Since this thread is creeping away from it's origins, I'll add my two pence.

Never had a divert with QR, but had a few times with sick aircraft at outstations. I've always found that the combination of business class and a platinum card has gotten the right attention as long as you can find the person that is an actual QR employee at the gate. The contract staff can never do more than "follow the rules". It is established lore in here that QR's stong suit is not in any kind of IRROPS.

Also, over the years it has always been a creep from front line staff being empowered vs control being moved back to DOH, and that makes IRROPS be more of a pain than it needs to be.

-A