The Transportation Department is pleased to announce the new online bus booking system. The online booking system allows you to reserve seats for you and your dependents as per the terms and conditions.
New booking system features:
- A new user-friendly look and feel
- The system will only show the available trips
- Auto-confirmation for your booking once you complete your booking
- Boarding passes can be printed out directly from the system or through your email
- You can now manage your reservation online.
As a pilot, the system will be effective from tomorrow, Monday, June 6 for Makkah and Madinah trips only. Another announcement will be sent for other trips.
35 comments
Dear Transportation Team,
Excellent service!! Great new buses, smells new, looks new!
1 – Do we need to print out the confirmation to get on the bus?
2 – Now that we are having SAPTCO as the provider, would it be possible to drop pilgrims at Haram, instead? I remember when we had the discussion with your team last year at the CIC, this was the promise.
3 – Can you please providethe location on map of Madinah stop? will it be the same place?
Thank you very much!
please note that the booking system will be used only for Makkah & Madina during Ramadan.
Dear Talha,
Many thanks for your observation, kindly have a look at my comments below
1 – Do we need to print out the confirmation to get on the bus? Not necessary
2 – Now that we are having SAPTCO as the provider, would it be possible to drop pilgrims at Haram, instead? I remember when we had the discussion with your team last year at the CIC, this was the promise. We have asked them but unfortunately now there will be an expansion for Haram and not possible for this stage.
3 – Can you please providethe location on map of Madinah stop? will it be the same place? No, it will be in SAPTCO shuttle buses location which all the alternative transportation are available.
Regards,
Saif AlKatheri
Dear Saif,
Thank you for you response.
So besides the new buses and the new system, the service is no better that the previous one. At least previously, we were drop at a walkable location to HARAM in Madinah. And despite the bus being SAPTCO, still we’ll be drop in Masjid Aisyah. Talking about convenience – for the service provider perhaps..
Dear Talha,
Please note that the Traffic authority does not allowed the public buses to park in front of Haram.
Regards,
Saif
Dear Saif,
May I know the reason behind the new drop off point in Madinah? I can tell you at least 3 important things that you may want to consider carefully: (1) Short window between arrival in Madinah and Friday pray, (2) It is not convenience for women, kids, and elderly people to stop far, (3) Most of us love to perform Ashar in Madinah before leaving. Surely, many of us here can list many points as much details as possible to bet with your reasons. Unless it is government reason, I may consider agree, but other than that please drop off us as close as possible to Haram mosque in Madinah. We promise to get off from the bus as quick as possible.
Ramadan Kareem.
Dear SAPTCO,
whilst I appreciate your enthusiasm (and the new buses that I experienced yesterday), this seems a bit of overkill to me.
1 – What happens if people book seats but don’t turn up? Seats will remain empty and people who wanted to go on the bus can’t. Will there be some kind of waiting list on the day?
2 – Up to how many days/hours before the trip can you book a seat? I tend to decide often on short notice if I want to go to the mall depending on how I feel at the time.
3 – I don’t have a printer at home. Can you get on board with the confirmation on your phone, or does the driver have a list of confirmed bookings?
Many thanks.
Dear Linda,
kindly have a look at my below answers:
whilst I appreciate your enthusiasm (and the new buses that I experienced yesterday), this seems a bit of overkill to me.
1 – What happens if people book seats but don’t turn up? Seats will remain empty and people who wanted to go on the bus can’t. Will there be some kind of waiting list on the day? If people have canceled their booking then the seats will remain but if they did not show up it will accommodate the walk inn.
2 – Up to how many days/hours before the trip can you book a seat? you can book any time before the departure time as its linked with the bus live system
I tend to decide often on short notice if I want to go to the mall depending on how I feel at the time. you can book on spot but it will consider subject to availability
3 – I don’t have a printer at home. Can you get on board with the confirmation on your phone, or does the driver have a list of confirmed bookings? Yes, the driver has but we suggest to have it on your mobile.
Regards,
Saif
How do we book one-way trip from Makkah/Madinah to KAUST?
Dear Ayrat,
One way booking from other destination is subject to availability.
Regards,
Saif AlKatheri
Dear Saif,
Please confirm my understanding of your response- “One way booking from other destination is subject to availability.”
Let’s say I have booked a one way trip to Makkah on a Friday and want to return to KAUST the next day. Since I can’t book the return trip for the next day, I would have to just stand at the pick up point (in Makkah) with my fingers crossed for a seat to be available. In other words, I should travel back on the same day should I wish to use KAUST bus services (to Makkah). This is ridiculous. What’s the point of having a reservation system?
If I cancel my trip and want to book it again, it says that I still have the old reservation. Please check.
Hi,
The system will not read the old booking, its keep the reservation number as a record.
Regards,
Saif AlKatheri
The systems gives an error: “This passenger has a valid reservation for this Trip”.
Even though I’ve already canceled the same trip.
Please check this with IT. Thank you.
How far is the drop-off point in Madinah from the Masjid an-Nabawi? Could you please consider changing departure time from KAUST to the regular 6:30 am? We would like to make it to the Jum’a prayer at the Masjid an-Nabawi. Thank you.
Hi,
Kindly check from Google map, the current drop off point & timing will not changed.
Regards,
Saif AlKatheri
Dear Transportation Team,
Thanks for the recent changes.
However, while we were expecting a nearby drop off point in Makkah, the drop off for Madinah is also changed and is now at large distance from mosque. This is really sad. Instead of giving convenience to community members, it will be actually a trouble for many now.
