Re: Historic Turkey (and 5 airports!), finishing in Muscat,Oman. QF, QR and WY J, TK
On to boarding, and my bad run with Oman Air business continues. First at the gate, its another shambles. A single gate agent, and there are about three long, separate queues snaking their way through the gate lounge area. I guess priority boarding isn't one of WY strengths, then
? And there's an equipment change. the A330 I had really been looking forward to has been subbed by a B737. Grrrr!
In the LH pic, that's the long awaited new terminal in the distance. I'll probably never get to use it. RH pic the boarding shambles. Of course we were herded onto a bus and there we stood in the rotten heat for what seemed forever.
We drove out to the plane, and of course they weren't ready for us, so on the bus we waited. Out of the bus, onto the stairs and we waited there some more, in the sun.
Finally in my seat - desperately need some water, but none in the seat pocket (as I think there should be), so I ask for some and get a bottle. Hooray!
Pretty standard 737 J seating. Arabic coffee and dates offered and taken.
In the air, no menu. Meal is beef and rice, or a wrap. Absolute cough for business class, DYKWIA or no. I'm not sure its because of Ramadan, but either you offer a decent business class meal, or you don't offer anything is my attitude. A wrap?
Then when I asked for a G&T it got even weirder. I was expecting a 'sorry, no alcohol due to Ramadan' (and that would have been fine) but what I got was 'sometimes they load it, sometimes not - I'll go and look'. She reported that there was Chevis Regal available, but no other alcohol. Again, what's that all about? Either you serve alcohol during Ramadan or you don't; if you do, have the normal selection.
Oman Air business class, both on board and pre-flight gets a complete fail from me. I guess their long haul would have to be better, but my flights (1.5 to 2 hrs) were shockers (for the class travelled).
Arrived DOH a bit early, 38 deg outside. An airbridge, at least.
The business class lounge, as others have observed is very big and quite swish. A shower, with no wait this time (the lounge was virtually empty at 4pm)
I had about 6 hours to kill, so went to the business centre as it was the only place where I could put a laptop on a table. I helped myself to a coffee and some buscuits and took them back to the desk to do some e-mailing etc. Afterwards, a lounge dragon came by and told me no food or drink in the business centre. Can't understand that, but whatever.
Up to the restaurant upstairs, and its definitely booze-free for Ramadan. I think there was a la carte available, but I had the buffet and it was very nice.
Next stop, my A350 to ADL.