lesser extent, Doha.

[@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549]

I call economy class "camel class" when I fly on humpday 🐪 My wife likes it.

[@demoncloud6147]

The air pollution and the haze

[@usamasandhu2412]

Pakistan international airlines ❤❤

[@normanmcleod7169]

Very encouraging seeing as I will be flying long haul on Saudia in less than 3 weeks. A happy Christmas to you and yours.

[@tfft]

Same to you! 🎄

[@exF3-86]

One flight you've got the Himalayas out the window, then a couple of flights later you're turning right at the pyramids... What a boring life you lead Kevin. I pity you.

[@tfft]

I know right! Thank god I didn't have a gorgeous view of London while landing 2 days later 😅