My pre-arranged wake up call comes around all too soon. I take one last look at my room, now bathed in sunlight and even more stunning, and set off for reception where I’m greeted by the duty manager who thanks me for my stay. I’m informed that the transport will be here within a few minutes and I thank him for such a fantastic room. He happily replies that, as I had arrived at such a late hour and the room was unoccupied it might as well be used. I've just checked the room rate for this upcoming Tuesday night (31st October) and was surprised to find it is the equivalent of £ 120 a night! What an absolute bargain!
A slightly more sedate journey takes me back to Hamad International Airport and deposits me outside the Premium entrance. Quickly through the automated passport control and manned security I head to the Al Mourjan lounge for breakfast. The lounge is moderately busy however I manage to find an empty table and explore the food options. A hot food station with chefs is available as well as the standard cold fayre option. I request scrambled eggs and the chef tells me I can only obtain this dish by ordering from my table. Back to my seat where I take the opportunity to also ask for some bubbles!
My departure gate is indicated so it’s off to the C gates paying ‘respects’ to Emir Teddyness the Great on the way. Consistent with most of the sectors on this trip I’m blessed with another bus gate! I can add a B788 to my collection of A319, B777 and A35K aircraft. This time it proves useful as I notice the ‘25 years of excellence’ motif under the flight deck windows which means it’s A7-BCB. (confession I didn’t know the registration I had to look it up!).
You know the routine by now. Board 2L, over to the starboard side, turn left and sit down in 04K as I should be, PDB offered - accepted - notice that this seat feels very different from all the rest as there’s NO DOOR! I’m sorry this is not acceptable and you must change the aircraft!!!! Joking aside this is what actually happened as, having finished my champagne the Captain announced that there was a ‘minor technical fault’ and we would be delayed by about 30 minutes. The lovely Belarussian ‘Air Hostess’ - which she introduced herself as her words not mine- came back with more bubbles. I had just a few sips when it was announced that the fault would take longer to fix and we would be ‘de-boarded’
Back then to a bus gate and requested to wait in the departures lounge. Approximately 30 minutes later with the ground crew getting to grips with the situation, customers with lounge access were advised to return there. This is when I found the excellent Al Mourjan The Garden lounge!
Huge ‘bubbles of glass’ let natural light flow into the area. There’s natural greenery and I think this is one of the best lounges I have visited. Staff apologise for the delay to my flight - even though it’s not their fault - so I relax, have some more food and the odd G+T. One of the reception staff and I have a discussion about where we have been/want to go/ someone else pays for us to go.
The delay is now getting on for three hours and if I don't get to Brussels before 19.00 (CET)ish I won’t be able to get a train through to Luxembourg to catch my flight back to London. I’m assured that they will re-book me.
QR 193 is showing on the screens as ‘boarding’ however the lounge crew informed me that ‘Business class boarding has not been approved yet’ please enjoy another G+T.
Once approved I’m allowed down to gate C 12 with grateful thanks from the reception team. Boarding through 2L back to 04K and no suite. DIDN’T QR GET THE MEMO? The good thing is it’s the same crew from earlier. Settled into my seat a ‘would you like the same drink as before sir? ‘ Yes please' is the obvious answer. For my meal choice I’m treated to an ‘International Kneel’ - subscribers to Pam Ann will understand -.
Off into the sky after apologies from the Captain and the Purser for the delay and inconvenience to Brussels, Lunch is served and I have turbot - it’s fish and as previously mentioned I normally only do deep fried haddock which even Loganair 'Scotland's Airline’ can’t do. It is actually enjoyable along with the sauvignon blanc, cheese board and port.
Sleep time now and I put the seat into bed mode. It’s comfortable but I feel a bit exposed compared to the Q-Suite experience. The flight is a little bit lumpy which is mildly enjoyable! Waking up my ‘Air Hostess’ is almost immediately by my side offering another drink. Final G+T on Qatar Airways accepted and we descended into Brussels Zaventem Airport.
Arrival time is just under three hours late so I can't claim compensation, Thankfully I had a quick transit through Immigration and baggage reclaim to the station for onward train to Luxembourg.
At Luxembourg Central I took a taxi to my hotel for the night - Ibis Budget Findel. It’s a few minutes walk, hotel shuttle bus or public bus from the airport. More on that later. The reception guy was friendly, the room was clean -what more do you want?
Next- problems…..