Not a full trip report as I didn’t really do photos. However I thought some reflections would be good.

MEL-SYD-CGK and return on QF, burning a voucher from early covid. QF DSC promotion renews my platinum.

CGK-DOH-LHR||LGW-DOH-CGK on QR and BA, paid with Amex points as cash. Couldn’t find awards and cash more valuable than points right now. However this got me gold on VA so I’m now a domestic free agent in Australia. Ended up on QR4 from LHR on the return, rather than BA2033 as booked.

MEL-SYD-CGK

SYD-CGK had one of the best, most attentive QF crews I’ve had. Good food, a very nice fish and black bean dish.

CGK

Easy transfer both ways, eVOA process is smooth, baggage came out quickly.

QF won’t through check on separate tickets, I forgot that QR will, although I was originally on BA for the first leg of the return. Collecting and rechecking wasn’t a problem.

Great massage and shower landslide and the place on Level 1 of the CGK international terminal.

garuda lounge that QR use is dreadful, go and eat in the terminal.

plaza premium sapphire lounge that QF use is quite nice, ‘first class’ section coming soon. Reasonable food, cold beer, a bit noisy because it’s a concrete box.

QR flights

The QR corporate scent is ghastly and, for me, a reason not to fly them. I do badly with fragrances, then tend to inflame my sinuses and make it hard to breathe, the QR one is particularly bad. It was worst on the A380 - spent most of my time in the bar where the scent was much less intrusive.

highly variable QR seating. 777 with forward facing seats was worn out and very uncomfortable (I remember this being quite good when new).

Q-suites, meh, first time with this product, don’t get the fuss, makes the cabin feel cramped and claustrophobic.

Reverse Herringbone - good implementation of this product, no cheese grater vents in the window seats. Really like how open and airy the A350 is with no Center bins.

DOH

New Al-M north lounge is good but unfinished. When I was there very empty, about 10:1 staff to passengers.

nap rooms are great, but s-bend couches in them are not. Managed to obtain some extra blankets and make a soft swag on the floor.

Showers, very good and well ventilated. I recall the Al-M south showers being very poorly ventilated.

the orchard/garden is no pearl at SIN but very nice, if I didn’t have lounge access I would wait there, probably the coolest (temp) place at DOH.

Platinum lounge on the way back, only really time for a shower before next flight. Shower attendants struggling to keep up with turning over the cubicles. Had to shift cubicle due to broken thermostat and no hot water.

despite the new extension, bus gate for the CGK flight.