Qatar Economy Class - The Very Good and the Slightly Annoying.

[Dalescott]

I'm REALLY surprised !!!

If I may ask ;

Were you & your wife were asleep during the meal service ?

Reason I ask, during one of Intl Y, I was sleeping and the FA didn't wake me up for meal service. However, when I eventually woke up, the FA came by and asked if I'd like to have my meals ... I was surprised that they remembered though ...

Or, was DND (Do Not Disturb) set by mistake on your seat ? It's a red sticker put on top of the head-rest of your Y seat.

This used to happen a lot on SQ. SQ's FA put a DND red sticker on your seat if you prefer not to be disturbed during the whole duration of the flight. This also includes FA's not waking you for meal/drink service.

We were very much awake.

That's a good & just gesture ... appreciate it



That's not right .. the Cabin Manager, though can't and probably won't do anything on the spot. Usually they take a mental note of your seat # (and/or FF information) and let the FA know ...

Alternatively, have you tried raising a complaint with QR ?

I complained to the Cabin Manager on the flight, may be I should have complained after the flight but didn't.

 

[mtbsafari]

Forget all this talk about airlines, let’s all grab our bags, jump on the next flight to Venice and go stay at Renato’s place. Such a wonderful city.

 

[Renato1]

Forget all this talk about airlines, let’s all grab our bags, jump on the next flight to Venice and go stay at Renato’s place. Such a wonderful city.

Yes, Venice is very good.

But having visited it so many times in the past, I actually didn't visit it this year or last year (looks pretty much the same as when I first visited it back in 1965).

Very many other interesting towns close by - Vicenza, Padova, Verona, Asolo, Marostica, Castelfranco, Cittadella, Treviso, Feltre, Bassano del Grappa and my wife's favourite place in Italy, Asiago, up in the mountains.

Cheers,
Renato

P.S. And when you're resting at the end of a long day and just want to unwind or relax, providing you have a standard terrestial TV (not satellite TV) just flick it on and look around the first forty or so channels, either press the Audio button or change the Audio settings, and you typically have the choice of watching three or four movies and four or five TV shows in English.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Th

Thank you. madrooster is doing the accomm through QR with us....heard Marriott Marquis Is really good but will keep your recommendation in mind if that’s not an option. We arrive at 5am, meet up with family coming in from Melb on QR around same time. Not too sure how we will handle that yet.......might need to book a night just so we have somewhere to go. We have the next day and night before flying out. Will spread our sightseeing out, based on your advice!

And it’s good to know that even if the lounge isn’t great, it’s better than the concourse.

There is also the museum of Qatar which opened this year. Definitely worth looking at the outside and we enjoyed walking through it . It’s not far from the Souk or the Museum of Islamic Art.

 

[Flashback]

If that super long connection is the shortest available connection (i.e. there's not something shorter that is just sold out, which you can't choose) then you're eligible for STPC and the transfer to/from the hotel as well as the accommodation and meals are provided by QR at no cost. You don't need to pay for the stopover deal.

Note that 8-11 hours is no meals, but 11+ hours (which this would be) would include meals.

 

[karen blancfield]

If that super long connection is the shortest available connection (i.e. there's not something shorter that is just sold out, which you can't choose) then you're eligible for STPC and the transfer to/from the hotel as well as the accommodation and meals are provided by QR at no cost. You don't need to pay for the stopover deal.

Note that 8-11 hours is no meals, but 11+ hours (which this would be) would include meals.

Didn’t know about that but we opted to stay two nights to break the journey and explore somewhere new. From the advice on this thread, we will have enough to do to make it worthwhile.

It’s also our meeting up point with family flying in from another part of Australia before we start our travels in Spain together so we won’t be upset if we spend time with a drink (coffee is fine!) resting and catching up. Looking forward to a Doha stopover next month.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Didn’t know about that but we opted to stay two nights to break the journey and explore somewhere new. From the advice on this thread, we will have enough to do to make it worthwhile.

It’s also our meeting up point with family flying in from another part of Australia before we start our travels in Spain together so we won’t be upset if we spend time with a drink (coffee is fine!) resting and catching up. Looking forward to a Doha stopover next month.

If you have a look at the Qsuites trip report in my signature, from page 12 on there are photos for Doha. Just remember when going to the museums you need to have your shoulders covered or they won’t let you in. I wore normal clothes around the hotel, but was more discreetly dressed when venturing out. Found everyone very friendly and relaxed.

 

[Flashback]

You can Uber from the museum back to the hotel too using the WiFi, book your ride in the museum then once confirmed head downstairs and look for the number plate of the driver.

 

[OZDUCK]

We did a two night stopover in Doha and had a good time. My wife wore a skirt, below the knees, and short sleeve blouses or T shirts with sleeves and was fine. As Flying Mermaid said everyone was friendly. The Museum of Islamic Art is fabulous and is in a very interesting building. Unfortunately, I gather that entry is no longer free for foreigners.

Just watch out for floodwaters - if you don't believe me have a look at page 5 of my TR. A Plane to Spain

 

[Renato1]

Just watch out for floodwaters - if you don't believe me have a look at page 5 of my TR. A Plane to Spain

We were there that day too a year ago. Couldn't believe how dark it got before the downpour, all the cars had to have their headlights on.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

If that super long connection is the shortest available connection (i.e. there's not something shorter that is just sold out, which you can't choose) then you're eligible for STPC and the transfer to/from the hotel as well as the accommodation and meals are provided by QR at no cost. You don't need to pay for the stopover deal.

