Feb 10, 2017, 6:02 am
Last edit by: msm2000uk
Please post your experiences related to QR's longest route, between DOH-AKL-DOH.
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The AKL Thread
Nov 14, 2018, 4:36 am
#391
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,237
I took the MAN flight to DOH that had 20 hours and took advantage for the +Qatar which was an excellent way of breaking the journey. Ubers Ł7/8 each way and very relaxing. I would recommend to anyone who still hasn't booked to utilise this 
Nov 15, 2018, 9:45 am
#392
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver, M&M, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,223
There are two or three Manchester flights each day, so it's usually possible to go for a quick connection, or a longer wait (and the opportunity to shower). Or even take advantage of the Doha stop-over programme with its free hotel.
Showering and changing for the second fight isn't compulsory, indeed I think it's an opportunity taken up by only some of those with a long wait in DOH.
Showering and changing for the second fight isn't compulsory, indeed I think it's an opportunity taken up by only some of those with a long wait in DOH.
Well, regarding smartening, I was travelling onwards to London so wanted to look presentable and feel fresh :-)
Nov 18, 2018, 12:37 pm
#393
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
Just arrived in AKL this morning on QR920 and it was a pretty good flight overall. J was quite full and there appeared to be several BAEC Gold pax from MAN on board (FTers?).
My one issue was there were several pax who left their window shades up for at least 5+ hours. We passed into daylight around the 4hr mark, at which point the meal service was wrapping up. I, like most of the cabin, was getting ready to sleep, but the very bright cabin completely threw off my ability to sleep.
I asked the cabin crew to close the shades, but they only closed some of them. At least 10 shades remained open. Luckily, I had eyeshades so I fell asleep eventually and when I awoke 8hr later all the shades were finally down. Overall, really disappointed with how this was handled.
Anyone ever experienced this? I thought SOP for these long overnights was to keep shades closed for the entire flight. I’ve done plenty of red eyes on other carriers and they always require blinds to be closed.
My one issue was there were several pax who left their window shades up for at least 5+ hours. We passed into daylight around the 4hr mark, at which point the meal service was wrapping up. I, like most of the cabin, was getting ready to sleep, but the very bright cabin completely threw off my ability to sleep.
I asked the cabin crew to close the shades, but they only closed some of them. At least 10 shades remained open. Luckily, I had eyeshades so I fell asleep eventually and when I awoke 8hr later all the shades were finally down. Overall, really disappointed with how this was handled.
Anyone ever experienced this? I thought SOP for these long overnights was to keep shades closed for the entire flight. I’ve done plenty of red eyes on other carriers and they always require blinds to be closed.
Nov 18, 2018, 1:57 pm
#394
Join Date: May 2017
Location: PRG
Programs: British Airways
Posts: 234
Just arrived in AKL this morning on QR920 and it was a pretty good flight overall. J was quite full and there appeared to be several BAEC Gold pax from MAN on board (FTers?).
My one issue was there were several pax who left their window shades up for at least 5+ hours. We passed into daylight around the 4hr mark, at which point the meal service was wrapping up. I, like most of the cabin, was getting ready to sleep, but the very bright cabin completely threw off my ability to sleep.
I asked the cabin crew to close the shades, but they only closed some of them. At least 10 shades remained open. Luckily, I had eyeshades so I fell asleep eventually and when I awoke 8hr later all the shades were finally down. Overall, really disappointed with how this was handled.
Anyone ever experienced this? I thought SOP for these long overnights was to keep shades closed for the entire flight. I’ve done plenty of red eyes on other carriers and they always require blinds to be closed.
My one issue was there were several pax who left their window shades up for at least 5+ hours. We passed into daylight around the 4hr mark, at which point the meal service was wrapping up. I, like most of the cabin, was getting ready to sleep, but the very bright cabin completely threw off my ability to sleep.
I asked the cabin crew to close the shades, but they only closed some of them. At least 10 shades remained open. Luckily, I had eyeshades so I fell asleep eventually and when I awoke 8hr later all the shades were finally down. Overall, really disappointed with how this was handled.
