Saudia compensation: how to claim
Saudia is registered in Saudi Arabia — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Registered in
- Saudi Arabia (non-EU/UK carrier)
- Main bases
- Jeddah (JED), Riyadh (RUH)
- Typical first response
- About 50 days
- Time limit where it is based
- Depends where you claim
Saudia is registered in Saudi Arabia — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Flying into the UK or EU from Saudi Arabia or elsewhere: not covered by either, because Saudia is not a UK or EU carrier.
- That means a return trip is usually half-protected: the outbound from Europe counts, the flight home does not.
How Saudia handles claims
Not an EU or UK carrier, so only departures from London, Manchester, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Madrid and other European airports are covered.
Europe to Jeddah or Riyadh is over 3,500 km, so covered claims are £520 or €600.
Seasonal pilgrimage traffic produces heavy schedule pressure at certain times of year, and the resulting delays are operational rather than extraordinary.
Expect slow correspondence, and plan to escalate to the enforcement body in your European departure country once the 14 days in your letter have passed.
What a delay on Saudia is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (LHR) → Jeddah (JED) | 4,748 km | UK261 | £520 |
| Jeddah (JED) → London (LHR) | 4,748 km | — | Not covered |
| Paris (CDG) → Jeddah (JED) | 4,427 km | EU261 | €600 |
| Jeddah (JED) → Paris (CDG) | 4,427 km | — | Not covered |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from Saudia, by what happened
- Saudia: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Saudia: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Saudia: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Saudia: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your Saudia flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Saudia yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Saudia: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Saudia?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. Saudia is registered in Saudi Arabia — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
Does Saudia have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against Saudia?
The limit is set by the country where you bring the claim, which is usually where your flight departed or arrived. In England and Wales it is six years; in most EU countries between two and five.
Where do I send a claim to Saudia?
Saudia takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Saudi Arabian Airlines, Customer Relations, PO Box 620, Jeddah 21231, Saudi Arabia. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Saudia flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.