Qatar Airways.....mini review!

[marleyboy 140]

I flew out to Bangkok in January, and flew back , in March to Heathrow, this year.

 

For the first time in 19 years! I didnt fly direct. (I usually went with Thai and sometimes Eva air)/

 

Thai though, charge quite a bit more for a flight over a month.......so I bit the bullet and flew with Qatar (from Heathrow) to Doha, then change planes, and fly into Bangkok. The flight departure/arrivals times were great for me...........so i thought Id give them a try.

 

Cant fault them to be honest. Efficient, nice planes (a380 for 3 legs and one leg on a 777). Good entertainment, nice enough seats. food etc. The stopovers were pretty painless too......they were both just over an hour and a half.................so practically, off one plane and onto the next!

 

Apart from being cheaper then Thai and Eva, they have a better "frequent fliers/airmiles thingy"! than Thai and Eva......who both have reduced the percentage of miles you get with cheaper economy tickets!

 

Also have a great website, so can easily book/change seats etc. Would I use them again? Certainly would!

Edited March 27, 2016 by marleyboy

[Goldpanner 399]

Ive never faulted the Arab airlines in the past. Gulf Air were always well priced and always had sufficient booze on board to get everyone legless, and on one flight out from LHR to BKK the dinner was actually Fillet Steak !, but these days?? An Arab airline? No way.

[Steptoe 429]

It is quite educational to read airline professional's opinions on ME airline's operating practices (PPRuNe Forums)

[Butch 3,456]

I used to fly Gulf Air when they had L1011 Tristars and VC10's into Oman, back then though it was the airline equivalent of a number 27 bus, stopping here there and everbloodywhere. Dubai Airport was a dump, Doha had 2 toilets, 2 lounges, a book shop and nothing else but Bahrain was actually pretty good.

 

We then went on to using Emirates in the early days for our trips to the RP, mostly because they had a 30kg allowance when everyone else was 25, then graduated to Cathay and haven't looked back since.

 

A lot of filipino's use Qatar for the LHR to MNL trip, they do come across as being a good all round airline and the rewards are better than most. I have done Laurel on EVA using my points before but as you say, it seemed to take a couple of years to get enough. EVA now don't offer points on many of the economy fares at all, you have to have a certain fare class to qualify and most of the discounted and cheap fares don't. Wankers. Just another thing about EVA which grates on my tits.

 

I've often worked on the basis that if I were ever to go to LOS for an extended amount of time and wasn't too worried about losing a bit travelling, then Qatar would be my number one alternative choice. I think also that Gulf Air fly to LOS but could be wrong. I haven't stepped foot on a GF plane since the mid 90's so can't comment on their service. Mrs Butch refuses to fly on GF because apparently she remembers seeing the results of one that crashed in Bahrain a few years back. Odd logic I know but that's Asians for you.

 

If ever I want to check out an airline, I just do a quick youtube search, all the popular ones have some kind of in flight vid done from pretty much any section of the aircraft.

[jacko 8,813]

Interesting thoughts on Gulf Butch, I used them a lot when I was working in the Middle East. At that time it was as if they were running a bus service and we often joked how we had visited Muscat, Bahrain, Doha, back to Muscat because some Sheik had called them up and eventually to Dammam! I recall that the seats in economy were small, they were good in business class, and generally good in the air, but on the ground they were terrible Boarding always seemed chaotic.

 

Your Missus may be recalling a past incident where a very inexperienced Gulf Air pilot (local) was attempting to land in Manama and making a pigs ear of it and ultimately crashed. That sure worried me thinking they got some really inexperienced pilots, prior to that the pilot was rarely from the Gulf, many were from Europe, particularly Eastern Europe.

 

I think a lot of Qatar, but I couldn't get a price I liked in Biz Class this year so I am off home via Helsinki this month, trying one of those new A350s.

