I feel slightly ashamed [Another QR>BA thread]
Oct 20, 2017, 5:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
I feel slightly ashamed [Another QR>BA thread]
Title says it all really: why am I spending any money on shoddy CW where better alternatives exist ?
SOF-DOH in a slightly ropey A320 but seats were wide and comfortable, food was good enough, iPad made up for lack of IFE and service was impeccable.
Dedicated minibus on arrival, immigration took 5 minutes, DOH a joy to navigate...
DOH-BKK on A380 - wow oh wow !! Great seat, LOVED the bar on the upper deck, food was delicious, service was stellar (no glass left unfilled), any comparison to CW would just be cruel...
SOF-DOH in a slightly ropey A320 but seats were wide and comfortable, food was good enough, iPad made up for lack of IFE and service was impeccable.
Dedicated minibus on arrival, immigration took 5 minutes, DOH a joy to navigate...
DOH-BKK on A380 - wow oh wow !! Great seat, LOVED the bar on the upper deck, food was delicious, service was stellar (no glass left unfilled), any comparison to CW would just be cruel...
Oct 20, 2017, 6:36 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 928
Title says it all really: why am I spending any money on shoddy CW where better alternatives exist ?
SOF-DOH in a slightly ropey A320 but seats were wide and comfortable, food was good enough, iPad made up for lack of IFE and service was impeccable.
Dedicated minibus on arrival, immigration took 5 minutes, DOH a joy to navigate...
DOH-BKK on A380 - wow oh wow !! Great seat, LOVED the bar on the upper deck, food was delicious, service was stellar (no glass left unfilled), any comparison to CW would just be cruel...
SOF-DOH in a slightly ropey A320 but seats were wide and comfortable, food was good enough, iPad made up for lack of IFE and service was impeccable.
Dedicated minibus on arrival, immigration took 5 minutes, DOH a joy to navigate...
DOH-BKK on A380 - wow oh wow !! Great seat, LOVED the bar on the upper deck, food was delicious, service was stellar (no glass left unfilled), any comparison to CW would just be cruel...
Ive just flow Swiss in F for a similar price to BA, there is no turning back now!
Oct 20, 2017, 6:38 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
I'm sure the usuals will be along very soon to tell you that you are in fact wrong, or QR's safety performance is not to their liking, or their cabin crew are robots 
But I agree with every point you make. CW is only good for very short overnights, with no service required. There are much better alternatives almost everywhere, not just QR.
But I agree with every point you make. CW is only good for very short overnights, with no service required. There are much better alternatives almost everywhere, not just QR.
Last edited by rossmacd; Oct 20, 2017 at 7:09 am
Oct 20, 2017, 7:35 am
#8
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,150
I'm a 100% leisure flyer and so can choose who I fly with. The QR product is overall quite nice but after a ARN-DOH-SIN (B787 and A350) I don't think I would personally do it again.
My own views:
1) The seat is too open for me. Give me a window in CW with the divider up in my own little cubicle. I felt the QR seat was much firmer than the CW seat.
2) Food was good on QR but no better than BA's.
3) The service was a bit overbearing at times on all 4 sectors. I really felt like I was almost constantly being watched, hovering around my aisle and at times every 5/10 minutes and the cabin crews although very nice were a bit robotic. I prefer BA crews by far who deliver a far more personal touch.
4) The hand held IFE controls were far too fiddly/over sensitive for my liking.
5) The lounge was nice but lacked atmosphere and the food was warm.
6) Going to the far east I'd rather just get there in one go and not transit, however QR is a great way for TP's I agree. They do Priority boarding much better but QR are not for me as a traveller.
My own views:
1) The seat is too open for me. Give me a window in CW with the divider up in my own little cubicle. I felt the QR seat was much firmer than the CW seat.
2) Food was good on QR but no better than BA's.
3) The service was a bit overbearing at times on all 4 sectors. I really felt like I was almost constantly being watched, hovering around my aisle and at times every 5/10 minutes and the cabin crews although very nice were a bit robotic. I prefer BA crews by far who deliver a far more personal touch.
4) The hand held IFE controls were far too fiddly/over sensitive for my liking.
5) The lounge was nice but lacked atmosphere and the food was warm.
6) Going to the far east I'd rather just get there in one go and not transit, however QR is a great way for TP's I agree. They do Priority boarding much better but QR are not for me as a traveller.
