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hmm. Tx for the write-up and of course good tips in there

Thank you for sharing Martin Fin!

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Long story but worth it

Thanks for the great share. It deserves a place in my special folder on desktop name 'Tips for living in KSA'

You could have been more of a Scottish descent if you would have preferred SAUDI AIRLINE over Emirates, Two Reasons:-
1)SADDAD Option would have avoided all the hassle.
2)Cheaper price for a one and half hour journey:)

Hahahaha
Really funny story, but a really helpful lesson
Thx for sharing.

Saudia is costly and they don't have enough flights. I use Fly Dubai instead, check it out.

adnanhashmi wrote:

You could have been more of a Scottish descent if you would have preferred SAUDI AIRLINE over Emirates, Two Reasons:-
1)SADDAD Option would have avoided all the hassle.
2)Cheaper price for a one and half hour journey:)

I am meeting my wife in Dubai her flight arrives from the UK at the same time as the Emirates flight from Riyadh so I won't be waiting for too long. She is also coming into KSA after our holiday as my company are paying for her ticket on Emirates from Dubai to Riyadh. So as to arrive with her in Riyadh I need to be on the same flight but buying one way flights is expensive that is why Emirates. 



Helps my airmiles as well

Awesome tip !!!

Martin Fin wrote:

I just thought I would share my experience in buying some tickets for a trip next month.

Just some background I am of Scottish descent so don't like wasting money if I can avoid it.

I looked on the internet for some flight tickets I need to buy for a holiday next Eid. I am having to go to Dubai to meet people so Emirates was the obvious choice and the price was right. I have a Saudi bank debit card but found that the card would not work buying on-line and I didn't want to use my UK credit card whilst I had more than enough cash in the bank! So I decided to go to the Emirates office to purchase the tickets. Armed with my schedule and the price I proceeded to the office on Takhassusi St. Having gone through the booking process it became obvious that the price was considerably different and was told that on the internet prices are up to 20% lower. So back to booking on-line! 

Whilst I went through the booking process and finally came to paying I found to option to pay at a Western Union office if the flight starts in the country you are paying in, it did! So I chose this rather than be hit by exchange rate charges from the UK credit card (my Scottishness coming out again)! I found a Western Union office that could handle the payment but after the second visit and many hours of standing in queues (well 2) to pay I decided I had had enough! I was going to go to the Emirates office cancel this booking and just pay full price I had had enough......(not very Scottish of me so it shows how p!$£ off I was)

When I got to the Emirates office, with the nice ticket controlled order, my time came I sat down with the customer service person explained what I wanted to do! He took one look at my booking and said no need to cancel just pay here the internet price and I can issue the tickets now! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Lesson for all with Emirates. If you are flying from Saudi, book on-line select pay by Western Union, print out the paperwork and go to the Emirates office to pay!  This will overcome credit card issues and get you a cheaper flight!

Sorry for the long story

but then its too informative, thanks man