My First TR: 21 Flights in 28 Days

[JohnSydney2000]

Hi exceladdict,
Continuing to love your very photogenic trip report. Well done. I seem to be popping through similar places which is great. I assume you are NOT on an *ONE, as I assume you start and finish with PER-DOH-PER. Did you cobble together some one world awards with AA miles? As I said above, I shall be at the Hilton you featured tonight, flight permitting. And DOH is on my radar also. Happy travels. John.

 

[Kangol]

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

Just saw this:
Has Qatar Airways Stopped Serving Krug In The Al Mourjan Lounge Doha? - One Mile at a Time

How long ago was your visit through DOH?

 

[exceladdict]

Just saw this:
Has Qatar Airways Stopped Serving Krug In The Al Mourjan Lounge Doha? - One Mile at a Time

How long ago was your visit through DOH?

This was on Friday March 13th. I got halfway through posting Doha and had to leave the PC, will continue today!

 

[exceladdict]

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

I certainly got my moneys worth!

Hi exceladdict,
Continuing to love your very photogenic trip report. Well done. I seem to be popping through similar places which is great. I assume you are NOT on an *ONE, as I assume you start and finish with PER-DOH-PER. Did you cobble together some one world awards with AA miles? As I said above, I shall be at the Hilton you featured tonight, flight permitting. And DOH is on my radar also. Happy travels. John.

A mix of award and revenue tickets but not a Done5.

 

[exceladdict]

With a full belly, I went down to the main area to find a shower but the main ones were busy, so I was directed to the secondary showers, which are through the second restaurant, behind the glass doors, and through a corridor. The desk was again unattended but after going through the 'Male' side, I was directed to an empty suite by two attendants who were in the corridor. The showers were quite nice.





The room is big and stocked with standard necessities. I requested a toothbrush kit.





Mirror was decent.




Then it was time for another glass of Krug - requested from the small restaurant I'd just passed, I witnessed the pour and carried it back to one of the circular areas earlier pictured where my wife and I were based.


My wife then used the ladies' showers which were the same as the mens' - quite nice, but had no hairdryers, which is a negative for those with long hair. I do suppose they're not needed in the Qatari weather though so I can somewhat understand.


We then decided it was time for a move. We had a look in the games room - can't remember if I pictured it before:

 

[exceladdict]

Unfortunately only one of the Playstations was working so we had a quick race on some motorcycle game before finding a new area to sit that had these kind of chairs,




but with a side table:





Within moments of sitting down, someone asked if we would like drinks brought the the table, and how could we not? Krug came along again with some sparkling water. This confirms that at the time, it was available in the downstairs area (and with table service!).





An hour or so passed as I nursed the glass and then as soon as I finished I was asked if I'd like a top up. Very impressed with the service and considering they're small glasses, I took advantage of the fact it was an 8 hour stopover.

Noted: There were also some people walking around in the QR PJ's in the lounge. No stress of feeling underdressed here.

 

[exceladdict]

After this we went back up to the restaurant to have another look at dinner. Two new choices had appeared; roast potato and lamb schezwan.




I tried both.





Then it was time to stretch our legs for a little while before the flight. On re-entering, I confirmed that OneWorld Emerald and Sapphire can access the lounge if travelling on QR (or one of the few CX or BA flights that operate out of here) in Y.


However I did notice this on the OW website - worth being aware of: Guests are not permitted at Qatar Airways Al Safwa and Al Mourjan lounges at Hamad International Airport in Doha or Qatar Airways Premium Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 4.


This could be an issue as I couldn't see any other OW lounge at Doha and I would image that WPs would be expecting their partner would be able to join them in the lounge if flying Y.


We collected our bags out of the baggage lockers - they couldn't get ours open at first, so had to call maintenance but then managed to get it open before maintenance arrived. With our bags, we went and relaxed in a chair for half an hour before we needed to head to the gate.


As we sat quite comfortably, someone came and said to us "do you know there are relaxing cabins (or similar words) that you can rest in?"


"I did not know that," I exclaimed. While we did't have time to use one, I was curious: the gentleman directed me back through the small restaurant, near where the showers were, but on the opposite side. Unfortunately there were none avaialable so I couldn't take a picture, but they were clearly signed. Not sure how I missed it - I suppose I assumed it was a quiet work zone.

 

[exceladdict]

On the way back through, I took some pictures of the smaller, downstairs restaurant for reference. They seem to be choose-what-you-want salads/sandwiches. Most importantly: they had Krug behind this desk, perhaps if you encounter it's out of stock upstairs at the restaurant, you can try here.








After that it was off to the gate to board, a good 10 minute walk from the lounge. I'm going to miss this airport for sure.


Next up: CX640 DOH-HKG

 

[JessicaTam]

Is the whole lounge available for status pax, or are there areas you could get to that others couldn't?

 

[exceladdict]

Is the whole lounge available for status pax, or are there areas you could get to that others couldn't?

I was a lowly SG travelling J, but wasn't denied entry to any areas. I explored quite thoroughly but didn't see any restricted areas (unless they were via the smoking room, which I didn't enter).

 

[PLANT]

Did you wife ask for the hairdryer like you asked for the toothbrush?
Should have taken a pick of PJ's in lounge it would have been number one pic for Qantas Lounge members to share.....they were not wearing thongs?

