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Saudia Delayed or Cancelled Flight Compensation and Refunds
Don't miss the chance to claim up to €600 for a Saudia flight disruption!
You have booked tickets, and suddenly your dream vacation or business trip is ruined by a Saudia flight delay, cancellation, or instance of denied boarding? You may be entitled to Saudia compensation up to €600. Join 200,000 clients who have entrusted AirAdvisor with their airline claims over the last 7 years.
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Flight interruptions, regardless of type, are never fun. When you book travel with Saudia, you don’t necessarily think that your flight is going to be significantly delayed or cancelled, but it does happen.
In a recent report by Cirium on Saudia’s May 2024 on-time performance, the airline was ranked within the top 5 worldwide for arrival punctuality. During this period, Saudia operated 15,416 flights of which 86.09% were on time. That is a great record, but that still leaves almost 15% of passengers delayed.
When asked about this high ranking, Ibrahim Al-Omar, the airline’s Director General said:
Operational efficiency is central to Saudia’s new era strategy. By utilizing the latest smart digital systems in our premium Saudia Operations Building, we manage flight operations with cutting-edge technology. This dedication to efficiency, along with the relentless efforts of our teams who meticulously handle flight schedules year-round and during peak seasons, has resulted in this outstanding On-Time Performance.
Since this was a notable month for the airline, passengers can generally expect Saudia’s on-time performance to be lower. So, you should be aware of your passenger rights, the compensation maximums, and how to claim the highest payout. We’ll help you with all of this, and the highlights include:
- Passengers can claim between €250 and €600 for disrupted Saudia flights departing from the EU or UK.
- Saudia flights must be delayed by at least 3 hours to claim flight delay compensation.
- Flights cancelled by Saudia must be communicated to you with fewer than 2 weeks’ notice to qualify.
- You have up to 6 years to file a claim.
- AirAdvisor is the ideal partner to ensure maximum compensation in the shortest amount of time.
Saudia Passenger Rights
For Saudia flights that originate in the EU, there are certain rights afforded to passengers courtesy of regulation EU261. Similarly, the UK also offers passenger protection.
What is Saudia EU261 Compensation?
This regulation guides airline compensation amounts for Saudia flight disruptions. This includes delays, cancellations, overbooking, and missed connections.
Although Saudia is not an EU-based airline, some flights are still covered by EU261. These include any flights that depart from an EU airport. Passengers who have their Saudia flight delayed by 3 hours or more can claim up to €600 in EU261 compensation.
What is Saudia UK261 Compensation?
UK261 offers essentially the same rights as EU261, with the compensation ranging from £220 to £520 per passenger. UK261 applies to Saudia flights that depart from UK airports only.
Saudia Flight Delay Compensation
To delve a bit deeper, passengers can claim Saudia flight delay compensation as long as the following is true:
- The flight is delayed by at least 3 hours - calculated based on arrival time, not departure time.
- The delay is not caused by extraordinary circumstances, which are events outside the airline’s control, such as air traffic control restrictions and poor weather.
- The flight leaves either the EU or the UK.
Saudia delayed flight compensation also depends on the length of the flight. Longer flights have higher maximums. Because Saudia connects Asia with Europe and the UK (among other destinations), the flight will almost always be in the highest category (over 3,500km).
Delay Time at Destination | Saudia Flight Distance | |||
EU flights under 1,500km | EU flights over 1,500km | Non-internal EU flights between 1,500km and 3,500km | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500km | |
Under 3 hours | €0 | |||
3 hours or more | €250 (£220) | €400 (£350) | €400(£350) | €600 (£520)* |
*You’ll find that some carriers will look to decrease this compensation amount by 50% for shorter delays. We routinely claim the maximum for our clients.
Saudia Eligible Route Examples
To further clarify, here are some popular Saudia routes and the expected compensation.
London Heathrow Airport to Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport
- The flight distance is approximately 4,750km.
- Maximum compensation is £520.
Barcelona-El Prat Airport to Riyadh King Khalid International Airport
- The flight distance is approximately 4,500km.
- Maximum compensation is €600.
Note that if we reverse either of the above routes, no compensation is possible under either regulation.
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Saudia Flight Cancellation Compensation
If your Saudia flight gets cancelled, you can potentially claim 2 different types of compensation in addition to a refund.
Assuming the same route and cause specifications as delayed flight compensation, Saudia passengers can also claim up to €600 (£520) in cancelled flight compensation. Your flight must also be cancelled less than 14 days before you're due to depart.
