Job Discussion Forums

dow204 · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 3

Has anyone tried getting a ticket out for a late Christmas...oops I mean "hajj"? Tickets from anywhere: Riyadh, Dammam, Bahrain, even Kuwait and Jeddah are either unavailable or ridiculously expensive! And I mean flights to anywhere! I'd go to the North Pole if I could get a ticket....any advice?

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dow204

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

You left it a bit late. Months ago colleagues were reporting that there were no seats yto be had. Try standby. Or take the bus to Amman.

Van Norden · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 409

Are you in Riyadh? Isn't your travel agent coming up with options?

You could try gulfairco.com for flights out of Bahrain or expedia.com to check flights out of any hub within your reach.

Ethiopian airlines flies from Riyadh to Addis.

There's also a 36-hour ferry from Jeddah to Suez!

Whatever, there has to be a way out. Even if you've got to pay, just bite the bullet. In-Kingdom holidays aren't advisable.

laila · Joined: 09 May 2006 Posts: 7

Air Arabia still has flights out of Riyadh. Their website is www.airarabia.com.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Air Arabia is actually pretty expensive at Hajj, considering what it offers.

What you must bear in mind is that at Ramadan and Hajj people book flights they have no intention of using. Egyptians are the worst offenders, often making ten separate reservations on half-a-dozen different airlines.

Flights to Europe or the States tend to have less slack, particularly as Hajj and Christmas coincide this year.

What you do is go along to your trusted local travel agent and get him to book you two or three flights on the waiting list. A few days before you'll get on the flight.

About ten years ago I was going to Cairo and was told I was number 123 on the waiting list. By the time I got to the end of the queue half-an-hour later there were vacancies on the flight.

007 · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Christmas Vacations?

007 · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:07 pm Post subject:

Van Norden · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 409

Yeh 007/Cobra, I'm sure it's nice down south. Some of my students are from there. I'd love to go but, alas, I've got bigger fish to fry on my holidays.

No mutts on Farasan Island? Are you sure? They must be dancing in the streets. What did you get up to when you were there? Twisted Evil

007 · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:54 pm Post subject:

graftonstreetgulf · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 25 Location: South America

I booked a ticket three days ago Dammam-Manchester flying out mid-December....

007 · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:44 am Post subject:

dow204 · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 3

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to check in with you all. Thanks for your opinions and tips. I've heard about the Ethiopian Airlines to Addis Ababa. I think they have a flight out of Jeddah as well. Thinking logically, I thought PIA would have a lot of cheap flights out to Pakistan because I remember reading that about 12 flights a day were flying in and presumably they would all be flying out empty to Pakistan to pick up more Hajjis.

I just told my travel agent to look for any available flights (I gave him a list of "ideal" destinations), and he told me he'd waitlist me or make a reservation if possible. But so far, no luck, other than being waitlisted.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The Ethiopian Airlines flight is only once a week I believe so make sure you have a confirmed reservation for the return flight.

graftonstreetgulf · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 25 Location: South America

How much did you pay for the ticket, and which airlines?
Is it a Chartered flight?

It's around 2800 SAR return with Qatar Airways.....

robertinarabia · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 54

Ok, that just sucks, Ansari is flying back to the Muslim slums of Manchester while the JIA teachers go without their money. And with Christmas comin on and all. How nice. Still, at least he won't be able to trash the teachers when they go on strike. Do you think there will actually be a JIA for Ansari to fly back to in the New Year? Have a happy Christmas JIA and remember, nothing speaks louder than the truth.