Time Changes
 

Hi,

I have been told by Qatar that my DOH-BKK outbound and BKK-DOH inbound flight times have been changed. I now leave DOH at 08:05 instead of 08:35, and return into DOH at 23:45 instead of 00:05.

I am wondering, if the flight still arrives at and leaves BKK at the same times (which it does), where has the "time" gone. It is actually taking 30 minutes longer to get to BKK and 20 mins shorter getting back. The aircraft have not been changed (A380 both ways).

A shift in routes/cruise speeds ?

wind speed?

AndyGFLees there are many reasons why flight times change.
Airport congestion is an obvious example and should be taken as signal that the airline is planning ahead.
Seasons: For example DOH-HKG has a flight time of just over 6 hours to 9 hours. (These are the shortest and longest flight times I have experienced W-E on this route. The longer times in the winter.).
Flight direction E-W flight times are always longer than W-E flights.
Seasonal weather patterns such as SW and NE monsoons.
Bad weather. I doubt any airline would try to fly into or across a Typhoon.
Changes to flight corridors en-route.
The flight route.
Fuel saving by the airline.
Etc. etc.

Published times and flight times are never the same.

They add in buffer for loading, push back, departure, arrival gates, weather, connecting equipment, change in actual air routing, etc.

Impacts on both arrival and departing airports.

If you want to dig in a bit, go to flightaware.com and see what sort of actual times this flight has been tracking.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Just wanted to know out of interest really - biggest effect on my flights will be less time to enjoy the Doha Business Lounge !!

the transfers are so short I have never even had enough time to properly explore the lounge!