More schedule changes
 

Is it just me, or is there a whole plethora of schedule changes going on at the moment?

I have one particular journey, which is now only 2 months away, ARN-DOH-KUL, which has probably had 6-7 time changes in the last month. Some of these are 10-20 minute changes, and now the outbound departure time has been brought forward by almost 2 hours. Good thing I had booked a massive 6 hour cushion for my connecting flight in from LHR, especially with oneworld's no-notice luggage check-thru policy change...

What's going on? Equipment changes and selective cancellations is one thing, but can't QR keep to a published schedule? :confused:

It is likely that the Winter 2017 timetable has just been loaded in, hence the thread posted earlier about flights to and from DEL.

All airlines do this, and I have had around 20 (yes, TWENTY) schedule changes from AA over the past 3 days because they too, are playing with the timetables.

It is perfectly normal, and comes down to a host of factors.

Sixth Freedom (I think) has commented on the reasons behind the changes previously, and in some detail.

Nothing to worry about though, but do keep an eye on your bookings - or use an App like MyFlightsApp to keep on top of things.

Safe travels,

M

50 minutes connection
 

I've just received notification from Checkmytrip.com I am flying AMS-DOH-HKG and my connection time is now just 50 minutes. I know QR publish a 45 mins MCT, but I arrive at Doha at 1:30am and depart 2:20am. Will the 50 minutes connection be do'able without having to sprint (I'm in biz class)?

While I can imagine a situation with gates at extreme opposite ends of the terminal, thus requiring you to walk at a fairly brisk pace, 50 minutes should be fine.

Slotski unless your connection is very late there should be no problem. I have a similar connection to HKG next Tuesday and I am not worried. Prior to landing the IFE usually shows the departure gates for all connections. Be prepared and note the gate number. That alone can save several minutes!
You have the advantage of fasttrack security so just relax, don't rush and it will be no problem.

I know it sounds obvious but as long as your inbound is on time, You should make it. Back in May, My AMS->DOH flight was delayed in AMS by a broken down tug. We were 15 minutes late into DOH and trying to make a 50min connection to BKK, I thought they might have had a rep with a buggy ready to go but alas no. There was a cs rep there but his job was to take us to ticketing and get us rebooked onto the later BKK flight. We were well taken care of by QR and had lots of nice food and drink in Al Mourjan. There are worse places to spend 6 hours.

As the others have said, it is doable, provided you are on time. However, as little as 10 minutes delay will make it tight, and having done it in business before, I certainly wouldn't want to do it again, and would not dream of suggesting it in economy

In fact, knowing DOH, I would never have booked anything as foolish as that - it was a schedule change that made my planned 90-120 minute connections all 45-50 mins. The problem with DOH is there are so many bus gates, all bus arrivals are re-screened, and the bus departures happen from the other end of the terminal (genius design!)

This is my other issue with the QR scheduling at the moment. When there used to be one main East-West bank in the morning, connections were typically a sensible 1.5-2.5 hrs. After the banks were split about a year ago, 45-60 minute connections are all too common, and really unpleasant. Has anyone seen the rescreening security area look anything other than a zoo?! It's not as if they look at the x-rays or check when the scanners beep...

Anyway, my tips would be: be prepared to push into the security queue, have running shoes, and travel light in clothes you don't mind sweating in

Thanks for your tips and advice. It is annoying that my original booking had a connection time of 1 hour 25 minutes.

I have connected through Doha quite a few times, always in Business and with a long connection time. The security appears to be a joke, none of the staff seem to be taking the beeps and x-rays seriously.

kt74 +1
 

kt74 +1

I have a 55min connection after a schedule change for early oct coming from AMS and don't like it at all.

Last change was from BRU to BKK reduced to 50 min.
Plane departed 10 min late due to ATC although ready to go 15 min early, stress starts at point of origin. Landed DOH 10 min late also. Booking mentioned help required at DOH, was a bus connection, no one from QR to see at arrivals, security check a mess.
Had to run like crazy, had problem boarding gate closed.
Finally flight to BKK left 30 min late waiting for OSL pax and my bags did not make it, adding more stress at BKK, had connecting domestic flight, nearly missed connection also and had to return UTH airport next day to pick up bags.

No more of this for me, less than 60 min is unacceptable.

I do have 6 DOH connections booked, only one with less than 60 minutes, it's one too much...

I've had some changes forced on me...

Flying:
CPT-DOH QR1370 13/NOV 13.20-23.20
DOH-OSL QR175 14/NOV 06.45-11.40 changed to 08.25-13.25

So, now we qualify for the transit hotel where we did not before, as we are traveling to a valid destination and 8hrs+ transit, and there is no earlier direct connection.

