DYKWIA

Not in my experience. In the 4 times I've passed through, there has not been any security for transit passengers (I know this depends on which flight), so I've been in the lounge less than 10 minutes after leaving the plane.

Also, no messing about with the security check at the gate.

navylad

This has never been my experience, always had security in transit (although often has bottles of water and the like in my bag which I’ve found after, which they seam to always miss).

DOH is an ok airport to transit, but I much prefer SIN, the former gives an initial good impression, but after a long layover or indeed multiple trips, you starts to feel rather ‘fake’ in my opinion, whereas I’ve generally had a very welcoming experience in SIN although my only complaint is the ugly carpet in the terminal (I concede this is a very minor point).

Meanwhile moving back on topic, this would seams commercially beneficial for both airlines and I disagree with the early threads that two airlines working together reduces completion; it can in fact increase competition if the combined effect causes an effect on the other major players. To suggest otherwise would appear to me to be rather naive.

DYKWIA

Not all airports require you to remove liquids. Recently at DXB, all that needed to be taken out was laptops.

itsmeitisss

The issue with the 2-2-2 77W is that the point at which you need to step over your neighbour is higher up their body than in CW. Also while Dine on demand is great if you are the aisle passenger and the window seat passenger is partaking you'd better be a heavy sleeper.

As far as crew are concerned they are variable, just the same as BA. From ICN to DOH i found the crew exceptional. They noted I was ill and offered to help with any medication I might need. And kept checking on me. I ate nothing and drank no alcohol, but they kept me going with plenty of hot water.I haven't been to China, lol turns out it's a chest infection with a cold on top...

IntVic

I mainly fly in the premium economy cabin so I will not see any benefit with Qatar.

HighwayToHEL

Yes. I leave BLR in about 7 hours from now (777) to DOH, then the A350 to EDI. Small matter of dinner and a few Kingfisher beers to consume first.

EDI to DOH is my favourite sector on all my journeys.

HighwayToHEL

coming out here to BLR I went through the trial scanner at EDI. Keep EVERYTHING in bags, including liquids and laptops.

The theory is good. The reality was that my laptop bag went down the inspection channel and was sat behind a dozen others. So my normal fast track 2 minutes became 14.....

OT, I know.

JAXBA

Quote:

Originally Posted by allturnleft

Are there definitely no new BA routes as a result of this? Does SIN-SYD get dumped?

Notice that SYD isn't included in the JV application: BA will still be flying there.

https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...ralian-flights

Quote:

The agreement would encompass all of Qatar's Australian destinations

sxc

I don’t understand why including SYD would be seen as a less chance of approval. Of all the routes they are applying for, SYD is the one that already has the most alternatives for getting to Europe. Whereas the other cities have fewer options. So wouldn’t it be less likely that the other cities would be approved vs SYD?

Passmethesickbag

I imagine that BA might not want to undermine the viability of their own route.

Reds2011

I'm the complete opposite - I dislike Doha intensely for connecting and much prefer Singapore. Only been through Muscat once since the new terminal opened, and it was decent enough. Doha is a very poorly signed airport in my (and others I have spoken with) opinion although I have not transited there for ~4 years now. It may have improved.

Depending on the time, the transit security check area is a disorganised sh*t show of the highest order. Probably a lot better with reduced traffic since the disagreement with the other GCC nations.

ukgooner

I doubt either airline is worrying too much about a constituency largely based on flying Qatar on ultra cheap ex-Helsinki deals to harvest TPs.

Qatar might look cheap through our eyes, but in each local market it is often one of a number. SQ is currently the cheapest J class offer to Aus from most Scandi gateways right now, and they are hardly perceived as a 'Base Airline'. The fact is it is a very competitive market, and BA does very well in it despite some of the perceptions here about the offer.

This is about leveraging each airline's strengths to provide greater awareness of the choices available to each other's customer base. From BA's perspective it would be quite an investment to restart Melbourne, despite its SYD success and improving viability of new AUS routes with an A350. I image this new arrangement should kill off speculation for a while (Which is probably helpful for Qatar).

Talking of cheapness - one of the issues if you want to fly on BA codes to AUS is the availability of I class, particularly on QF, on the codeshares from SE Asia, so if this improves things we should all be grateful (Particularly with the Avios uplift you get from flying on a BA code)