Platinum gets squat arriving in DOH
Mar 22, 2017, 1:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Etihad Guest Platinum; Accor Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,356
Platinum gets squat arriving in DOH
Just landed into Doha, we'll over a thousand people ahead of me in the immigration queue and only three counters open. Each person taking minimum three minutes to process. Hmmmm
Platinum gets diddly squat here unless you've flown in J or I have been hoodwinked
Had to blow Qar 375 to buy ridiculously overpriced walk through a non queue area.
Amazing new airport, ridiculous walking times as a result and massive let down by immigration
Could've put that money towards flying J in the first place!!
Platinum gets diddly squat here unless you've flown in J or I have been hoodwinked
Had to blow Qar 375 to buy ridiculously overpriced walk through a non queue area.
Amazing new airport, ridiculous walking times as a result and massive let down by immigration
Could've put that money towards flying J in the first place!!
Mar 22, 2017, 10:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,276
What were you expecting? Did you research what would be available as a Y pax arriving in one of the airline’s outstations? Has anything been cut? 
Mar 22, 2017, 10:40 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Etihad Platinum. Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 333
I don't fly within the Gulf all that often, but I did fly to DOH recently in J. There is a fast track for J (and F) guests. Show security the boarding pass and they let you in the fast track line. As a fellow Plat, I'm assuming that if I flew in Y, I could also use the fast track line, but I have no experience of this. Worth asking the cabin crew next time round.
Mar 22, 2017, 10:45 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Etihad Guest Platinum; Accor Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,356
Generally where there is a differentiated immigration, gold and Platinum guests are availed access to it. For example Fastrak in London.
It was as much the lack of open desks and the obvious number of hours that it would have taken to clear that I suppose really wound me up. Jaded by never having had a good experience through Doha even in J (Never on QA though which likely would have helped)
It was as much the lack of open desks and the obvious number of hours that it would have taken to clear that I suppose really wound me up. Jaded by never having had a good experience through Doha even in J (Never on QA though which likely would have helped)
Mar 23, 2017, 12:12 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,276
Generally where there is a differentiated immigration, gold and Platinum guests are availed access to it. For example Fastrak in London.
It was as much the lack of open desks and the obvious number of hours that it would have taken to clear that I suppose really wound me up. Jaded by never having had a good experience through Doha even in J (Never on QA though which likely would have helped)
It was as much the lack of open desks and the obvious number of hours that it would have taken to clear that I suppose really wound me up. Jaded by never having had a good experience through Doha even in J (Never on QA though which likely would have helped)
Mar 23, 2017, 2:53 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
DOH is just particularly slow because they take payment at the immigration desk, on top of the inefficiency common in the region.
Doesn't sound like you missed out on anything that was promised. There is no "generally" when it comes to Fast Track eligibility all around the world.
Doesn't sound like you missed out on anything that was promised. There is no "generally" when it comes to Fast Track eligibility all around the world.
Mar 25, 2017, 6:07 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Oxfordshire, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG & Accor Plat...
Posts: 734
Given the hot competition between the ME3 airlines, I think it's a bit rich to have a go at EY over this; if I ran Doha airport , I imagine I would feel some pressure to not extend fast track courtesies too far to pax who aren't travelling on QR.
Mar 26, 2017, 4:38 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Etihad Guest Platinum; Accor Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,356
There are several places where Etihad currently gives Gold and Platinum Y travellers a 'FastTrak' such as London
Most airports will happily do this as the airline must pay for it, even for the Premium travellers.
Most airports will happily do this as the airline must pay for it, even for the Premium travellers.
Mar 26, 2017, 6:11 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Emirates Gold, SPG Gold, Accor Platinum
Posts: 579
Although I'm all for perks as an EY guest member, I've had enough of benefits for Y passengers, when will airlines give benefits to J and F passengers?? Those who are gold and platinum are probably mostly flying J or F anyway. Yet the benefits of being Platinum or Gold are next to nothing if flying in J or F!
Mar 26, 2017, 10:12 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,276
Although I'm all for perks as an EY guest member, I've had enough of benefits for Y passengers, when will airlines give benefits to J and F passengers?? Those who are gold and platinum are probably mostly flying J or F anyway. Yet the benefits of being Platinum or Gold are next to nothing if flying in J or F!
Mar 26, 2017, 10:13 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,276
Please list the “several places”, as I am not aware of any & it would be a useful reference point for the forum @:-)
Mar 26, 2017, 11:24 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
Even thinner at QR, where you don't even get to use the "nice" QR lounges anywhere in the world!
Mar 26, 2017, 11:25 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
For arrival FT, I assume they find you in the Y cabin before landing and give you a FT pass?
Mar 27, 2017, 1:29 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,276
Part of the problem is that as I fly almost exclusively in J or F (apart from the very occasional short-haul route) & the benefits of “top tier” memberships are therefore pretty much....well, nothing meaningful really
One benefit of Platinum on QR (not for all of course) is Oneworld Emerald status (some very decent lounges in HKG/SYD for example) which can be a useful perk at outstations where OW have a presence.