Apr 13, 2016, 2:03 am
Last edit by: remdk
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
Ramadan is a holy month to Muslims and also a joyous and spiritual time. I am concentrating upon that which most affects Non-Muslim QR passengers during Ramadan.
When is Ramadan?
Because the Muslim´calendar is a lunar calendar the date in the Gregorian, or solar, calendar changes every year. Each year it is about 11 days earlier than the previous year.
Ramadan 2017 was 27 May to 25 June.
Ramadan 2018 was16 May to 14 June.
Ramadan 2019 was 6 May to 4 June.
Ramadan 2020 was 24 April to 23 May.
Ramadan 2021 was 12 April to 11 May.
Ramadan 2022 was 2 April to 2 May.
Ramadan 2023 wss 22 March to 23 April.
Ramadan 2024 is 10 March to 9 April.
Ramadan 2025 is 1 March to 30 March.
Ramadan 2026 is 18 February to 19 March.
Ramadan 2027 is 8 February to 9 March.
When does Ramadan actually start?
The Muslim day starts at sunset and continues to sunset. Sightings for the new moon are taken at sunset and when sighted the month of Ramadan has started. Fasting begins later in the Muslim day at sunrise. Thus if Ramadan starts on June 6th then it is the sighting of the new moon at sunset on June 5th that marks the official start. Tha actual start date may be different due to the fact that we live on a globe and it takes 24 hours to rotate on its axis! The dates quoted are for Qatar.
Are there exceptions to the rules?
There are exceptions to fasting rules such as the aged, sick, pregnant women, travellers, etc.
Some branches of Islam demand payment of a fine or a penance, such as feeding the poor, for breaking the fast whilst other branches do not. In some branches of Islam travellers may voluntarily choose to continue fasting whilst other branches forbid fasting whilst travelling.
When does Fasting take place?
Most agree that the times of fasting are from Sunrise to Sunset. Others use Dawn and Dusk. The latter could cause serious health problems for those who live at latitude 48.5 or greater. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight for an explanation.
How does Ramadan affect QR?
QR adheres to the rules of Ramadan as required by the State of Qatar.
Food is always available inside the airport and on all flights. This is because of the traveller rules.
Non alcoholic drinks are always available both in the airport and on all flights.
Alcohol is NOT available at Hamad International Airport either inside or outside the airport buildings, even at the Airport hotel. However in 2023 alcohol was being served in at least the Al Safwa and Al Mourjan airport lounges. At the moment it is not known if this also applied to other lounges. Pleas look at this years postings to see other lounges also served alcohol.
Alcohol is not available on most flights to/from muslim countries. Certain muslim countries, such as Malaysia, are regarded as multicultural countries and the in-flight alcohol ban does not apply. On all other flights to/from DOH alcohol is available after departure. The cabin crew decide when departure is. For some it is when you board the aircraft, for others closing the doors, others pushback and yet others after take-off. Where alcohol is permitted on the flight then it will be served by the glass, the bottle remaining in the galley. Pre departure alcoholic drinks as well as in flight drinks will normally be served on flights to/from DOH where alcohol is permitted. There may be exceptions. In 2023 AMM, AUH and SHJ served alcohol, on flights, at least some of the time. The AMM lounge also served alcohol. (See post 382)
In every respect, other than alcohol, service is unchanged throughout QR. BUT where alcohol is available it is not normally on display, but served by the glass from the bar or galley and sometimes needs to be requested..
Duty free alcohol is available at QDF. But there may be restrictions such as delivery to the aircraft door.
How does Ramadan affect The State of Qatar?
If you leave the airport during Ramadan please remember
1) the sale and public consumption of Alcohol is banned by law during Ramadan. In several, but not all, hotels alcohol may be obtained by residents from room service.
2) It is extremely offensive, and in some Muslim countries, including Qatar, a criminal offence, to be seen eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during the period of fasting.
According to https://discoverqatar.qatarairways.c...madan/overview
"If you need to drink or eat, please do so in the privacy of your own room or in a place where you won’t be seen."
If you need to eat or drink please do it discretely and out of sight of others.
Want to know more?
If you want more information then http://marhaba.qa/ramadan-dos-and-donts-in-qatar/ is specific to Qatar. If you are also interested in health issues then A_guide_to_healthy_fasting is worth looking at, not only for health issues.
This Wiki and thread is about how Ramadan affects QR passengers.
Thanks are due to IAN-UK, Lobengula, RUN4FUN, sharp5flat9, SullyofDoha, VH-RMD and others for help in making this as accurate as possible.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
Ramadan is a holy month to Muslims and also a joyous and spiritual time. I am concentrating upon that which most affects Non-Muslim QR passengers during Ramadan.
When is Ramadan?