[Fatboyfat 361]

Gulf Air have probably not changed their aircraft since you both last used them. Very, very dated now; I used them a couple of years back for a flight and the only difference was that the 1st class seats were now designated as Biz class, giving rise to different standards of seat for the same price, depending on when you booked. (I believe they have now taken the old 1st seats out and replaced with more Biz seats). Well behind the big 3 Middle East carriers though, and certainly not competetive price wise.

[Goldpanner 399]

My last trip on Gulf Air was in 1990 and that was in a Tristar.

 

But anything has to be better than the old Romanian Airlines !! I was given a return comp ticket back in the 80's and very nearly didnt go when I saw the plane. It still had the old plexiglass bomb aimers dome at the front.!. The seats were nothing but canvas hammocks and the 'hostesses served you milk for your tea or coffee from a coke bottle. The food was amazing! well it probably would have been if I had eaten it. There was some sort of meat and some sort of vegetable mass but as it was all the same colour grey I couldnt tell. Good job I had bought half a dozen mars bars to feed myself. Oh yes, the toilet paper had huge lumps of wood in it !!. I ddnt come back with them. I bought myself a THai flight ! It was an experienec though.

[marleyboy 140]

Likewise my last tme with Gulf Air was in the nineties.

 

Romanian Airways? No thanks, even when I was backpacking..I wouldnt use any "Eastern European airlines!!

 

But saying that? The first time I went to Thailand (1982) I flew with Bangladesh Biman Airlines! Jeez they werent very good at all!

 

I did go a few years later again with Biman airlines........I think it was worse! the second time!!

[jacko 8,813]

My last trip on Gulf Air was in 1990 and that was in a Tristar.

 

But anything has to be better than the old Romanian Airlines !! I was given a return comp ticket back in the 80's and very nearly didnt go when I saw the plane. It still had the old plexiglass bomb aimers dome at the front.!. The seats were nothing but canvas hammocks and the 'hostesses served you milk for your tea or coffee from a coke bottle. The food was amazing! well it probably would have been if I had eaten it. There was some sort of meat and some sort of vegetable mass but as it was all the same colour grey I couldnt tell. Good job I had bought half a dozen mars bars to feed myself. Oh yes, the toilet paper had huge lumps of wood in it !!. I ddnt come back with them. I bought myself a THai flight ! It was an experienec though.

Haha, yes I did Tarom once too, what crap!

A lot of fun sitting under armed guard in transit in Bucharest.

Not as bad as your experience though!

 

Biman, I recall seeing them listed in Kuwait as I waited, I thought their full name was Biman delayed 7 hours.

Edited April 5, 2016 by jacko

[Goldpanner 399]

Haha, yes I did Tarom once too, what crap!

A lot of fun sitting under armed guard in transit in Bucharest.

Not as bad as your experience though!

 

Biman, I recall seeing them listed in Kuwait as I waited, I thought their full name was Biman delayed 7 hours.

The funny thing at the airport that made me roar with laughter? some chap decided to change some UK money for Romanian money then went to the Cafe (and I use that word advisedly) to get a drink and was told they wouldnt accept Romanian Money !! It must have been better than the toilet paper on the plane though.

[neilri2001 42]

 

 

I think a lot of Qatar, but I couldn't get a price I liked in Biz Class this year so I am off home via Helsinki this month, trying one of those new A350s.

I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on Finnair Jacko as i am considering them for a combined trip to China and Thailand later this year. Generally reviews of Helsinki to Asia are quite favorable especially on the A350 but Helsinki to LHR and Manchester get fairly poor notices on both service and seat width / pitch.Business is apparently just an economy bank of three with the middle seat not in use

[jacko 8,813]

I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on Finnair Jacko as i am considering them for a combined trip to China and Thailand later this year. Generally reviews of Helsinki to Asia are quite favorable especially on the A350 but Helsinki to LHR and Manchester get fairly poor notices on both service and seat width / pitch.Business is apparently just an economy bank of three with the middle seat not in use

Well I have experienced that 3 seat configuration on other carriers, perhaps KLM, whose Biz service on to Manchester is rather poor too.