Anyone ever experienced this? I thought SOP for these long overnights was to keep shades closed for the entire flight. I’ve done plenty of red eyes on other carriers and they always require blinds to be closed.
Nov 18, 2018, 3:01 pm
#395
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dorset, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 633
I was also on this flight and to be honest with these ULH flights there’s no one way of doing it, I can imagine those with the blinds open we’re mostly trying to get their body clock to to go straight into NZ time which sleeping towards the end of the flight mostly achieved.
in any case, the eye mask worked fine for me.
in any case, the eye mask worked fine for me.
Nov 18, 2018, 4:31 pm
#396
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Egham, Surrey, UK
Programs: Mucci Champion des Champions, BAG4L, *A Gold, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz Gold, Avis President
Posts: 3,416
We had the same problem on our flight to AKL. A couple at the back wouldn’t lower their blind and just to make it worse a lady kept opening her blind on the other side of the cabin every few minutes. Eye masks are ok but cabin was warm so masks not very comfortable
Nov 18, 2018, 7:16 pm
#397
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
I was also on this flight and to be honest with these ULH flights there’s no one way of doing it, I can imagine those with the blinds open we’re mostly trying to get their body clock to to go straight into NZ time which sleeping towards the end of the flight mostly achieved.
in any case, the eye mask worked fine for me.
in any case, the eye mask worked fine for me.
Incidentally, were you the fellow in 1A or one of the two gents in row 4?
Thankfully, the cabin was not overly warm on this flight.
Nov 19, 2018, 12:21 am
#398
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,304
I've always worked on being on destination time from the start of my journey, so blinds open and lights on as you describe would be my preferred MO.
Nov 19, 2018, 6:22 am
#399
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 94
I just did that landing yesterday, the change-over in Doha was tight. Getting the bus from the middle of nowhere to the gate took a good 10mins, then security. The MAN gate was D3 and was on final call by the time I got out of security. But then I got to the gate and it was all fairly relaxed. I wonder if they put final call up early to account for the gate being so far away. Bag made it to Manchester which was my only other concern. Flight arrives in Manchester an hour early which would have been great if I'd driven to the airport, as it was I had a 2 hour wait at Piccadilly for my train home 😑
Nov 19, 2018, 8:43 am
#400
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cheltenham
Programs: KLM Plat for Life , BA Gold, HH Silver, (Other half Diamond), IHG Gold
Posts: 2,395
We had great flights . Arrived back this morning , there were at least another 7 on the same deal on the flight . No champagne at all loaded akl to doh . The connection at Doha went fine .
Nov 20, 2018, 7:23 pm
#402
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,993
Nov 20, 2018, 9:10 pm
#403
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,497
Mainly to connect to the Europe midnight bank of departures. There isn't enough time to turn the aircraft round after its early arrival in AKL to get it back in time for the early morning Europe bank. And the longer the connection time, the more attractive (ie discount price) you have to make your flight in order to get passengers to book it.
Nov 21, 2018, 8:38 pm
#404
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: BAEC: Gold, HH:Diamond, Marriott: Platinum, IHG: Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 139
Mainly to connect to the Europe midnight bank of departures. There isn't enough time to turn the aircraft round after its early arrival in AKL to get it back in time for the early morning Europe bank. And the longer the connection time, the more attractive (ie discount price) you have to make your flight in order to get passengers to book it.
Nov 22, 2018, 5:58 pm
#405
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
On QR921 tomorrow and just saw it was swapped to the Qsuite variant. Naturally, we lost our seats, so we’re back in row 8 and 9 (instead of 2J/K). Of course the flight is under airport control, as it’s T-26hr currently.
I’ll be in AKL in a couple hours on arrival from ZQN. Anyone know if I can sort this today at the airport? Or will the checkin staff all be gone for the day?
Seems like there are some blocked seat pairs, so I’m thinking I should be able to get a favorable swap. Of course QR customer service couldn’t assist.
I’ll be in AKL in a couple hours on arrival from ZQN. Anyone know if I can sort this today at the airport? Or will the checkin staff all be gone for the day?
Seems like there are some blocked seat pairs, so I’m thinking I should be able to get a favorable swap. Of course QR customer service couldn’t assist.