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Saudia opens a new (SkyTeam) airline lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4

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Well, this is unexpected. Saudia, the Jeddah-based airline, has opened a new lounge in Heathrow Terminal 4.

The airline has worked with Plaza Premium on the design, fit out and operation of the lounge.

Plaza Premium previously took over the former SkyTeam lounge at Heathrow T4, opening up a new, larger Plaza Premium on the ground floor. At the time, we were told that the second level had been “reserved for other development at a later stage.” It appears that plan has now come to fruition.

Saudia opens new (SkyTeam) airline lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4

At 850 square metres (and with capacity for 174 guests) I believe it takes up the entirety of the upper floor, ruling out any further development of that space.

The new Saudia lounge will cater to First and business class passengers, as well as Alfursan Gold frequent flyer members and other SkyTeam elites.

As a SkyTeam lounge, it will also be available to anyone flying from Terminal 4 on another SkyTeam carrier with status or in business class. This includes KLM, Air France and China Eastern.

Here is how the airline describes it:

“The lounge features a range of luxurious offerings showcasing the warmth of Saudi hospitality, including traditional Saudi coffee and dates from the Kingdom. A premium dining experience is available through an international buffet, with a private VIP area offering à la carte dining and personalized butler service.”

Saudia opens new (SkyTeam) airline lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4

Whilst it should be obvious, it’s unlikely you’ll get any alcohol here given that Saudia is a dry airline. Instead, they have a tea room:

“Additional features include a bespoke London Tea Exchange experience, luxury showers with Urban Apothecary amenities, prayer rooms, and a quiet zone. Guests can also enjoy fully equipped workspaces, along with high-speed Wi-Fi and charging stations—ensuring comfort and connectivity throughout their stay.”

Although national sibling Riyadh Air is drawing a lot of attention as it ramps up for its first flights later this year, Saudia has also been investing in its customer experience with a new (retro) livery and new amenity kits. Ambitious new aircraft orders will come with brand new seats.

Rossen Dimitrov, Chief Guest Experience Officer at Saudia, said:

“The launch of our new lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 4 is a testament to Saudia’s dedication to providing an exceptional travel experience that embodies the essence of Saudi hospitality. We are proud to offer our guests a premium space that combines comfort, luxury, and cultural richness, setting a new benchmark for international travel.”

Saudia’s Heathrow lounge will be open from 7:00am to 10:15pm, covering Saudia’s first and last flights each day.

Comments (65)

  • Yom says:

    I got the chance to experience this lounge last night and I must say it was top class.
    It really had that luxury feel, the staff were SUPER friendly, the food was good and the mocktails were delicious (I had a Chicken Briyani, some korean chicken wings and a mojito).

    Would highly recommend if you don’t mind that it’s dry (no alcohol served).

  • Martin says:

    Would rather go to the Star Light Lounge

  • Matt says:

    Hopefully this will free up capacity in the Plaza Premium lounge as whenever I’ve been recently I have been directed to the inferior (although still better than sitting in the terminal) blush lounge as PP was only taking airline guests.

  • Jenny says:

    Where are the comments about it being dry.

  • NFH says:

    If someone is flying to Saudia Arabia, wouldn’t they want to enjoy some final drinks in one of the existing lounges instead of starting their dry experience prematurely? Or maybe this lounge is intended for Mulsims who want to avoid the somewhat boozy atmosphere of normal lounges.

    • r* says:

      The most drunk ppl Ive ever seen were saudis in a marriott lounge. Its more like alcohol is bad until you pass a certain wealth level then its gief allllll the champagne.

    • Michael Jennings says:

      I am sure that people who want to do that can do that.

  • Phil G says:

    If you can live without alcohol for a few hours Saudia business class is a good product. Good seat and excellent food onboard.

  • JR says:

    Won’t see major traffic if lounge turns out to be dry… That’s one way to keep out other airlines with “non-tariff” barriers!

    • Throwawayname says:

      I don’t think AFKL gold pax will be punishing themselves by paying a fiver for a coffee in the terminal when they can have one for free in the lounge. In fact, it’s possible that SV may be using its dry status as a profit maximisation tactic- charge partner airlines for lounge access without having to pay for alcohol.

      Having said that, I am pretty certain that this is the first dry lounge ever in the UK and from my perspective it is a bit disappointing on a cultural level, in the same way as the closure of pubs in neighbourhoods popular with Muslims doesn’t really help community cohesion.

      • Chloe says:

        Exactly this. I’m 100% in favour of vegetarians or vegans and their beliefs, as long as they don’t impose them on me. As this will be a Skyteam lounge it does set a precedent that sits uncomfortably with me. Not the lack of alcohol but the imposition of no alcohol due to religious beliefs. When in Rome and all that. Or in this case, London.

        • Aston100 says:

          It’s the Saudia lounge. I’m sure they can provide (or not provide) whatever they want, and you can go to another lounge.

