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مقارنة شركات الطيران

الوجبات والصلاة والطاقم وجلوس العائلة والحج، شركة بشركة.

Main differences

  • Halal meals: كل الوجبات حلال on Gulf Air; حلال على بعض الخطوط on Oman Air.
  • Family seating: عند الطلب on Oman Air; described in words by Gulf Air.
  • Crew hijab: described in words by Oman Air; not published by Gulf Air.

From what each airline publishes and what travellers and the press report. Halal Gourmet doesn't score or rank airlines.

Each answer starts with a marker: yes, partly, no, answered in words, or not published. A solid dot means the airline's own policy; a hollow dot means a traveller or press report.

The main questions

Halal meals

Partlyحلال على بعض الخطوطAirline policy

Meals from Oman Air's Muscat kitchen; other stations not stated

Yesكل الوجبات حلالAirline policy

All meals on Gulf Air flights are halal-certified

Alcohol-free

NoيُقدَّمAirline policy

NoيُقدَّمAirline policy

Prayer space or lounge

Partlyبعض الصالاتAirline policy

Business lounge, Muscat

Partlyبعض الصالاتAirline policy

Falcon Gold lounges in Bahrain and Dubai

Ramadan

Answered in wordsTrade press reported iftar boxes in all cabins on select Ramadan flights; the airline's site has no Ramadan page.Traveller or press report

Answered in wordsTrade press reported iftar boxes on evening Middle East flights; no current Gulf Air page confirms it.Traveller or press report

Zamzam

Yesيُنقل مجاناًAirline policy

From Jeddah, Madinah or Taif only

Yesيُنقل مجاناًAirline policy

One 5-litre package for eligible pilgrims departing Saudi airports

Family seated together

Partlyعند الطلبAirline policy

Families are normally seated together unless they check in late

Answered in wordsSeat selection costs extra on Basic, Light and Redemption fares, with no exemption for families.Airline policy

Crew hijab

Answered in wordsTrade press says the uniform's hat and veil come off once boarding is complete.Traveller or press report

Not publishedNot published

Hajj and Umrah routes

Answered in wordsA Wikipedia list counts 43 destinations, including Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh and Dammam.Traveller or press report

Answered in wordsSix Saudi destinations including Jeddah and Medina, plus Najaf, Baghdad, Cairo, Karachi and more.Airline policy

Food and drink

Halal meals

Airline policyOman Air's Muscat caterer says all the meals it provides are halal.

Airline policyGulf Air says all meals on its flights are halal-certified.

Does the meal turn up

Traveller or press reportOne traveller's special meals arrived on both legs of a 2025 London trip; none are guaranteed.

Traveller or press reportFew first-hand reports; one 2023 special meal arrived as three dry samosas.

On partner flights

Airline policyOn partner-operated flights the other airline's conditions apply; special meals are not guaranteed.

Airline policyOn partner-operated codeshares the other airline's conditions may apply; nothing is said about meals.

Alcohol on board

Airline policyAlcohol is served in economy and at the Muscat lounge bar; no dry routes are published.

Airline policyAlcohol is served on board and in the Bahrain lounge; no dry routes are published.

Ramadan

Traveller or press reportTrade press reported iftar boxes in all cabins on select Ramadan flights; the airline's site has no Ramadan page.

Traveller or press reportTrade press reported iftar boxes on evening Middle East flights; no current Gulf Air page confirms it.

Amenity kit

Traveller or press reportBusiness lavatories stock Amouage fragrances; one traveller found economy kits out of stock.

Traveller or press reportA Falcon Gold reviewer's amenity kit held an eye mask and socks only.

None of these airlines publishes: Who certifies them

Prayer

Crew and prayer

Not publishedNot published

Traveller or press reportA first-hand report says the Islamic travel prayer is played to the cabin after boarding.

Water for istinja

Traveller or press reportReviewers found bidets in 787-9 business class lavatories; Oman Air does not advertise them.

Not publishedNot published

Prayer rooms in lounges

Airline policyThe business lounge in Muscat has male and female prayer rooms.

Airline policyThe Falcon Gold lounges in Bahrain and Dubai list prayer rooms; London's does not.

None of these airlines publishes: Space to pray · Qibla and prayer times

Crew and service

Hijab in crew uniform

Traveller or press reportTrade press says the uniform's hat and veil come off once boarding is complete.

Not publishedNot published

Crew training

Traveller or press reportThe one first-hand economy account found crew "helpful, but not really friendly".

Traveller or press reportReviewers describe dates and coffee at boarding and crew who are polite, if not always warm.

Reported incidents

Not publishedNot published

Traveller or press reportAn Indian consumer commission ordered Gulf Air to compensate a man refused over a single-name passport.

None of these airlines publishes: Help from women staff · Eid and Ramadan on board

Seating and families

Sitting together as a family

Airline policySeat selection costs extra on the two cheapest economy fares; families are normally seated together.

Airline policySeat selection costs extra on Basic, Light and Redemption fares, with no exemption for families.

Changing seats

Airline policyNo seat is guaranteed; crew will try to reseat a split family if another passenger agrees.

Airline policyNo seat is guaranteed, and the conditions have no provision for reseating on modesty grounds.

Hajj, Umrah and routes

Zamzam water

Airline policyUp to 5 litres of Zamzam fly free from Jeddah, Madinah or Taif, but not from other Saudi cities.

Airline policyOne sealed 5-litre Zamzam package flies free from Saudi airports, on top of the normal allowance.

Routes to Muslim-majority countries

Traveller or press reportA Wikipedia list counts 43 destinations, including Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh and Dammam.

Airline policySix Saudi destinations including Jeddah and Medina, plus Najaf, Baghdad, Cairo, Karachi and more.