Note that 8-11 hours is no meals, but 11+ hours (which this would be) would include meals.

Thanks for that information - I knew nothing about it.
As far as I know, there are no other Qatar flights Venice to Melbourne without that 18 hour wait time at Doha.
I shall certainly look into it thanks.

Regards,
Renato

 

[OZDUCK]

We were there that day too a year ago. Couldn't believe how dark it got before the downpour, all the cars had to have their headlights on.
Cheers,
Renato

We may have passed in at the airport.

We were looking from the Islamic Art Museum across the bay as the rain began to really come down and were also amazed how dark it became. But at least it was a fun walk back along the corniche in the cool air and with the water running up to our knees on occasions. The locals in their 4WD's were amused by the stupid foreigners.

 

[Renato1]

We may have passed in at the airport.

We were looking from the Islamic Art Museum across the bay as the rain began to really come down and were also amazed how dark it became. But at least it was a fun walk back along the corniche in the cool air and with the water running up to our knees on occasions. The locals in their 4WD's were amused by the stupid foreigners.

We may have passed in the street - we were only around the corner at Best Western Doha - where water was coming into one of our rooms through gaps at top of the windows, with staff furiously trying to contain it with towels.

That would have been great fun walking along that otherwise boiling hot Corniche.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I have decided that in future, due to my back issues, I'm going to be stopping in Doha on the way out to Europe, and on the way back.

So, out of idle curiosity I checked out how much extra this would cost me if I were to travel next year, leaving 20 August and returning leaving Doha on 4 November. The results surprised me.

Booking a round trip Melbourne to Venice, then Venice to Melbourne - cost for two people was $3343.52 (pretty cheap compared to previous years).

Booking a multi-city trip Melbourne to Doha, wait two days, then Doha to Venice, then Venice to Doha, wait two days, then Doha to Melbourne - cost was $3507.92 (pretty good price).

Then I tried booking multicity Melbourne to Doha, wait two days, then Doha to Venice, but booked Venice to Melbourne instead, assuming the STPC thing might still be going so that I get the free stopover and hotel - cost was $3177.92 (pretty astoundingly good price).

Qatar Economy certainly has value embedded in it.
Regards,
Renato

 

[karen blancfield]

As QF Plat, you will be able to use the 'other' First Lounge at DOH. You'd never call it a First lounge, but its better than the concourse, which is just typical duty free, eateries etc.

Doha is probably only worth a day. A drive through downtown, a visit to the Museum of Islamic Art, and a visit to the souq would probably do it. Have you booked your accommodation through QR? Maybe the Oryx Rotana? Its OK, for the price you pay through QR. Free shuttle bus there, IIRC ... maybe 20 minutes now.




Yes, but its before security & immigration of course.

I’m in the process of booking a place near the airport for our 19 hour return stopover. I noticed you’d stayed at Oryx in 2015 and gave it a bad review. We’ve used the QR rate for the two nights on the way over so can’t access that but booking.com have Oryx for $147. Worth it?

 

[jaseb]

I’m in the process of booking a place near the airport for our 19 hour return stopover. I noticed you’d stayed at Oryx in 2015 and gave it a bad review. We’ve used the QR rate for the two nights on the way over so can’t access that but booking.com have Oryx for $147. Worth it?

Which class are you flying in? Depending on time of day, you could potentially break up your stopover with a trip out of the airport (market/museum etc) and then use the J and/or F lounge for the remainder (J pax can upgrade to F lounge at a cost I believe)

 

[karen blancfield]

Which class are you flying in? Depending on time of day, you could potentially break up your stopover with a trip out of the airport (market/museum etc) and then use the J and/or F lounge for the remainder (J pax can upgrade to F lounge at a cost I believe)

Just economy and we fly from Kirkenes Northern Norway after we finish the Norway cruise, through Oslo to Doha, arriving at midnight and flying out at 8pm to Adelaide. Too long to fill in at airport and given we are staying in Doha for 2 nights on our way to Barcelona, we will have seen the sights.

We are happy to book a hotel and have a good sleep but wondering if anyone has a recommendation. Oryx seems ok....

 

[jaseb]

Just economy and we fly from Kirkenes Northern Norway after we finish the Norway cruise, through Oslo to Doha, arriving at midnight and flying out at 8pm to Adelaide. Too long to fill in at airport and given we are staying in Doha for 2 nights on our way to Barcelona, we will have seen the sights.

We are happy to book a hotel and have a good sleep but wondering if anyone has a recommendation. Oryx seems ok....

Fair call. I've stayed at Century Hotel Doha in the past - it's very affordable (important when the budget is depleted on your way home from a holiday!). Clean enough to have a snooze and jump in the pool before the flight home.

 

[RooFlyer]

but booking.com have Oryx for $147. Worth it?

Sure. Is the transfer from the airport included? The Oryx used to be very handy, but with new setup it’s 20 mins or so away. Maybe there is a free bus irrespective of booking. Ask the hotel.

it’s not a bad hotel, but watch their charges.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

I used to stay at the Doubletree Old Town when I had layovers in Doha. Friendly staff, quiet hotel, comfortable rooms.