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Gulf Air (GF) Guide

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Flights from Bahrain to the Gulf, Asia, Europe and Africa, fleet and cabins, baggage, check-in and how to find cheaper Gulf Air fares. Ask a question
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In short

Gulf Air is the flag carrier of Bahrain, based at Bahrain International in Muharraq. It flies Airbus A320-family jets and Boeing 787-9s across three continents, covering the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa. Gulf Air is not in an alliance and runs Falconflyer. Cabins are Falcon Gold business and Economy, and cabin baggage depends on the fare.

Gulf Air is Bahrain’s national airline and one of the oldest airlines in the Middle East.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Gulf Air. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

Gulf Air (IATA GF) is the national airline of the Kingdom of Bahrain, flying from Bahrain International Airport to the Gulf, the Indian subcontinent, Europe, Africa and Asia. It suits travellers connecting between Europe and South Asia or the Gulf, and anyone who wants a short stopover in Bahrain on the way.

From air taxi to four-nation airline

Gulf Air started as Gulf Aviation, registered on 24 March 1950 by the British pilot Freddie Bosworth as an air taxi service. BOAC took a 22 per cent stake in 1951. In 1974 the governments of Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Oman each took a quarter of the company, and it became Gulf Air, the shared airline of four states. That arrangement unwound over the following decades. Qatar announced its exit in 2002, Abu Dhabi decided to leave in 2005, Oman followed, and Bahrain became the sole owner on 5 May 2007.

The airline carried a record 7.5 million passengers in 2004, when it still served all four founding states. Today it is wholly owned by Gulf Air Group Holding, which holds assets of Mumtalakat, Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund. The head office is in Muharraq, next to the airport.

Bahrain hub and 65 destinations

Bahrain International Airport (BAH) is the hub. Wikipedia counts 65 destinations in 38 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe. Bahrain sits between Europe and the Indian subcontinent, so a Gulf Air ticket from a European city can connect there to South Asia on the same booking.

Gulf Air is not a member of a global alliance. It relies on codeshare partners instead, including American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Saudia, Turkish Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Stopovers in Bahrain

Gulf Air sells stopover packages for travellers who want to break a long journey in Bahrain, with their own booking conditions on the airline's website. The site also offers e-visa assistance, car hire and Gulf Air Holidays, and a Visit Bahrain section explains what to see. Check the visa rules for your passport before you plan a stopover, because they differ by nationality.

Travel tip: if your trip connects in Bahrain on separate tickets, leave plenty of time, as the second airline has no duty to wait. On a single Gulf Air ticket your bags go through to the final airport. Baggage allowances depend on your fare and route, so confirm yours on the Gulf Air website before you pack.

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Good to know

  • Founded1950
  • Online check-inYes

Everything you should know

Airline codes

GF · GFA

IATA · ICAO · callsign “GULF AIR”

Look for GF in front of the number on your ticket: that prefix marks a flight sold under the Gulf Air code. Enter GF and the number to follow a Gulf Air departure.

Key facts

Main hub

Bahrain (BAH)

Bahrain International

Network

3 continents

Middle East · Asia · Europe · Africa

Gulf Air connects Bahrain with the Gulf, the Indian subcontinent, London and Europe. Its busiest route is Bahrain–Dubai.

Destinations

Cabin classes

Economy

and Falcon Gold (Business)

Two cabins: Falcon Gold Business class and Economy, with flat-bed seats on the Boeing 787-9. Gulf Air has two cabins. Falcon Gold, introduced on 1 March 2010, replaced separate First and Business classes with one premium cabin, and by August 2011 most aircraft had flat-bed seats in it. Economy covers the rest of the aircraft on every route.

Compare cabins

Good to know

Gulf Air was once jointly owned by several Gulf states; today it is wholly owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain. It sponsors the Bahrain Grand Prix. Official website: gulfair.com.

Frequent flyer

Falconflyer

No global alliance

Gulf Air is not in an alliance; its own programme is Falconflyer.

How it works

Start a new search

Search your dates on bookingMentor to see Gulf Air next to the other airlines flying from Bahrain, then pick the fare that suits your trip.

Have a good trip, whether you start in Bahrain or somewhere else on the Gulf Air network.

Select dates

At a glance

Gulf Air (IATA: GF, ICAO: GFA) is the flag carrier of Bahrain, founded in 1950 and based at Bahrain International Airport. It flies about 47 Airbus A320-family and Boeing 787-9 aircraft to destinations in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa, with Falcon Gold Business and Economy cabins.

