Saudia Online Check-In and Boarding Pass

Saudia online check-in opens anywhere from a few hours to a few days before departure, then closes before take-off time. The exact window depends on the route: it often differs between domestic Saudi flights (Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Medina) and long-haul flights from Paris, London or Jakarta.

To stay on the safe side, assume that remote check-in is no longer available in the very last hours before departure, and check the deadline shown on your booking or confirmation email, as that is the reference to follow.

At the airport, Saudia counters close well before take-off time. Allow a comfortable margin, especially during Umrah, Hajj and school holiday periods, when Jeddah and Medina terminals get crowded. A passenger who arrives after counter closing is denied boarding, even with a boarding pass already issued.

Saudia offers three possible routes:

Names must match your passport exactly. If several passengers travel on the same booking, check-in is usually done for the whole party at once.

Certain passenger profiles are typically directed to a counter: those travelling with an infant without a seat, unaccompanied minors, passengers needing assistance, cabin pets, groups, or tickets issued by a third party and changed after booking. This is not a refusal, just a manual check.

Once check-in is confirmed, Saudia provides a mobile boarding pass (in the app or by email) or a printable document. On flights to or from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, agents check the passport, visa or travel authorisation and, depending on nationality and destination, other supporting documents. A boarding pass obtained online does not remove the need for this document check at the counter or gate.

The mobile format is not accepted at every airport served: some stopovers still require a paper copy, issued at the counter or a kiosk. If your itinerary includes a connection with another airline, the boarding pass for the second segment is sometimes only issued at the connecting airport.

For seat selection, Saudia offers it free of charge on some fares and charges for it on others, particularly for seats with extra legroom. Exit row seats follow specific criteria and are allocated subject to crew approval.

Checking in remotely does not replace baggage drop. If you have hold luggage, head to the Saudia Bag Drop counter, which closes at the same time as standard check-in. In both Jeddah and Riyadh, crowds can be heavy: arriving early remains the best safeguard.

The checked baggage allowance depends on the cabin (Guest, Premium Select, Business, First) and your Alfursan status. Allowed carry-on luggage also varies by travel class: check the permitted dimensions and weight on your booking before you leave, as oversized bags are weighed and measured at the counter. Umrah and Hajj items, such as Zamzam water, follow specific airline rules.

Check-in rules can differ when a segment is operated by a partner airline. Worth comparing if your itinerary combines several carriers: Air France check-in, Delta Air Lines check-in, Garuda Indonesia's rules or the China Eastern procedure.

The most common blocks have simple causes:

• The flight is not yet open for check-in, or the window has already closed.
• The reference entered is the travel agency's booking number rather than the Saudia PNR: look for the six-character code on the e-ticket.
• Passport details are incomplete or do not match the booking.
• The ticket includes a segment operated by another airline, which manages its own check-in.
• The flight has been changed or rescheduled and the booking needs to be reissued by the airline.

If in doubt, Saudia customer service and airport counters remain the right contacts to regain access to a booking. iBoardingPass can complete online check-in on the traveller's behalf and send the boarding pass by email.