Saudia passengers compensated $1.81m in 2008

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PAY TIME: While Saudia pays compensation for faults and delays, it also fines no-show passengers with reservations.

Lost luggage and delayed flights cost Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) SR6.8m ($1.81m) in 2008, an airline official has revealed.

Abdullah Bin Mushbab, assistant director general of Saudia, said the sum was paid as compensation to passengers to satisfy international transport rules on flight delays and mislaid baggage.

“We provide free accommodation to passengers if flights are delayed for more than six hours, and we compensate passengers who travel in a lower class than their original reservation stipulates,” Bin Mushbab told the Saudi Gazette.

He added the airline offers meals, refreshments and free phone calls to passengers under the transport rules.

The minimum compensation offered to passengers is SR200, while an undisclosed maximum sum is handed out for technical and operational faults. “This is tangible evidence that Saudia cares greatly about passenger rights,” Bin Mushab said.

While the airline pays compensation for faults and delays, it also fines no-show passengers with reservations. Bin Mushab said this problem, which results in Saudia having some four million unoccupied seats each year, damages the “airline’s image”.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Saudi Air Lines
Posted by nusry, Colombo, Sri Lanka on Wednesday 8 April 2009 at 00:25 UAE time


Yea, I also agree its the training of the staff that gives the impression of the air lines, its really bad how they treat people politeness is out of the question. And like Ishatiaq noted there is none of the compensations mentioned my flight was cancelled and next day delayed for more than 7 hours and not to mention the pathetic way saudi immigration treats people and personal belongings. Its just fly with us or don't bother. I choose not to fly.

fu@$&*!${& as&*!@#*
Posted by xxx, xxx, xxx on Sunday 29 March 2009 at 23:51 UAE time


I will never again fly with Saudi Airlines, they lost my baggage. First they told me I have alcohol there so that is why they stopped it at customs, layter they told me the bagge is lost and they dont have it. And it was only a transfer fliht from Europe to Afrika, they had no right to stop it.

Staff is very rude, never again this airline !!!

Saudia - Airline need to do more
Posted by Ishtiaq, Dammam, KSA on Thursday 26 February 2009 at 13:57 UAE time


This is good Mr.Abdullah, however the ground reality is different. Last month my flight from 12 in the midnight got cancelled to Jeddah, i was offered a flight at 8 am in the morning, which also got cancelled and you did not provide any of the compensation mentioned above, except for a juice / water.
The worst part is your ground staff, they were very rude and instead of understanding your mistake and beign polite, they were harsh on passengers. And this i found with your ground staff in Mumbai also. My advice is you need to travel in other airlines like Emirates etc and see how they take care of each and every passengers.

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