Qatar Airways Privilege Club - Flying with Akbar Al Baker

I just flew BKK-DOH on a 3-cabin Airbus. Halfway through the flight I got up to use the lav, saw that all of the J-class lavs were all occupied, and decided to go forward to use the toilet in F. For the record, BKK ground staff told me the F cabin was going out empty as there was no overflow from J (BKK-DOH is operated as a two-class flight: economy and biz).

After using the facilities, I was confronted in the forward galley by a flustered FA who told me in the rudest possible way that he thought I was aware of the presence of the CEO in F. (Uhh ... I wasn't ... but yeah, I guess I was breaking the rules.) I sheepishly made by way back to my seat through the F cabin. Sure enough, there he was in seat 1A. I'd seen his picture in a New York newspaper standing next to Diana Ross during the launch of the DOH-NYC service. Diana's just a bit taller (in heels and a weave) ;).

Not surprisingly the service on this flight was UNBELIEVABLY good. So good in fact, that until I realized who was sitting up in front, it seemed like the staff were participating in some kind of in-flight performance art/put on. I've been taking this flight 2 X a month for two years and I've never experienced anything near the level of service we got Sunday night. Well, at least I now know how good the service COULD be ...

I just flew BKK-DOH on a 3-cabin Airbus. Halfway through the flight I got up to use the lav, saw that all of the J-class lavs were all occupied, and decided to go forward to use the toilet in F. For the record, BKK ground staff told me the F cabin was going out empty as there was no overflow from J (BKK-DOH is operated as a two-class flight: economy and biz).

After using the facilities, I was confronted in the forward galley by a flustered FA who told me in the rudest possible way that he thought I was aware of the presence of the CEO in F. (Uhh ... I wasn't ... but yeah, I guess I was breaking the rules.) I sheepishly made by way back to my seat through the F cabin. Sure enough, there he was in seat 1A. I'd seen his picture in a New York newspaper standing next to Diana Ross during the launch of the DOH-NYC service. Diana's just a bit taller (in heels and a weave) ;).

Not surprisingly the service on this flight was UNBELIEVABLY good. So good in fact, that until I realized who was sitting up in front, it seemed like the staff were participating in some kind of in-flight performance art/put on. I've been taking this flight 2 X a month for two years and I've never experienced anything near the level of service we got Sunday night. Well, at least I now know how good the service COULD be ...

Still it’s good that he is traveling in a normal plane not a private one ;)
I just wonder why does the royal family has all these aircrafts, A310, A330, A340-300, A340-500, A319

I think we all know the answer to that question....because they can, that's why!

All of those bedrooms and conference rooms take up lots of space. Isn't some royal or other buying an A380?

I think we all know the answer to that question....because they can, that's why!

All of those bedrooms and conference rooms take up lots of space. Isn't some royal or other buying an A380?

why not, it seems they are making a collection of Airbus aircrafts ;)

...

Not surprisingly the service on this flight was UNBELIEVABLY good. So good in fact, that until I realized who was sitting up in front, it seemed like the staff were participating in some kind of in-flight performance art/put on. I've been taking this flight 2 X a month for two years and I've never experienced anything near the level of service we got Sunday night. Well, at least I now know how good the service COULD be ...

You could have taken this opportunity to go and tell him of what you think of their dismal ground services...

I would have.. !

I was on SIN-DOH-LHR yesterday. Breakfast service SIN-DOH was almost exactly the same as DOH-LHR! Portions have shrunk...

The new IFE Oryx is dreadful. It may have more channels.. but the music station selection is terrible to work with. What once was a channel for french music.. it now classifies everyone French... which included Chopin!

So there I was expecting to find some Laura Fabian or Celine Dion but only to find more Chopin and other opera classics instead of pop!

I have seen him at SIN lat year but he was yelling at female staff histerically at check in counter because one of the pax had an oversized carry on bag and he has witnessed the pax leaving the counter.. My first impression toward Mr.CEO was not that good. I believe that he really needs to bahave himself in public. Anyway.. I had a chance to chat with the purser on flight after this incident and he told me that Mr. Al Baker is called 'Mr. Burns' (from Simpsons) among cabin crew..
Excellent!
http://pauljlane.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/mr-burns.jpg

I had a chance to chat with the purser on flight after this incident and he told me that Mr. Al Baker is called 'Mr. Burns' (from Simplsons) among cabin crew..
Excellent!

:D ^

I once saw him at the Premium Terminal in DOH in the evening where he was in a rush leaving the terminal at the gates area towards the BMW staging area. By the looks of the staff there their faces went freezing and they were holding their breath when they saw him coming.

His press conferences are always surprising and sort of entertaining but he's really feared by his staff. Just take a look at pprune, cut the statements there by 50 % to get some truth but then still he really seems to be an unpleasant character...

I... Anyway.. I had a chance to chat with the purser on flight after this incident and he told me that Mr. Al Baker is called 'Mr. Burns' (from Simplsons) among cabin crew..

It's Boeing's nick for him as well it seems:

http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=16992

http://www.arabiansupplychain.com/article-2417-qatar_airways_ceo_delivers_boeing_broadside/

It's Boeing's nick for him as well it seems:

http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=16992

http://www.arabiansupplychain.com/article-2417-qatar_airways_ceo_delivers_boeing_broadside/

He had a similar swipe at Airbus over the 346 a while ago too. Too have an encore with Boeing is odd. Although his gripes are probably justified, at this level - knowing the makers are being saved by the Gulf- and given the sensitivity over subsidies I'm surprised he hasn't been taken down a peg by the palace.

There must be many airlines complaining about 787 delays. I seem to remember reading not long ago that launch customer ANA were extremely displeased about all of the delays and were looking for concessions.