Qatar-world's 5* airline - seriously ???
May 19, 2016, 1:31 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,432
Skype is actually a pretty expensive way to call Qatar for some reason (certainly from the UK, I'm guessing it will be similar from the US). It's 30p/min. I can use my UK mobile to Qatar for 15p/min.
May 19, 2016, 8:24 pm
#17
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Udon Thani, Thailand
Programs: TK E,*G, A-Club G
Posts: 869
May 20, 2016, 4:04 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Lisboa, PT
Programs: QRPC Silver, BA Silver
Posts: 243
Whilst I agree the ground (i.e. pre-airport) experience with customer service is pretty hit and miss - the majority of your experience is actually at airport, and on board - for that, even with the changing /downgrading of drinks - it is 5* - compare them to the other big airlines out there - QR are top of the bunch, and as much as their CS annoys me at times - they are still the best!
May 20, 2016, 5:00 am
#19
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Paynesville, Vic
Programs: BA Gold AVIS Presidents Club
Posts: 356
Just arrived in OSL J class- QR905 & QR175. Excellent service once again, although the Doha lounge Q for a shower at 45 mins was too long for me today or was that yesterday? due to a fairly short connection time at approx 2hrs chocks to chocks. Shall be interesting to compare with the AY product in 6 weeks which is 30% more expensive at its cheapest!
OF
OF
May 20, 2016, 8:19 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,083
Whilst I agree the ground (i.e. pre-airport) experience with customer service is pretty hit and miss - the majority of your experience is actually at airport, and on board - for that, even with the changing /downgrading of drinks - it is 5* - compare them to the other big airlines out there - QR are top of the bunch, and as much as their CS annoys me at times - they are still the best!
I'll be flying with them in Y in October for the first time, I normally fly TK which I really think their Y is 5*.
May 20, 2016, 9:08 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Lisboa, PT
Programs: QRPC Silver, BA Silver
Posts: 243
Do you fly QR Y? I'm interested in what other FTers think about QR Y being 5*
I'd definitely say its 5* in the air. You clearly won't get the lavish treatment of a premium passenger but when you compare the food, service, attention of crews, IFE (on most aircraft), baggage allowance (30kg in Y) to other airlines (especially outside the Gulf region) it really does deserve the 5*.
However, even as Plat, so very used to QR Cust Service I would say that the experience via email/phone can be very frustrating and really lets them down. But lets face it - the trip is what it's all about - and for me thats why it deserves 5* (or shall we say 5/5 - sounds better for Y rather than implying its going to be like a 5* Waldorf Astoria!)^^^
May 20, 2016, 10:16 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,083
That's interesting. I'll try QR first time in October - so far no airline I flew with can beat TK Y. You get slipper, lip balm etc. in a proper amenity bag in Y.
May 20, 2016, 11:02 am
#24
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,644
Skytrax is a small, family run, private company. They make most of their "offical" income through consultancy work. They have no more authority to issue star rankings than the lad down the road.
Qatar have a long term contract with Skytrax to provide very frequent auditing, as do many other "Five Star" airlines. Even a casual glance at the list of "Five Star" airlines, and you'll be scratching your head as to how some of them got there. I mean, Hainan Airlines? Hello? One of the top 7 airlines in the world? I don't think so.
The ranking system is opaque, and clearly not free and fair. Those that think everything that Skytrax says/publishes is 100% reliable is seriously deluding themselves.
That said, QR is generally a good airline, and in some areas do deserve a top ranking. Whether that applies to telephone services in the US or not, I couldn't say.
Qatar have a long term contract with Skytrax to provide very frequent auditing, as do many other "Five Star" airlines. Even a casual glance at the list of "Five Star" airlines, and you'll be scratching your head as to how some of them got there. I mean, Hainan Airlines? Hello? One of the top 7 airlines in the world? I don't think so.
The ranking system is opaque, and clearly not free and fair. Those that think everything that Skytrax says/publishes is 100% reliable is seriously deluding themselves.
That said, QR is generally a good airline, and in some areas do deserve a top ranking. Whether that applies to telephone services in the US or not, I couldn't say.
May 20, 2016, 4:25 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: LHR
Programs: QR Platinum, WY Gold, Shangri-la Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,151
Still a good, solid Y product - but all of the things that used to make it extra special have slowly been eroded away by cost-cutting measures. Even on my most recent QR4 I noticed there was no pre-meal drinks service - which I'm guessing is the latest Y downgrade...
