Jeddah: which lounge between Terminal 1 and North Terminal
Before looking for a lounge in Jeddah you need to know which building you depart from. The new Terminal 1 and the old North Terminal are not connected, and each has its own lounges. In Terminal 1, then, the destination matters: the independent lounges for international flights are separate from the one for domestic flights, and Saudia runs an offering all of its own.
Those flying Saudia in business, or holding SkyTeam Elite Plus status, have their path set: the Saudia Alfursan Business Lounge, in the international departures area of Terminal 1, stays open all day and is described as the largest lounge of the SkyTeam alliance. It does not accept Priority Pass, however, so those counting on the card must look elsewhere.
IndependentNorth Terminal · International flightsPriority Pass
First Class Lounge (TasHeel)
After passport control, on the left between security and the Musbah duty free
Serves the North Terminal, the old building not connected to Terminal 1.
Hours
Open 24 hours
Entry with Priority Pass, showing the same-day boarding pass and an ID document. Saudia passengers excluded.
IndependentT1 · International flightsPriority Pass
Plaza Premium Lounge (International Departures)
International departures, near gate 39
Saudi and international cuisine prepared on site.
Hours
Open 24 hours
With Priority Pass the maximum stay is 2 hours. Paid entry also available.
Hot food
IndependentT1 · International flightsPriority Pass
Wellcome Lounge
Second floor, near the duty free, after security
Reserved for international flights only.
Hours
Open 24 hours
Entry with Priority Pass or on payment. Maximum stay of 3 hours.
Showers
Hot food
IndependentT1 · Domestic flightsPriority Pass
naSmiles Lounge
First floor, domestic flights area
The cardholder can bring guests with no limit on their number.
Hours
Open 24 hours
Entry with Priority Pass or an eligible American Express card, only for passengers departing on domestic flights. Maximum stay of 3 hours.
AirlineT1 · International flights
Saudia Alfursan Business Lounge
International departures
About 3,500 square metres: it is described as the largest lounge of the SkyTeam alliance.
Hours
Open 24 hours
Access for business class passengers and SkyTeam Elite Plus members. Priority Pass not accepted.
AirlineT1 · Domestic flights
Saudia Alfursan Lounge (Domestic)
Domestic departures
Saudia's Alfursan lounge dedicated to domestic flights.
Access for eligible Saudia passengers and Alfursan members.
No lounges match this filter.
For international departures from Terminal 1 the lounge cards open the independent lounges, both open day and night and also accessible for a fee. The Plaza Premium Lounge (International Departures), near gate 39, stands out for its Saudi and international cuisine prepared on site, but with Priority Pass the stay is shorter than at the other. The Wellcome Lounge, on the second floor next to the duty free, allows a little more time and is handy for those who want to do their last shopping before sitting down.
The choice between the two, therefore, is also a matter of time: with a short wait and a craving for a hot meal the Plaza Premium is the one, with a longer wait the Wellcome lets you stay longer. Both are reserved for international flights.
Those staying in Saudi Arabia on a domestic flight must instead aim for the naSmiles Lounge, on the first floor of the domestic departures area, open at night too. You get in with Priority Pass or an eligible American Express card, and here there is a practical advantage: the cardholder can bring guests with no limit on numbers, which makes it interesting for families and groups. Here too the stay has a cap.
The North Terminal should be treated as a separate airport. Those departing from there find the First Class Lounge (TasHeel), after passport control, on the left between security and the Musbah duty free. You get in with Priority Pass by showing the day's boarding pass and an ID document, but Saudia passengers are excluded. It is open day and night, useful with flights leaving in the small hours.
Finally, a general rule is worth noting for all the lounges open to Priority Pass: in Jeddah the stay is limited to a few hours, and those with a long layover would do well to calculate the entry time instead of going in as soon as they clear the checks.
Three questions are enough in Jeddah: which building, which type of flight, which access title. Saudia in business or with SkyTeam status leads to the Alfursan lounge in Terminal 1; Priority Pass on international flights leads to the Plaza Premium or the Wellcome, depending on how long you want to stay and how much the food matters; on domestic flights there is the naSmiles, handy for those travelling in a group with an Amex. From the North Terminal, finally, what remains is the TasHeel.