When the flight gets cancelled, your priority should be to re-book with the airline to continue the journey. Saudia should assist you with this and if they can’t find a suitable flight, you are entitled to a full refund.
If Saudia does get you on a replacement flight that arrives at a similar time to the original one, you will not be eligible to claim compensation, but if the difference is 3 hours or more, you have a case for an EU261 or UK261 compensation claim.
The next type of compensation is called the right to care and it applies when your flight is cancelled and you’re stuck waiting at the airport for a prolonged period. Saudia is responsible for your well-being and must provide drinks, meals, phone, calls, hotel accommodation, and airport transfers, depending on the wait duration. This applies whether the interruption is caused by Saudia or external sources.
What Should Passengers Do When a Saudia Flight is Cancelled or Delayed?
- Speak to a Saudia rep either at the airport or by phone to confirm the reason for the interruption. This is to make sure it isn’t due to extraordinary circumstances.
- Keep your documents. This includes receipts for disruption-related expenses, photos, your boarding pass, and any communication already received.
- Insist on your right to care while at the airport.
- Prepare yourself by checking your EU261 eligibility on our free online compensation calculator.
Saudia Flight Refund Policy
In the case of involuntary refunds (when Saudia cancels a flight, makes significant schedule changes, or denies boarding due to overbooking), passengers are entitled to a full refund. You can apply for this online and it takes between 20 and 30 business days to show up on your credit card.
On the other hand, if a passenger cancels a flight for their own reasons, refund eligibility depends on the type of fare that was purchased. Luckily, many of the regular class (not business or first) fare types are refund-eligible for a fee. The only exception is the Guest Saver fare, which does not issue refunds for passenger cancellations.
Also, just because you receive a refund for a Saudia flight cancellation doesn’t mean you can’t claim compensation - they are two different things.
Want more info? Read our guide on flight refunds.
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Saudia Flight Compensation - Expert Tips
The truth is that airlines don’t like to pay out EU261 compensation for obvious reasons. It’s important to hold them accountable. Follow these tips to make the most of a bad situation:
- Avoid vouchers and other credits. When you’re due a refund, always get it in cash. The same goes for any offers of compensation. Cash doesn’t have an expiry date or any restrictions on use.
- Don’t take the first offer. Airlines will try to lowball you to minimize their losses, so use the first offer as a starting point for negotiations.
- Don’t sign documents too quickly. If Saudia asks you to sign a document, make sure you fully understand it before signing. Accepting some type of compensation at the airport may prevent you from claiming EU261 compensation in the future.
How To Fill Out the Saudia EU261 Claim Form
Since Saudia is not an EU or UK airline, the compensation forms are not readily available on their website. You’ll need to get in touch with customer service and start your claim. This can be tedious, so a better option is to partner with us and let our airline compensation experts do all the heavy lifting.
What is the Time Limit for Saudia Compensation Claims?
UK-based passengers have up to 6 years to contact Saudia and collect their compensation. The same is true in Ireland. Other countries in the EU generally range from 3 years to 5 years.
If your flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last 3 years, you could be eligible for up to €600 in compensation.
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Common Questions: Saudia Compensation Claims and Refunds
How long does it take to get Saudia flight delay compensation?
Based on regulation EU261, airlines are supposed to issue compensation within a month, but it can routinely take up to 3 months. Typically, the airline will reply within a 30-day window, but receiving the actual compensation can easily take a couple of months more, depending on the situation. For a faster claim resolution, partner with AirAdvisor - we hold airlines accountable!
How much compensation for a Saudia delayed flight can you get?
Passengers can claim up to €600 (£520) for delayed and cancelled flights, depending on the distance. Eligible routes must leave from either the UK or EU and usually, Saudia flights exceed the highest flight distance category of 3,500km. This would entitle eligible passengers to the maximum of €600.
How do you claim flight delay compensation with Saudia?
You can contact the airline to initiate the process directly with them. There is no online form available and it can take months to resolve. A better bet is to use our online claim portal and be done in mere minutes. Use our free flight delay checker to start the process.
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Recent Comments
Saudia gave us 249 SAR each (about 60 euros each) in Vouchers, which is very low compared to the 600 EUROS we can claim for this disrupted flight. We haven't used these vouchers yet.
Our flight was cencelled 7 hours before start. We have to call Saudia and after 2 hours, they find alternative. But we stay on the airport next 17 hours to wait for next flight to our destination.
Basically flight was delayed by 18 hours and therefore I'd miss my connecting flight and had to cancel everything.