My First TR: 21 Flights in 28 Days

[ellen10]

I am still really enjoying your trip report.
Great pictures.

 

[exceladdict]

I am still really enjoying your trip report.
Great pictures.

Thank you

33: LHR Terminal 4 and the QR Lounge


The Hilton Buggy dropped us off on the opposite side of the check-in terminal to the QR check in desk, which was bundled with some other OW airlines. It would have only been a few minutes walk at most and given the nice smooth airport floors, rolling the bags was not a problem.


Check in was quick and painless; there was little queue and we were called straight through to the front ahead of a number of Y pax. We'd be travelling on an A330, reasonably big I supposed but at T-3 hours not many had yet arrived.


Security was fun today. Priority Security seems to usher you through this reasonably long tunnel-like corridor and at the end of it we were straight at a scan machine with one person in front of us. Great, I thought; it would turn out not to be so. Both my wife and I beeped despite not carrying anything metal. After the odd rub down (at least they use the back of their hands across sensitive areas - I'm not sure what this acheives), we were advised that "because it wasn't busy, the machine hasn't beeped in the last 5 minutes. Because of that it just randomly beeps a few times as false alarms". Of course this didn't hold us up too much, but it was still a bit strange to me.


Anyway after we got through security, I raced for what I had heard was an amazing lounge and we didn't want to waste a second of time being not in it. It was probably five minutes walk from security.





We were welcomed and greeted by a lady and a gentleman who asked if we'd visited before and as we said no, he showed us through the lounge, pointed out the facilities and showed us to a table in the full-service restaurant. A fantastic first impression. Also, we were advised that there were no boarding calls in this lounge, no, we'd be personally advised by himself or another lounge attendant when it was time to board.





We had a great view of the plane we were would be boarding in an hour,





And in a moment we were attended and asked what food,





and drinks we would like for breakfast.





Any regret that we didn't eat at the Hilton had instantly disappeared.

 

[exceladdict]

Much of the food was on display, and was immaculately presented. I so wanted a piece of this cake, but would have to have breakfast first.




Even the cereal,





and fresh fruit and meats, etc, were displayed in a classy way.





After not long, my mocha was served, along with an OJ,





and my wife's cappuccino, fruit, and Yoghurt were delivered.





Given the price of blueberries in Australia, we certainly felt like we got our money's worth from the start. Additionally, our coffees were both amazing, I find them to generally be a good measure when comparing facilities due to the combination of staff training and monetary investment in good beans/machines required to make one that's not horrible. QR get a solid A.

 

[exceladdict]

Shortly my breakfast came out too. Very fresh, and delivered with a smile.




We were attended well and regularly asked if we'd like more food, drinks, or anything.


After eating I took some more photos. In this little side zone, they had self-serve lollies and chocolates, we took a container full of lindors for plane snacks (not that we'd need them).

 

[exceladdict]

Many bottles were on display,




but krug was neither on the rack or on the menu. I felt a little snobby saying "Nah, they only have Moet."





They had a huge selection of cough/mocktails as well. Given it was around 6.30am by this point I wasn't in the mood for a drink yet but I imagine that for later departures it would have been fantastic.





There were lots of seating options by the window,





And some comfy-looking couches.

 

[exceladdict]

I also loved the water feature,



And as you approached the bathrooms, fresh flowers in vases to line the corridor.



No paper towels to dry your hands here, it's cotton all around, alongside quite large single use shower condiments.

 

[exceladdict]

The showers themselves had wall jets as well as ceiling - if only I had the time I would have loved a surround-shower.



And there was also a robe for while you do your hair, I suppose.



Unfortunately, it was soon time to board. An attendant came to us in the restaurant and let us know we should consider making our way across to the plane. Our time in this lovely lounge felt like it evaporated,

Final note: on exiting, I took a snap of this sign:



I'm guessing due to the size of the lounge - and desire to keep it premium - OW elites are not allowed inside (they're shuffled to the SkyTeam lounge). However, let me suggest that it's well worth flying QR for the comination of the service on the plane (more of that next) and the amazing lounge!

Next up: QR6, LHR-DOH

 

[amaroo]

Impressive lounge. Nice TR!

 

[ellen10]

Wow what a great looking lounge.

 

[JessicaTam]

The lounge looks great. I am looking forward to the flight.

 

[blackcat20]

That was one lovely looking breakfast. I assume you can have champagne if you want?

 

[exceladdict]

That was one lovely looking breakfast. I assume you can have champagne if you want?

I didn't ask, unfortunately, and while I don't remember seeing anyone drinking, I can't imagine the staff saying no given how friendly they were. And thanks, it was lovely indeed

34: QR6, LHR-DOH, A330-3, J 10A/C, A7-AEB


Boarding was immediate - there was almost nobody at the departure gate, leading me to be worried we were at the wrong one. Passports and boarding cards checked, we were on the plane in seconds and in our comfortable seats in the 'Mini-J' cabin in row 10 of this QR A333. Basically, there's one row of J behind the F cabin and before the first crew/bulkhead/toilet area. There's a few more rows of J behind that bulkhead, then the economy section follows. My wife and I quite liked the privacy of this little zone and we seemed to receive fantastic attention from the FA.




Snapshot of the pax in F in front of us. To be honest, apart from a slightly larger (perhaps) screen, the hard product didn't seem that much nicer than the J cabin on the 777's we'd flown PER-DOH-HOU.