Because the Muslim´calendar is a lunar calendar the date in the Gregorian, or solar, calendar changes every year. Each year it is about 11 days earlier than the previous year.
Ramadan 2017 was 27 May to 25 June.
Ramadan 2018 was16 May to 14 June.
Ramadan 2019 was 6 May to 4 June.
Ramadan 2020 was 24 April to 23 May.
Ramadan 2021 was 12 April to 11 May.
Ramadan 2022 was 2 April to 2 May.
Ramadan 2023 wss 22 March to 23 April.
Ramadan 2024 is 10 March to 9 April.
Ramadan 2025 is 1 March to 30 March.
Ramadan 2026 is 18 February to 19 March.
Ramadan 2027 is 8 February to 9 March.
When does Ramadan actually start?
The Muslim day starts at sunset and continues to sunset. Sightings for the new moon are taken at sunset and when sighted the month of Ramadan has started. Fasting begins later in the Muslim day at sunrise. Thus if Ramadan starts on June 6th then it is the sighting of the new moon at sunset on June 5th that marks the official start. Tha actual start date may be different due to the fact that we live on a globe and it takes 24 hours to rotate on its axis! The dates quoted are for Qatar.
Are there exceptions to the rules?
There are exceptions to fasting rules such as the aged, sick, pregnant women, travellers, etc.
Some branches of Islam demand payment of a fine or a penance, such as feeding the poor, for breaking the fast whilst other branches do not. In some branches of Islam travellers may voluntarily choose to continue fasting whilst other branches forbid fasting whilst travelling.
When does Fasting take place?
Most agree that the times of fasting are from Sunrise to Sunset. Others use Dawn and Dusk. The latter could cause serious health problems for those who live at latitude 48.5 or greater. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight for an explanation.
How does Ramadan affect QR?
QR adheres to the rules of Ramadan as required by the State of Qatar.
Food is always available inside the airport and on all flights. This is because of the traveller rules.
Non alcoholic drinks are always available both in the airport and on all flights.
Alcohol is NOT available at Hamad International Airport either inside or outside the airport buildings, even at the Airport hotel. However in 2023 alcohol was being served in at least the Al Safwa and Al Mourjan airport lounges. At the moment it is not known if this also applied to other lounges. Pleas look at this years postings to see other lounges also served alcohol.
Alcohol is not available on most flights to/from muslim countries. Certain muslim countries, such as Malaysia, are regarded as multicultural countries and the in-flight alcohol ban does not apply. On all other flights to/from DOH alcohol is available after departure. The cabin crew decide when departure is. For some it is when you board the aircraft, for others closing the doors, others pushback and yet others after take-off. Where alcohol is permitted on the flight then it will be served by the glass, the bottle remaining in the galley. Pre departure alcoholic drinks as well as in flight drinks will normally be served on flights to/from DOH where alcohol is permitted. There may be exceptions. In 2023 AMM, AUH and SHJ served alcohol, on flights, at least some of the time. The AMM lounge also served alcohol. (See post 382)
In every respect, other than alcohol, service is unchanged throughout QR. BUT where alcohol is available it is not normally on display, but served by the glass from the bar or galley and sometimes needs to be requested..
Duty free alcohol is available at QDF. But there may be restrictions such as delivery to the aircraft door.
How does Ramadan affect The State of Qatar?
If you leave the airport during Ramadan please remember
1) the sale and public consumption of Alcohol is banned by law during Ramadan. In several, but not all, hotels alcohol may be obtained by residents from room service.
2) It is extremely offensive, and in some Muslim countries, including Qatar, a criminal offence, to be seen eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during the period of fasting.
According to https://discoverqatar.qatarairways.c...madan/overview
"If you need to drink or eat, please do so in the privacy of your own room or in a place where you won’t be seen."
If you need to eat or drink please do it discretely and out of sight of others.
Want to know more?
If you want more information then http://marhaba.qa/ramadan-dos-and-donts-in-qatar/ is specific to Qatar. If you are also interested in health issues then A_guide_to_healthy_fasting is worth looking at, not only for health issues.
This Wiki and thread is about how Ramadan affects QR passengers.
Thanks are due to IAN-UK, Lobengula, RUN4FUN, sharp5flat9, SullyofDoha, VH-RMD and others for help in making this as accurate as possible.
Ramadan Master Thread - 10 March 2024 to 9 April 2024
Jan 31, 2017, 12:07 pm
#106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
For those who are transiting through Doha between the 27th of May and the 24th of June, please be aware that it is then the Ramadan period!
From what i understand there is no alcohol being serviced in the lounges, and when the plane is on the ground. Next to that the bottle's are not being brought out, and drinks are being poured out of sight in the galley.
Of course i fully respect the Muslim culture, but I am still a little bit disappointed that on my 3h and 4h layover, I have less opportunity to really sample the Al Mourjan lounge
From what i understand there is no alcohol being serviced in the lounges, and when the plane is on the ground. Next to that the bottle's are not being brought out, and drinks are being poured out of sight in the galley.
