SV144 Paris (CDG) to Riyadh (RUH)

[quixoticguide]

Flight: SV144 (codeshare with Air France AF6672)
Date: 13 FEB 2014
Sector: Paris (CDG), France to Riyadh (RUH), Saudi-Arabia / 2790 NM or 4490 km.


(route, France, Switzerland, Italy, Egypt and Saudi-Arabia)

STD: 11:25 (UTC) / ATD: 11:20 (UTC)
ATA: 19:34 (AST) STA: 19:40 (AST)
Time: 5:28 in the air.
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER (HZ-AKE) - 16.2 years
FL: 35
MACH: 0.84
Takeoff Runway: 26R / Landing Runway: ??
PAX: 119 (51% full)
Seat: 36A

I wanted to go to Bangladesh from Belgium one way because I had a ticket on the last DC10 flight and after checking all the options SV was the winner because they where the cheapest and I also never flew with the flag carrier airline of Saudi Arabia.

I took the last Thalys train the day before and stayed in a hotel near the CDG airport.


Two Saudia planes at CDG terminal 2C the daily Airbus A330 to JED and the 4 weekly service to RUH with the B777.



Boarding





The Saudia A330 to Jeddah


The modern PTV


Enough space


Before take off prayer


Taxing to the runway (watch the wing)


Passing the Etihad Airbus A340


Take-off with (little bit) ice on the wings! The praying works.



Friendly stewardess


Lunch


The Big Bang Theory Blur Penny


The sun above the Kingdom


Alone in the cockpit after landing!


Conclusion: a very good airline for the price I paid. Better then expected.

[Sean_DM]

Nice trip report! Do they serve alcohol on board?

[speedbird1]

Thanks for the report quixoticguide!

@ Sean no they don't

Speedy

[Malaysia]

Great report indeed!

@Sean They don't

[Stealthlover]

You are mentioning your flight was CDG - RUH - DAC.
How was the experience of your transfer in Riyadh?
Was it smooth, did you had any problems, required soms special paperwork, ... ?

[teddybAIR]

Thanks for the beautiful pics!

[quixoticguide]

You are mentioning your flight was CDG - RUH - DAC.
How was the experience of your transfer in Riyadh?
Was it smooth, did you had any problems, required soms special paperwork, ... ?

I was in transit so I needed no special documents.
The time in RUH airport was long (the flight to Dhaka departed 3:45 a.m next day).
But I buy lounge access (not Saudia lounge but lounge in Terminal 1) so I had access to good food and drinks, the lounge seats where a bit uncomfortable and the lounge was very crowded.
Saudia and Air France use terminal 2 and all the others terminal 1.

[Stealthlover]

Thanks for the reply.
I was just wondering, I remember some horror stories about the airport, but they where all getting in and out the country.
RUH is not known as a transit airport like DOH, AUH, ... in the middle east.
But it looks like it is worth trying. So a new option when booking!

[quixoticguide]

Yes, it's always fun to explore new airports airlines. Next time I try JED.
Last year I was transferring in DAC (DXB-DAC-HKG) and they where laughing with me in DXB.

BTW: The price for this trip was 292 euro.