Hello from Dubai, where it is a moderate 102ºF today. Yesterday, I wrote about the travails of transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Korean Air Skypass. Today, I want to talk about what I booked.
I was really looking forward to coming home on Turkish Airlines and Avianca in business class. I’ve flown Turkish Airlines so much, but never on the 777-3ooER in business class. I’ve flown on Avianca in the past as well, but never on the 787-8.
But a different opportunity came along and I’m glad I took it. Instead of flying home via Istanbul, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Bogota, and Houston, I’ll fly home on Saudia from Dubai to Los Angeles via Riyadh.
Riyadh to Los Angeles is 19hr,20min. The flight makes a 90-minute ground stop in Jeddah to pick up additional passengers. Even though it is technically a “domestic” flight within Saudi Arabia, a visa is not required.
First Class is only 80K Korean Air miles one-way. The catch is that a return ticket had to be booked (the subject of a future post). That’s less than flying business class on Turkish/Avianca and it gives me a chance to travel back with One Mile at a Time.
I have reviewed both economy class and business class on Saudia in the past, but first class should be a new treat. While my expectations are tempered, the closed-door suites look wonderful.
It has been a whirlwind week, but I’m looking forward to getting home to my family in the comfort of Saudia. We’ll see if the crew is more motivated than the lazy Colombo to Jeddah team…
That’s a pretty slick looking suite! But, given that Saudia is a dry airline, they’re starting from perhaps an insurmountable deficit.