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Saudia Connecting Flights


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This is a Saudia connecting flights guide.

It covers everything from how to book connecting flights with Saudia to air passengers rights and compensation regulations. Saudia (formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines) is the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest airlines in the Middle East. The airline’s main base is at King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah). Saudia operates flights to over 90 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. 


Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.


Saudia Airplane
Saudia Airplane

1

Is It Protected?

Yes, it’s a protected connection.

Traditional airlines sell airline-protected connecting flights. It’s more convenient and more safe than self-transfer flights. You don’t need a visa for connecting flights like this.

Unless you book flights separately.

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2

Baggage Rules

Airline takes care of your baggage.

Mostly, you will check in baggage only once — you won’t have to recheck baggage for every flight. This is how it works with full-service airlines and airline-protected connecting flights.

Baggage allowance depends on the ticket, destination and occasionally some other factors. 


3

Travel Insurance

Make your trip more safe.

Add travel insurance right away. Protect yourself against possible itinerary changes later right from the very beginning. Insurance must be for the duration of the trip.

Make your trip safe from day 1.

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1. Saudia Connecting Flights

Saudia is a full-service traditional airline.

Just like any other full-service airline, Saudia offers airline-protected connecting flights. If you have booked such a flight, you are protected against missed connections (as a result of a delay or cancellation of the previous flight). Airline-protected connecting flights are among the most popular reasons why travellers choose to fly with full-service traditional airlines.

Airline-protected connecting flights are better than self transfers.

Airline-protected connecting flights are:

  • Safer. Your airline takes care of flight problems.
  • More convenient. Baggage transfer is automatic.
  • Easier to book. You book several flights as a single journey.

Saudia offers airline-protected connecting flights.

1.1 Connecting Flights, One Airline

Connecting flights could be operated by partner airlines.

However, there will be situations when a Saudia connecting flight will be operated by Saudia only. Those will be Saudia planes, and Saudia crew. But it’s not always the case with Saudia connecting flights.

1.2 Saudia Codeshare Partners

Sometimes airlines share their flights.

Connecting flights with different airlines are very common in the aviation industry. These kind of flights are called codeshare flights, and airlines collaborating — codeshare partners. It is done to widen the flight network. Thanks to codeshare flights, Saudia (and other airlines) is able to offer more connecting flights, even to or from destinations it would not normally serve.

So, you may book a connecting flight from Saudia, but it might be operated by another airline, Saudia’s partner. You may have to fly with another airline, on their airplane. Mostly you’ll learn of that when you’re making a booking.

What you should know is that:

  • If you miss a connecting flight through no fault of your own, you have nothing to worry about. If one of your flights was delayed or cancelled, and you’ve missed your connection, contact Saudia and inform them about your missed connection. They will book you on a next available flight free of charge. Even if a part of your flight is operated by a partner airline, do not hesitate to inform the airline about this issue.
  • If your flight is heavily delayed, cancelled or overbooked, compensation is paid by airline operating this particular flight. If it’s operated by some other airline, not Saudia, then they are called operating airline — they have to pay compensation when it’s due.

See a list of Saudia codeshare partners here.

Dubai Airport Entrance
Dubai Airport Departures

2. What If Saudia Cancels a Flight?

Why is Saudia cancelling flights?

Airlines cancel their flights due to a number of reasons. The most common are: bad weather, staffing shortage, airport congestion, security issues, strikes, various technical problems and computer glitches.

2.1 One of Your Flights Is Cancelled

Saudia is an airline based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

So, no, it’s not a European airline. But still, on some of its flights you are protected as a passenger. Thanks to the European laws.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, Saudia must:

  • Offer you a choice between a new flight and full refund.
  • Offer you assistance at the airport (you have a right to care).

This applies to all their flights departing from Europe.

And if as a result you’re going to miss your connecting flight, it’s Saudia’s responsibility to offer you a new flight to your final destination. If your flight departs from Europe, you may opt for a refund instead.

You may have a right to compensation (more on this below).


Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.


2.2 All Your Flights Are Cancelled

Overall, for you as a passenger, the options are the same.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, Saudia must:

  • Offer you a choice between a new flight and full refund.
  • Offer you assistance at the airport if it’s a last-minute cancellation and you are already at the airport (you have a right to care).

This applies to all Saudia flights departing from Europe.

Refund must be paid within seven days.

You may have a right to EU flight cancellation compensation.

