Qatar airways to join Oneworld on 30th October 2013

[moa999]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

To match though the QF FA should have been wearing the coat and hat.... albeit it might have been a bit hot in Doha

 

[smit0847]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

https://twitter.com/khalid606/status/395123967578501121/photo/1

View attachment 20251

Can anyone caption the uniforms in order from left to right? I only recognise about 1/3rd of them.

 

[Danger]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

Sadly (although probably not unexpected) the oneworld release says:

"Facilities at Qatar Airways' Premium Passenger Terminal at its Doha hub will continue to be accessible only by customers holding First Class or Business Class tickets on Qatar Airways."​

 

[HKGNZL]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

Presumably that will change once QR join officially? Isn't it one world requirement they provide access for Emerald?

 

[Danger]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

Presumably that will change once QR join officially? Isn't it one world requirement they provide access for Emerald?

No. That's the policy current as for their entry into oneworld. It will be interested to see how QR gets around the oneworld Emerald = access to First lounges policy, however. Presumably the non-premium terminal does not have a First lounge, meaning Emeralds will be prohibited from utilising one of the benefits of their membership.

 

[HKGNZL]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

Would be good to get that clarified. Have booked QR in J and was about to book another trip on Y (thinking lounge access is a given!).

 

[markis10]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

Would be good to get that clarified. Have booked QR in J and was about to book another trip on Y (thinking lounge access is a given!).

Lounges on offer according to One World

Oryx Lounge

Location details: Departure Terminal-1st floor
Opening hours: Daily: 24 hrs
Operated by a third party on behalf of: British Airways, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian

Silver Lounge

Location details: Departure Terminal-1st floor
Opening hours: Daily: 24 hrs

• Business Centre
• Free Wifi
• Food and Beverages
• Showers
• Smoking Room
• Wheelchair Access
• TV

 

[Danger]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

Lounges on offer according to One World . . .

Interesting. I think the Silver Lounge is their Qantas Club equivalent. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think restricting Emeralds from accessing the First lounge and Sapphires from the Business lounge (although I'm not sure there are two separate lounges in the premium terminal) would indeed appear to be a violation of the longstanding oneworld policy.

 

[samh004]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

Interesting. I think the Silver Lounge is their Qantas Club equivalent. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think restricting Emeralds from accessing the First lounge and Sapphires from the Business lounge (although I'm not sure there are two separate lounges in the premium terminal) would indeed appear to be a violation of the longstanding oneworld policy.

Qantas could simply respond in kind, as could other airlines at OneWorld hubs and see how long it takes Qatar FF's to get grumpy.

 

[coles525]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

Does anyone know how many days ahead QR release award seats? Apologies if this is already on here but have tried searching with no success. Thanks.

The answer is 353 days ahead you can book.

To make it easy to workout:

- Today is Oct 30th, 2013.
- You wish to book a flight for Dec 7th, 2014.

- Add 12 days to your desired date: Dec 7th + 12 days.

- Bookings open up on Dec 19th, 2013 for flights leaving on Dec 7th, 2014.

 

[AvroAnson]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

(although I'm not sure there are two separate lounges in the premium terminal)

It's a bit confusing at Doha, with separate terminals for arrival / departure and transit. Neither of the terminals have aerobridges - it's all done with buses. The premium transit terminal has a business lounge and a first class lounge. The business lounge is very very nice. I have heard (but not experienced) that the first class lounge is superlative. With the move to the new Doha airport (now two years overdue) I imagine all that will change.

 

[beardoc]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

I don't see the QR policy at DOH as that much different to things at SYD. QF operates a First Lounge at SYD T1 that you can access if you are flying at the International Terminal. Whilst you are in that terminal, you can access the Lounge.

If you're flying from T3, you're not able to access the First Lounge because you have no access to the T1 terminal at that time.

Similarly at DOH, if you're OWE but flying Y, you have no access to the premium terminal, and so there is a lounge, but you can't access it. I would imagine that if you're flying J out of DOH and you're OWE you should be able to access the F Lounge. But there's no requirement for QR to give you access to a terminal. Only access to a lounge if you can get into the terminal.

