Saudi is S&¥te
Sep 26th 2011, 2:21 pm
#1
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Saudi is S&¥te
Just in case I forget tomorrow how much I dislike this place. Been stood in a Q for 45mins now at DMM airport with no one at the immigration. Did they not know a plane was coming? Loads of people around and all just talking on their phones. They opened the GCC gate and then pissed off.
Hay Ho
Hay Ho
Sep 27th 2011, 5:47 am
#2
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Re: Saudi is S&¥te
Just in case I forget tomorrow how much I dislike this place. Been stood in a Q for 45mins now at DMM airport with no one at the immigration. Did they not know a plane was coming? Loads of people around and all just talking on their phones. They opened the GCC gate and then pissed off.
Hay Ho
Hay Ho
Funnily enough though my boss was NEVER delayed at customs or immigration - someone would appear out of nowhere, take his passport and escort him through with no bag check. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the bloody big box of free product [we were a food importer/manufacturer] that would appear every month for the head chap at the airport, compliments of the owner etc. etc. Same for the owner with the same 'courtesy' being extended at Heathrow apparently thanks to his friends in the British Consulate.
Sep 27th 2011, 7:08 am
#3
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Saudi is S&¥te
I never ever ever ever fly in to Damned Dammam--like a ****ing mausoleum, devoid of any humanity. BAH and over the causeway, can usually have everything done while in the back seat of an air-conditioned yanktank, if you ever have to leave the sanctuary of the velour upholstery its only to go to the shithole of an immigration office to get fingerprinted. Will they ever finish rebuilding that building? Been going on for at least 3 years now, and I don't think they've EVER tidied up the mess of papers in the office. Welcome to Saudi Arabia? You are ****ing welcome to it my friends.
Last edited by Bahtatboy; Sep 27th 2011 at 7:11 am.
Sep 27th 2011, 8:33 am
#4
Some say, he adores KSA
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: If the world had piles...
Posts: 266
Re: Saudi is S&¥te
It's not just immigration that's a nightmare, even on an internal flight you can end up in the ultimate catch 22 that is the Jeddah/Riyadh standby system.
I had the misfortune of missing a flight back to RUH a few months back, and had to go on standby for the next one. First of all, the desk at Jeddah that handles standbys is on the level below departures, tucked behind a lift, with no signs and the usual sour faced bastards behind the desk. Standby tickets are issued 15 minutes before the flight closes and are issued on a first come first served basis, and you are given a number when you hand over your unused ticket.
Next, when they give out the tickets, there is a typical KSA scrum round the desk, and as the ticket allocation numbers are announced in Arabic only, you have to find a kind soul to translate. Even though your name on the standby ticket is clearly not Arabic, they will still only announce the number, in Arabic. A couple of american guys I spoke with the second time in the scrum had missed out the previous time as they didn't hear their numbers getting called. Americans....
So now you have your ticket, but you are downstairs and you have to get through security, with less than 10 minutes before the flight closes. TWICE I tried, and failed both times, the security guards flatly refused to let me jump the queue...
The third time (three hours after arriving) I managed to get through in time, scanned the boards and there was no gate announced yet, so stopped for a coffee. 5 minutes later, and still no sign of a change on the boards, I had a word with one of the guys at a gate and he tells me the flight has already gone, and nothing had been shown on the boards, you guessed it, just an announcement in Arabic on the tannoy.
The moral of the tale is FFS don't miss your flight, or you will experience that Hotel California feeling. "You can check in any time you like..."
I had the misfortune of missing a flight back to RUH a few months back, and had to go on standby for the next one. First of all, the desk at Jeddah that handles standbys is on the level below departures, tucked behind a lift, with no signs and the usual sour faced bastards behind the desk. Standby tickets are issued 15 minutes before the flight closes and are issued on a first come first served basis, and you are given a number when you hand over your unused ticket.
Next, when they give out the tickets, there is a typical KSA scrum round the desk, and as the ticket allocation numbers are announced in Arabic only, you have to find a kind soul to translate. Even though your name on the standby ticket is clearly not Arabic, they will still only announce the number, in Arabic. A couple of american guys I spoke with the second time in the scrum had missed out the previous time as they didn't hear their numbers getting called. Americans....
So now you have your ticket, but you are downstairs and you have to get through security, with less than 10 minutes before the flight closes. TWICE I tried, and failed both times, the security guards flatly refused to let me jump the queue...