I request to facilitate us by providing drop off points close to holy mosques and make it easy to access.
Thanks,
Dear SS,
For Makkah drop off point (Masjid Aisha) the official parking for the public buses & there are many types of transportation to Haran.
For Madinah drop off (syed Alshohada) we have found it is more convince as it had many options for people to reach there hotels specially that this journey is for a night.
Regards,
Saif AlKatheri
Dear Saif, you are only imposing decisions on us. Nobody agreed that new drop off is more convenient. Please make things easy for travelers. Buses are even present in between hotels near Haram to pick and drop people in Madina. Why to drop they far away?
Exactly.. seems like the arrangement is only convenient for the bus drivers, not for the community. While mall patrons are dropped at the doorsteps of the malls, pilgrims made to travel on their on to haramain. How convenient!?
Dear All,
I have read all the comments above relating to Makkah and Medina trips, and found many of them upset because of the parking buses in the current points which related to country rules, security and safety. These points will remain unchanged for the time being until there is a similar alternative spot. There are many points seems still unclear for some travelers and for this reason Transportation team will be available tomorrow 08, June from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm at the multiple purpose room at Discovery Square, I hope in this meeting we can share the opinions to improve the services for you if possible.
Regards,
Saif AlKatheri
Dear Saif,
Please let us know – what is the purpose of the meeting? If it is to reiterate the decision your team made, and not taking any feedback and action, I don’t think the session will be beneficial to US, just like we had it last year.
And please take into consideration that 12-2pm is working hours for most of us.
Dear Saif,
We are also very upset because you are not giving respect to the opinion of many people, who commented here and expressed their concerns. You did an open house last year and sadly nothing came out of that.
Thanks for organizing open house, I’m afraid many will not come due to fasting and other commitments.
Thanks,
Last year all who attended the open house were disappointed with no consideration given to their reservations. Please consider the comments left on this page and take action accordingly. If dropoff point for Madina will not be changed atleast change the timings of departure from KAUST and Madina so that pilgrims can attend Friday paryer and Asr in masjid an Nabawi (saw). This at least can be done from your end that doesnot violate any government rules and regulations.
hope to see some positive change in bus schedule for Madina before Friday 9 june.
regards
Who are the contact people we can reach out to in the transportation department to get more information or raise concerns?
Dear Babar,
You can reach us through Transport@kaust.edu.sa or to call me on 0544700922.
Regards,
Saif AlKatheri
It’s really difficult for females with kids to reach Haram if bus drop off and pick up is far away from Haram. You should at least keep it same for Madinah, as it was there before.
Dear Amna,
Please note that the Traffic authority does not allowed the public buses to park in front of Haram, we are following the Gov. rules.
Regards,
Saif AlKatheri
No need to park, just drop the passenger and park wherever you want.
Dear Transportation team and Saif AlKatheri,
Although it has been stated these “improvements” are for KAUST passengers, how many passengers were asked for their feedback? No one I spoke to participated in any survey on this topic. This appears to be an arbitrary decision taken without input from the main stakeholder, passengers. To top it off, a “pilot” system has been introduced in one of the most critical times for the transport of people to Mecca and Madina.
The honest truth is at this point any regulations put into place must be accommodated because KAUSTians who rely on this service do not have their own transportation. As someone who does not use KAUST transportion, I can’t help but feel their plight.
From the responses it seems as if there are three major frustrations.
1.Bus timings:- Timings should accommodate the purpose of the trip
A. In Mecca- The current schedule seems to be fine as Taraweeh is ending at a reasonable time.
B. In Madina- Currently, the bus is scheduled to leave KAUST at 7.30AM with arrival at 12.50PM. Logistically a person will not arrive on time to catch Jummah prayers in Madina, one of the sole reasons to go on a Friday. This is exacerbated by the new bus stop location. Leaving at 6AM would accommodate for this, while giving passengers ample time to get ready in the morning.
2. Bus Dropoff:- People are asking for the drop-off to be convenient for them and their families. We would not drop off Jeddah passengers in the North of Jeddah (15 kilometers away) and ask them to take “alternative transportation” to the mall of choice; even though that is a very plausible idea.
A. In Mecca- SAPTCO Main bus station near Tanim
B. In Madina- There is a SAPTCO VIP dropoff at the Crowne Plaza Madina hotel. This could be an option for both drop-off and pick-up of KAUST passengers. I am sure an allowance can be made here.
3. Bus availability:- The website currently does not show the availability information (how many people registered, how many spots are available). There also does not seem to be a clear system for handling waitlists and cancelations. Relying on just showing up renders the system pointless.
Finally, it would be great to have an open house or some type of interaction with management responsible in which there is room to maneuver the best for both service provider and passengers. At this point, the system, is a continuation of last year’s dilemma which did not see any resolution.
I’m sure the transportation team is eager to do the right thing, however without dialogue these “solutions” are just dissatisfying.
Can not add more. Thanks BK.
I second all above. Last year we had same issues and nothing was done. We expect that with the new service provider our reservations will be sincerely addressed.
I also agree with that. I think the drop-off in Makkah can be also closer to the Haram. We have seen lots of Saptco buses there, and multiple Saptco stations within a walking distance from Alharam. If they can’t use their stations for parking, then for sure they can just drop-off and park somewhere else.
is the parking is at Saptco, Abi Dhar Al Ghafari, Bani Abdul Ashhal, Medina 42313
When will you allow people to make a one-way booking from Jeddah to KAUST ?