France (and London, Briefly)

[MattA]

I’m heading for Europe this evening. After last year’s family Euro adventure, unfortunately it wasn’t feasible to take everyone this time. Instead, I’m flying solo to meet my UK-based parents in France for some family events (more of that later) while Mrs MattA holds down the fort in Melbourne with our little ones (don’t worry—she is banking this one and already planning a future girls trip…)

Rather unconventionally, we’re kicking things off here in the Melbourne VA domestic lounge…



Let me explain.

 

[MattA]

Flights were booked back in late October, so ~ 6 months out, and award availability was already pretty sparse.

I had a decent stack of Velocity points to play with, plus enough AMEX MR points for one leg on any one of their transfer partners if needed.

Couldn’t find anything direct ex-MEL, so ended up with: MEL-ADL in VA J, then QR J, ADL - DOH / DOH - LHR.

154k VFF plus ~ $800 in taxes and carrier charges (yikes!)

The next alternative would have been SQ J (Advantage only; no Savers) at lower $$ charges but significantly more points.

Figured I’m less likely to find multiple award seats on QR in future for a family trip, so a good opportunity to try them out. I’ve never flown QR in any class before.

Also it should really be 139k MEL-LHR, but VFF price by adding from both tables when booking across different carriers, so the domestic leg is charged in addition, even though it’s on one PNR.

 

[MattA]

Originally I had a 45 minute connection in DOH, but at some point QR retimed QR915 resulting in a connection under MCT, so they moved me to the next DOH-LHR.

I was able to see the booking on QR’s MMB and select seats, but only discovered much later—thanks to this forum and a lack of eticket number on the old CMT (RIP)—that VA don’t automatically accept changes for you and don’t tell you about them either. Luckily I called up and got it reticketed. Not sure what would have happened if I’d just shown up at the airport…

Speaking of CMT. A month or so ago QR retimed QR915 again—just changed the departure time from 21:20 to 21:40. The new CMT continued to show the old 21:20 departure time right up until yesterday, when it updated with a “delay”. Um yeah, ok.



But even then, it’s sending me alerts like this…



I mean you’ve got one job. If you can’t even get that right…

 

[MattA]

Bit of a wait at VA’s international connections checkin, but eventually I’m checked in (for the VA leg only; bag checked all the way to LHR, allegedly). Security is busy but the lines move quickly. The lounge is a zoo but I just have time for a party pie and beer before heading to board.



I’ve come to the gate too early (not because of a lounge boarding call, this time, just because it was getting close to departure time). Only when I got here they announced a 15 minute delay.



Priority boarding is enforced but they are simultaneously boarding a general boarding line, which seems to defeat the purpose.

We’re pretty full. J is 8/8 and I’m in 1A.

 

[MattA]

Apart from the delay, VA237 is otherwise uneventful.



Dinner choices are the chicken with potatoes or the mushroom gnocchi. Went for the chicken and it was very tasty.

 

[MattA]

On arrival in ADL, due to not being able to check in online or in MEL, I have to head landside and check in at the QR desks.

Not much of a queue for J check-in, and some confusion as to whether the bag I checked in in MEL (supposedly through checked) is linked up properly (I think I was just too quick, as it hasn’t come off the VA flight yet to be scanned in).

Anyway after a few phone calls back and forth to the ground crew I am assured everything is ok and have a couple of boarding passes in hand. Back through security and straight to the QF Club.

As I suspected, they *really* didn’t want to let me in.

“Oh Qatar uses the VA lounge”

I pull up One World lounge rules, which state otherwise, and then the Qantas access rules, which seem unambiguous to me.



I am reluctantly admitted with a “that’s our bad for having that on our website, head on in, but they have to strike a deal with the local lounge, and they haven’t done that…”

My understanding was the One World rules supersede all that, but I know the Qs don’t get on these days…

Anyway the QC is quiet as we near the last dom departure of the day. And I don’t think my single glass of red is going to trouble the QF beancounters too much.



First car park view of the trip.

 

[MattA]

Gah. I have been bumped from Seat 61! Disappointing.

 

[Flashback]

Sacré bleu!

 

[MattA]

The QF lounge closed with boarding of the last dom departure so onwards to the VA lounge. No issues with access here of course. I expected they would close with the last dom departure too, but confirmed with the front desk that they stay open until the QR flight departs.

Haven’t been here since the renno. I like it. Bit of a hotel lobby vibe to the place, but it’s bright, airy and also very quiet at this time of night.

 

[Flashback]

A pre-welcome to London for your arrival. The rain has stopped (finally) and it's warmed up (finally). High teens. Enjoy!

