A319 gone from LHR?
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,360
A319 gone from LHR?
Just had a Myflights notifcation for an upcoming QR booking. My LHR to DOH sector has changed to a 788, and a quick skim shows the same for other dates during the winter timetable. Is this permanent? A shame if so as I enjoyed that service.
#2
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: QR Gold
Posts: 770
One of the A319s is used for the Omra purposes to JED this Ramadan season. So, these 788 could be subs.
#3
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/Gold, Flying Blue Silver, All Accor Gold, Hilton Honours Diamond,
Posts: 522
Qatarairways.com are selling both economy and business class on the QR15 and QR16 from late October 15 onwards with a 787 operating these flights.
A few random date searches suggest this continues daily well into 2016.
A few random date searches suggest this continues daily well into 2016.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: QR Gold
Posts: 770
That is very strange! I hope that QR clarifies this issue.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 404
seems like a complete no brainer to me...as much as the A319 was different, it was a complete waste of valuable LHR capacity. For the sake of emissions, I hope LHR have imposed a strict policy on this whatever the value of the blank cheque.
I think there were about 20 people on my flight.
I think there were about 20 people on my flight.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,998
Someone from this forum (Sixth Freedom possibly?) was part of the decision making process into launching an all Business Class flight to Doha - so sure we'll get some insight.
However, pie in the sky thoughts - the timings meant it was directly at people looking to get a full working day in Doha (or very nearby states/countries) and there were minimal longhaul connections to the outbound flights.
Which meant that ultimately the 20-40% connecting traffic which may have helped it survive quite simply didn't exist. Not sure that adding a 787 to the route helps - looking at 08:45 onwards departure bank from Doha (flight arrives 07:35) you have Dubai, Tunis, Jeddah, Bahrain, and then nothing until 12:00 (Dubai again). Are these onward destinations (and of course Doha) sufficient to sustain this time slot departure from Heathrow with a 787?
Suggest a later timed BKK departure maybe required...
From memory the only flight that EK operates that doesn't have any connection with the Europe inbound banks is a solitary Jakarta flight - but that is always full of local workers.
However, pie in the sky thoughts - the timings meant it was directly at people looking to get a full working day in Doha (or very nearby states/countries) and there were minimal longhaul connections to the outbound flights.
Which meant that ultimately the 20-40% connecting traffic which may have helped it survive quite simply didn't exist. Not sure that adding a 787 to the route helps - looking at 08:45 onwards departure bank from Doha (flight arrives 07:35) you have Dubai, Tunis, Jeddah, Bahrain, and then nothing until 12:00 (Dubai again). Are these onward destinations (and of course Doha) sufficient to sustain this time slot departure from Heathrow with a 787?
Suggest a later timed BKK departure maybe required...
From memory the only flight that EK operates that doesn't have any connection with the Europe inbound banks is a solitary Jakarta flight - but that is always full of local workers.
Last edited by Sam Bee; Jul 1, 2015 at 5:29 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,046
If QR continue with the all premium service, I would not be surprised if they decided to try it out on some other routes, especially now we have seen the aircraft being deployed to Jeddah. Beirut would probably be a good candidate, or maybe Paris.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,998
Anyway, fundamentally agree with what you say (but appreciate it's theirs to do as they see fit) they should flog the slot to Garuda, then i'm happy!
#10
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 404
Well at the end of the day LHR can impose an environmental policy on a carrier. If they want a 3rd runway they're gonna have to play hard ball - no matter how many notes are flashed at them. At 6ft 3 I'm not the biggest fan of squeezing people into an aluminium tube with a max capacity of 20 is taking the proverbial! They should have laughed at them when this config was proposed.
#11
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: QR Gold, BAEC, Marriott Rewards Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,142
Well at the end of the day LHR can impose an environmental policy on a carrier. If they want a 3rd runway they're gonna have to play hard ball - no matter how many notes are flashed at them. At 6ft 3 I'm not the biggest fan of squeezing people into an aluminium tube with a max capacity of 20 is taking the proverbial! They should have laughed at them when this config was proposed.
seems like a complete no brainer to me...as much as the A319 was different, it was a complete waste of valuable LHR capacity. For the sake of emissions, I hope LHR have imposed a strict policy on this whatever the value of the blank cheque.
I think there were about 20 people on my flight.
I think there were about 20 people on my flight.
For all your indignation at the A319 all J service, it didn't stop you flying on it, did it?
#12
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 404
Agreed - double standards!
As I've suggested, I'm not going to pass up the offer of a business only jet but equally couldn't justifiably protest if the airport did the right thing and imposed a restriction on this type of config ) especially as a 'double standards' resident of West London. I could equally complain at the massive state subsidy my flight had incurred for the privilege of a substantially reduced ticket.
That said, I would struggle to chose that aircraft again given the cramped feel and noise factor.
As I've suggested, I'm not going to pass up the offer of a business only jet but equally couldn't justifiably protest if the airport did the right thing and imposed a restriction on this type of config ) especially as a 'double standards' resident of West London. I could equally complain at the massive state subsidy my flight had incurred for the privilege of a substantially reduced ticket.
That said, I would struggle to chose that aircraft again given the cramped feel and noise factor.
#13
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: LBA
Programs: BAEC Gold, PPL/IR
Posts: 438
Annoyingly our seats have been moved so no longer together, and I can't seem to change these in "manage my booking" - is this a known bug on the Qatar website?
#14
#15
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: LBA
Programs: BAEC Gold, PPL/IR
Posts: 438