Of course i fully respect the Muslim culture, but I am still a little bit disappointed that on my 3h and 4h layover, I have less opportunity to really sample the Al Mourjan lounge
I'd not thought about this. It rather puts a downer on things.
Jan 31, 2017, 12:42 pm
#107
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: North-West Europe
Programs: Flying Blue, BA Executive Club, LH Miles & More, Air Asia BigShot, Les Collectioneurs
Posts: 268
Looked at some reviews of the Al Mourjan lounge. Guess we won't be missend out on that much special liquore? 3 nice reds, and 3 whites, together with gin, rum and wodka. And of course the bubly stuff! Or did i mis something and is there a full cocktail bar going on?
Jan 31, 2017, 12:49 pm
#108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
Guess we have to really come down to Earth from our continious dillerium! How do we cope... ! ! ;-)
Looked at some reviews of the Al Mourjan lounge. Guess we won't be missend out on that much special liquore? 3 nice reds, and 3 whites, together with gin, rum and wodka. And of course the bubly stuff! Or did i mis something and is there a full cocktail bar going on?
Looked at some reviews of the Al Mourjan lounge. Guess we won't be missend out on that much special liquore? 3 nice reds, and 3 whites, together with gin, rum and wodka. And of course the bubly stuff! Or did i mis something and is there a full cocktail bar going on?
Feb 1, 2017, 11:02 pm
#109
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: OOL/DOH
Programs: QF LTS WP, Avis Pres Club, HH Diam.
Posts: 3,192
Guess we have to really come down to Earth from our continious dillerium! How do we cope... ! ! ;-)
Looked at some reviews of the Al Mourjan lounge. Guess we won't be missend out on that much special liquore? 3 nice reds, and 3 whites, together with gin, rum and wodka. And of course the bubly stuff! Or did i mis something and is there a full cocktail bar going on?
Looked at some reviews of the Al Mourjan lounge. Guess we won't be missend out on that much special liquore? 3 nice reds, and 3 whites, together with gin, rum and wodka. And of course the bubly stuff! Or did i mis something and is there a full cocktail bar going on?
Mar 19, 2017, 9:58 am
#111
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: FCO SAN PEK
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 13
Someone just mentioned that alcohol is not served on flights to TUN and other Muslim countries. Well, based on my experience, I took a DOH-BEY flight on 19th June 2016 and was served with 3 different kinds of alcohol throughout the flight. The crew had no problem with my request, even on the ground at DOH. Obviously Lebanon should be included in the restriction list. I was pretty sure with this experience because I finished my second glass of bubbles while passing the Saudi airspace...
Apr 12, 2017, 8:41 am
#114
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oxon, UK
Programs: Mucci des canapes, Skywards Gold, BAEC Gold, IC Plat Amb, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,950
I will be flying with QR to the Maldives during Ramadan. I note the point that alcohol is not served on regional flights to Muslim countries (ALG and TUN are mentioned) but wondered if anyone knows whther this also includes flights to and from MLE?
Apr 12, 2017, 9:29 am
#115
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
in his post last year http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26734388-post48.html tboons says 'This is going to be a big problem in male!'
So i would say that alcohol is not served on flights during Ramadan.
Apr 13, 2017, 9:45 am
#116
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum; Accor Le Club Platinum
Posts: 1,077
Let's be honest. Qatar Airways will use Ramadan as cover to limit beverages where they think they can in order to save some Riyals. Case in point would be Dxb-doh and Dwc-doh flights. Qatar goes dry in the air and in the Concourse D lounge while the Dubai owned and operated lounges serve beverages in DXB and DWC. It's four weeks people, live with it!
Apr 13, 2017, 10:22 am
#117
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
Let's be honest. Qatar Airways will use Ramadan as cover to limit beverages where they think they can in order to save some Riyals. Case in point would be Dxb-doh and Dwc-doh flights. Qatar goes dry in the air and in the Concourse D lounge while the Dubai owned and operated lounges serve beverages in DXB and DWC. It's four weeks people, live with it!
Apr 15, 2017, 5:33 am
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
I try to stay away from drink when I'm travelling: so though I resent prohibitions, I quite welcome dryness on board.
Apr 17, 2017, 9:56 am
#119
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: North-West Europe
Programs: Flying Blue, BA Executive Club, LH Miles & More, Air Asia BigShot, Les Collectioneurs
Posts: 268
Will it be less crowed during rush hours in the Lounges, because of Ramadan?
Can imagen that local people will travel less to keep close to family.
Can imagen that local people will travel less to keep close to family.
Apr 17, 2017, 10:06 am
#120
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
However most passengers are in transit so you may not notice much difference.