2.3 Saudia Refund for Cancellation

Yes, you have a right to ask for a refund.

If your cancelled flight was from a European airport, you may opt for a full refund. According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, the refund must be paid to your bank account, within seven days. You don’t have to accept any vouchers, coupons, etc. Only money.

Hong Kong airport layover
Hong Kong airport

3. Saudia Missed Connecting Flight

Why do people miss their connecting flights?

There are several reasons people miss their flights. The most common ones are: long queues at the airport, long delay of the first flight, strict security protocols, airport congestion. People also miss their flights due to silly mistakes such as confusing am with pm, and waiting at the wrong gate.

3.1 What Happens If You Miss Saudia Connection?

If it’s your fault that it happened — it’s your responsibility.

If it’s not your fault, then your airline has to take care of that. If you booked a flight from Saudia, it doesn’t even matter if the flight is operated by Saudia or not, you should contact Saudia. It’s their responsibility to find you a new flight. You missed a connecting flight through no fault of your own, Saudia must offer you a solution — they must take you to your destination..

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, they must:

  • Take you to your final destination as soon as possible.
  • Offer you assistance at the airport (you have a right to care).

The latter applies only to flights from Europe.

Read more: Missed Connecting Flight Due to Delay 

3.2 Right to Compensation from Saudia

Sometimes you have a right to compensation.

If your Saudia flight:

  1. Departs from the EU, EEA or UK
  2. Is 3+ hours late or cancelled last-minute
  3. Is delayed or cancelled due to the fault of the airline

Then you may be entitled to compensation from Saudia. Don’t forget that this applies only to Saudia flights departing from Europe.

Flight cancelled less than 2 weeks before the trip?

You might be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.

GET FLIGHT COMPENSATION

File a Claim Online

3.3 Right to Care from Saudia

On all Saudia flights departing from Europe you have a right to care.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004 airline should provide:

  • Free food and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time.
  • Free hotel accommodation if a stay of one or more nights is necessary.
  • Free airport transfer to hotel and back.
  • Plus, two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails. So that you can notify your family and friends ones about changes in your travel plans. 

In case of Saudia, the regulation applies only to flights departing from European airports (EU, UK, EEA).


When it comes to air passenger rights, unless otherwise stated, we talk about air passenger rights in the EU, EEA and UK. When we say Europe or European, we mean EU, EEA or UK. This is done for the simplicity, since the according laws in these countries are about the same.


Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport

4. How to Book Connecting Flights with Saudia?

You can do it directly from Saudia or via a third-party.

The best way is to book flights directly from the airline. It is the safest way. If there are changes in the itinerary (e.g., cancellation or delay), you will have the assistance from the airline. However, if you book via a third party flight booking site, you may not receive any assistance whatsoever.

But still, a lot of people book their flights using third party flight booking sites, because they offer good deals.


How to Book?

Airline website (directly).

This is the easiest way to book a connecting flight. It’s also the safest way to book a connection. You make a single booking, have a single reservation code and the booking includes several flights. Sometimes they are all with one airline, other times – two or more. Anyway, in this case, you can be 100% sure that you have a proper connecting flight.

Other Option

Flight booking websites.

Few examples: skyscanner.net, expedia.com, momondo.com.

Pay attention to the details. Because some of these sites are only search engines, and sellers are other websites. Apart from that, they often sell both airline-protected connecting flights and self-transfer flights. If it’s a self-transfer, know that it comes with its own risks, and there are things you should take into account. Self-transfer is not the same thing as airline-protected transfer. 

For extra protection, buy also a travel insurance covering flight disruptions, or book with sites like kiwi.com, who offer extra protection.

With kiwi.com you are more protected than normally.


Read more: How to Book Connecting Flights?

Two backpacks

5. Saudia Connecting Flights: Baggage

Since Saudia is a traditional airline, everything’s very easy.

Baggage rules on connecting flights with Saudia are simple.

In short, Saudia takes care of your baggage. Arrive at the airport, check in your bag before your first flight, and that’s it! The airline will take care of your luggage throughout the journey. You don’t have to collect and recheck the bag between the flights. Unless you have a self-transfer (you have booked your flights separately), or you’re traveling through a country that requires everyone to collect and recheck their baggage (e.g., USA).

If you aren’t sure about your bag’s destination, ask at the check in counter.

5.1 Baggage Transfer: Different Airlines

What happens if there are several airlines?