        • Novice says:

          But this isn’t MAN. LHR has a lot of lounges. So it’s not like you can’t get a drink at all. Just use another lounge.

      • Aston100 says:

        “it is a bit disappointing on a cultural level, in the same way as the closure of pubs in neighbourhoods popular with Muslims doesn’t really help community cohesion.”

        It’s supply and demand. Not sure what culture or community cohesion has got to do with it.

        • kevin86 says:

          Some people don’t really understand economics and business

        • Novice says:

          Also it’s not exactly a good look to say that drinking is such a cultural thing. Ppl have made it a culture and cultures can evolve/change over time. There used to be a culture of having slaves, doesn’t mean ppl should be talking about it in a prideful manner.

          A drink is a drink. In my opinion, culture is arts/literature/scientific contributions to the world or nation. It’s not food (unless italian or something specific) or drinks that can be had anywhere in the world.

          • StanTheMan says:

            Food (and drink) are both very very cultural.

            Not sure what slaves have to do with anything though.

        • Throwawayname says:

          Well, that’s the issue. There are huge network effects and opportunity costs which are all left to the ‘free market’ while the state is otherwise investing copious resources to counter some of their symptoms. Nobody would possibly switch away from AFKL because a third-party lounge focuses on tea instead of whisky, but nor will anyone account for the missed opportunities to connect with fellow pax over a glass of wine.

          The loss of community arguably constitutes collateral damage resulting from the problematic way in which the UK state looks at diversity and inclusion. I’ve worked in parts of London where less than 15% of the population adheres to religions prohibiting the consumption of pork, but there wasn’t any food outlet selling pork products – even Subway was halal. One doesn’t need a huge amount of imagination to realise that the ‘free market’ for taxpayer-funded catering for the NHS and schools will pivot to chicken and away from pork as it’s more cost effective to only serve one type of meat. As a nice little bonus, that also gives some welcome ammunition to the hard right. Clever stuff!

          • Novice says:

            A lounge is no place to expect a ‘community’, having a glass of wine with fellow travellers. There’s other lounges for the wine. Ever thought of the fact that everything in the world is geared towards a majority. The places that you can’t get pork is because the majority doesn’t get/eat pork. As a pescatarian who doesn’t drink anymore, I don’t go around expecting lounges/restaurants etc to have only a pescatarian menu and they never have because the majority are not vegetarian or pescatarian.

            Majority are always catered for above the needs of minority. If you want pork, just go to an area/place that sells it; just like ppl with special dietary requirements order their meals in advance.

            Don’t know why you are making this into a big issue. They aren’t forcing you to go in the lounge.

          • Rob says:

            You are aware that a big % of meat you buy in the UK these days is halal? Rarely labelled as such but you don’t turn your backs on a large % of your market.

          • kevin86 says:

            So you think people should set up loss making pubs?

            No wonder we have so many problems with winos and general drunkards given people can’t have “community” without getting blottoed

          • Throwawayname says:

            @kevin86 , no, I don’t. And I don’t really think that the state should subsidise them either. But that doesn’t mean that there’s no loss of community due to [not a lack of alcohol per se, but] dwindling social spaces.

          • kevin86 says:

            Have you actually been out recently? There’s loads of pubs, restaurants, cafes even in London surprisingly where certain people make out like everyone is foreign

          • Throwawayname says:

            @Novice, 15% isn’t a ‘majority’- it’s not like I went to the Balti Triangle looking for some roast pork. As @Rob said, a lot of the meat in the UK is religiously slaughtered, so what is the ‘area’ to which I should go if I don’t want my taxes to be funding other people’s religious preferences through hospital catering etc? I suppose there’ll always be somewhere like Slovakia, though I don’t speak the language.

          • Throwawayname says:

            @kevin86 , I wasn’t referring to London as a whole. And nothing’s ‘foreign’- most of the people to whose religious preferences these places cater are UK-born. Ironically, when I was working in that part of London I often ended up having my lunch in the shape of cold cuts from the Polski sklep.

          • kevin86 says:

            Weird how a discussion about lounges has become about pork and other random stuff.

            That’s people on the internet for you I suppose!

          • Throwawayname says:

            @kevin86 , to get this back on topic, you can bet that the new lounge won’t be offering passengers any jamón serrano!

          • kevin86 says:

            “ to get this back on topic, you can bet that the new lounge won’t be offering passengers any jamón serrano!”

            Oh no! Thoughts and prayers!

          • Throwawayname says:

            That’s why they got the prayer rooms in!

  • Barrel for Scraping says:

    This is a good thing. I usually have booze in a lounge but not everyone does and for most frequent flyers they won’t drink alcohol every trip. So this gives an option for those who don’t want any alcohol that’s likely to be less busy and more relaxing. For those who prefer the other lounges they will also get less busy due to some using the Saudia lounge. What’s not to like?

    • kevin86 says:

      Some people get angry about this sort of stuff and play the victim for some reason

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