The return to airport journey was not as long or troublesome as arriving. Here are my notes from departure.
We had shuttles from hotel in Azzizah to airports. They were wait 9 hours prior to our flight and left within a reasonable time to the airport (8 hours prior to the flight).
The first check point did not take long, under 15 minutes.
However, when arriving at airport gates (second checkpoint) the wait time was long (2.5 hours). The airport security checked everything (bus registration, flight information for passengers, etc.). Once our flight was within 4 or 5 hours prior to departure we were cleared to go.
The bus arrived at the airport terminal 1 next to the Zamzam pickup building. We needed to wait until an airport officer came and stamps paperwork for everyone to come down.
When we left the bus, we grab your bags and headed to Zamzam pickup building.
We were bombarded with people who want to help carry your luggage, bring a cart, provide a sharpy to mark your zamzam box. We opt-ed for the Sharpy 🙂 (10 SAR)
Zamzam was 8.5 SAR/5 Liter sealed box (1 Gallon). We provided our passports to pickup Zamzam. The cashier initially charged me for 2 boxes (had 2 passports). I told him to add another as I plan to put it in my bag and he charged me for the 3rd 😉
We waited in line at check-in where they took our luggage then ask us to drop off the Zamzam thru a specific conveyor belt for Zamzam.
Then we off to the passport control/security check line. We had our own boarding pass in your hand as we scan it to enter thru the glass security check. Once we scanned we proceeded to passport control where we had boarding pass, physical passport and visa in hand. They didn’t ask for the visa for my wife but did ask for my visa.
Once we were are checked, we proceeded to the security line.
After security check, we reviewed gate information on TV screen, then proceeded to gate.
حج مبرور وسعي مشكور وذنب مغفور وتجارة لن تبور