Article: Qatar Airways’ Bizarre Daily Melbourne-Adelaide Flight

[stump]

Yes, that was my experience. See relevant part of TR here.

Thats good to know.Would be hard to bump me from QSuites when most passengers will get on in Melbourne.Cheers

 

[Hunter4vr]

I have a fully paid ticket on QSuites ADL-MEL-DOH in 3 weeks. I chose not to pay extra for seat allocation.After reading about oversold in QSuites I checked to see if seats were available but no map instead seat allocation at check in needed. What is the chance it is over oversold and I dont get a QSuites ? Given I check in at Adelaide do you keep the same seat after the Melbourne stop?

Had this happen with QR out of Manila earlier this year on a revenue J classic ticket. We did not pay for seat selection either and just chose to roll the dice at check in.

When check in opened, no seats were available to select. When we got to the counter the following day it turned out that the flight was oversold and passengers were being offered cash or credit compensation and a flight with SQ J instead.

We said no to the offer so just be prepared to push back on any proposals as a result of overbooking.

 

[stump]

We said no to the offer so just be prepared to push back on any proposals as a result of overbooking.

So you kept your QSuite ?

 

[Hunter4vr]

So you kept your QSuite ?

Yeah we didn’t take the offer and were adamant that we need / want to take this and not a different flight.

It probably helped that we were second in the biz queue to check in so I doubt the last few to show up had any choice.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Do you recall what the cash/credit offer was for the inconvenience of taking SQ?

 

[Hunter4vr]

Do you recall what the cash/credit offer was for the inconvenience of taking SQ?

From what I recall it was $750 USD credit with Qatar or $500 USD cash. For 2 passengers.

 

[Spizz]

Just arrived into Doha and my was told my flight back to Adelaide via Melbourne was oversold in QSuites and due to my fare (I'm guessing award ticket) I have been bumped. Even though i had a boarding ticket from earlier in the day and it was booked ovet 6 months ago. Not happy. Both flights oversold. I'll write a full report when I get back.

 

[Hunter4vr]

Just arrived into Doha and my was told my flight back to Adelaide via Melbourne was oversold in QSuites and due to my fare (I'm guessing award ticket) I have been bumped. Even though i had a boarding ticket from earlier in the day and it was booked ovet 6 months ago. Not happy. Both flights oversold. I'll write a full report when I get back.

Is it possible for them to put you on the flight the following day or are they saying flying in Y is your only option currently?

 

[burmans]

Is it possible for them to put you on the flight the following day or are they saying flying in Y is your only option currently?

Yeah, I’d be doing the ‘I’ll wait and you can put me in a hotel in the meantime’ routine!

 

[jase05]

Just arrived into Doha and my was told my flight back to Adelaide via Melbourne was oversold in QSuites and due to my fare (I'm guessing award ticket) I have been bumped. Even though i had a boarding ticket from earlier in the day and it was booked ovet 6 months ago. Not happy. Both flights oversold. I'll write a full report when I get back.

I would be asking them to put me up in a hotel until they can get me home in J even if it takes them a week. No way on Earth am I accepting Y back to Australia

 

[Spizz]

Just eating in the Al Mourjan Garden lounge. That in itself was a big issue when I was told it was no issue. Will report shortly.

 

[Spizz]

Will post more on my return just in case. Flying out tonight 17 hours late via BNE to ADL in Business. The next lot of flights to ADL both direct and via MEL are also oversold so BNE it is as they offered me Economy on the same flight I was originally going to go on. No way. Will post a full rundown once I’ve landed back in Oz.

 

[stump]

Why don't Qatar Airways just put on extra flights to Australia?

 

[Spizz]

Why don't Qatar Airways just put on extra flights to Australia?

They can with as many as they want into Adelaide. If they were allowed the could fly another into Melbourne and possibly add a 2nd daily dedicated one for ADL.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Why don't Qatar Airways just put on extra flights to Australia?

Or use bigger planes...

 

[RooFlyer]

The next lot of flights to ADL both direct and via MEL are also oversold

That's good for QR, but not for me. Originating in HBA, I usually choose ADL to fly out of on QR, as its traditionally been more open, especially for seat selection closer to departure, if I book late.