What if one of your flights is operated by different airline, not Saudia? As we already talked, you may experience this, because Saudia does share some of its flights with its codeshare partners. In this situation the rules are the same — your baggage is being taken care of by an airline. In most situations you won’t have to worry about it.

Read more: 

5.2 Saudia Free Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance varies — it’s not the same on all flights.

Baggage allowance depends on the airline, destination, travel class and ticket type. Check your Saudia flights booking confirmation to see your baggage allowance. When you are booking a Saudia flight, you can see baggage allowance when you are choosing the ticket type.

5.3 Economy Light

This is the cheapest option for long-haul flights.

Economy Light comes without free baggage allowance.

We see this all across the industry. Full-service traditional airlines are offering also tickets without free checked baggage allowance. The wording is also often the same — Economy Light. So, if you see this, most likely it’s without checked baggage (carry on baggage only).

Air India doesn’t have an “Economy Light” travel class (for now). All passengers get free baggage allowance on flights operated by Air India. However, airline baggage policy can change. So, make sure you check what is included in the fare when you are making a booking.

Saudia doesn’t have an “Economy Light” travel class (for now). All passengers get free baggage allowance on flights operated by Saudia. However, airline baggage policy can change. So, make sure you check what is included in the fare when you are making a booking.

Read more: What Is Carry-on Bag / Baggage?

Relaxing on a private beach in Egypt
Relaxing on a private beach in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

6. Connecting Flight Examples

Here are two connecting flight examples with Saudia.

6.1 Protected Connecting Flights with Saudia (Most Common)

For this example I’ll use the website of Saudia.

Let’s assume that you want to fly from Manchester to Cairo (Egypt).

You have found flights for November 16, and these are the options:

Manchester - Cairo Connecting Flight with Saudia
Manchester – Cairo connecting flight with Saudia

On their website, Saudia sells protected connecting flights. This means that your connection is protected by Saudia. If you miss your connection due to delay or cancellation of the previous flight, you will be given a new flight ticket. 

As you can see, there are two flights available. The price for both is the same, but the duration is different. The second connecting flight has a longer layover. Both connecting flights are fully operated by Saudia. But it’s not always the case with every Saudia connecting flight. In some cases, Saudia connecting flights are partly operated by partner airlines. But still, these connecting flights remain airline-protected.

6.2 Self-Transfer Flights with Saudia

Now, let’s assume, that your itinerary is more complex.

Cairo is not your final destination in Egypt. You want to fly from Manchester to Cairo, spend a couple of days there — to visit the pyramids and The Egyptian Museum. After that you want fly to Hurghada where you have booked a stay in an all-inclusive resort on the beach.

  1. You can book a connecting flight to Cairo, like in the example above. For example, you’re taking the fastest option, the first one, which arrives in Cairo at 06:20 am. 
  2. And then you go to kiwi.com, skyscanner.net or some other flight booking website, and book a flight from Cairo to Hurghada. Leaving yourself, let’s say, 30 hours in Cairo. You may also book directly from airline.

Until Cairo you have an airline-protected connecting flight. If your first flight is delayed or cancelled, Saudia will take care of that. You will be booked you on another flight for free. However, the last leg, Cairo – Hurghada, is with a self-transfer. After stopover in Cairo you have a separate flight you have to check in separately. Take this into account and don’t risk with short layovers.

Why? It’s a separate flight. You will need to check in for this flight separately, and check in your baggage (before you’ll need to collect it obviously). All of this takes time. Don’t book a self-transfer with a short layover time!

What is your experience with Saudia? Have you ever missed a connecting flight with Saudia? How did the airline solve this? Did you receive compensation from Saudia?

Featured photo by Rizky Bramantyo 

About the author:

Co-founder and Editor at Connecting Flights Guide

Una is an organized globetrotter and foodie who’s been living a digital nomad lifestyle since 2013. She always starts her day early with a good book before diving into work. Apart from traveling and aviation, her other passions include gym, hiking and cycling. Una is also a strong proponent of AI technology. She firmly believes in its potential to simplify life and has often advocated for its wider adoption in our day-to-day activities. Her favorite airlines are Qatar Airways, Emirates, and KLM.

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Connecting Flights Guide

Your go-to guide to air travel rules and regulations. Connecting flights, self transfer, onward tickets and more – we want you to understand air travel better


This article may contain compensated links. Learn more in our disclaimer.



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