eae

I'm not so sure. Back when CX and QR partnered on the DOH-HKG route CX F passengers got access to the first class terminal. I'd expect the same arrangement here where BA F passengers gets Al Safwa access.

BlackBerryAddict

As irishguy28 already pointed out (sorry, my multiquote doesn't seem to work anymore), the reason I mentioned the A319 was because QR used to run this larger aircraft as a business class only between Heathrow and that wasn't commercially viable.

The A318 might work from LCY to DOH - it is slightly shorter than LCY-JFK, but don't know how long the runway needs to be for this operation. It is really waiting for the CSeries though - that aircraft can do LCY-JFK non-stop.

But the problem is still demand - I take the point about connecting traffic, but that means you still have to connect at DOH - for anywhere there is a direct, non-stop flight from LGW or LHR that would be preferable, and the problem with a stopping flight not being preferable is that the yields are lower. Most key destinations from London already have direct flights.

There's a second issue - for a proper hub operation you need double daily flights, otherwise the connections often have a far to long waiting time at least on one of the journeys.

theox

Qatar actually very very regularly has J and other sales out of the UK - i've flown UK-DXB rtn in J for under £900 a couple of times now and their companion fares (where two of you are travelling) are very well priced in business too, not just to ME. but beyond!

So yes... i'd actually say they are very cheap ex-UK!

BlackBerryAddict

The press release talks about revenue sharing "joint business venture". I'm not privy to the details of the agreement, so whether it is a full joint venture I don't know.

I don't think it would necessarily impact flights from the rest of Europe on QR. QR still needs to fill the aircraft - unless they are going to pull back from some of the smaller routes in favour of codesharing over London - but I don't think that will happen either.

Also, I am not sure that the agreement means tier bonus avios on QR - it just says "enhanced frequent flyer benefits" but doesn't spell out what these benefits are.

Grande Annee

I assumed that we were talking about direct flights UK to DOH!? In my experience they are not particularly cheap LHR DOH

ChampagneSocialist

BA codeshare flights on OW metal would earn tier bonuses as per straight BA coded/BA metal flights, no?

Tobias-UK

Only BA? Don't you think QR will have the same motive?

irishguy28

Indeed - but they do offer the bonus Avios on their other "joint business partners" (those being: AA, IB & JL - with the sole exception of AY who are involved in the TATL JV - and of course QF were removed from this list when they broke their joint business with BA in favour of EK) so it would seem almost certain that this is what is intended here, too.

irishguy28

Absolutely, but that doesn't represent an enhancement - that's just applying the basic principle that BA coded flights earn according to the BA table.

Offering Bonus Avios for BA flyers on QR flights [in the same way that this happens for AA, IB and JL flights] would be an enhancement!

:D!

I think it wouldn't make sense for this to affect BA direct flights to Asia.

However perhaps for example on a route such as AMS-PVG, one would have the option of AMS-LON-PVG or AMS-DOH-PVG and BA and QR would revenue-share on such tickets.

MSPeconomist

I think you misunderstood my comment about exEU fares. If someone is going to Japan, for instance, they can save money with an exEU fare currently by purchasing an EU-LHR-NRT/HND ticket. However, the JV could mean that BA will change those prices to be more comparable to the EU-DOH-Japan route.

irishguy28

A BA/QR joint venture doesn't change the fact that, in EU markets, they have to price their flights according to local market conditions.

YouGeeElWhy

Think this is unlikely given that BA cannot reciprocate and give CCR access to QR F passengers.

eae

Who says they can't? They used to give it to QF passengers back in the day and with reports of AA CK's getting CCR access on connecitng flights out of T5 there is precedent.

jamesreid978

The last 4 times I have flown out of Doha on BA F or CW, May, June x 2 and August I have accessed Al Safwa or Al Mourjan no problem. They have changed the rule back to OW J or F gets access.