The breakfast in the hotel restaurant was a reasonable selection of hot and cold items from a buffet.
On checking out of the hotel I noticed a gent next to me who had purple lanyard with Qatar written on it. I thought I wonder if I will see you later on the flight.
I crossed the road and went on into the terminal building. The QR counters were just to my left and I walked up to a free Business class check-in desk complete with purple carpet in front of it.
The agent checked my bag through to HKG and printed out a boarding pass for the BRU-DOH sector and another for the DOH-HKG and he put this in the Purple transfer envelope. He also asked me to put my hand baggage on the counter and he attached a purple tag to this as well. He said to keep the tag and transfer wallet as they would help me ensure I went to the right place in DOH. He also said I could use the BA lounge before the flight.
After this I went down to the emigration lines where I had to wait a couple of minutes before being stamped out of the EU. Once airside there were a lot of duty free stores and some eateries before you get to security. There was a fast track that is automatically monitored by an electronic gate. Despite the overhead signage indicating Qatar customers could use the lane the computer said no and sent me back. The queues were so short and the two merged anyway that it made no difference in the end.
Once through security I made my way to the BA lounge upstairs. The lounge had some snack items and cold meats and salad along with the usual substantial alcohol offerings BA seem to offer.
BA Business Lounge BRU
Snack BA Business Lounge BRU
One needs to collect a coupon with username and password from the desk agent in order to use the very slow internet connection.
My boarding pass had a boarding time of 15:20 a full hour before the flight was due to leave that seemed quite odd. I got bored with the lounge and went for a wander down to the end of the terminal building and then back up to my gate and waited.
My Bird at BRU
My Bird at BRU
Boarding didn’t start until around 15:35 when they made a call for business and elites to use the dedicated lane; complete with purple carpet. I made my way up and presented my boarding pass and passport. My BP beeped and the agent asked me to wait whilst she went over to the dispatch desk. She came back saying that due to a broken seat they had to move me to 1K from 2K. I said no problem as long as I am still in Business I am happy. She assured me I was and wished me a good flight.
I went on down the ramp and on to the very spacious 787 entrance area at door 2L.
Flight QR0194 BRU-DOH Seat 1K (Business)
Aircraft: A787
Departure time: 16:20
I was welcomed on board and directed across the plane and to turn left down to 1K. I did notice that someone was sitting in 2K. Hmmm.
At my seat one of the lovely crew took care of my jacket for me and came back to offer me a drink. I had seen the bubbly bottle working the other side of the cabin and asked for some champagne. She said I am not sure we do it on the ground here let me check. I said I did see it over the other side there. She came back a second later with a glass and said would I care for the Lanson Gold Brut or the Rose. I opted for the Lanson. She came back presented the bottle and then poured a glass of the lovely nectar.
She had spied me taking copious photos of the seat and asked if it was my first time on a 787. I said first time on a 787 and first time on Qatar. She said Oh the pressure is really on me then and smiled. I said don’t worry I am easily pleased.
QR J Seat
QR J Seat
QR J Cabin
QR J IFE Screen
QR J Seat Controls
QR J Detail
The champagne was a 1999 vintage and was quite caramel to the taste but still had some acidity. Very interesting it was.
Pre-departure Bubbly
An amenity kit containing Salvatore Ferragamo products was handed out.
Amenity Kit
There was a small pack containing a mask and socks in a small pouch. There was also bottle of water and noise cancelling headphones in a storage locker in the seat armrest. There was another storage cupboard under the other side of the seat.
The seat itself seemed a little tight as the screen and table a quite close to the front of you but there was ample space to side and plenty of storage and shelf space. The IFE and seat controls were to my right side and the magazine and menu storage was to my right behind me that was an odd placement, as you had to reach around to get to them. The FA came back and said the menu was behind me in a leather folder.
The whole arrangement was pleasing on the eye and was a continuation of the purple and grey colour scheme of QR. I fiddled with the seat for a while and notice the IFE was switched on so explored that for a while. I then perused the menu as one of the crew dropped by with a hot towel. None of this hold it out with a pair of tongs like other Business class service no this was delivered on a small plate a la CX First. Impressed.
Hot Towel
My crew member returned and asked if I had a chance to look at the menu.
