Flight disrupted in Saudi Arabia? Get up to 150% of your remaining ticket value in compensation.
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Up to 150% applies to qualifying cancellations notified within 24 hours before departure when the passenger terminates the contract; other disruptions follow different rules.
Coverage
Passenger Rights Protection Regulations
Eligibility depends on the facts of the journey you submit.
Quick answer
Could your flight qualify?
You may be entitled to compensation if your delayed flight, cancellation, involuntary denied boarding or disrupted connection falls within Saudi Arabia's GACA passenger-rights rules. The amount and type of compensation depend on what happened to your journey, how significantly you were affected and which regulatory conditions apply.
On this page
Passenger rights
Which flights can be covered?
Saudi Arabia's passenger-rights rules apply according to the journey and operating carrier, rather than simply the passenger's nationality or the airline's home country.
Flights departing from airports in Saudi Arabia can be covered whether the airline is a Saudi or foreign carrier.
Flights arriving in Saudi Arabia on a national carrier can be covered, subject to the regulations and any compensation already provided under the rules of the country of departure.
Passengers travelling on discounted tickets or using eligible airline loyalty-program benefits are within the scope of the regulations.
Air transport forming part of a travel package is also within scope for the air-transport part of the journey.
Flight disruptions
What types of disruption may qualify?
Delayed flight
Eligible arrival delays can qualify for compensation, with different amounts depending on how late you reach your destination.
Cancelled flight
A qualifying cancellation can give you alternative travel, refund and compensation rights depending on when you were informed and whether you continue the journey.
Denied boarding
If you are denied boarding because of overbooking, you may have alternative-travel, refund and compensation rights depending on what you choose to do.
Missed connection
A disruption affecting a confirmed connecting itinerary can give you rescheduling or cancellation rights, while a sufficiently late arrival can also make delay compensation relevant.
Compensation
How much compensation could you receive?
Saudi Arabia uses different compensation methods depending on the disruption. Delay compensation is set by GACA in SDR and can be shown approximately in Saudi riyals, while cancellation and some denied-boarding compensation is calculated as a percentage of the ticket value.
Flight delay compensation
For eligible delays, GACA compensation depends on how late you arrive compared with the scheduled arrival time shown in your reservation.
- Arrival delay
- At least 3 hours, up to 6 hours
- Approximate compensation
- About SAR 255
- Arrival delay
- More than 6 hours
- Approximate compensation
- About SAR 765
| Arrival delay | Approximate compensation |
|---|---|
| At least 3 hours, up to 6 hours | About SAR 255 |
| More than 6 hours | About SAR 765 |
GACA sets these amounts at 50 SDR and 150 SDR respectively. GACA's consumer guidance currently illustrates 1 SDR as approximately SAR 5.1, but the SDR value changes over time, so the SAR figures shown are approximate.
Flight cancellation compensation
If you do not accept an alternative flight and terminate the contract following an eligible cancellation, compensation depends on how far in advance the airline informed you.
- When you were informed
- 60 days to 14 days before departure
- Compensation
- 50% of the remaining ticket value
- When you were informed
- 14 days to 24 hours before departure
- Compensation
- 75% of the remaining ticket value
- When you were informed
- Within 24 hours of departure until departure time
- Compensation
- 150% of the remaining ticket value
| When you were informed | Compensation |
|---|---|
| 60 days to 14 days before departure | 50% of the remaining ticket value |
| 14 days to 24 hours before departure | 75% of the remaining ticket value |
| Within 24 hours of departure until departure time | 150% of the remaining ticket value |
Where these cancellation provisions apply and you terminate the contract, the airline must also refund the ticket value or the unused remaining part of the journey, including applicable additional reservation fees.
Denied boarding compensation
If you are denied boarding because of overbooking, your rights depend on whether you accept alternative travel or choose to terminate the contract.