 

[RooFlyer]

I am reluctantly admitted with a “that’s our bad for having that on our website, head on in, but they have to strike a deal with the local lounge, and they haven’t done that…”

That's interesting - that implies some sort of franchise arrangement, which I've never heard of. Wonder if @TheInsider can clarify? Are any domestic lounges ( as opposed to outsourced catering) 'franchised' ? That is, run by a thirty party, meaning, as the lounge agent implied, they can tailor their admission rules?

 

[MattA]

That's interesting - that implies some sort of franchise arrangement, which I've never heard of. Wonder if @TheInsider can clarify? Are any domestic lounges ( as opposed to outsourced catering) 'franchised' ? That is, run by a thirty party, meaning, as the lounge agent implied, they can tailor their admission rules?

I’m sure others know better than I do what’s going on there. I have no doubt it’s true that QR don’t want to pay for access, but I suspect it’s more of a training issue in terms of the One World rules and what QF are required to adhere to.

I was expecting access to be less than seamless, so it was more of a point of principle for me than anything else (especially given that I booked this with VFF points—I find it deeply ironic that this VA award flight technically grants access to a competitor lounge).

 

[MattA]

Airtags are awesome, aren’t they? While waiting to board on the aerobridge my checked bag, despite checkin uncertainty about its whereabouts, changed to “With You”, which seems like a good sign.

 

[MattA]

Not sure what’s going on here with the QR inflight wifi… had to turn on a VPN to get AFF to load. Without the VPN:

 

[serfty]

That's interesting - that implies some sort of franchise arrangement, which I've never heard of. Wonder if @TheInsider can clarify? Are any domestic lounges ( as opposed to outsourced catering) 'franchised' ? That is, run by a thirty party, meaning, as the lounge agent implied, they can tailor their admission rules?

I’m sure others know better than I do what’s going on there. I have no doubt it’s true that QR don’t want to pay for access, but I suspect it’s more of a training issue in terms of the One World rules and what QF are required to adhere to. ...

Access was eventually granted as per oneworld rules. I have been led to believe that with *O the default agreement is the Marketing carrier pays for such access. Some *O carriers have their own agreements between other *O, individually or by group which may vary this default. e.g. BA & QR or BA, AA, IB & AY.

https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/partners-and-alliances

 

[MattA]

So first time flying QR and I’m in Qsuite 3A on this 777 for the 13 hours to DOH. I know not everyone is a fan, but I can see why people who like it like it. It’s a simple thing but being able to shut the door really does give the sense of being in your own little bubble.



3A is in the smaller front section of J and it’s rear-facing, which is a slightly odd sensation on takeoff and landing, but you don’t really notice when you are in the air.

PJs and amenity kit:

 

[MattA]

Menu and wine list:

 

[MattA]

For dinner I opt for the pea and fennel soup to start.



Followed by Barramundi with asian greens.



After that I’m pretty tired so forgo any further food and get the bed made up (FA adds a thin padded mattress and fully reclines the seat) and sleep. I find the bed reasonably comfy and, importantly, at 6ft 4, I fit lying down flat with a few cms to spare.

Wake with a couple of hours to go so order some breakfast: smoked salmon and scrambled egg on muffin.



I do like the dine on demand concept and particularly the fact that they don’t aggressively turn on all the cabin lights 3 hours out like some other airlines do (looking at you, SQ).

Some choccies arrived shortly before descent.



All told this has been a very pleasant experience. Great product imo.

 

[MattA]

We land 10 or so minutes ahead of schedule, although we have apparently landed in another country, so any saved time is used up on the long and winding bus journey from the remote gate to the transfer area.



Quickly through transit security and off to find the new Al Mourjan lounge at The Garden.

Quite poorly signed. The transfer bus drops you at the south end near the giant teddy, so I guess most people will visit the closer lounges.



But I’ve got a Trip Report to write, so off I head to the other end of the airport. It’s about a ten minute walk via travelators, although as I’m walking I spot the train whizzing past overhead.

Then when you get there, no signs either. After wandering past it into The Garden itself, I turn around and find the entrance next to a couple of lifts along side a giant backdrop with Louis Vuitton branding. Boarding pass scanned, I am ushered into a lift.

It’s massive. And quiet. We start with breakfast from the a la carte menu — https://www.qatarairways.com/content/dam/hia/pdf/al-mourjan-dinning-en.pdf

Opted for the Benedict.



There’s a buffet too:



And a bar:



And views to the Garden below:



Plenty of seats…

 

[MattA]

That extremely well signed lounge entrance…