Job Discussion Forums

[ghost]

I have a booking made with Saudia from London, with initial flight from Montreal. One way price is $4600 which really seems expensive, esp. as the flight is economy and one way only. This is economy. But it doesn`t sound economical.

Originally I had made a booking with a travel agent and the same flight cost just $1175 from Montreal, so it appears that booking with Saudia direct as opposed to using a travel agent, is more expensive. I lost the original flight booking, because until I have the visa stamped in my passport, the flight cannot be paid for. The cheaper flight had to be settled by July 11.

This present booking has to be paid for by August 16.

Any advice would be welcome. Do Universities have a ceiling for flights and how much they are willing to pay? I think it would be unfair for my employer to have to dish out that amount.

This price quoted by Saudia really seems excessive. The baggage allowance though, at two pieces of 23 kilos, is pretty good.

Ghost

[sliderama]

In my experience, booking direct with airlines results in full fares being applied, whereas you will get much cheaper fares through a travel agent. Online seems to produce fares slightly higher than travel agents, but could be quite a bit more or less, seems to depend on when you search.

Why don't you go back to an agent again?

I'm paying about $1400 one-way Korea to Oman, but I saw I can book a return flight from Muscat to Vancouver for about $1300! (Sometimes one-ways are more expensive than return - go figure!! )

The luggage allowance has been reduced by many airlines recently, it used to be two 32 kg pieces, but now is limited to 50 lbs. each piece, as you said. This is only for flights between North America and Asia (and Europe I think?), otherwise only 1 piece is allowed (as on my 10 hour flight to Oman, . )

[007]

[Geronimo]

Have you considered the option of flying to Bahrain and then crossing over the causeway, ghost? Are you heading for Dhahran?

Are you tied contractually to Saudia? If not, I suggest that you take a look at the fares offered by airlines, such as BA, ( www.ba.com ), that fly from London's Deathrow to Manama. BA currently offers a fare of GBP 273 for that route. There may be a saving that is bigger than the taxi fare from Manama to your destination.

[cmp45]

[Mia Xanthi]

Ghost, if your employer must use only Saudia, then your employer is probably a government institution. At the very least, your employer is closely linked to the government in Saudi Arabia. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about the cost of the ticket, because the money is going back into the KSA government pockets one way or another.

[Imdramayu]

If I'm not mistaken, a large government university should pay Saudia directly for your flight. The person (yourself) gives your university the flight info and then the university pays Saudi directly.

I recall that Saudia fares are overpriced for this reason. Few people actually pay the fares directly.

[ghost]

Thank you for the feedback.

Even if the Universities pay, $4600 seems like a ridiculous price to pay for that flight (one way).

I am mystified as to why the Universities prefer teachers to go through Saudia direct, when the agency costs are a fraction of what Saudia charges.

Perhaps the Government Unis. in Saudi and Saudia are able to negotiate prices, but that is between the Universities and Saudia.

Today, finally, after 9 weeks of running around like a headless chicken, not to mention countless phone calls, e-mails and faxes, I have finally sent all my documents to the Saudi Cultural Bureau in Ottawa for processing. If things go right, the passport will then be sent to the Saudi Embassy, and then returned to me with a coveted Saudi stamp within.

If I am lucky, the whole process of obtaining a Saudi visa will have taken 3 months, as I started doing all the stuff mid May.

This feels like a weight off of my shoulders, and it has been a stressful summer, as the time constraints have been real, with, presently, just 5 weeks left until work starts on September 1. I am hoping that the Saudi Embassy will have the stamp in the passport by August 14. Deadline for payment for the expensive Saudia flight is August 16, Saudi Arabia time.

The last hurdle to clear, if the visa is obtained, is getting a flight to Dammam. That might turn into an adventure, if the Saudia flight is lost or unavailable.

Ghost

[Imdramayu]

Let me be the first person to congratulate you on jumping through all the hoops in obtaining your visa. This reminds me of 2003 when I spent 3 months (midJuly-midOct) to get a KSA visa. Hope the flights work out!

[scot47]

There are cheaper ways of getting there. Best to contact the employer and discuss.

[007]

[scot47]

Reporting for returning and new faculty is in September. New faculty will receive salary from date of arrival. Returning faculty face a financial penalty if reporting late.

007 is talking nonsense as he often does.

[ghost]

[also in saudi]

Just a warning. I would never buy an air ticket, use it to fly to a foreign country, and expect an unknown employer to reimburse me. I would expect the employer to provide an e-ticket and have it available at the airport.

[cmp45]