Over the past couple of years the following have all been removed from Y (which to my mind was what distinguished QR from everyone else):
- Choice of two white and two red wines (now just one of each)
- Snacks with pre-meal drinks run
- "Cinema" snack between meals
- Hot towels
- Sweets before take-off
- Champagne on flights over 6 hours
- Personal space (787 and new 777 layouts are cramped)
- Brandy with tea/coffee service
- High quality Y meals (now smaller and seem cheaper)
- Godiva chocs
- Less amenity kits (not seen one in Y recently)
- Pre-meal drinks service (??? - although based on just one flight)
- Decent lounge access in DOH (FF lounges are just ok)
As above, it's still a fair Y product but I no longer think it has the "wow" factor of days gone by.
However, the service and crew generally I find are excellent - and they place a lot of emphasis on looking after their frequent fliers (greetings, meal choice, etc). Pricing is competitive, so still good value for money, and IFE pretty good too - so it's not all doom and gloom!
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May 21, 2016, 5:34 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: LHR
Programs: QR Platinum, WY Gold, Shangri-la Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,151
May 21, 2016, 6:53 am
#28
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Lisboa, PT
Programs: QRPC Silver, BA Silver
Posts: 243
You'll need to join and credit to QR Privilege Club to take part. Have a look at the GlobeTrotter 2016 thread for details of the offer
Purple1addict - definitely agree the product is steadily getting worse. Massive erosion of benefits - the reason i still JUST rate them 5* is in comparison to other airlines products they are still up there! Although EK I'm undecided - better or worse than QR in Y...Hmmm...
May 21, 2016, 7:21 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,083
In my honest opinion, QR used to be 5* in Y. Sadly I no longer think they are.
Still a good, solid Y product - but all of the things that used to make it extra special have slowly been eroded away by cost-cutting measures. Even on my most recent QR4 I noticed there was no pre-meal drinks service - which I'm guessing is the latest Y downgrade...
Over the past couple of years the following have all been removed from Y (which to my mind was what distinguished QR from everyone else):
- Choice of two white and two red wines (now just one of each)
- Snacks with pre-meal drinks run
- "Cinema" snack between meals
- Hot towels
- Sweets before take-off
- Champagne on flights over 6 hours
- Personal space (787 and new 777 layouts are cramped)
- Brandy with tea/coffee service
- High quality Y meals (now smaller and seem cheaper)
- Godiva chocs
- Less amenity kits (not seen one in Y recently)
- Pre-meal drinks service (??? - although based on just one flight)
- Decent lounge access in DOH (FF lounges are just ok)
As above, it's still a fair Y product but I no longer think it has the "wow" factor of days gone by.
However, the service and crew generally I find are excellent - and they place a lot of emphasis on looking after their frequent fliers (greetings, meal choice, etc). Pricing is competitive, so still good value for money, and IFE pretty good too - so it's not all doom and gloom!
Still a good, solid Y product - but all of the things that used to make it extra special have slowly been eroded away by cost-cutting measures. Even on my most recent QR4 I noticed there was no pre-meal drinks service - which I'm guessing is the latest Y downgrade...
Over the past couple of years the following have all been removed from Y (which to my mind was what distinguished QR from everyone else):
- Choice of two white and two red wines (now just one of each)
- Snacks with pre-meal drinks run
- "Cinema" snack between meals
- Hot towels
- Sweets before take-off
- Champagne on flights over 6 hours
- Personal space (787 and new 777 layouts are cramped)
- Brandy with tea/coffee service
- High quality Y meals (now smaller and seem cheaper)
- Godiva chocs
- Less amenity kits (not seen one in Y recently)
- Pre-meal drinks service (??? - although based on just one flight)
- Decent lounge access in DOH (FF lounges are just ok)
As above, it's still a fair Y product but I no longer think it has the "wow" factor of days gone by.
However, the service and crew generally I find are excellent - and they place a lot of emphasis on looking after their frequent fliers (greetings, meal choice, etc). Pricing is competitive, so still good value for money, and IFE pretty good too - so it's not all doom and gloom!
TK doesn't care about their loyal customers like us - upgrade is minimal (not sure it's because we normally travel in a group - we are all their Elite members (*G)).
My sis flew with QR many years ago HKG-CAI via DOH, she hated it - and the amenity kit she got was tiny compared to TK. She flew with TK once and she said TK beats QR in every way in Y.
May 21, 2016, 11:18 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: LHR
Programs: QR Platinum, WY Gold, Shangri-la Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,151
Purple1addict - definitely agree the product is steadily getting worse. Massive erosion of benefits - the reason i still JUST rate them 5* is in comparison to other airlines products they are still up there! Although EK I'm undecided - better or worse than QR in Y...Hmmm...