Of course, this is supposition, but it seems reasonable to me. I don't really like it, but I understand why they're doing it - and I don't see that it conflicts with the current oneworld access rules.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

I don't see the QR policy at DOH as that much different to things at SYD. QF operates a First Lounge at SYD T1 that you can access if you are flying at the International Terminal. Whilst you are in that terminal, you can access the Lounge.

If you're flying from T3, you're not able to access the First Lounge because you have no access to the T1 terminal at that time.

Similarly at DOH, if you're OWE but flying Y, you have no access to the premium terminal, and so there is a lounge, but you can't access it. I would imagine that if you're flying J out of DOH and you're OWE you should be able to access the F Lounge. But there's no requirement for QR to give you access to a terminal. Only access to a lounge if you can get into the terminal.

Of course, this is supposition, but it seems reasonable to me. I don't really like it, but I understand why they're doing it - and I don't see that it conflicts with the current oneworld access rules.

Almost like the distinction justifying the Concorde Rooms.

No complaint, it's just funny and "makes sense". Here is the lounge; you can access it. But, you just can't get into the terminal so you can access it. Fantastic. I won't gripe about it, but I am going to look forward (not really) to all the blogging and US-based pundits having a go at not being able to access it (as well as the lucky few who manage to argue their way in).

A similar example I can think of is the LH First Class Terminal in FRA. Only LH and LH Group F (as well as HON Circle flying any class on the LH Group) have access. This is instituted in Star Alliance policy as a specific exception.

 

[cmon0005]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

No. That's the policy current as for their entry into oneworld. It will be interested to see how QR gets around the oneworld Emerald = access to First lounges policy, however. Presumably the non-premium terminal does not have a First lounge, meaning Emeralds will be prohibited from utilising one of the benefits of their membership.

If this is the case I don't think I would consider flying with QR.. Even if booked in j I want to be able to guest friends travelling in the into the lounge or vice versa. Segregation to this level is too much IMHO.

 

[garybatz]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

The answer is 353 days ahead you can book.

To make it easy to workout:

- Today is Oct 30th, 2013.
- You wish to book a flight for Dec 7th, 2014.

- Add 12 days to your desired date: Dec 7th + 12 days.

- Bookings open up on Dec 19th, 2013 for flights leaving on Dec 7th, 2014.

Thanks coles. Helpful too that it's the same as QF.

 

[AvroAnson]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

Even if booked in j I want to be able to guest friends travelling in the into the lounge or vice versa. Segregation to this level is too much IMHO.

As I said above, it will no doubt change when the new airport is opened and everything is in the same terminal.

At the moment it's all done with colour-coded baggage tags and boarding pass wallets. If you get a burgundy tag you're allowed on the bus to the premium terminal. So the time to arrange things is at check-in here in Australia. Check in with your friends and sweet talk the agent, you might just get the right coloured tag. After that it's not likely to be a problem.

 

[coles525]

Re: [Confirmed] Qatar May be Invited to Join One World

Sorry, I got it wrong...

BUT it is better, as it's 1 year in advance!

I just looked at doing a booking for next near, in which the final available date is Oct 30th, 2014.

This was done on the website:

www.qatarairways.com/global/en/check-in-online.page

 

[zainman]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

If this is the case I don't think I would consider flying with QR.. Even if booked in j I want to be able to guest friends travelling in the into the lounge or vice versa. Segregation to this level is too much IMHO.

I really love the premium terminal experience. You don't even get to see the Y customers no lines for security or/immigration etc. It's fantastic!

 

[Danger]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

A Qantas agent told me QF won't be able to see award availability in QR until midnight on 31 October (12am 1 November).

 

[zainman]

Re: Qatar joining Oneworld date?

A Qantas agent told me QF won't be able to see award availability in QR until midnight on 31 October (12am 1 November).

I can see availability already to/from FRA/LHR/DXB/MEL