On my recent ADL-MEL-DOH flight, only about 20 pax boarded in Adelaide that I could see, and the plane filled in Melbourne.

Edits per below

 

[AIRwin]

ADL-ADL-DOH

HBA-ADL-DOH?

 

[RooFlyer]

HBA-ADL-DOH?

I did that before didn't I? Fixed.

 

[Spizz]

Just got back. Another data point. I asked the cabin crew if the DOH-BNE was full. I was told surprise surprise it was oversold. At least I'm back.

 

[Spizz]

For those that want it here is my report. Heading to get some sleep so I apologise for any spelling mistakes and for not adding a TL: DR

I left Athens at 7pm on Qatar through to ADL all in Business. Was ticketed in Athens for both flights as I checked in 3 hours prior as soon as checkin opened. Service from Athens to Doha was fantastic and I was in Business on the old Virgin Australia 777 Plane with their business suites. Perfectly fine for the 5 hour flight.

Arrived into Doha at midnight 12am with a sign being held up with my name on it and Melbourne as I deplaned and exited the jet bridge.

The lady explained that my flight to ADL via MEL was oversold in QSuites. I asked how I got bumped and was told it was due to my fare bucket (I’m on an Award booking via VA made 6 months ago). I was due to board my flight home at 3am. Was told their were only 2 options-

go on the flight in Economy (I said no way) or go via Brisbane in QSuites some 17 hours later and then with QF in Business from BNE-ADL. I asked if I could go on the next direct ADL flight and that to was already oversold. (Looks like they are overselling both Adelaide direct and Adelaide via Melbourne).

They would give me accomodation offsite at the Concorde hotel and car transfers and meal vouchers for the 17 hours I would be in Doha. Not ideal as I would be getting home instead of 7 am but 10.30pm but i took it so I had QSuites for the long ride home. There is only a 2 hour gap to get the local flight to ADL so just hope I clear customs, make it to domestic and get checked in in time for the last flight out of BNE they have me on to ADL.

Waited in the Transfers area from 12am for 1 hour while she tried to find accomodation. I was stressed as the lady had my passport and i couldn’t locate her. (I was told she was out the back trying to put accommodation together).

I asked if there would be any compensation and she said to send an email. (I’m guessing not likely but will try).

She came out after an hour and apologised for the delay and offered I go to the Al Mourajan lounge and wait there. I said thanks but I prefer to wait and not leave without my passport. I also asked if I could get into either the airside Oryx or the new transit Oyrx Garden Hotel instead. She said she was already trying this, as I assume offsite was booked out.

She returned 30 minutes later and told my she got me into the Oryx Garden hotel but I couldn’t check into till 3am. Suggested I wait in the lounge for the 3 hours. Stressed and running on fumes as I was exhausted I did that. I was also given 3 meal voucher to be used in the food court as the hotel has no room service and no food is allowed in the rooms. The vouchers are only applicable to 3 food shops in the food court and she suggested I just eat in the lounge for my meals.

I did just that which just let to more issues.

She led me to the Al Mourasjan lounge in Terminal A and there must be an issue with the new DOH-BNE boarding pass she issued me as it took a supervisor to get me in.

Ate and waited then checked in at the Oryx Garden hotel. As my toiletries are in my suitcase and the hotel provides none I made best as I could and got some sleep.

Woke up 9am and went to the Al Mourajan Garden Lounge for breakfast. She scanned my boarding pass and asked if I was originally going Economy and have been upgraded to Business. I explained that I no I was always going business and was bumped. After a few minutes and another supervisor later she let me in and said that with the stamp she put on the back of the boarding pass I should have no further issues.

Not quite. Went back for lunch, same thing, this time did you pay for entry as I am having problems scanning it. I was about to go into my spiel but she allowed me in.

Dinner I ate in the Lounge again without issue and the vouchers they had given me for 170QAR went to waste as the places that they could be used at were of no appeal.

Anyway I am now home. Service on the DOH-BNE wasn’t as good as the service on the ATH-DOH as the staff weren’t as proactive but I’m just happy to be home albeit 17 hours later.