The third time (three hours after arriving) I managed to get through in time, scanned the boards and there was no gate announced yet, so stopped for a coffee. 5 minutes later, and still no sign of a change on the boards, I had a word with one of the guys at a gate and he tells me the flight has already gone, and nothing had been shown on the boards, you guessed it, just an announcement in Arabic on the tannoy.
The moral of the tale is FFS don't miss your flight, or you will experience that Hotel California feeling. "You can check in any time you like..."
Sep 27th 2011, 9:33 am
#5
why ayeeeee man!
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Disco Gardens...
Posts: 11,370
Re: Saudi is S&¥te
It's not just immigration that's a nightmare, even on an internal flight you can end up in the ultimate catch 22 that is the Jeddah/Riyadh standby system.
I had the misfortune of missing a flight back to RUH a few months back, and had to go on standby for the next one. First of all, the desk at Jeddah that handles standbys is on the level below departures, tucked behind a lift, with no signs and the usual sour faced bastards behind the desk. Standby tickets are issued 15 minutes before the flight closes and are issued on a first come first served basis, and you are given a number when you hand over your unused ticket.
Next, when they give out the tickets, there is a typical KSA scrum round the desk, and as the ticket allocation numbers are announced in Arabic only, you have to find a kind soul to translate. Even though your name on the standby ticket is clearly not Arabic, they will still only announce the number, in Arabic. A couple of american guys I spoke with the second time in the scrum had missed out the previous time as they didn't hear their numbers getting called. Americans....
So now you have your ticket, but you are downstairs and you have to get through security, with less than 10 minutes before the flight closes. TWICE I tried, and failed both times, the security guards flatly refused to let me jump the queue...
The third time (three hours after arriving) I managed to get through in time, scanned the boards and there was no gate announced yet, so stopped for a coffee. 5 minutes later, and still no sign of a change on the boards, I had a word with one of the guys at a gate and he tells me the flight has already gone, and nothing had been shown on the boards, you guessed it, just an announcement in Arabic on the tannoy.
The moral of the tale is FFS don't miss your flight, or you will experience that Hotel California feeling. "You can check in any time you like..."
I had the misfortune of missing a flight back to RUH a few months back, and had to go on standby for the next one. First of all, the desk at Jeddah that handles standbys is on the level below departures, tucked behind a lift, with no signs and the usual sour faced bastards behind the desk. Standby tickets are issued 15 minutes before the flight closes and are issued on a first come first served basis, and you are given a number when you hand over your unused ticket.
Next, when they give out the tickets, there is a typical KSA scrum round the desk, and as the ticket allocation numbers are announced in Arabic only, you have to find a kind soul to translate. Even though your name on the standby ticket is clearly not Arabic, they will still only announce the number, in Arabic. A couple of american guys I spoke with the second time in the scrum had missed out the previous time as they didn't hear their numbers getting called. Americans....
So now you have your ticket, but you are downstairs and you have to get through security, with less than 10 minutes before the flight closes. TWICE I tried, and failed both times, the security guards flatly refused to let me jump the queue...
The third time (three hours after arriving) I managed to get through in time, scanned the boards and there was no gate announced yet, so stopped for a coffee. 5 minutes later, and still no sign of a change on the boards, I had a word with one of the guys at a gate and he tells me the flight has already gone, and nothing had been shown on the boards, you guessed it, just an announcement in Arabic on the tannoy.
The moral of the tale is FFS don't miss your flight, or you will experience that Hotel California feeling. "You can check in any time you like..."
Sep 27th 2011, 12:54 pm
#6
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Re: Saudi is S&¥te
I am waiting for the post now that says, as always, that Saudi isnt shite and its what you make of it and that Saudis are really nice people who will all invite you into their villas for goat bones with rice washed down with cardomen coffee, friendliest nation on Earth etc etc
Sep 27th 2011, 2:07 pm
#7
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Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Dubai
Posts: 2,820
Re: Saudi is S&¥te
I am waiting for the post now that says, as always, that Saudi isnt shite and its what you make of it and that Saudis are really nice people who will all invite you into their villas for goat bones with rice washed down with cardomen coffee, friendliest nation on Earth etc etc
happy now?
