Apr 28, 2014, 1:34 pm
Last edit by: BobbySteel
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- Press release: "Qatar Airways is set to receive three A380 aircraft in quick succession this summer and the new aircraft will commence operations on the QR003 and QR004 London-Heathrow route."
- GDS show the first day of commercial service to be
17JUN1410OCT14 * Confirmed by QR for DOH-LHR * - Seat map in post 31 at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22775349-post31.html
- Cabin and seat photos at http://www.ausbt.com.au/photos-qatar...business-class
- Video of the experience at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak2GBcAvt7U&authuser=0
- Another inflight video of business class on the 380 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSiW...ature=youtu.be
- expertflyer shows QR A388 services commencing 05JAN15 DOH-BKK (QR836) and BKK-DOH (QR833) - Phil the Flyer
Start of QR A380 services
Aug 12, 2014, 1:36 pm
#106
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: QF WP, QR GOLD, TK GOLD, EY GOLD, AF/KLM GOLD
Posts: 392
Anybody got any updates or links to when the A380 will start the LHR - DOH service.
I was supposed to be on it on 14th September now changed to A340-600. Also booked on it 23rd November, hoping to at least get that one on the A380.
Travelled on Emirates A380 loads of times in J and Y, just want to see what Qatar have done with their version. My travelling schedule will drop dramatically in the second half of next year.
Regards
I was supposed to be on it on 14th September now changed to A340-600. Also booked on it 23rd November, hoping to at least get that one on the A380.
Travelled on Emirates A380 loads of times in J and Y, just want to see what Qatar have done with their version. My travelling schedule will drop dramatically in the second half of next year.
Regards
Aug 22, 2014, 12:11 am
#107
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
Programs: OneWorld Emerald/GHA Discovery Black
Posts: 552
Delayed until 10 October for LHR A380 service:
http://airlineroute.net/2014/08/21/qr-lhr-oct14update2/
It must be VERY embarrassing for QR to keep delaying but I suppose they had plenty of practice with NDIA (for similar vanity/incompetence reasons)!
http://airlineroute.net/2014/08/21/qr-lhr-oct14update2/
It must be VERY embarrassing for QR to keep delaying but I suppose they had plenty of practice with NDIA (for similar vanity/incompetence reasons)!
Aug 24, 2014, 11:26 am
#108
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
That might help explain why Mrs PtF and I are currently showing - on expertflyer - as the only two passengers (or at least those with seat assignments) on QR016 (the A319 service) LHR-DOH on 10 October. How cool would that be to have the entire aircraft to ourselves? When I flew the same flight last week there were only 20 pax in total.
Aug 24, 2014, 1:23 pm
#109
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Marriott Platinum. Aspiring flyer with both feet on the ground.
Posts: 318
Booking systems show which flights use the A380 post-October - I've made my choice accordingly. I really hope they will stick to the advertised schedule! Looking forward to my flight in March.
Aug 31, 2014, 9:56 am
#111
Join Date: May 2014
Location: GLA
Programs: I'm not that important
Posts: 84
with their best gestimate hat on, what is the confidence level for the A380 having commenced on the LHR-DOH route, by the beginning of November 2014?
i've just booked using Avios points, but in anticipation have kept a EDI-DOH booking in case - i would only travel to LHR, just to travel on the A380
i've just booked using Avios points, but in anticipation have kept a EDI-DOH booking in case - i would only travel to LHR, just to travel on the A380
Aug 31, 2014, 11:28 am
#112
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Tehran (IKA), Vancouver (YVR), Nice (NCE)
Programs: QR Platinum (Oneworld Emerald), AZ Freccia Alata (Skyteam Gold), Shangri-La GC (Jade)
Posts: 235
Just booked IKA-CDG return for march and april in F just to try the A-380 on Qatar. I'd be shocked if they don't get their A380s by then! But who knows?
Any news from the completion date of the Al-Safwa lounge?
Any news from the completion date of the Al-Safwa lounge?
Aug 31, 2014, 11:30 am
#113
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: QR Gold
Posts: 772
That might help explain why Mrs PtF and I are currently showing - on expertflyer - as the only two passengers (or at least those with seat assignments) on QR016 (the A319 service) LHR-DOH on 10 October. How cool would that be to have the entire aircraft to ourselves? When I flew the same flight last week there were only 20 pax in total.
Aug 31, 2014, 12:07 pm
#114
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
QatarA340,
An A319LR flying this kind of route would cost around $150k per round trip to operate. The would need both high loadfactors and high yields to make money it, an all business class narrowbody flight is hard to make money on unless your traffic is all O&D.
An A319LR flying this kind of route would cost around $150k per round trip to operate. The would need both high loadfactors and high yields to make money it, an all business class narrowbody flight is hard to make money on unless your traffic is all O&D.
Aug 31, 2014, 1:50 pm
#115
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: QR Gold
Posts: 772
150K is a lot of money. That means a ticket price of 13,500 QAR per ticket (150K / 40 * 3.65) = 13,500 QAR --which considering its not even close to half full--not happening. I doubt they carry any cargo as they have 4 other wide bodies flying this route.
Aug 31, 2014, 8:41 pm
#116
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
Actually IAG/BA transferred their cargo operations to Qatar at the beginning of the year. There are five freighters a week flying between LHR and DOH just for IAG so I'd bet there is plenty of cargo going on the A319/others too.
Aug 31, 2014, 10:20 pm
#117
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: QF WP, QR GOLD, TK GOLD, EY GOLD, AF/KLM GOLD
Posts: 392
Also keep in mind that not everyone is paying that price to fly on that route. Someone connecting from the Subcontinent or Asia etc could be paying less so they are probably making even less money!
Sep 8, 2014, 3:51 am
#118
Join Date: May 2014
Location: GLA
Programs: I'm not that important
Posts: 84
have they started crew training/famil flights yet?
has Qatar actually taken delivery of the A380?
I'd have thought that if they're going to start using it on the 10th October, then shouldn't they have started crew training and famil flights by now - looks like they'll be announcing soon, its delayed again
I'd have thought that if they're going to start using it on the 10th October, then shouldn't they have started crew training and famil flights by now - looks like they'll be announcing soon, its delayed again
Sep 8, 2014, 11:28 am
#119
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 213
I used KVS tool which told me there was availability for upgrade to F on the A380 mid October. I took a gamble and bought a few extra blocks of miles so I would have enough. The gamble paid off and I have my newly issued ticket. Now I just hope and pray that there's no further delay.
Does anyone else think that maybe the delay is also due to the unfinished First/Business lounges in the North Node? As these are on an upper level perhaps there's A380 specific gates with direct access? Just a thought.
Does anyone else think that maybe the delay is also due to the unfinished First/Business lounges in the North Node? As these are on an upper level perhaps there's A380 specific gates with direct access? Just a thought.
Sep 8, 2014, 1:57 pm
#120
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,724
The folks over at Airliners.net snapped this photo of QR #3 flying over Germany somewhere. The pic was taken 3 weeks ago. Perhaps there is yet still hope! Reportedly, QR #1-2 have already flown some test flights, post-cabin modification.
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/6100117/
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/6100117/
Last edited by iluvdoco; Sep 9, 2014 at 1:34 am