Umrah season has started recently and many pilgrims who could not make for Umrah last year have ‘low season’ opportunity to avail this year, according to informed travel industry sources here. A front ranking travel firm with an approval for Umrah tour offers few important tips for the travelers going for Umrah. However, for business reasons he preferred to remain anonymous.
Performing Umrah is a direct Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and he did it either praying for favor from God or thanking him. Every year the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issues Umrah visa for intending pilgrims all over the world. The Umrah visa is issued through Ministry of Hajj approved travel agents. The Umrah approved travel agents, well aware of Islamic faith and related matters comply with strict regulations for Umrah travel.
Many airlines offer ‘special Umrah’ fares in low season through approved agents. It is a misconception that internet fares are cheaper. In past many travelers bought tickets for Umrah travel via Riyadh on internet and got stuck. The Saudi Arabian Airlines website under, “Hajj and Umrah travel conditions” tab advises, “Hajj and Umrah travelers are kindly required to contact the nearest SAUDIA office or travel agent approved by KSA Ministry of Hajj.” It further states, “Umrah Visa Holders should Enter or Depart from Jeddah or Madinah airports only.”
For Umrah travel it is better you enter Medina first if traveling from USA. This helps you take rest after a long journey from USA and enter into Ihram condition from Medina after visiting the mosque of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Many travelers have a wrong notion that they must enter into Ihram before landing at Jeddah airport. You need to enter Ihram before landing Jeddah if are proceeding to Makkah first for performing Umrah. But if you intend to visit Medina first then you may choose to travel from Jeddah airport to Medina in your regular garments. You will intend for Umrah from Medina and wear Ihram from Medina.
The travel agent who shared useful tips with this reporter also pointed that many travelers purchase tickets on internet and contact agents for visa only. It is better, he said, surf the internet and find the best airline and lowest fares that suite your budget and ask your travel agent to book the same for you. You will still save little more through travel agent and enjoy the care of agent. At the same time you will be satisfied that you are buying tickets little cheaper through the agent you know rather than paying more and buying from unknown source.
Many airlines distribute Special Umrah fares for India and Pakistan travelers to perform Umrah on way and continue journey. Such special fares are distributed through travel agents only. For Umrah travel, the travel agent is required to submit travelers’ arrival information at least 48 hours before their arrival to Jeddah or Medinah airport so that the agent in Saudi Arabia meet and assist the pilgrim. The agent is also required to make safe transfer of travelers from airport to Hotels in Makkah or Medina. So let your travel agent book your airline tickets and hotels so that he has the information ready in his own system for onward transfer to agent in Saudi Arabia. Again your Umrah approved agent will offer you 5 star hotels at the same rate as you will find on various websites. So it is better you short list the choice and rates of available hotels on internet and ask your agent to book the same for you in his own system. This way you will believe your agent is not charging you more and same time it will help smoother your Umrah travel and also help agent to serve you better.
For Umrah, let your travel agent offer you a complete package of airline ticket, hotels and transfers in Saudi Arabia. And again, he said, it is a myth that internet fares are cheaper than travel agents. Even for your regular travel, you save $30 or more each ticket purchased through travel agent. First check internet, short list your choice and ask your agent to book it for you. Many smart travelers also copy paste from internet to their travel agents. You save his time and he saves your money and you still enjoy the personal care of a travel agent, he remarked.
A.Q. Siddiqui
India Post News Service
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