Menu in Leather Folder
Menu
I gave my order and the lead attendant came to greet me. I said how did you like the Sheraton? I said you were standing next to me at check out. He said yes I believe you were in the lounge last night also? I said I was. He then went on to greet the person in 2K and said welcome Captain. Ah ha, so the non-operating captain has to take the broken seat or he gets first preference?
The captain up the front came on the blower and announced a flight time of 5 hours and 49 minutes and we should have a smooth flight apart from a bit of chop over Baghdad.
We pushed back early at 16:15 and taxied out for a take off at 16:30. As has been reported by others the aircraft is quite quiet.
I had been able to set up a substantial playlist of songs to listen to on the flight but was disappointed to learn that if I put the airshow on the music stopped. I could still listen to music if I put the airshow on the remote control screen.
The meal service began soon after the belt signs were switched off.
I decided to have some of the Sauvignon Blanc with the croque monsieur. The wine could have been a little colder but was quite nice. The chutney with the sandwich was yummo.
Starter – Croque Monsieur
My table was then set along with an individual bowl of breads to select from.
Lunch Table Set
Bread Bowl
The soup came out and was lovely and warm and rich and tasty.
Soup
I opted for the duck confit that although did not look at all appealing it was delicious. The potato gratin had a lot of garlic in it and was fully of flavour. I sat eating whilst watching the clouds go by outside my huge 787 window.
Duck Confit
Clouds
The lead FA said could he tempt me with some dessert. He said we have a lovely chocolate mille-feuille. I said I could be tempted. He came back shortly and said it was a chocolate tart not the mille-feuille. I said it was chocolate it would be fine.
It was very rich and cut through nicely with the raspberry coulis.
Chocolate Tart
Chocolate Tart
After devouring this he returned asking if I would like a coffee and perhaps and aperitif such as a cognac? I asked for a double espresso and Cointreau if they had it. He said he would check and came back saying I was in luck and I said on ice please.
Coffee & Cointreau
He finally returned and handed out small boxes of Godiva chocolates to the cabin. A hot towel was then presented on its own little plate.
Chocolates
After gorging and drinking for a good two hours I put the seat down to a relax position and then snoozed for a while.
The lead FA came to me late in the flight and said I see you have been doing a lot of writing in your pad. Would you mind doing some for us and filling in a survey?
Just as he approached my IFE went freaky and the female singer I was listening to suddenly changed gender as it decided to play at half speed. He said I see you have a Cathay pen and I replied I have quite a few of them. He left me to fill in the survey and returned a while later with a Qatar pen and said to add it to my collection.
After listening to music and napping for a while the crew dropped by asking if I would care for some afternoon tea. I felt I must in the interest of providing a full TR on my first ever QR 787 report.
My table was set again and I was asked what I would like to drink with the service. I said a cappuccino this time. Another hot towel was placed before me. The afternoon tea came out on one long plate. The lamb pie was nice as were the Florentines. I skipped the mango item. The one disappointment of the complete service was the cappuccino as it was made using UHT milk that had that odd flavour some UHT milks do.
Afternoon Tea
After the final meal service I was well and truly full up to pussy’s bow. It was a good thing we were going to be landing soon.
We flew down the coast past the city and airport and I could see the new airport runway lit up like a Christmas tree. The runway we landed on could hardly be made out as I looked out during our turn to line up with it.
We touched down at 23:13 and as many of you know DOH has no gates with ramps and all arrivals and departure must use busses. There was a bit of a wait for a bus and I thanked the galley crew who was standing next to me before catching the eye of the lead FA and thanking him also. He thanked me by name and had been the only crew member to use my name during the flight.
I went down and onto the bus that was not one of the luxury fleet but a normal bog standard bus for the long drive around the perimeter of the airport. The first stop was for the arriving passengers and then we drove on to the Premium terminal where the QR lounges were housed. After getting off the bus staff were asking for Hong Kong passengers. I made myself known and she informed me we would board from gate 10 and that boarding would be at 00:45 which was one hour from the current time.
I had to then pass through as security checkpoint before entering the duty free shopping area. The two QR lounges were upstairs and I knew better than attempt to gain access to the First class lounge that is strictly for First class passengers on QR not unlike the Concorde Room at Heathrow.
An agent at the top of the escalators asked me if I had a lounge invite but none was given to me with my paperwork at BRU. She noted my name and flight details and directed me into the Business lounge. It was very large with lots of seating but I struggled to find a place to sit it was so full. I looked up at the monitors and there must have been at least 35 flights leaving within the next two hours.
