Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Gulf vs Qatar DXB => BKK

Hello all,

Booking final leg of honeymoon from dubai to bangkok and have a choice of gulf or qatar business class (negligible price difference)

Gulf:
11:10pm => 11:20am next day out via BAH (1 hour stop over)
3:45pm => 10:00pm return via BAH (1 hour stop over, F BAH => DXB)

Qatar:
either 12:05am or 6:50am => 6:50pm out via DOH (1 or 7 hour stop over)
8:35am => 3:05 pm return

Does anyone know how the seats compare on these routes? I have the feeling that Qatar will be nicer and has better service here.. Also, is the lounge at Doha 24 hours for if we take the 7 hour stop over? (don't really want to book another night at a hotel)

Any other comments on the merits of the above?

Thank you for your help :)

Well, I say QR and only QR. Doha has got something like a First Class Terminal, also, I think you get shuttled to your aircraft in a BMW 7 Series? Or is this only for first class? QR has got lie flat seats, VOD, and friendly crew. GF also has VOD on the A332 but not on the A343.

Won't QR throw in a room on a business class ticket? I would check into that. Is there no shorter connecting time possible?

Well, there's a 1 hour connecting time if I take the 6am flight. If QR has flat beds on business class, suppose that isn't that big an issue.

edit: That's weird, the gulf air itenaries are coming up fine on gulfairco.com but the Qatar are only showing on ITA software (dep 23rd July, return 2nd Aug) and not the Qatar website.. :( It seems to be pricing first class returns from DXB<=>DOH at a £200 premium to gulf air..

Well, if there is such a big price difference, I would say that the booking class you previously saw is now full. On a side note, have you considered Etihad? They have free limousine for C passengers from dubai to AUH for you to catch the flight.

Have done BKK f/J with both airlines in the last 6 months and would strongly suggest you go with Qatar, GF J seats on the BKK route are normally pretty bad, QR is an almost flat bed.
The lounge in Doha is indeed 24 hours.

AS dfs24 has already

Def QR on that route. GF uses older A343's and J class is not up to standard esp if u r paying almost same fare as QR.

CJ:)

Hmm, am tempted to go with QR even if its another £200.. If I fly DXB->DOH first class, would I be able to use the first lounge at DOH? Or is it for departures only? I hear they're quite strict..

Hmm, am tempted to go with QR even if its another £200.. If I fly DXB->DOH first class, would I be able to use the first lounge at DOH? Or is it for departures only? I hear they're quite strict..

I suspect you'd be shown the J side. It can get slightly crowded, but it's not a bad place.

As for the seats in J, they are lie-almost-flat-but-slide-on-the-floor, as many airlines have these days. I find it more angled than the SQ SpaceBed.

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Thanks for the advice all, eventually booked via amex travel econ dxb-doh and business doh-bkk on qatar for less than the gulf air price.