elitetraveler

Not sure, but I would guess US govt employees and contractors could be a significant part of it per the Fly America Act and EU operating carrier exemptions

https://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/103191

navylad

Interesting that defence is exempt

jimlad48

I know my DOD oppos do make heavy use of the BA IAD-LHR flight - I'm always surprised at just how many USG transit via LHR nowadays - I guess because of the AA/BA links.

navylad

Perhaps it's for the higher quality alcohol? Although saying that, the US marines didn't fare too well when they challenged us to a drinking competition (back in the days when I drank). Bless them.

HMAF's travel has to go through an agency (HRG), this is reportedly to save money but it is annoying when you can get a better deal yourself to save the taxman a few quid and perhaps get flights that you also prefer. More so with hotel stellar than flights though.

sts603

Seriously? BA is testing what demand will be during a short special event (where normal demand patterns wouldn't be relevant) by flying it five years in advance? Nevermind that it's not a new route.

DOH is a center of wealth and business, and there is a good amount of O/D traffic to London. That said I think BA gets a small share of the premium traffic given the inferior offerings in F and J compared to QR and QR's much more robust schedule (6x daily). Hence reward availability is good on this route and I doubt it's a moneymaker for BA.

DorsetKnob

What you sometimes find with these deals, is that discounts are negotiated based on volume throughout the year. The final discount is calculated only periodically not on each ticket. So whilst on the face of it you may be paying #1500 for a ticket, when the final discount comes through it will effectively be only #1200 , as the company gets 20% of it's total bill back based on spend in the period.

jimlad48

Don't get me started on HRG, or Crab Air...

navylad

What, just to bring it slightly back on topic, like the Ex-Gulf Air charters that were being used for the Falklands flights? (see this TR from 2012). Think I'd prefer to fly on this one.

So anyway US military might well use BA to fly to DOHA to get to Al Udeid airbase, British too if BA happens to be cheapest.

jimlad48

Iremember going to Falklands on an Air Seychelles charter - that was emotional. The Air Atlanta 747 that was used for TELIC runs into Al Udeid was also a challenge - it managed to break down more often than a tristar. Happy days :-)

plunet

The QR lamb burger is one of a handful of 'light bites', which sits between the main menu and breakfast options on one of their menus. The lamb burger did come with a side salad when I had it on DOH FRA last month. You can choose any option to be served at any time and can mix and match from the various sections of the menu. It's dine on demand.

For more info on QR J menus can I suggest this thread

navylad

I'm most humble sorry elitetraveler, I missed your reply.

The one served to me had one lettuce leaf with it, so no not a side salad. I can't recall the other option on the menu (or indeed the vegetarian option), but I can remember I didn't like the description and was hoping that they had one of the burgers left as, having not eatne in the lounge/airport and having skipped the meal on the CE flight out in the anticipation of a decent meal I was disappointed; yes I totally admit that I should have done my research in advance and thanks @plunet for the thread link; I had asked QR prior to the flight, and they had just told me there would be a meal but couldn't tell me what.

The express breakfast was not the only option no, I seam to remember there was an arabian breakfast on the menu too and perhaps something else, my gripe was that if something is described as 'pastries' you don't expect that to be a bread roll and mini-muffin, unfortunately by the time that they awoke me for my express breakfast, it wasn't possible to have a different option and with the slight delay on the flight, I headed straight to my next gate rather than the lounge where I could have obtained something more substantial.

I'm still astounded that there was only one 'meal' on the DOH-HKG flight, but to be fair, the omelette was nice.

Moral of the story, don't assume British meat and two veg in a main meal on a flight in Business, ask FT not the airline if you want to find information out and ask the CC what each of the options actually are.

DYKWIA

Just to confirm, you are saying that the lamb burger was the main J meal? Rather than the 'light bite' as referenced above?

navylad

Affirm. I had that and the express breakfast.

elitetraveler

Thanks, the link seems to be broken --

"One meal" DOH-HKG doesn't sound right -

The DOH-Asia menus on QR I have seen includes at least one full meal, including choice of appetizer, soup course, 3-4 main selections, cheese course + desert.

Then there is at least a menu of "Light Options" which each would be about the same as a main course dish in CW -

According to the below - DOH-SIN - - a 7am DOH departure (similar timing to the DOH-HKG flight you were on, just shorter) - includes the above full meal + an all-day breakfast menu with at least four options, including an Asian option.

http://www.pommietravels.com/qatar-a...-class-review/

If you take a look at the menu, I would think it would be agreed this is not a "one meal" service?

navylad

I know, it certainly wasn't what I was expecting.

Looking at TR for the same flight a year ago, dinner was served and then breakfast, but I can assure you only breakfast options were available on the menu and served straight away. Some of my fellow passengers did also comment.

I also note that the amenities kit have been scaled back and no longer are Armani.

Just boarded my NRT-DOH flight back, back on he 777 but empty seat next to me (the only one free on the cabin) and the menu for this flight seams a lot better, fingers crossed.