Jeddah’s Airport
Written by: Mystique
When I think of an airport, the first picture that comes to my mind is Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris or Dubai airport and how organized, neat and practical they are. Then I think of Jeddah airport and wonder when we are going to change.
I also think of a story of a friend of mine who wanted to go to Paris from Jeddah’s airport. The family arrived at the airport with bags and three kids and gave the tickets at the check-in counter. He made sure to look at their faces, took the luggage from them, smiled and said “Gate No. 16 to Paris at 11 p.m.”
The family sat down. The first thing that captured my friend’s attention was that there were many Indians in the waiting lounge and, as time passed, the number increased. She looked at the signs in the waiting lounge. She did not see Paris written there; only Bombay and Khartoum. An hour passed, and still there was no sign of Paris. Her husband went to the security personnel and asked the first officer he met, “When is the flight to Paris?”
The officer said he was not sure, but offered to inquire. The process of inquiring took more than 20 minutes. Then the officer came back, and said, “There is no flight to Paris tonight, show me your tickets”. He looked at the tickets and said, “The flight is tomorrow at the same time.” My friend’s husband then asked, “but what about the luggage? And how was my passport stamped?” With a high degree of boredom and irritation, the security officer said, “It happens at the best of airports.”
It is sad that such an event can happen at Jeddah airport. Is not an airport that millions of pilgrims pass through supposed to be an organized one, with maximum efficiency and good supervision?
I go through this airport 2-3 times a month. A nightmare
Not to mention parking problemsand the mess inside the airport.
We NEED a new airport for sure.
The funniest things are: “Al5o6a6 Al5amseyya” a.k.a the 5-years-span plan to fix the airport.
I honestly believe it should be torn down and then rebuilt again properly.
It’s out-dated and a shame to the whole kingdom.
oh well..
when i made my final exit, i saw how they have changed the departure system. there were new immigration desks, and there was a small restaurant as well just before you go through the immigration. i have had my share of bad experiences at jeddah airport, from witnessing the immigration officer hitting on my sister to being harrased with my dvds and cds to being affected by a racist official (who said I had no right being a Pakistani cuz I am too white!)
I don’t let any of that bother me because I understand where these people are coming from, and like Bassem, I truly hope the changes are made to better the current system.
Mansur
Herlock,
Yes I can imagine..
Ahmed,
I so believe we need a new airport, since (as they say) we should be ready for (globalization) and of course the traffic on Jeddah’s airport will increase significantly, they should be ready for such a change..
Bassem,
Do Enlighten me on al kho6a6 al khameseya please, What about them?
Mansur,
These incidents are just.. terrible.. I actually didnot pass through the airport since last summer, but I’ll see soon.
it is true that we know where these people are coming from, but one should know this is an airport where you get to mingle with different nationalities and backgrounds..
salaam…
congrats on yet another saudi flogging blog!
i am south african and travel to saudi often enough to join in the whinge and moan……a word of advice…..dont drink on any flight to jeddah…cos once u reach there…there are no toilets!….or what were those….ummm???
fida . . .
ma yinfa3 tazbee6 ya baba lazim they tear the whole thing down..lazim yisawo wa7id jadeed..
tara minjid ITS ABOUT TIME..
speaking of toilets….
I am not who I am,
Thank you so much for your kind words, I totally forgot about the bathrooms, they are a part of HELL!!! you are so right..
Beetle Juice,
Totally Agree, if you want to join, contact any of the authors darling..
