Dear Qatar Airways,
In August 2008, my wife and I flew with you from London Heathrow to Doha and on to Dubai. We had high hopes as you claimed to be "the world's 5-star airline". We were left disappointed.
First of all, we called your airline weeks in advance to guarantee a window seat on the flight from London to Doha. No online seat selection or check-in was available at the time (not very five star!). So we checked in at the airport and were given centre seats in the middle of the aircraft with no direct access to the aisle (not very five star!). The people in front of us reclined their seats all the way back. I'm 6'4 and my wife is 5'11. A very uncomfortable experience (not very five star!). On top of that, the crew did not seem to be able to smile (not very five star!). When I asked for a beer the surly female cabin crew slammed the can down on my table and spilt some of it without even a hint of an apology (not very five star!).
When we got to Doha there were no airbridges. Passengers are bussed from aircraft to/from the terminal in the heat (not very five star!). When we got to Dubai the airport had airbridges but Qatar Airways did not use one (not very five star!).
We had thirty minute wait for our bag in Dubai. When it finally showed up, the handle had been ripped off. The bag was a decent brand (Delsey) and brand new (not very five star!). I reported to the damaged bag to the handling agent but nothing came of it despite subsequently writing to your airline (not very five star!).
I know all this makes me sound like a prima donna but I can assure you I am nothing of the sort. I guess I was just disappointed by the whole experience. I have experienced many LCCs that were better than this so-called 5-star airline.
However, I am prepared to try you again and I am flying you from London to Male via Doha this month. Let's try again!
Yours faithfully,
Global Aviator
The whole lack of airbridges in Doha is ridiculous. The new airport they have been promising should have been up and running around now but the delays keep on coming. Now we are told to wait till 2012 for the new one.
ReplyDeleteWhen you land at another airport, however, most of what happens is unfortuantely out of the airline's hands. The delay and subsequent damage to your baggage was all caused by Dubai ground staff. The lack of airbridges might have been due to a shortage of space? There are many logistical factors that influence these things going awry. In any case, it's certainly unusual for this to happen on a QR flight to DXB.
But at the end of the day you paid a company to take you from point A to B in a comfortable manner. So it goes to say that the company should have offered more assistance when you had luggage trouble, despite it not being their 'fault.'
Shortly after your trip the company introduced it's late-to-the-party online check in facility. So be sure to get that window seat this time round. And be sure that it goes for both sectors, else you might find yourself in the middle again come DOH - MLE.
As for the cabin crew... The poor things live in Doha. Enough to make anyone gloomy. :p
Many thanks for the feedback.
ReplyDeleteI guess Qatar Airways has outgrown the current Doha Airport but the lack of airbridges is bizarre, especially for a place where the summer heat is so intense. The new airport will be welcome by all parties I'm sure if/when it opens.
In fairness to Qatar Airways the lack of airbridges at Dubai is not really their fault. Again, it's a case of too many aircraft and not enough airbridges at the airport. I understand the handling of the baggage is outside their control too but I was very disappointed in how they handled (no pun intended!) everything afterwards. Apathy galore.
Thank you for the heads up re online check-in. It's certainly a welcome development since my last trip.
From some of the stories I've read on http://www.pprune.com
I can see why the crew may be miserable despite all that sun!
Please; give me a break. Complaining because the people in front of you recline their seats? Wah, wah, wah... If I pay for a seat I'll recline it as much as I want on a 7 hour flight. Tell me how you being tall is the fault of QA? Stop whinging about something that happened over a year ago.
ReplyDeleteIt appears I hit a nerve.
ReplyDeleteBeing tall is of course not the fault of the airline and I certainly don't balem the passengers in front for reclining their seats. However, I specifically wanted to limit the problem of reclining seats by being at a window where there are two seats (one with access to the aisle) instead of having the two middle seats of the four in the 2-4-2 cabin layout. Hence the call to the airline weeks in advance of departure.
I am "whinging" over a year on because I am about to fly this airline again, and this is more of a reminiscent and light-hearted blog post if anything. If people stopped whinging about things then they would be stupid for putting up with mediocrity. You are whinging about my whinging - probably because you find my posting mediocre. Free speech is a wonderful thing......as is the subjectivity of a 5-star rating.