London to Qatar

[Tone]

Planning a trip to Qatar soon, seem to have a choice of carriers, Emirates, Gulf Air or Qatar Airways. Does anyone have any recent experience? Pax is a PPL & doesn't want to become afraid to fly.

[Thunderbug]

British Airways has a daily service via Bahrain

Currently on the 747-400

Leaves LHR 10.20
Arrives BAH 1900 (You can stay on the aircraft)
Departs BAH 2000
Arrives DOH 2050

Isn't competition a great thing

BA Website

Have fun in Qatar,

T'bug

[christep]

I'm confused... why would someone be more likely to become afraid to fly on Emirates, Qatar or Gulf Air any more than they would on BA?

[Tone]

Thanks T'Bug that gives me lots more options.

Christep, having worked in the Middle East about 20 years ago I can still remember (1) the unfailing faith in divine intervention which led to (2) a lack of need for a in a rigorous & supervised maintenance program. Maybe things have changed for the better?

[Jimlad]

HI,

I did the LHR - Doha run with BA about 4 weeks ago. Its not too bad as journeys go, but the killer is on the way back with the 2 hour layover in Bahrain. You take off from Doha at 2320, land at 2350 then spend 2 hours on the ground with no refreshments and cant leave the plane.


To add insult to injury the "snack" meal consisted of a watercress and egg roll (only flavour) and a kit kat. Not what I expect from BA.


Try BA, but at least Qatar airways go direct.

[apaddyinuk]

Hey Thunderbug....
All airlines have exceptional safety standards and to be honest Emirates and Qatar also have amongst the highest standards of inflight service of any airlines in the world...I know this because i only recently resigned as a cabin crew member with Qatar Airways!!! There economy service is better than most airlines business product...but having said that....the cabin crew are worked like dogs, scared s@%tless that someone may report them for sneezing and they may lose their job and in general are so supserviant that you almost feel sorry for them....Im now with BA and its sooooo much more natural so if you want my opinion...if you like slaves go with Gulf-Air, Qatar or Emirates but if you like to have a laugh with the crew and enjoy some natural service....FLY BA!!!! I know the two hours on ground is a bit of a bitch but if you fly with Gulf Air or Emirates you have longer and if you fly Qatar...WELL THEN YOU HAVE T3 to contend with!!!!!
Let me know how you choose!!!

[uffington sb]

Flown with Qatar on many occassions in economy and business. The standard of service in both classes is vastly superior to BA.

[apaddyinuk]

I never said it wasnt....BA its thrown at you...But try sparking up a conversation with the crew and theyll look like a dear in headlights!!!!
Id have a problem spending a lot of money to a company that treats its staff so badly! Trust me...do a search on Qatar airways and read some of the threads and I assure you WILL be shocked!

[Octopussy2]

Tone, trust me I'm the world's worst flyer, but I've just come back from a London - Dubai - Male - Dubai - London trip on Emirates and as far as cabin service, comfort etc, they were great. To the best of my knowledge, Emirates are a "pukka" airline - there shouldn't be any safety concerns.

Can't comment about stopovers etc to Qatar, but as far as comfort was concerned, cabin was comfortable (and some flights were quiet, so room to stretch out), food and booze were fine.

Huge range of nationalities amongst the flight deck and cabin crew - all the crew we encountered were very friendly and without the Singapore-girl type subservience that I find a little spooky.

Overall, wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

[phnuff]

Have done Qatar via Dubai and back via Bahrain on BA and (I think) Emirates. Flights were great and no complaints at all. From Dohar to bahrain, I was sitting next to an Arab gentleman which had brought some sort of bird of pray as hand luggage - like literaly hand luggage - sitting on a gauntlet, on his wrist. Wonderful looking bird !

[Globaliser]

Octopussy2: To the best of my knowledge, Emirates are a "pukka" airline - there shouldn't be any safety concerns.

I'd have no qualms about flying EK now myself, but there is a debate raging over on R&N (looong thread) which (even after the usual lorryloads of salt are taken) contain one or two things which niggle just a little bit.

[Octopussy2]

Thanks Globaliser - the thread started before my holiday and, in the interests of being brave enough to get on the plane, I read as far as a few posts that basically said "they did jolly well to land the aircraft in the circumstances, well done all" and then stopped!

I will now go back and read the rest with interest!

[BahrainLad]

I was sitting next to an Arab gentleman which had brought some sort of bird of pray as hand luggage - like literaly hand luggage - sitting on a gauntlet, on his wrist. Wonderful looking bird !

See this quite often on Gulf Air, esp in F on intra-Gulf routes.

What you must realise is that, rather than the guy flying with his bird, the bird is flying with 'his' handler.