The Truth About Riyadh Air’s Long Haul Economy Class
This video is a detailed review of Riyadh Air's long-haul economy class experience on its flagship route from London Heathrow (LHR) Terminal 4 to Riyadh (RUH), flown by reviewer Fly Man Yann. The flight takes place a month after the airline's official launch.
Pre-Flight & Ground Experience
Check-in: Very quick with
zero queues [01:06]. The agent notes that the flight is mostly empty, providing the reviewer with an entire row to himself [01:11].
Lounge Access: Economy passengers do not get lounge access [01:33]. However, the reviewer utilizes Dragon Pass to visit the Plaza Premium Lounge (which Riyadh Air uses for its Business Class passengers) [01:39]. The lounge offers a decent
buffet and views of the apron but lacks premium features like champagne [01:48].
The Seat and Cabin Design
The airline operates Boeing 787 Dreamliners for this route [02:08]. The reviewer considers the aesthetic and attention to detail to be best-in-class for economy [13:42].
[ASCII Representation of the Seat Layout]
+-----------------------------------------+
| [13
.3" 4K OLED Touchscreen Screen] |
| |
| ==== [Ambient LED Under-lighting] ==== |
| |
| [USB-C Port 1] [USB-C Port 2] |
+-----------------------------------------+
| [Leather-effect Dual Seat Pockets] |
+-----------------------------------------+
|
|
| 31" Seat Pitch (Legroom) |
| 5" Recline Space |
| |
+-----------------------------------------+
Aesthetics: Features a luxurious purple theme, high-quality materials, and ambient LED lighting under the In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) screen [02:55].
Comfort Specificati
ons:
31 inches of seat pitch (legroom) [03:25].
5 inches of recline [03:28].
6-way adjustable headrest [03:23].
Substantial pillow and a high-quality blanket that avoids the "thin fuzzy" feel typical of other airlines [03:33].
Major Omission: There are no individual air vents above the seats, which is a surprising downside for an airline based in Riyadh [04:07].
In-Fl
ight Entertainment & Technology
Hardware: Outfitted with a highly responsive 13.3-inch 4K OLED touchscreen [03:45, 08:06].
Content: Wide selection of movies (including new releases) and games with parental controls, though the TV show selection is sparse [08:13]. It features a detailed 3D World Map but lacks exterior cameras [08:33].
Connectivity:
Passengers can pair
their own Bluetooth headphones to bypass the poor quality of the provided wired headphones [08:45].
Free Wi-Fi is offered to members of the "Sphere" loyalty program [09:02]. However, it does not use Starlink. A speed test indicates speeds around 2 Mbps [09:26]. While it managed to load Instagram and YouTube videos on this specific flight, it remains a slow point [09:3
9].
Power: No international power sockets are available, but there are two USB-C ports beneath the screen [10:02]. Testing proves these ports provide enough wattage (likely 60W) to keep a laptop charged during heavy video editing [10:59].
Onboard Service and Dining
The airline focuses significantly on sustainability, serving items in hard, reusable containers to minim
ize plastic waste [04:45, 06:28]. Riyadh Air is a dry airline, meaning no alcohol is served onboard [04:57].
Service Phase Timing (Post-Takeoff) Items Served Reviewer's Notes
Aisle Service 1 20 minutes [04:39] Soft drinks/juices & potato sticks [04:52]. Environmentally friendly reusable cups used [04:45].
Main Meal 1 hour and 20 minutes [05:08] Choice of Lamb & rice,
Chicken & mashed potato, or Veg pasta [05:15]. Selected chicken: Came with tomato couscous salad, main dish with honey mustard dressing, and a chocolate mousse [05:37]. The baguette was noted as too pale and soft [06:03].
Mid-Flight Periodically [10:47] Popcorn, Salted Caramel Ice Cream, tea/coffee [10:47]. Proactive and attentive crew service [10:47].
Pre-Landing Non
e [11:47] N/A Missing: No second snack or meal before landing [11:47].
Amenities and Lavatory
Amenity Kit: Missing. Unlike sister/rival airline Saudia, Riyadh Air does not provide amenity kits to economy passengers on this route [11:56].
Lavatory: Standard Boeing 787 setup with a touchless flush, faux-stone wall accents, and branded hand soaps/lotions [06:57]. It lack
s a touchless foot-controlled bin lid [07:05]. Cleanliness deteriorated mid-flight due to water on the floor [07:33].
Final Verdict & Middle East 3 (ME3) Comparison
The reviewer notes that the cabin crew's service gestures have significantly improved since the inaugural flight, showing high confidence, positive attitudes, and memory of passenger drink preferences [14:
30].
Despite the massive marketing campaign claiming Riyadh Air would "revolutionize" global air travel, the final takeaway is that it delivers a very good, high-quality economy product—but not a revolutionary one [15:20].
Comparison: The experience aligns closely with Etihad Airways [15:11].
Critique: The lack of a dedicated First Class cabin hurts the airline's "hal
o effect," which rivals like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad utilize to elevate their brand image [15:32].
The reviewer concludes that he would definitely fly with them again and notes that his next review will cover their "Business Elite" product [15:46].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jslTtyiqLKo
The Truth About Riyadh Air’s Long Haul Economy Class
Fly Man Yann
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