Comment on I flew both business class and economy on Saudi Arabia's state-owned airline Saudia. Here's what it was like.

Bill Bostock/Business Insider Earlier this month I got to fly business class from London to Riyadh on Saudi Arabia's government airline, Saudia. I also took a connecting internal flight with Saudia in economy class to AlUla, in the kingdom's northern provinces. Here's what it was like to fly in both cabins, and experience Arabian airline hospitality first hand. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Earlier this month, I got to fly business class from London to Riyadh onboard Saudi Arabia's government-owned, flag-carrying airline Saudia. Shortly afterward, I had to take a connecting flight to AlUla, in the kingdom's north, on Saudia's economy class — meaning I got to see the full range of the airline's options and hospitality. Both flights were paid for as part of a press trip to visit the Winter at Tantora festival in the kingdom's northern deserts. While Saudia was founded in 1945 — under the name Saudi Arabian Airlines at the time — it went through a rejuvenation in 2017, when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tasked the airline to compete with local rivals Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways. While I can't be sure how its service was before then, my experience was excellent in both classes — so much so that I don't understand why people would splash out on business class. Take a look at my journey:It was my first time ever flying business class, and I was interested to see what the great and the good got for their extra money. Bill Bostock/Business Insider I arrived at London's Heathrow Airport well ahead of my 7:10 p.m.