Sep 27th 2011, 2:17 pm
#8
Hit 16's
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Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Sep 27th 2011, 6:23 pm
#9
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Re: Saudi is S&¥te
Sep 28th 2011, 4:55 am
#10
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Re: Saudi is S&¥te
Of all countries I've been to KSA ranks the bottom, in everything
Some African countries are better run than Saudia
Some African countries are better run than Saudia
Sep 28th 2011, 7:11 am
#11
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Re: Saudi is S&¥te
In RUH now and looking forward to exiting tonight and back to DXB. Walked past the immigration at DMM last night and it looked like a riot, thousands of people trying to get out, wish me luck.
Sep 28th 2011, 1:46 pm
#13
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Re: Saudi is S&¥te
Must say if fast food and getting the size of a house is your bag then the Magic Kingdom is the Dogs danglies.
They also take being racist to another level, i'm no tree hugger or a right on PC person but these guys make me cringe.
Hay Ho least i onloy have to do a week every six and have found one pub.
They also take being racist to another level, i'm no tree hugger or a right on PC person but these guys make me cringe.
Hay Ho least i onloy have to do a week every six and have found one pub.
Sep 30th 2011, 8:29 pm
#14
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Re: Saudi is S&¥te
For those who are Riyadh based.
On arrival into RUH airport, have you noticed a distinct smell of fried chicken near the gate as soon as you come out of the airbridge down the escalators.
I think it might from the food kiosk's dotted around the departure lounge.
On arrival into RUH airport, have you noticed a distinct smell of fried chicken near the gate as soon as you come out of the airbridge down the escalators.
I think it might from the food kiosk's dotted around the departure lounge.
Dec 16th 2011, 1:21 pm
#15
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2011
Location: Riyadh
Posts: 1
Re: Saudi is S&¥te
It's not just immigration that's a nightmare, even on an internal flight you can end up in the ultimate catch 22 that is the Jeddah/Riyadh standby system.
I had the misfortune of missing a flight back to RUH a few months back, and had to go on standby for the next one. First of all, the desk at Jeddah that handles standbys is on the level below departures, tucked behind a lift, with no signs and the usual sour faced bastards behind the desk. Standby tickets are issued 15 minutes before the flight closes and are issued on a first come first served basis, and you are given a number when you hand over your unused ticket.
Next, when they give out the tickets, there is a typical KSA scrum round the desk, and as the ticket allocation numbers are announced in Arabic only, you have to find a kind soul to translate. Even though your name on the standby ticket is clearly not Arabic, they will still only announce the number, in Arabic. A couple of american guys I spoke with the second time in the scrum had missed out the previous time as they didn't hear their numbers getting called. Americans....
So now you have your ticket, but you are downstairs and you have to get through security, with less than 10 minutes before the flight closes. TWICE I tried, and failed both times, the security guards flatly refused to let me jump the queue...
The third time (three hours after arriving) I managed to get through in time, scanned the boards and there was no gate announced yet, so stopped for a coffee. 5 minutes later, and still no sign of a change on the boards, I had a word with one of the guys at a gate and he tells me the flight has already gone, and nothing had been shown on the boards, you guessed it, just an announcement in Arabic on the tannoy.
The moral of the tale is FFS don't miss your flight, or you will experience that Hotel California feeling. "You can check in any time you like..."
I had the misfortune of missing a flight back to RUH a few months back, and had to go on standby for the next one. First of all, the desk at Jeddah that handles standbys is on the level below departures, tucked behind a lift, with no signs and the usual sour faced bastards behind the desk. Standby tickets are issued 15 minutes before the flight closes and are issued on a first come first served basis, and you are given a number when you hand over your unused ticket.
Next, when they give out the tickets, there is a typical KSA scrum round the desk, and as the ticket allocation numbers are announced in Arabic only, you have to find a kind soul to translate. Even though your name on the standby ticket is clearly not Arabic, they will still only announce the number, in Arabic. A couple of american guys I spoke with the second time in the scrum had missed out the previous time as they didn't hear their numbers getting called. Americans....
So now you have your ticket, but you are downstairs and you have to get through security, with less than 10 minutes before the flight closes. TWICE I tried, and failed both times, the security guards flatly refused to let me jump the queue...
The third time (three hours after arriving) I managed to get through in time, scanned the boards and there was no gate announced yet, so stopped for a coffee. 5 minutes later, and still no sign of a change on the boards, I had a word with one of the guys at a gate and he tells me the flight has already gone, and nothing had been shown on the boards, you guessed it, just an announcement in Arabic on the tannoy.
The moral of the tale is FFS don't miss your flight, or you will experience that Hotel California feeling. "You can check in any time you like..."
Last edited by Human_Soul; Dec 16th 2011 at 1:23 pm.