FriendlyExpat

So am about to get on a flight to London but the whole thing was a bit of a shambles (not complaining, I realise these are extraordinary circs. etc).

A call in the late evening to ask did I want to get a 10.40am flight the next morning and if so I had to pay a few SAR (less than 100) by a credit (not debit) card immediately. My valid Saudi cards were all declined. My UK cards were all declined. Eventually my UK debit card was accepted and the ticket was issued. I then had many more calls asking if I still wanted a ticket over the next few hours.

Frantic packing and sorting out the house (no idea when/if coming back!) followed.

It turns out they have had very low demand for this flight so there may not be another (although they suggested there probably would be.

700 people apparently registered but only about 75 are traveling today. I guess if you give people 12 hours’ notice that is what happens...still at least they have arranged it, and for that I am grateful.

Another piece of very important info - I was told they *might* have flights to return residents trapped outside the country back into Saudi but not for at least a couple of weeks. Watch this space!

Elgin1983

Hello, I'm working in Saudi now but looking to get back to UK for summer break. I'm on the embassy list but these flights are a bloody ripoff (800 quid one way). Haven't seen price-gouging like that since I was last in a Birmingham cornershop. I saw online that there are apparently reasonably priced return flights on Gulf Air via Bahrain (around 500 quid both ways) starting on May 15th. However, I gave Gulf Air a call just now and they said the Saudis had told them Bahrain flights would resume on the 15th, but they "couldn't guarantee" they would go ahead. Nevertheless, they are the only flights available online right now. I don't suppose anyone has an inside track on this? Are Gulf Air just being massive scummy chancers, or is there a legit reason they're offering flights when nobody else is?

nonthaburi

First flights available on the website are actually on the 13th.

I think that because they're offering unlimited changes for free on all tickets and classes, it makes no difference to them. If you book and there are no flights they'll just keep on pushing your reservation back anyway.

So basically, they're just trying to get your cash, and it might be okay regarding your flight, and if its not they'll just change your dates. They've got nothing to lose.

BTW, gulf is my main airline, fly with them all the time etc.

Elgin1983

Yes, that's what I suspect too. Well I'll give them a ring a day or two before, and if it's still on I might give it a whirl.

HiHo

BA Riyadh to London re-book is twice the price of the original ticket. So the schemers are writing of the tax and rolling in the profit. SNAFU

nonthaburi

I find it unlikely that there will be flights that soon. I would have thought they'll do things in reverse order. So first the curfew will be lifted, then inter provincial travel will be allowed, then domestic flights, and finally international flights. Who knows though. I might be completely wrong.

Johnnyboy11

There's also talk of a 14-day quaratine in the UK after you land, and then the question over when you'll be able to fly back into Saudi, and potentially face another 14-day quarantine.

Elgin1983

A 14 day quarantine for British citizens landing in our own country? LOL. Ridiculous that they're talking about bringing in new restrictions when it's now clear that this whole thing is overblown. The scare stories of millions dead, societal breakdown etc were all just more fake news. All the emergency hospitals they built and opened on navy ships, conference centres etc haven't been needed, and nurses seem to spend more time making highly choreographed Tiktok videos than treating patients. Ironically there might be a societal breakdown as a result of the reaction (destruction of the economy, disruption of basic supply lines, etc), not the virus.

Johnnyboy11

I appreciate regular flights are stopped, but does anyone know if these special embassay-arranged flights are being arranged from KSA to London? There's been no email updates for a month or so, but I heard there are weekly flights.

Pollyana

As the close friend of a UK intensive care nurse, i can assure you the last thing on his mind is making videos. He is worked off his feet and his own health, and that of his family, are a prime concern.

HiHo

According the Saudi web site there are lots of flight to London but the first available return for booking is 1st October 2020. So potential you can go home for August and September provided you have the leave.