Oct 20, 2017, 7:41 am
#9
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Posts: 63,803
I really wouldn't make this too complicated. If on a given day / flight Qatar is the best option then just go for it. I have just landed off a Doha flight on the A380, it was a nice flight, it was by no means full, but the reason I was on it was because the direct BA LHR service from Asia was totally full and sold out on fares twice as high as QR across the board. I had the choice, as did everyone prepared to change aircraft, there was also TK in the same price bracket.
None of this is a problem at all - what is a problem is when we don't have this choice.
I imagine that was where all the BA Golds were seated. At CE level that is as far as it goes, if at all, and other Emeralds typically won't get greeted.
None of this is a problem at all - what is a problem is when we don't have this choice.
I imagine that was where all the BA Golds were seated. At CE level that is as far as it goes, if at all, and other Emeralds typically won't get greeted.
Oct 20, 2017, 7:42 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: BA GGL/CCR
Posts: 384
I'm a 100% leisure flyer and so can choose who I fly with. The QR product is overall quite nice but after a ARN-DOH-SIN (B787 and A350) I don't think I would personally do it again.
My own views:
1) The seat is too open for me. Give me a window in CW with the divider up in my own little cubicle. I felt the QR seat was much firmer than the CW seat.
2) Food was good on QR but no better than BA's.
3) The service was a bit overbearing at times on all 4 sectors. I really felt like I was almost constantly being watched, hovering around my aisle and at times every 5/10 minutes and the cabin crews although very nice were a bit robotic. I prefer BA crews by far who deliver a far more personal touch.
4) The hand held IFE controls were far too fiddly/over sensitive for my liking.
5) The lounge was nice but lacked atmosphere and the food was warm.
6) Going to the far east I'd rather just get there in one go and not transit, however QR is a great way for TP's I agree. They do Priority boarding much better but QR are not for me as a traveller.
My own views:
1) The seat is too open for me. Give me a window in CW with the divider up in my own little cubicle. I felt the QR seat was much firmer than the CW seat.
2) Food was good on QR but no better than BA's.
3) The service was a bit overbearing at times on all 4 sectors. I really felt like I was almost constantly being watched, hovering around my aisle and at times every 5/10 minutes and the cabin crews although very nice were a bit robotic. I prefer BA crews by far who deliver a far more personal touch.
4) The hand held IFE controls were far too fiddly/over sensitive for my liking.
5) The lounge was nice but lacked atmosphere and the food was warm.
6) Going to the far east I'd rather just get there in one go and not transit, however QR is a great way for TP's I agree. They do Priority boarding much better but QR are not for me as a traveller.
However, regarding food, my experience of over 20 sectors on QR is that they have consistently beaten BA CW for both the quality, taste and presentation of their meal service - more on a par with BA First IMHO.
Oct 20, 2017, 7:49 am
#12
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK.
Programs: Nowt of note.
Posts: 1,628
I think five of your six points are entirely down to personal likings and taste.
However, regarding food, my experience of over 20 sectors on QR is that they have consistently beaten BA CW for both the quality, taste and presentation of their meal service - more on a par with BA First IMHO.
However, regarding food, my experience of over 20 sectors on QR is that they have consistently beaten BA CW for both the quality, taste and presentation of their meal service - more on a par with BA First IMHO.
(Unless your 'however' was not meant to signify the 6th point?)
Oct 20, 2017, 7:49 am
#13
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,150
I think five of your six points are entirely down to personal likings and taste.
However, regarding food, my experience of over 20 sectors on QR is that they have consistently beaten BA CW for both the quality, taste and presentation of their meal service - more on a par with BA First IMHO.
However, regarding food, my experience of over 20 sectors on QR is that they have consistently beaten BA CW for both the quality, taste and presentation of their meal service - more on a par with BA First IMHO.
BA F food is superior to QR J in my view but each to their own on that debate.
Oct 20, 2017, 7:55 am
#14
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
That is a personal preference, not a fact, as there are people who take the opposite view.
Oct 20, 2017, 8:02 am
#15
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,150
I never said anything about facts, there are no facts when choosing an airline. People choose what they like, price, routings, cabin, food/lounge offerings etc and rightly so and of course it is a personal preference. I just think BA is better overall making comparisons and was expressing my views. If people prefer QR then fine, I can see why but it's not for me.