I agree with all the comments above, or should I say complaints, but don’t forget the ‘lovely world class airport shopping’… It’s just pathetic how a city that witnesses so much air traffic each year (Taking into account Umra and Hajj passengers) probably has one of the worst airports in its region… I am not going to compare it to Africans countries covered in all sorts of turmoil, or to poorer Asian countries and be proud that our airport is better, because if we do so, we will never improve… We should compare it to Dubai, Beirut or Kuwait… Actually why not compare it to CDG (Paris) or Heathrow (London)… We certainly have the resources and liquidity to build something as, if not even more, impressive.. It’s about time the corruption stops and the entire budget actually gets injected into renovating, or preferrably, building a new airport…
shopping??????……..ummm///////you talking bout the cart of fruit hanging around there????……oh yahhhhhh…….wot about the absolutely COMFORTABLE seats there are in the waiting lounge……thank gawddd for the business and first class lounges….now theres an idea!!! travel first class!! !@#$%
hahahaha////
fida . . . .
The first class lounge quality in KAA is comparable to the McDee’s seating area in Heathrow
half a loaf is better than none!!!
fida . . .
What about those shuttles they still pack to death with people??!!! I hate that! The only thing that saves me is being Saudi, so I always get the special treatment (not to mention the pathetic airport personel trying to slip me their numbers!!) But for the sake of civilization, can’t they have normal tube thinggies that go straight to the airplanes?!? The most primitive towns have those.. the last time I went to LA via Singapore I had to drag my hand carry ( the wheels proved useless) up the steep flight of steps while wearing stilletos!!! talk about losing poise!! grrrr
OT,
I totally agree with you, I mean why not have a great shopping facility in KAA as you have said a lot of piligrims pass by, and definetly they do want to buy stuff from here…
I am not who I am,
Actually I always tend to fall asleep on the seat in the waiting area LOL.. speak of escaping reality..
Arabian Banana,
I cannot get over Vegas airport, Oh my it was a DREAM..
Now for those tubes, imagine they have already signed many deals as i have heared many times, but no action hence; Where is the money?
has anyone of you ever been to south africa??
fida . . .
i am not who i am,
Never been to South Africa, but my office mate is 1/2 Saudi 1/2 South African and he’s gonna marry a South African girl soon… Oh well, that’s the closest I’ve been to South Africa
It is really a scar on our image in Saudi Arabia.. Jeddah is a flourishing port and an important center both economically and religiously..
I hope it’s fixed up in time for the Economic City because that’s when we’re going to be getting a lot more visitors and more people will start judging us..
Y
I actually have been to South Africa and it’s one of the nicest places I’ve been to, I spent some time in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Sun City.. It is absolutely beautiful and I’d recommend everyone to go to it (Cape Town and Sun City are the best 2 places to go to..)
As for the airport, a new one is needed, and asap, and this one can be used as a temp thing till the new one is done, and then this one can be used for domestic only after it’s renovated or something, but looking at our accession to the WTO and our leadership position in the Arab and Islamic World, this is a critical matter that needs to be addressed..
I’m going to get in contact with people in Shoura and try to find out why it’s never been addressed officially..
Y
Well, I can see the jeddah int’l airport has caused some commotion on this blog. Well if you ask me I can say i lost in joy when they said they sacked the GM of SAUDIA airlines. To know the airport, you have to know the staff. I know hundreds of them, ask them if they care,NEVER they say. were in it for the tickets. they also say we can never be fired, I have heard stories of street fights in offices between stafff and managers, without anyone getting fired! they have got years to get to par with the ousiest airports in the world, meanwhile try using your ipod, a mobile bathroom, and never eat at their cafeterias, and try not to fly SAUDIA! a saudi dude that has chosen other airlines for the last 15 years!
Salam every1
I live in Jeddah and everytime i come back from vacation i’m happy to come back, if there would’nt be this airpot. The most annoying thing is when u go out of the plane and into the >>>BUS
Follow these guidelines and you will build that new home with little, or no, problems. small bathroom remodeling can help…
when i come from saudi on final exit i did noit recive compurised exit slip now i need it please suggest me how to get it
its not the airpot, its the Saudi people that work there.. They are pigs, pure and simple. Complete lack of respect for the people they serve .. if someone in an western aiprort would pull the crap they do in Saudi, they’d get their teeth knocked. Miserable airport for a miserable country.