There was a restaurant of sorts with table service for food and a manned bar where you could get alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. I opted for no food and a glass of orange juice to tide me over until CX time.
I am afraid there are no pictures of the lounge as it was way too full.
At around the time my flight was due to board I packed up my things and went back down a level. They had started to board my flight from gate 10. This of course meant that you get to walk all of 4 metres and board a hot bus to wait for the rest of the business class passengers. I am sure the whole DOH experience will be far better when QR move into the new airport in several weeks time.
After 15 minutes on the bus they finally shut the door and we were on the move back out around the perimeter to our plane. I had noticed the CX tail as I got off the QR flight so knew it would be the same drive back.
Once at the plane the doors opened and we were able to walk up to the stairs and on board by 01:20.
Flight CX0640 DOH-HKG Seat 12A (Business)
Aircraft: A330
Departure time: 01:45
I was welcomed on and directed to me seat to the left. One of the crew half way down the aisle asked if I needed help to find my seat and said no it is my favourite one I know where it is. She smiled and let me be.
At my seat another crew member took care of my jacket. Next I was offered juice or water as a pre-take off beverage. An amenity kit with Jurlique products and socks, mask, earplugs, toothpaste and brush and a shoe horn was handed out.
Amenity Kit
Another busload of smarter customers arrived later and the cabin filled up. A hot towel was handed out on the ground.
My the windows on the 330 seem so small compared to the 787. The captain announced a flight time of 7 hours and 22 minutes.
We started to roll at 01:52 and taxied out but stopped short of the runway. We were outside an engineering building and I could see some huge 777 engines inside with little people wandering around them. We finally started to move again and could see we had been held up by a tug taking a 777 into the facility. We took off oat 02:09 and once airborne got some great views of Doha as we passed before turning back over the airport and once final view of Doha.
The belt sign didn’t go off for a full 30 minutes after take off. After the crew were allowed to go about their business one dropped by with a menu.
Menu
The crew were quite efficient at getting the service done quite quickly. Some passengers decided to eat and others didn’t so it was done in semi darkness.
The ISM came along to welcome me on board.
Table Set
I decided not to go with the abridged menu this time and the table was set and tray with the prawn salad starter was presented. No rolls or bread was offered even though there was a dish of butter on the tray.
The salad was fresh and the balsamic dressing nice. I was drinking the Sauvignon Blanc with this course but changed to the Shiraz later in the meal
Salad
Next up I decided to go with the chicken with cashews offering. The chicken was tender and not too spicy for a midnight snack.
Chicken with Cashews
Chicken with Cashews
Finally I opted for some cheese in lieu of dessert and sipped some more of the red wine. A hot towel was handed out again after the meal.
Cheese
As usual on CX I had set up a play list on the IFE and watched the airshow during the meal service.
A bottle of water was handed out after the meal service ended.
Once done with the meal I hunkered down for some sleep. And sleep I did on these great seats that CX have fitted on the 330’s.
The lights came on around 2 hours out of Hong Kong and the crew handed out another hot towel.
I declined all offers of food and just had a coffee to start my day.
The remainder of the fight I listened to music again and snoozed on and off.
We landed at 14:32 and taxied up to a gate that was pretty close to immigrations.
I utilised my electronic entry and was quickly landside awaiting my bag. It took a while for the bags to arrive but mine was out pretty quickly when they did start to appear.
A very déjà vu experience followed with my purchasing an AEX ticket to Kowloon before going up to the W and checking in to my Cool Corner Room for the night.
Cool Corner Room W HKG
Cool Corner Room W HKG
Cool Corner Room W HKG
Cool Corner Room W HKG
Cool Corner Room W HKG – Welcome Gift
Cool Corner Room W HKG
This time I was offered a free drink as a SPG platinum so later in the day I went down to the WOO bar and was tempted with a Hemmingway Daiquiri.
Daiquiri Woo Bar W Hong Kong
Why can’t anyone make a bed anymore? More and more I find my beds do not have the bottom sheet on properly and it is bunched up at my feet. I hate this especially when paying lots of money for a hotel. Is it so hard to ensure the bottom sheet is flat?
Oh that was a nice little rant.
Right, next up a short hop in the wrong direction before picking up the RTW ticket.
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