Key facts about Gulf Air
HeadquartersMuharraq, Bahrain
Fleet typesBoeing 787-9, Airbus A321neo, A321LR, A320neo, A320, A321
Frequent flyerFalconflyer
Official websitegulfair.com

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
The Gulf Air network at a glance. The airline changes routes from time to time, and a search shows which GF flights run on your dates. Search flights

Middle East

Bahrain (BAH) departures10 destinations

Check all

Fleet and aircraft

Wikipedia lists 46 aircraft. Long-haul routes use the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, most of them with 26 Falcon Gold seats and 256 Economy seats. The Airbus narrow-body fleet covers regional and many medium-haul routes: A320s and A320neos with 16 Falcon Gold and 120 Economy seats, A321neos with 12 and 180, and the longer-range A321LR with 16 and 150. Some A320neos fly in an all-Economy layout of 150 seats.

  • Boeing 787-9 Wide-body · 10 Long-haul routes such as London and Manila
  • Airbus A321LR Narrow-body · 8 Longer regional and some European routes
  • Airbus A321neo Narrow-body Busy regional routes
  • Airbus A321-200 Narrow-body Busy regional routes
  • Airbus A320neo Narrow-body Short Gulf and regional routes
  • Airbus A320-200 Narrow-body Short Gulf and regional routes

Cabin classes

Two cabins are on sale at Gulf Air: Economy and Falcon Gold (Business). Not every Gulf Air route has all of them.

Economy All flights

Full-service regional and long-haul flying

Economy includes meals and checked baggage; long-haul aircraft have seatback entertainment.

Meals and drinksChecked bag includedEntertainment

Falcon Gold (Business) All aircraft

Flat beds on the 787-9

Falcon Gold combines the former First and Business cabins, with flat-bed seats on the Boeing 787-9.

Lounge access in BahrainPriority servicesExtra baggageChef-style dining

Falconflyer

Falconflyer is Gulf Air’s frequent flyer scheme, and you can sign up on gulfair.com.

Members earn miles on Gulf Air flights and with partners and can redeem them for award flights and upgrades. Gulf Air does not belong to a global alliance, so check partner earning before crediting flights.

Falconflyer is Gulf Air's frequent flyer programme. Members earn miles on Gulf Air flights and with partner airlines, and can join through the Gulf Air website.

Baggage allowance

On Gulf Air, the bag allowance follows your fare type, cabin and route, and the exact figure is printed on your GF e-ticket.

Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Depends on fare
Extra bags
Cheaper before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only

Allowances depend on route, cabin and fare, and some routes such as the Indian subcontinent have their own rules. Check your e-ticket.

Pro tip: connecting in Bahrain? Bags are normally checked through to your final destination when both flights are on one ticket.
Travel day

Online Check-in

Gulf Air check-in comes down to four steps, from checking in online to dropping your bags at Bahrain International.

  • Online check-in available
  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Where your flight allows it, check in on gulfair.com or app with your surname and booking reference or e-ticket number.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    Before leaving for the airport, check that your passport is valid and that you hold any visa or entry document needed at the other end of your Gulf Air flight. Domestic GF passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    Each airport has its own Gulf Air check-in and bag-drop deadline, listed in your booking. Allow extra time for busy terminals and international GF departures.

    Well before departure
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    Gulf Air desks and bag-drop points take your hold luggage. Keep the bag-tag receipt with your boarding pass until the bags come off at the end of your GF trip.

    Gulf Air counter
Ready to check in? Check in and manage your booking on the official Gulf Air website.
Check in with Gulf Air
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Cheap tickets

Gulf Air fares out of Bahrain move with the season and the fare brand. These habits help keep the price down.

  1. 01

    Try midweek GF flights

    Compare a full week of Gulf Air departures; midweek days are often priced below Fridays and Sundays.

    Midweek flights
  2. 02

    Avoid peak seasons

    Fares rise around Eid and the Gulf summer holidays, when many residents travel home.

    Eid & summer
  3. 03

    Check what each Gulf Air fare includes

    Look at the next Gulf Air fare up: if it bundles a hold bag or easier changes, it may beat the basic fare plus extras.

    Baggage & changes
  4. 04

    Consider a Bahrain stopover

    Connections between Europe and Asia via Bahrain can be cheaper than nonstop flights and allow a short stopover.

    BAH

  5. Ready to compare fares?

    Search Gulf Air alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search Gulf Air flights

Reviews and questions

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying Gulf Air.
Answers checked against Gulf Air’s official sources and public aviation references, and reviewed each season.

Getting there

No. Gulf Air is not a member of Star Alliance, SkyTeam or oneworld. It uses codeshare agreements with individual airlines instead, including American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Saudia and Turkish Airlines.

General