But, this was one of the supersaver fares from Oslo, OSL-DOH-CPT for ~£700, and not all fares are valid for the transit hotel offer.

Do you guys think I'll have any luck getting the hotel offer?

BA038_Passenger I doubt that STPC will apply.
You need to have spent USD 400 on a sector before STPC is even considered

This is how you can calculate it:
Your basis for calculating STPC is half the Ticket fare plus the YQ fuel surcharge divided by two for a return journey and converted to USD

Using the extract of a fare breakdown from an E-ticket shown below as an example
Ticket fare plus
Fuel surcharge (YQxx)
divided by two for a return ticket
and converted to USD
i.e. 7768 + 2660 = 10428/2 = 5214 DKK
5214 /6.58 = USD792.40

"Ticket Fare: DKK 7768.00
Total paid: DKK 10774.00
Taxes and Carrier imposed Fees: DKK 2660.00 Fuel Surcharge (YQAC) , DKK 56.00 Fiscal Tax (YRVB) , DKK179.00 Passenger Service Charge (Domestic) (ZOAE) , DKK 8.00 Passenger Service Charge Departures (PZSE) , DKK 103.00 Air Passenger
Departure Tax (HKAE)"
1 USD = DKK 6.58

In the above EXAMPLE calculation the fare qualifies You need to do the arithmetic on your ticket yourself. GBP 1.00 = USD 1.32

I've had some flight changes imposed which means I now have a 35 min connection time from my OSL flight arriving to my flight to SIN departing. Is this doable or should I push Qatar to rebook either the OSL or SIN flight?

MCT at HIA used to be 35mins, but it then moved to 45mins around 15 months ago.

I'm surprised that QR have booked you under the MCT, so I'd definitely give them a ring to check things.

Make sure that your connection is 35mins...and not 1 day and 35mins!

Safe travels,

M

Thanks M. I've just double checked and it is a 35 min connection - good call though. I'll ring Qatar and see if they'll transfer me to a LHR to DOH outbound service as all the other Scandinavian/Dutch flights I've checked all arrive at around the same time.

Good luck with that! But seriously, let us know how you get on. ;)

I've spoken with Qatar. If LHR had been within 500 miles of OSL the agent would have been permitted to make the change of departure airport from OSL to LHR, but the distance is around 750 miles so the agent couldn't make the change. We've rebooked on to the next flight to SIN from DOH which means a 7 hour layover in HIA - it could have been worse!

For the future, it's worth considering departing from an airport within 500 miles of LHR (AMS and CDG spring to mind) to give you the possibility of changing to LHR in the event of a significant schedule change.

Coincidentally, you'll find fares from CDG aren't particularly cheap - and AMS fares have rocketed over the past quarter.

QR are smarter, at times, than one may give them credit for.

M

I've had three notifications in as many days of departure and arrival time changes to the same set of flights (March 2017 departure). Sometimes it's been tweaked by as little as five minutes.

My flight booked with Expedia(osl-sin very cheap when booked in Jamuary)has changed by 1hr 40 mins later ,I cannot now make it home on that day I thought I would,do you think if I rang qatar they would alter the final leg to man,edi,bhx or lhr or am I wasting my time ringing?

Assuming your ticket 'home' is a separate ticket, you wont find QR particularly helpful.

It is a risk one takes when it comes to Ex-EU flights. Have a read of this recent thread, from Post #35 onward - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qatar...g-cabin-3.html

QR are unlikely to re-route you because your journey with them is not affected.

Of course no harm in calling up, but limit your expectations.

Safe travels,

M

Can anyone beat 12 myflights alerts for a simple four sector trip?! They always come through in the early hours as well. Ding! wide awake.

A series of 5 to 60 minute schedule changes, an eventual re-ticket by the OTA, and finally a recognition of R as Business. I've lost an hour HKT, gained an hour and 20 in Doha, but now have lost 10 minutes to leave a 50 minute connection outbound.

Me too, except one flight is 30 minutes longer!

Now separately, that flight (DOH-CPT and CPT-DOH) is operated by a 777-300ER instead of a 787-8. Nothing from QR but thanks to myflights.

I'm not impressed as I was looking forward to the 787 experience. Checking on the QR website, I see that seat request numbers have been retained. I'm asked to accept the changes BUT nowhere do I see how to change seat requests if necessary.

Oh dear. More legwork required.

Roger on the manage booking screen to the far right there is a 'Modify seat selection' button under 'Manage Flight'. Use this to change your seats.

Indeed fares exCDG are expensive. In business class BA is considerably cheaper most of the time (including now).

Thanks. :)

There's a story in today's Daily Telegraph that ANA are cancelling many 787 flights. Apparently too much 'short' haul work. (I read it online and am trying to find the link.)

