When you’re booking flights, Air Arabia pops up with prices that make you do a double-take. “Surely there’s a catch,” you think. Well, dear reader, let me tell you about my recent adventure with this budget carrier because yes, there are catches, but also some surprisingly decent bits.
The Initial Seduction: That Sweet, Sweet Sale Price
I bought my ticket in July after spotting a big sale on fly4free (my go-to site for flight deals). There were a few third-party companies to choose from but I went with Booking.com. I find them the most reliable, plus they have 24/7 chat with actual humans, not AI bots. It cost me €310.99, for a route Warsaw-Sharjah & Sharjah-Bangkok which is quite a steal.
Feeling responsible (and mildly paranoid 😃), I paid an extra €40.43 for the “one free change” option that would let me change my flight up to 24 hours before departure…you know, just in case life happens.
Spoiler alert: life happenned.
Luggage: Keeping It Light (Whether You Want To Or Not)
Air Arabia’s base fare includes only hand luggage, which is standard budget airline territory. However (and this is where I have to give credit where credit is due), adding checked luggage was actually quite cheap. I paid €5.63 for 20kg and it was genuinely reasonable. No hidden fees, no surprise charges at the airport, no need to sell a kidney. Just a straightforward, affordable luggage addition.
The Verdict on Luggage: Genuinely no complaints here. Affordable and straightforward.
Seats: The Hunger Games of Check-In
You can check in 48 hours before departure, and that’s when seat selection opens.
I did my check-in around 26 hours in advance, feeling smug and organized. Unfortunately, on the first flight, all the window seats were already taken. Gone. Vanished. Claimed by people who clearly have better alarm systems than I do.
Here’s what I learned: You need to check in shortly after it opens at the 48-hour mark. Not exactly at midnight if you value sleep, but definitely not 26 hours later like I did. Set an alarm. Set multiple alarms. Tell your friends to call you. Program your coffee maker to remind you. Because if you wait even a few hours, all the good seats will be gone faster than toilet paper in March 2020.😃
The good news? Seat selection itself is free – no extra fees for once!
The “Free Change” Trap
Here’s where things get spicy. My flight was scheduled for October 11th, but life decided to get interesting. My best friend surprised me by visiting my country and since she was staying longer than my departure date, I thought “Hey, this is exactly why I paid that extra €40.43! I can extend my trip and spend more time with her!
I contacted Booking.com (4 days in advance, so well within the 24h policy), and they happily quoted me… €518 to make the change. Yes, you read that correctly. Five hundred and eighteen euros. For my “free” change. That’s €161 MORE than my original ticket cost.
When I politely pointed out that I’d literally paid €40 for a free change, here’s the explanation I got: “Yes, you have one free change! However, you still need to pay:
- Airport fees
- Taxes
- The difference in price of the new ticket”
So basically, “free change” means “we won’t charge you our administrative fee (probably worth €30-50), but literally everything else that makes up the ticket price still applies.” It’s like ordering a “free burger” but having to pay separately for the bun, patty, lettuce, tomato, and the privilege of eating it.
If I’d known that “free” actually means “we’ll just reprint your ticket and charge you more than the original flight,” I would have happily kept my €40 and bought extra snacks instead. Lesson learned.
Faced with paying €518 to change my €357 ticket, I did what any rational person would do: I flew on the original date and waved goodbye to my friend like we were in a sad movie.
The Actual Flight
To be fair, once you’re on board, Air Arabia is actually perfectly fine. The cabin was clean, the crew was friendly and helpful, and everything ran smoothly. For a budget airline, that’s honestly all you need.
Leg’s Space
I am 168 cm tall (5’5″) and I managed to fit comfortably. My legs had space, I could shift positions, I wasn’t feeling claustrophobic. For me, the legroom was adequate for a budget airline.
However—and this is a BIG however—in terms of tall people, there was very, very little space for legs left. I could see the people around me who were over 6 feet struggling. Knees hitting the seat in front, unable to stretch out, basically sitting in the fetal position for hours.
Food
Let’s talk catering — or, more accurately, the total absence of it.
There’s no free food or drinks on Air Arabia flights. None. Not even a sad cookie. You can, however, pre-order a meal or buy one during the flight, with prices hovering around €5–€8.
If you’re the kind of person who can’t survive a flight without something warm, definitely pre-book.
As for me, being the practical (and slightly cheap) traveler that I am, I brought my own sandwiches. No regrets whatsoever.
But please, for the love of humanity, do not bring anything with tuna or egg.
This is a closed metal tube cruising at 35,000 feet — the smell will haunt your row (and your reputation) for the entire flight.
Entertainment: Your Phone Is Now Your Best Friend
There are no screens in front of you like we’re used to from other airlines. However, you can connect from your phone to their WiFi network and it takes you to their entertainment portal. There were a few movies and some series available. It’s not Netflix, but it’s something to stare at while you pretend to ignore your seatmate’s snoring.
You also have some basic flight information available: how much time is left, where you are on the map, altitude, speed—all the stats you never asked for but will obsessively check anyway. 😃
Extras: The Sound of Absolute Silence
Non-existent. And I mean aggressively non-existent.
So many airlines provide little extras to make the flight more bearable: pillows, blankets, socks, earphones (if they have screens), maybe a little toothbrush and toothpaste set for long-haul flights. Some airlines even give you a bottle of water when you board. It’s not much, but it’s something.
In this case there wasn’t anything.
Would I fly Air Arabia again?
Honestly, yes—but only if my dates were carved in stone, blessed by a priest, and notarized by three witnesses. The base product is fine.
However, I would 100% skip paying extra for the so-called “free change”. It’s misleading and ultimately not worth it.
The Bottom Line: Is Air Arabia Worth It?
Summary: Air Arabia is a budget long-haul airline that does what it promises: it takes you from point A to point B, cheaply and efficiently.
Just don’t expect any frills, surprises (good ones, at least), or genuinely “free” changes.
If you’re looking for comfort, inclusions, or legroom for anyone over 180 cm — this isn’t it. But if you’re after a solid, affordable way to cross continents, Air Arabia might just do the job.
Just make sure you treat your booking like a tattoo: permanent and requiring serious commitment. Because changing your mind will cost you more than the original decision ever did.
*And if you need to change, you might as well buy a new ticket from AirArabia or another airline.
Fly safe, book carefully, and may the fare gods be ever in your favor.✈️