I have also been sat in regular seats and the only differences noticeable are the service and the writing on the cloth stuck to the head rest.

Yes I shall post some comments on my flight. As the outward hop is a daytime one I should have a better recollection of it than I do with the usual over-night trips via the Mid-East.

[TheFiend 1,181]

Just booked with Qatar for my second trip with them... Get to sample the Nightmareliner on the Manchester - Doha- Manchester legs and the A380 on the Doha -Bangkok - Doha legs. Was the cheapest option of the ME3 for a flight booked just 32 hours in advance... £475 return compared to £650+ for Emirates and Etihad..... Could have got flights with Turkish for £400 but the return flight times weren't good.

[Fatboyfat 361]

Good that they have put the 787 on the Manchester run now. Don't know about economy, but the Biz seats are excellent on that aircraft with Qatar.

[TheFiend 1,181]

Just booked myself an absolute bargain with Qatar for my October trip.... Net cost £383pp MAN-BKK return.... Should have been £413 but thanks to a Cashback offer through my bank account I have now paid the lowest fare I have ever paid in 10 years in travelling to Thailand...

 

By flying back on 1st November rather than 31st October I dropped the price by £155 each!!!

 

Sadly Qatar are changing the A380 diagrams so I'll have to suffer 773's from Doha to Bangkok and back, with a Nightmareliner and a 333 on the Manchester - Doha legs.

[yselmike 389]

Likewise my last tme with Gulf Air was in the nineties.

 

Romanian Airways? No thanks, even when I was backpacking..I wouldnt use any "Eastern European airlines!!

 

But saying that? The first time I went to Thailand (1982) I flew with Bangladesh Biman Airlines! Jeez they werent very good at all!

 

I did go a few years later again with Biman airlines........I think it was worse! the second time!!

done that one 1980

Amsterdam to Athens to Dubai to Bombay to dacca to Bangkok.hell that would

finish me off if I had to do that today.

[bigbadbaz 69]

Good that they have put the 787 on the Manchester run now. Don't know about economy, but the Biz seats are excellent on that aircraft with Qatar.

Is it just me but I thought the Bizz class seat on Dreamliner bit disappointing, when you lay down your feet have to go to a 'point' under the person in front and feels odd

[TheFiend 1,181]

Good that they have put the 787 on the Manchester run now. Don't know about economy, but the Biz seats are excellent on that aircraft with Qatar.

 

 

I found economy in the Nightmareliner even more claustrophobic than a 10 abreast 777 and the seating is very cramped. The positioning of the IFE boxes is very poor and they have sharp edges on which can easily scratch your legs. Reading reviews it looks like Qatars Nightmareliners are very poorly rated from the economy passengers point of view.

 

Going to have to suffer the Nightmareliner again in October.....

[Fireman Sam 336]

Is it just me but I thought the Bizz class seat on Dreamliner bit disappointing, when you lay down your feet have to go to a 'point' under the person in front and feels odd

Have to agree with you there 100% the same seats are on their A380 as well. The business seats on their 777 are much better IMHO, even though you might have to climb over the next seat to exit if you're seated at a window.

 

 

Regards

[Fireman Sam 336]

I found economy in the Nightmareliner even more claustrophobic than a 10 abreast 777 and the seating is very cramped. The positioning of the IFE boxes is very poor and they have sharp edges on which can easily scratch your legs. Reading reviews it looks like Qatars Nightmareliners are very poorly rated from the economy passengers point of view.

 

Going to have to suffer the Nightmareliner again in October.....

Ye agree with you there, I made a effort to avoid the 787 all the time when I was travelling a lot, until one day I got done by an aircraft swap in Doha, made for a long flight into Heathrow that day.

 

 

 

Regards