Saudia’s Cheap Business Fares Between Asia & Europe

Saudia Boeing 787
Saudia Boeing 787. Photo: Saudia.

When planning a trip to Europe, Saudia is probably not the first airline that comes to mind. But this SkyTeam carrier offers lie-flat Business Class seats and has some exceptional year-round Business Class fares between various destinations in Asia and Europe.

By combining a cheap Saudia Business Class ticket between Southeast Asia and Europe with another cheap ticket between Australia and Southeast Asia, you could score a great deal to Europe – flying in Business Class for the majority of the trip.

As you would be travelling from Australia-Asia and Asia-Europe on different tickets, we’d suggest breaking up the journey with a stopover in Asia of at least one night in both directions, in case of delays to the inbound flight. Most of the cheap Saudia fares are available from cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok or Manila.

The Saudia fares are all via either Jeddah or Riyadh, and you would be in lie-flat Business Class the whole way. Saudia offers a very comfortable Business Class on its Boeing 787s with a 1-2-1 configuration, and the airline’s A320s used on European routes also feature lie-flat seating in Business with a 2-2 layout. However, note that this is a dry airline with no alcohol served.

Saudia Boeing 787 Business Class
Saudia Boeing 787 Business Class. Photo: Saudia.

You can read more about what it’s like flying in Saudia Business Class in a trip report written by AFF member henleybeach.

Cheap Saudia Business fares from Asia to Europe

As one example of a good deal on Saudia Business Class to Europe, you could fly from Singapore to Amsterdam from around $2,143 return (via Malé and Jeddah), flying on Boeing 787s for the entire trip:

Example of a cheap Saudia Business Class fare from Singapore-Amsterdam seen on ITA Matrix.
Example of a Saudia Singapore-Amsterdam fare seen on ITA Matrix.

This particular airfare from Singapore to Amsterdam is available year-round and it would be possible to add a stopover in Saudi Arabia, if you wanted to, for USD200 extra.

You could book this on the Saudia website (where the fare is charged in US Dollars).

Saudia website screenshot
Screenshot of the Saudia website.

Saudia airfares from Singapore to Cairo are also quite competitive at just under $2,000 return in Business Class.

Prices from Manila to Amsterdam are also good value – even during peak Christmas season:

ITA Matrix screenshot
Saudia Manila-Amsterdam fare seen on ITA Matrix.

Fares from Europe to Asia are even cheaper

But perhaps the best Saudia Business Class deals are from Europe to Asia. For example, you could fly from Athens to Singapore from just $1,320 return:

ITA Matrix screenshot
Saudia Athens-Singapore fare seen on ITA Matrix.

You could even fly one-way from Athens to Singapore in Business from $830:

ITA Matrix screenshot
Saudia Athens-Singapore fare seen on ITA Matrix.

Note that Saudia’s Athens-Jeddah service is a seasonal flight that only operates between April-October.

Year-round Business Class airfares from Istanbul to Singapore are also under $2,000 return (or around $1,270 one-way):

ITA Matrix screenshot
Saudia Istanbul-Singapore fare seen on ITA Matrix.

Crediting to a SkyTeam frequent flyer program

While Saudia doesn’t partner with any Australian airlines, you could earn points or miles with any SkyTeam frequent flyer program. For example, you could earn Delta SkyMiles (which never expire) or Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles which can be redeemed for flights on SkyTeam airlines as well as Qantas or Aircalin.

By crediting to Flying Blue, for example, in addition to the miles you’d also earn 108 XP for a round-trip Singapore-Jeddah-Amsterdam booking in Business Class. That’s enough to earn Silver status with Flying Blue, which is equivalent to SkyTeam Elite status.

If you currently have status with an airline in Oneworld or Star Alliance, you could even use one of these fares to complete a Delta status match challenge. For example, if you currently hold Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold status, you could apply for a Delta SkyMiles status match and receive Delta Gold Medallion status for 90 days.

By earning at least 12,500 MQMs during your 90-day trial period, you’d then get to keep Delta Gold status (equivalent to SkyTeam Elite Plus – the top SkyTeam tier) until January 2024. A return journey in Business Class from Singapore to Amsterdam via Jeddah would get you 14,738 MQMs – more than enough to complete this challenge!

 

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum.

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 70 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.
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I saw that fare on the FT thread last night and after an initial double take moved on. Its an incredible fare and I can imagine there will be some very tempted AFF’ers but not for me - I do like a pre & post departure bevy!

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Saw them advertised when I was looking to go Bangkok to Frankfurt a couple of months ago. Lack of alcohol is not an issue for me.
In all honestly, at the moment I could not fly with them. I realise a lot of ME countries have very dubious human rights records along with other places in that area, but imo they pale into insignificance compared to what the Saudis are doing, have done. I’ll add any PRC airline to that list as well.
Ethiopian had some good fares as well, but they are also on my current no fly list.

It’s a shame because a friend wants to run the Dakar Rally next year, which will be run entirely in Saudi and I would like to see him compete.

Reply 3 Likes

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I’ve looked closely at these fares in the past but never booked. Much that I have read about the transits is the main problem I have. I get the impression that the very pleasant in flight product is directly opposite to what should be expected on the ground with Saudia.

Reply 5 Likes

but not for me - I do like a pre & post departure bevy!

It's a deal breaker for me too.

And having spent some time in Riyadh with the Australian embassy there, I have no desire to patronise anything Saudi Arabian.

Not that the embassy was alcohol free...

Reply 7 Likes

It's a deal breaker for me too.

And having spent some time in Riyadh with the Australian embassy there, I have no desire to patronise anything Saudi Arabian.

Not that the embassy was alcohol free...

Yes I remember a very interesting soirée at the trade mission place. Basically any nationality, any booze you want. 🍷🍸🍹🥂🍻

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Yes I remember a very interesting soirée at the trade mission place. Basically any nationality, any booze you want. 🍷🍸🍹🥂🍻

Indeed, and I remember a visit to a trade commissioner's house with a couple of slabs of VB in the boot of the car.

Everyone was a little bit worried we might have been stopped by the religious police, but it all ended happily.

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Indeed, and I remember a visit to a trade commissioner's house with a couple of slabs of VB in the boot of the car.

Everyone was a little bit worried we might have been stopped by the religious police, but it all ended happily.

When was this? I was there in 1994. Our host (Trade Commissioner) said: “What would you like to drink?”. Standard answer, after being in country a few weeks : “Saudi champagne“ <mint and Perrier IIRC>.

“No” he said, “What would you like to drink?”

Oh!!! We knew then why he had sent his driver for us. 😊

Reply Like

When was this? I was there in 1994. Our host (Trade Commissioner) said: “What would you like to drink?”. Standard answer, after being in country a few weeks : “Saudi champagne“ <mint and Perrier IIRC>.

“No” he said, “What would you like to drink?”

Oh!!! We knew then why he had sent his driver for us. 😊

I was there a couple of years after that, and I worked for the Australian Govt.

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Never ever would I waste my money on a “dry airline”. Nah- pass!

Reply 2 Likes

Never ever would I waste my money on a “dry airline”. Nah- pass!

Lol. wasn’t qantas effectively a ‘dry’ airline until recently due to ‘covid restrictions’? 😷😷

Reply 4 Likes