Sam Bee

Thank you for the update. I'm trying to read between the lines here. I mean surely an acceptable charge would be have been decided on when they started the route (unless QR are going back for 'marketing funds'?).

It's the times that get me. I'm on a 02:20 DOH-KBV flight, so a normal flight time for west bound flights that connect with Europe flights, yet I see rest of the year the flights leave Doha at 05:30.

From LHR this leaves from 00:45 to 05:30 in Doha Airport - completely sub-optimal for anyone (better off routing via BKK). The majority of European flights arrive 11:00pm-01:30am (from 01:30 - 5:00 it's mainly cargo arrivals) - and no-one wants to hang around the airport at this time.

So I can only hope for the future of the route QR is negotiating better slots at KBV, and surely KBV would be mad not to work something out - they have bugger all decent long all scheduled airlines, and managed to lose MI & MH amongst others recently.

FlyerRed5

Its the times that are problem, they connect with exactly nothing of relevance in either direction.

Essentially what happened, as the story goes, KBV was announced then delayed but in the intervening months slots for were forgotten to be applied for then when it was realised they were missing all slots were refused and one of the big boy bosses had to fly to bangkok for 3 days to 'negotiate' (Ie dinner and soi cowboy) with the slot coordinator and the schedule that was on sale is the result... they accepted to the bad timings (including only a 60min turn in KBV) in the hope of improvement. This improvement has not been forthcoming at the moment so sales have been suspended until a solution has been found.

Sam Bee

Thank you, not one word you say surprises me. I can only presume the person is responsible for slots in Thailand rather than just Krabi as QR should be their most treasured tenant.

Not sure TAT will be overly impressed if the above is true, especially after supporting the short lived CNX route (short lived in terms of being on sale rather than actual flying). DOH-KBV-CNX - now there would be a route!

FlyerRed5

The schedule for S17 has been updated with the new timings
DOHKBV 2020/0710+1 x157
KBVDOH 0855/11:50 x126

W16 remains with the crap times.

MHendo84

Looks like QR are updating my booking today, as have confirmed and not confirmed flights in MMB for our trip at the end of May.

I'll see what we have been left with once the route is back up for sale but it's not looking good at the moment. The times don't really work out as good.

Are QR usually reasonable about a reroute from an airport within 500miles?

Jgp777

I checked MMB and they expect me to time travel to connect to my onward flight to KBV from DOH. I arrive at 0040 from MAD, and the next flight was supposed to leave at 2000. Transit time of negative 4 hours 40 min

MHendo84

same here, I have a negative 3hr25 connection for the MXP-KBV leg. For some reason at the moment our KBV-DOH is now on the 02/06 but DOH-MXP remains the 04/06. So 36hrs in DOH....

Jgp777

Would BKK be a reasonable re-route?

MHendo84

i was kind of hoping to do only 1 connection, as I'm already positioning from/to LHR on the day of the QR flights.

But judging QR's current offering these would work out better/closer to what was booked originally.

Sam Bee

Bejesus - my PNR doesn't look good today. TImes and days of the KBV flights have changed.

Only 36 hours in Doha on the way out, 12 on the way back. I'm going to fight for a reroute via BKK on the QR codeshares from BKK-KBV. What do you reckon my chances are?

HKT is 2nd choice, let's wait and see. I'm sure they won't cover the extra costs of getting to Koh Lanta

henkybaby

KBV to Koh Lanta is not a quick transfer. It takes over 1 to 2 hours by car/boat, depending on where your hotel is.

HKT to Koh Lanta you can do by ferry. It does take 4 hrs, but it is a very enjoyable start (and end) to your holiday. It makes a stop at Koh Phi Phi as well.

You can also do a private speedboat transfer from Phuket but you need your sea legs for that. I can be very bumpy and people find it scary sometimes. More information here: http://amazinglanta.com/phuket-to-ko...boat-transfer/

andyedinburgh

I have the same problem - now suddenly a 36 connection on the way out and a 12 hr on the way back. Has anyone had success yet in an appropriate reroute ie. via BKK or HKT?

andyedinburgh

Good news - in a way. Took a couple of goes to get through and a 30 min wait on the phone and then a very helpful and flexible agent. Rerouted via BKK on the way there no problem.

On the way back it was more problematic. There are only 12 J seats DOH-HEL and I'd already booked 4 of them. Slightly kafkaesque moment in that they couldn't reroute me onto the same plane (on which I already had 4 J seats) because there weren't another 4 available. So instead they've rerouted me via IST on Turkish which actually gives better flight times (ie. a long overnight from BKK to IST).

Last question (maybe need to post on the BA forum :-) ), with an involuntary reroute like this, do you think BA will still credit the tier points/miles from the original itinerary. They have in the past when flying on BA metal and I've had involuntary reroutes onto other airlines.

mrvincent

Your question is indeed answered on the BA forum. If crediting to BAEC, you need to contact them in the first instance. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...r-s-guide.html

There was a similar question over on the board about this today and there was talk of "double dipping" which may be of interest. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-my-avios.html

Sam Bee

Offered a re-route via BKK - havn't accepted, considering HKT or possibly a full refund and alternate airline. KBV is still operating but poor connections from MAN. Presume EDI is the same.

Thanks Henky - done the ferry before, if it was just me I couldn't care less, but a few of us!