Saudia checking bags during boarding

[Jetstream1]

So I've flown Saudia for many years out of ISB and they've always had this policy where the crew opens up and checks hand carry bags and carries out a pat down search of every individual during boarding. It's quite annoying and as far as I'm aware they don't do it on other international routes outside of Pakistan. If that was the case then surely you'd hear complaints about it on social media, flight reviews and the like. I understand the safety and security situation of our country is questionable but do other foreign airlines also do this? The only other carrier I've been on is Emirates and they had an ordinary boarding process without any checking. How come Emirates doesn't have the same concerns? Would like to hear your responses and insights regarding this.

[arshad.altaf]

The Saudia crew is doing it because they are asked to do it. When the nationals of a country transport narcotics, are caught as beggars, are also ID forgers in Saudia, and whatnot, don't be surprised. Instead, take it with a pinch of salt.

Here in Cairo, the Egyptian Ministry of Health staff looks for Pakistani nationals before passport control and politely asks for the polio vaccination certificate. They know the seat numbers also. It is annoying, but there is no choice.

Regards,
Arshad

[bukhari917]

So I've flown Saudia for many years out of ISB and they've always had this policy where the crew opens up and checks hand carry bags and carries out a pat down search of every individual during boarding. It's quite annoying and as far as I'm aware they don't do it on other international routes outside of Pakistan. If that was the case then surely you'd hear complaints about it on social media, flight reviews and the like. I understand the safety and security situation of our country is questionable but do other foreign airlines also do this? The only other carrier I've been on is Emirates and they had an ordinary boarding process without any checking. How come Emirates doesn't have the same concerns? Would like to hear your responses and insights regarding this.

I travel a lot with SAUDIA & been to Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Maldives, Cairo, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Milan, Geneva and other destinations. In my experience they did this in Pakistan, Bangkok and Cairo (random & not always) & in Pakistan specifically ask to remove sweets and other food items being carried in the hand baggage. You have to go back and throw it before boarding & the staff has to be very rude for this because people argue and request to let them take this product for multiple reasons. Another place where I have observed this was in Bangkok where the crew checks for any alcoholic products in hand baggage and is tapped head to toe. & I have been from Cairo once but there as well had to go through this check.

I guess these sweets can leak and often damage seats/delay the aircraft etc but also rate of narcotics smuggling using sweets is very high from Pakistan. I have personally seen one case of narcos recovered from sweets at Karachi airport. In Cairo I do not know but may be the same reason? But Cairo has just so many SAUDIA flights everyday and i think not all are checked.

[bukhari917]

The Saudia crew is doing it because they are asked to do it. When the nationals of a country transport narcotics, are caught as beggars, are also ID forgers in Saudia, and whatnot, don't be surprised. Instead, take it with a pinch of salt.

Here in Cairo, the Egyptian Ministry of Health staff looks for Pakistani nationals before passport control and politely asks for the polio vaccination certificate. They know the seat numbers also. It is annoying, but there is no choice.

Regards,
Arshad

I arrived Cairo on 26th Jan and wasn't asked anything.

[Jetstream1]

Thank you for the information guys. But I still want to know do other airlines also do this here? I'm still wondering why Emirates didn't do this when I travelled with them. I know the vast majority of their travellers are transiting and not entering the country but shouldn't they also be just as concerned?

[arshad.altaf]

@bukhari917

Good for you!