- What happens
- You terminate the contract
- Compensation
- 200% of the unused ticket value
- What happens
- You accept an alternative flight and arrive 3–6 hours late
- Compensation
- About SAR 255
- What happens
- You accept an alternative flight and arrive more than 6 hours late
- Compensation
- About SAR 765
| What happens | Compensation |
|---|---|
| You terminate the contract | 200% of the unused ticket value |
| You accept an alternative flight and arrive 3–6 hours late | About SAR 255 |
| You accept an alternative flight and arrive more than 6 hours late | About SAR 765 |
The SAR figures correspond to the GACA amounts of 50 SDR and 150 SDR. The airline is exempt from denied-boarding compensation if it provides a suitable alternative flight within two hours of the originally scheduled departure time.
SAR amounts shown for SDR-based compensation are approximate. GACA sets the legal amounts in Special Drawing Rights, and the value of an SDR changes over time.
Eligibility
What determines whether compensation applies?
The GACA regulations contain different rules for delays, cancellations, denied boarding and connected journeys. The reason for the disruption and the passenger's response to the airline's proposed solution can affect the outcome.
Arrival delay determines delay compensation
GACA calculates delay compensation by comparing your actual arrival time with the scheduled arrival time shown in your reservation.
Long delays give you additional options
If the delay exceeds two hours, you can request termination of the contract and a ticket refund without deductions. If the delay continues for more than five hours, you can choose to treat the flight as cancelled and use the applicable cancellation provisions.
Cancellation notice affects compensation
Where cancellation compensation applies, the percentage increases as the cancellation is communicated closer to departure: 50%, 75% or 150% of the relevant remaining ticket value.
Accepting an alternative flight changes the treatment
If you accept an alternative flight after a cancellation, the cancellation compensation percentages do not apply in the same way. The resulting time difference is instead assessed under the delay provisions.
Care and support can apply too
For denied boarding, cancellation or delay, GACA requires refreshments and beverages from the first hour, an appropriate meal after three hours and hotel accommodation plus airport transportation after six hours where applicable.
Refunds and compensation have a processing timeline
The regulations state that the airline should complete the specified refund and/or compensation process within no later than 15 days from the related incident.
Important conditions
When compensation may not apply
Not every disruption creates the same compensation entitlement. GACA recognises qualifying force-majeure, safety and security circumstances, and your choice to accept alternative travel can also change the compensation that applies.
Qualifying force-majeure circumstances supported in accordance with GACA rules can exempt the airline from regulatory compensation.
Safety and security reasons supported by reports approved by GACA can affect the compensation treatment of a delay or cancellation.
If you accept an alternative flight following cancellation, the cancellation compensation percentages generally do not apply in the same way and the resulting time difference is assessed under the delay rules.
For denied boarding due to overbooking, the airline is exempt from compensation if it provides an appropriate alternative flight within two hours of the originally scheduled departure time.
Voluntarily agreeing to give up your seat in exchange for an airline offer is different from being involuntarily denied boarding.
Connecting journeys
Connecting carriage can be treated as one journey
GACA can treat carriage involving connecting carriers as one and indivisible journey where that carriage was agreed between you and the airline. If a destination forming part of a confirmed connected itinerary is cancelled, you can choose suitable rescheduling or terminate the contractual relationship and have the journey treated under the cancellation provisions. A sufficiently late final arrival can also make delay compensation relevant. GACA additionally provides 100 SDR — approximately SAR 510 using its current consumer illustration — for each unannounced additional stopover, without removing any separate right to delay compensation.
Before you claim
What should you keep?
Keeping clear records of your journey and the airline's communications can make it easier to establish which GACA rights may apply.
Your booking confirmation, ticket and complete itinerary.
Boarding passes or other proof of travel.
Airline emails, text messages or app notifications about the disruption.
Any explanation the airline provided for the delay, cancellation, denied boarding or missed connection.
Records of alternative flights offered or accepted and your actual arrival time.
The airline complaint or case reference number where available.
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