Back on our seats - no complaints about legroom for me,




And my wife wasn't jammed up against the window either.





Could not use IFE as it was in the armrest, so I got into a book before takeoff and enjoyed some sparkling water alongside it.

 

[exceladdict]

Taxiing out, there sure were a lot of BA planes waiting to take off, but we seemed to beat the rush as there was no tarmac delay.




Or if there was, I was too busy paying attention to the large menus. The whenever-you-want selection was again fantastic.





Orders were taken for breakfast either slightly before or slightly after take-off.





The seats were a little different to the 777. On the outer of the arm flap, there was a quick-switch chair recliner.





Inside the flap were the more complex controls. I was too scared to go near the massager again after what happened on my AY flight.

 

[exceladdict]

My wife had a smoothie and I enjoyed another bubbly water before breakfast was served. That was an Arabic Breakfast Plate,




and for me, the Wild mushroom risotto with shaved parmesan cheese and garlic sauteed mushrooms. Both were accompanied by a huge selection of bread.





Between the seats were multi-fit power points, the AU plug on my laptop went straight in.





Then it was time to put my feet up.





My wife got started on a movie but couldn't seem to disable the arabic subtitles.

 

[exceladdict]

My glass was continually filled, and while I was only on the light stuff (soda water) I was both impressed and satisfied.





After breakfast was cleared, bottles of water were handed out as we flew over the swiss alps. The flight path then took us over Venice before turning slightly more East. Cabin lights were then dimmed before hot towels were brought out - one thing I'm going to miss for sure. I ordered a cappucino which came out promptly and was very nice. Unfortunately around this time a quite loud gentleman seemed to keep repeating his disappointment he was not on an A380 to the poor FA's. It distracted my from my writing for a little while. Anyhow, the seatbelt sign came on soon enough when a little bit of turbulence came through. It came off about 20 minutes later before being relit for a further 10 minutes or so.


Cabin / wind noise, even as we flew down towards Egypt, continued to be low - probably the quietest since our first QR flight on the 773.


With an hour or so before landing we were asked if we'd like anything else from the menu - my wife ordered a cheese platter.





And I had the 'Selection of Indulgent Desserts'. I consider myself quite a simple dessert person - I'll take chocolate cake any day - but this selection was 3/3.





Which turned out to be a banana-cream chocolate biscuit, mango flavoured squishy square (the technical term, of course) and a nice red velvet cupcake. I probably could have done with something more substantial but decided I'd save myself for the lounge as the end of the flight was approaching. Another coffee got me through to Doha.


I'd definately recommend this mini-cabin if you fly the QR A330. While there was a small amount of noise from the FAs working in the bulkhead directly behind, I feel like the window seats would hear none of this. Otherwise, it was quiet, well-served by the nearby FAs and we used the F boarding platform, getting us on the plane quickly and without any sort of mosh pit whatsoever.


I didn't use the IFE, though my wife watched two movies. While the 4:3 aspect ratio screen looked a bit old-school, the system itself was different to that on the 777s I used previously and seemed to have a few choices of movies for her and be quite responsive. Of course, being in the seats, no use during take off or landing.





Hot towels came around again as we got closer to Doha; and we got off this daytime J flight refreshed and happy, despite the trip drawing nearer to a close.





Next Up: DOH and the QR Lounge (in the daytime/evening!)

 

[QF WP]

Continuing to enjoy this thread and the Hilton T4 brought back some fantastic memories of our trip in 2011. Will almost be sad when you finish the TR....

 

[exceladdict]

Continuing to enjoy this thread and the Hilton T4 brought back some fantastic memories of our trip in 2011. Will almost be sad when you finish the TR....

I'll be sad without question, I'm extending my holiday (mentally) by writing this every day or two!

35: DOH(a) again and the QR Lounge (PM)


We touched down in Qatar around 5pm, the opposite side of the day to our previous 5am departure. Correctly turning left after exiting the gate, we didn't put ourselves through transfer security this time, and found our way into the very long terminals of Hamad International Airport.




First up we had a little sit down on one of the many varieties of chairs available.





Then we made our way up to the large restaurant on the first level again and found a table.




The food range was better in the PM - two visual standouts were a lamb dish,




And the variety of desserts.



But more on those later.

 

[exceladdict]

I had a butter chicken, some rice, and some of the meat.




Between me grabbing a plate and my wife going up, they refreshed the butter chicken, so she had a bit more and it was less chewy.





And - I have some fantastic news. I didn't see it on display, but after we started eating someone asked if we wanted drinks, so I asked if they had any Krug - and it was delivered right to my table! (My wife had a Rosé).





My second plate included these cheese croquettes,





Along with some samosas, and vegetables. There was a lady at the buffet complaining about a lack of vegetarian food; there seemed to be plenty to me though.





Needless to say we were satisfied.

 

[Kangol]

And - I have some fantastic news. I didn't see it on display, but after we started eating someone asked if we wanted drinks, so I asked if they had any Krug - and it was delivered right to my table! (My wife had a Rosé).

Awesome!!
Flying on QR and going through DOH would be worth it for this alone!

 

[JohnSydney2000]

Continuing to enjoy this thread and the Hilton T4 brought back some fantastic memories of our trip in 2011. Will almost be sad when you finish the TR....

Where I shall be staying tonight and catching up with a famous AFF'er I have not seen in years!!
Happy travels. John.