Qatar or Etihad

[yselmike 393]

As it looks like I shall be on a budget from now on the best or cheapest

Flights from Amsterdam generally seem to be Qatar or Etihad, I guess they

are both pretty good but are they reliable with doing what it says on the box,is the 14.30 hours flight just that or is it usually stretched out to

a 17 hour flight and the 17 hour return turns into a 24 hour flight?

If it's so then the 100euro saving over Eva or China both direct would be a false economy, I live 30 minutes from Schipol so a cheap flight from

elsewhere is not an option, cheers

[yogi100 1,925]

I've only heard praise for both airlines from British chums of mine who've used them from Heathrow so I can't see the Schipol to BKK service being any different. The same goes for Emirates.

[TheFiend 1,181]

Since I started visiting Thailand I've flown Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and KLM, mainly flying with Emirates. Flown Etihad once and Qatar once. Wasn't too impressed by my first experiences with Etihad and Qatar but at the moment they are coming in as the cheapest options from Manchester so my next trip is with Etihad. As for KLM, never again... once was enough!!!!

[yselmike 393]

My worry is about the length of the flights 14 hours in total is fine the return leg of over 17 hours would be a new experience if for any reason it goes significantly over it might be too much,but cheers anyway

[jacko 8,815]

As it looks like I shall be on a budget from now on the best or cheapest

Flights from Amsterdam generally seem to be Qatar or Etihad, I guess they

are both pretty good but are they reliable with doing what it says on the box,is the 14.30 hours flight just that or is it usually stretched out to

a 17 hour flight and the 17 hour return turns into a 24 hour flight?

If it's so then the 100euro saving over Eva or China both direct would be a false economy, I live 30 minutes from Schipol so a cheap flight from

elsewhere is not an option, cheers

My connections to Manchester are normally 15.5 to 17.00 hrs total travelling time.

Both Etihad and Qatar have delivered on their schedule fine.

 

I can't comment on coach class but for business, well Qatar on the plane are better, the new airport is better, but Etihad offer a limo to/ from Manchester airport. I would go on price, Qatar seem to do better there and I just received a promotional email from them with some good deals. I think they lost a bit of business due to their old airport and are now trying to promote themselves with discounts. Abu Dhabi (Etihad) were starting to do some airport work last year when I flew through and my transit was crap. Take a look at Emirates too! If price is your only concern I thought KLM was good!

 

(Anyone got any updates on Abu Dhabi airport?)

[yselmike 393]

My connections to Manchester are normally 15.5 to 17.00 hrs total travelling time.

Both Etihad and Qatar have delivered on their schedule fine.

 

I can't comment on coach class but for business, well Qatar on the plane are better, the new airport is better, but Etihad offer a limo to/ from Manchester airport. I would go on price, Qatar seem to do better there and I just received a promotional email from them with some good deals. I think they lost a bit of business due to their old airport and are now trying to promote themselves with discounts. Abu Dhabi (Etihad) were starting to do some airport work last year when I flew through and my transit was crap. Take a look at Emirates too! If price is your only concern I thought KLM was good!

 

(Anyone got any updates on Abu Dhabi airport?)

I am looking at all the airlines that fly out from Amsterdam I live 30 minutes from Schipol, Qatar and Etihad seem to offer the cheapest flights

now and again another will pop up, 420euro Ukraine air anybody.

Usually I fly EVA or China direct I retire in 16 months so was thinking of

slipping in a trip in January as there might not be the funds in 2017.

[lounge_lizard 108]

I've used Qatar from London to Bangkok several times with no delays or other problems.

You won't get a direct flight, so you need to check the stopover times in both directions.

 

Sometimes it's only a couple of hours, but sometimes it's more like twelve for the very cheapest tickets, although a few pounds/euros more can put you on a different flight with less of a wait.

Bear in mind that you will be put through security again at the stopover airport, so any duty-frees bought at Schipol are likely to be confiscated there.

 

I only use a carry-on bag, but I've also heard a few horror stories about checked baggage going missing for a couple of days when the stopover time is short.

[Odense 492]

I have flown economy with Qatar from Copenhagen via Doha many times without any problems.

I have not tried Etihad or Emirates so cannot compare but hear good things about them too.

I liked the business lounge in the old airport in Doha much better than the business lounge in the new airport.

Edited July 16, 2015 by Odense

[jacko 8,815]

I have flown economy with Qatar from Copenhagen via Doha many times without any problems.

I have not tried Etihad or Emirates so cannot compare but hear good things about them too.

I liked the business lounge in the old airport in Doha much better than the business lounge in the new airport.

Agreed on the old 'Premium Lounge' in Doha.

You were taken straight to and from it via the bus. In the new airport you have to walk miles to and from the lounge and it is a big impersonal place up the escalator.

As I said I just received a promotional email from Qatar and thought I would look at a ticket to Manchester. The price in Biz was about 77,000 baht which is quite good as others are coming in around 100k. But looking more closely there were few seats available and they were either restricted to the very late (0200) Bangkok departure or/and some serious lay-over in Doha. Flights to Amsterdam start at 25135 THB in Economy (680 Euros).

Edited July 17, 2015 by jacko
Typo fix