 

[exceladdict]

Did you wife ask for the hairdryer like you asked for the toothbrush?
Should have taken a pick of PJ's in lounge it would have been number one pic for Qantas Lounge members to share.....they were not wearing thongs?

I don't think she did ask. My toothbrush request was before I'd showered though, I wouldn't have been as keen to exit the rooms half way through drying.

I don't think they were wearing thongs but something's telling me they may have had the QR Slippers on. I think someone needs to check that quiet area and see if maybe they were handing out PJs there. If not, there's no excuse!

 

[JessicaTam]

I was a lowly SG travelling J, but wasn't denied entry to any areas. I explored quite thoroughly but didn't see any restricted areas (unless they were via the smoking room, which I didn't enter).

Cheers, thanks.

 

[JohnSydney2000]

They definitely are out of Krug at the DOH business lounge at the moment. And there was a surge of passengers taking nearly all seats between 6 and 7 this morning. My host this morning has done a tour of the First Class lounge, but still no idea when it might be opened. John.

 

[exceladdict]

36: CX640 DOH-HKG, 7h:30m, A330-3, J 15D/G


As we made our way over to the gate we had one more thing to look forward to: how we'd be treated in CX J. Via HKG to PER might not seem like the most logical journey - at least, not according to our friends and family with whom we had shared the itinerary - but when there were no seats in the flight direct to PER, well, I guessed I'd just have to try another carrier's intl J product. How terrible.




Boarding was quite nice. Straight to the front of the priority queue, we waited about a minute before our passes were scanned. We were ushered into a 'priority waiting area' at the gate after our boarding passes were scanned, and then boarded about 10 minutes later. The attendants apologied for making us wait (the 10 minutes) and I got the feeling they appreciated our business. I only point it out as it's a feeling I rarely get in PER.
Down to the aerobridge we found our seats, the pair in the middle of the plane (D/G). Compared to all other J seats we'd had, we felt a bit further apart due to the layout of the seats, and the divider in between meant we had to lean forward to converse. But we planned to sleep most of this leg, so it wasn't too much of a problem.





I thought the flowers at each seat were a lovely touch. The team were nice and hung my jacket before take-off.





Hot towels came around,





And much to my delight, the foot area was much more spacious than that on the AY A330.

 

[exceladdict]

Take off felt like it was on time but to be honest, my body clock had no idea what time it was.



I read for a while before meal service started, which took a bit longer than I'd have liked as I planned to sleep. However, once it started, it happened like clockwork.



The FAs were all running up and down the aisles and before I knew it I had a menu, place mat, a choice of bread (garlic), a drink, and all the sides right in front of me.




The menu was quite nice, though with fewer choices than QR.



The sides themselves healthy looking (and tasty).





I had some monster blueberries about four times the size of their regularly grown neighbours.





My wife had given up and gone to sleep, so it was only me eating.

 

[exceladdict]

The mains were served via a trolley, a bit less personal feeling than QR. I had the beef, which was hands down the nicest steak I'd had on a plane.




Cooked just the way I like it.



The mash was amazing and vegetables were also very nice.
After that it was time for sleep, and the flight was smooth from memory so I got a good rest. The bed was comfortable, I enjoyed the seats and pillow. My little nook was good and felt private.


I woke up in time for breakfast, which was well presented.




Greedily I had water, OJ, and a coffee (cap).





Feedback on the breakfast was that it was overall nice, the muffin was very soft and seemd fresh. The Criossant was soggy, not that I expected otherwise; the other pastry was sweet, but the yoghurt was a bit tangy for my taste.


It was good to have fresh fruit again though.


Before I knew it, the seven hours had passed and it was time to stow away my screen and bedding for touch down.




I'm not sure what else to say about this flight. It was uneventful in that it was very well executed so no service or comfort issues came up and it was very pleasant.


The only issue with service we had on this leg was my wife was not given an immigration card. We hadn't decided if we'd leave the airport on our stopover, so she did need one; I requested one from the FA who did not return with one. As we exited the plane, she apologised profusely and I said not to worry as we still hadn't decided if we'd need it. If that's the biggest hiccup of a 8 hour flight, then CX are doing their job!


In terms of the hard product: it didn't quite equal the QR A330, but it was still extremely nice. I'd have no hesitation to fly it again (which was good; as in a number of hours, I would be flying it again). The only thing with the seats was that my shoes just didn't fit into the little compartment to place them in. There were no slippers, so it was good to have the shoes handy, but next time I'll pack non-stiff-leather shoes.


Next up: HKG Airport & Our First Lounge Hop

 

[Dr Bob]

Doing CX J London to Sydney in August so keen to see your lounge report. How long is your transit?

 

[exceladdict]

Doing CX J London to Sydney in August so keen to see your lounge report. How long is your transit?

Only 8 hours. I'll try to post in the next few days back home means back to work, unfortunately.

 

[boomy]

Only 8 hours. I'll try to post in the next few days back home means back to work, unfortunately.

Had 8 hours transit in Jan, perfect time to visit QF and all CX lounges, then taking a nap in one of the cabanas to let all the champagne sink in before hitting the bar again