Experience on PIA Haj Flights

[SalamPaks]

One of the options for my Haj trip this year is to fly U.S. (Houston, hopefully) to Karachi, drop my kids off w/ their grandparents and then continue on to Jeddah on a Haj flight a few days later. On paper, this seems like the easiest option with the fewest number of segments.

I'd lke to know what other forum member's experiences have been with PIA on their Haj flights particularly in relation to the pre-flight experience in Karachi (Do Haj flights operate from the old terminal in KHI?, etc), experiences with the leased aircraft and crews, the trip back to KHI from JED.

[javed]

For Hajj flights, I would prefer any airline except PIA. PIA Hajj service stinks !

Ideally nothing like fly to Pak with PIA and then moving to Jeddah with PIA. But normally Hajj flights are not PIA operated flights. If you can get an international scheduled PIA flight to/from Jeddah (operated by PIA) - it will be perfect.

The 3rd party Hajj flights operating carrier does not care at all about pax. I have flown on those aircraft/crew to other PIA destinations - they normally have only one PIA person onboard. That person does not have any authority and is usually helpless in helping passengers.

[Wanderer]

One of the options for my Haj trip this year is to fly U.S. (Houston, hopefully) to Karachi, drop my kids off w/ their grandparents and then continue on to Jeddah on a Haj flight a few days later. On paper, this seems like the easiest option with the fewest number of segments.

I'd lke to know what other forum member's experiences have been with PIA on their Haj flights particularly in relation to the pre-flight experience in Karachi (Do Haj flights operate from the old terminal in KHI?, etc), experiences with the leased aircraft and crews, the trip back to KHI from JED.

I dont think you will be able to go on the haji flights as haji bookings are always overscribed and allocated on a lottery basis.

[FMC]

Provided PIA does not wet lease L 1011s this time around.

[SalamPaks]

Is there a reconfirmation requirement for PIA's Haj flights? (would be a real PITA if there was)