I've no idea whether QR are affected by the same situation.

The ANA cancellations are due to unexpected corrosion on compressor blades in the Rolls Royce engines used by ANA on all of their 787s.

It is my understanding that Qatar has selected the other engine type available for the 787 - from General Electric - for its entire fleet of 30 787s - but these engines have had their own issues, too.

Evening All,

A friend booked a ex-eu to Mel and has noticed when checking MMB of a schedule change. The return part; MEL-ADL-DOH-MXP now has a connection time of 35min in Adelaide. Checking expert flyer a D to I connection is 1hr30?

Could anyone advise if QR would allow the MEL-ADL bit to be moved to a day or two earlier? Or would that insist an earlier same day flight only?

Thanks,
Matt

While ADL is a single terminal airport (QF on the right side, VA on the left side, Int in the middle) 35 minutes is definitely not doable as you will have to go through security and Immigration.

Officially connection within 24 hours is not a stopover, so you might be lucky with being re-booked to day earlier.

QR changed our connection time from 90 to 50 minutes at DOH and we are all in Y.

The itinerary is CPH-DOH-BKK. I'm not terribly thrill about it as it's our first time at DOH and we got seats at the back cabin of the 787.

Our OTA will not do anything unless the connection is fallen below the MCT.

nacho 50 minutes should be plenty of time so do not worry. I suggest that you prepare for the transfer to avoid feeling rushed. If you arrive at a remote stand then you are lucky in two ways.
1. Y passengers usually disembark via the rear exit and
2. The buses deposit you at the foot of the escalator to the security area saving valuable walking time.

Prepare for the transit by obtaining a map of the airport https://www.oneworld.com/airports-de...aps/doha-qatar is probably the most accurate available on the web and just prior to landing the IFE usually shows a list of connecting flight gates. Locate the gate on the map and you have avoided a wild chase finding it! The exits from the transit security are just beside, but separate from, customs/immigration on the map. There are no immigration checks for transit passengers.

Don't expect to go shopping, don't dawdle and above all don't feel rushed.

My 7hrs layover become an 8h30m one, but I can't have STPC as I am connecting from RKT.
With just a 1h30 change time, could my chances be more or less than 50/60% if asking a free flight change to the day before when there is an earlier flight, or even a same day rerouting via LHR, to avoid the long layover? I ask to the more experienced because if chances are slim I will not even try... :)

thanks!

Had a 30 minutes earlier departure change in business R Class, customer service allowed me to change for the next day departure at no fee after a bit of complaining

Thanks a lot! We won't go shopping - how bad is the security? All liquid, belt, laptop, tablet out of the case? Normally we transit at IST and when coming from CPH there won't be security, so we packed those gadgets away and Mr. Nacho doesn't have to take his belt off.

However if we have to be screened again then we will have to pack again for another security check - not my favourite but I guess we'll have to live with it. I guess we have to let the IFE on for the kids so they won't be sleeping when we arrive DOH.

TIA!

Is there any fast track for OW S?

nacho security in DOH is a farce the only item on your list that is subject to scrutiny is your belt. There is a fasttrack area in the middle of the security area which OWSs can use.

Just for clarity, so is Dubai, Muscat, and Abu Dhabi - I've done all 3 in the past 2 weeks as comparables against QR and DOH!

M

OWS can use the fast track too? I previously attempted to use the fast track and was told business class only :(

Surely you need to depart from where you are, and not somewhere that just happens to be within 500 miles of London, in which case you need to get to that place first :confused:

I can't answer your question for certain but if the flight MEL/ADL arrives less than 24 hrs before departure of the ADL/DOH then it is not classed as a stopover and most airlines would be prepared to make the change. Any longer in ADL and that is a stopover and probably not permitted for free.

I have a booking including DOH/ADL/SYD returning SYD/ADL/DOH. First, Qantas changed the SYD/ADL flight which reduced the connection time in ADL to a do-able but tight timeframe. Then QR cancelled the DOH/ADL flight and rebooked me on the DOH/ADL the following day, giving me a 27 hr layover in DOH. I called QR reservations and got a very helpful agent (my experience with QR on the phone has usually been more at the incompetent end of the scale). He changed my booking to the direct DOH/SYD flight and had no problem in changing my QF SYD/ADL flight to an earlier one on the same day.

I think a lot depends on the agent you speak to so, as others have said, if you don't get the answer you want first time, keep trying.

Thanks BobBHX for your advice.

I think the point being made, is that quite a few of us based in London, book Ex-EU flights - thus inconveniencing ourselves to begin with.

If we have the option to fly into LHR directly, or even BHX, then it is worth it as it saves the cost and time of the positioning flights.

M