AAB threatens to leave oneworld
#151
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,320
He may or may not have done the things you claim, either solo or with a team contributing, but his behaviour means he often comes across as the town clown or village idiot. Until he sorts that out it's a reputation he's going to be stuck with.
#152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
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What makes you think that that's what he really wants? My guess? He's just playing the OneWorld members to get something. I've said it before, but don't underestimate him.
#153
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 84
But the problem is that Al Baker is the boy who cried wolf. He has been threatening to leave the alliance for four of the six years his airline has been in it, so at some point the threat loses credibility.
- Ben Schlappig, March 6, 2019
https://onemileatatime.com/qatar-air...ld-withdrawal/
- Ben Schlappig, March 6, 2019
https://onemileatatime.com/qatar-air...ld-withdrawal/
#155
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,514
What happens?
as luck would have it.... first time looking at booking with Qatar and it’s codeshare partners. Now I don’t know what to do - what would happen if they pulled out. Im coming from Canada so lots of logistics involved with planning!
Im booking business class for vacation for my wife and myself and it’s not like I have dough to throw around! Ugh! What do do?
Im booking business class for vacation for my wife and myself and it’s not like I have dough to throw around! Ugh! What do do?
#156
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
as luck would have it.... first time looking at booking with Qatar and it’s codeshare partners. Now I don’t know what to do - what would happen if they pulled out. Im coming from Canada so lots of logistics involved with planning!
Im booking business class for vacation for my wife and myself and it’s not like I have dough to throw around! Ugh! What do do?
Im booking business class for vacation for my wife and myself and it’s not like I have dough to throw around! Ugh! What do do?
As has been repeatedly mentioned in this thread, if QR leaves OneWorld, it would likely take quite some time (easily a year), so odds are that your flights would happen when QR is still a member. Should QR leave OneWorld before your flights, you would still have a valid ticket and be able to fly it. You might not be able to credit the flights to earn frequent flyer points, miles, or status credits, depending on which program you wished to credit towards.
#157
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: CGK, BDO, MXP
Programs: QR Gold, WY Gold, TK Elite, EY Silver,
Posts: 464
as luck would have it.... first time looking at booking with Qatar and it’s codeshare partners. Now I don’t know what to do - what would happen if they pulled out. Im coming from Canada so lots of logistics involved with planning!
Im booking business class for vacation for my wife and myself and it’s not like I have dough to throw around! Ugh! What do do?
Im booking business class for vacation for my wife and myself and it’s not like I have dough to throw around! Ugh! What do do?
#158
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,157
What specifically is your concern?
As has been repeatedly mentioned in this thread, if QR leaves OneWorld, it would likely take quite some time (easily a year), so odds are that your flights would happen when QR is still a member. Should QR leave OneWorld before your flights, you would still have a valid ticket and be able to fly it. You might not be able to credit the flights to earn frequent flyer points, miles, or status credits, depending on which program you wished to credit towards.
As has been repeatedly mentioned in this thread, if QR leaves OneWorld, it would likely take quite some time (easily a year), so odds are that your flights would happen when QR is still a member. Should QR leave OneWorld before your flights, you would still have a valid ticket and be able to fly it. You might not be able to credit the flights to earn frequent flyer points, miles, or status credits, depending on which program you wished to credit towards.
#159
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#160
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#161
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
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AAB "unikely" to leave QR? Ah, chongcao, you are, indeed, a master of understatement. He has singlehandedly built a powerhouse of an airline from nearly nothing, perhaps even more so than Bob Crandall did at AA. He personally designed what is likely the world's leading J hard product, at least for now. J catering is generally acknowledged to be way ahead of competition in J. The redesign of Y seats will make QR a leader there, too. He's also been a leader in strategies to develop Qatari tourism in the face of a boycott that was intended to bring the country to its knees and could have been devastating. He has complete control in his portfolio and the Al Thani family seems to love him.
He's a verrry smart person, and a strategic thinker. I have no doubt that he knows exactly what he's doing with regard to his public and private positioning vis-à-vis OneWorld.
He's a verrry smart person, and a strategic thinker. I have no doubt that he knows exactly what he's doing with regard to his public and private positioning vis-à-vis OneWorld.
Credit where credit is due: HE Akbar Al Bakar has undoubted management skills. But these skills were honed within the very rare environment of Qatar: I'm not sure how they would stand up in the wider world.
He has certainly done little single-handedly, nor would he be expected to do so. Cash provided him with an army of consultants, and the ability to employ teams of first-rate managers to implement his vision.
He operates within parameters set by the owners of the airline. While he is clearly trusted and valued in terms of the advice he gives his patrons, he is not in a position to make major decisions regarding the external policies of Qatar the state or Qatar the airline.
I have no idea at all of his emotional attachment to the ruling family, but he is quite evidently a trusted steward. His off the cuff comments have caused diplomatic embarrassment, but he has been quick to defuse these situations.
#162
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Oh, that's something I try to avoid; but it wouldn't be the first time!
I completely agree. He's definitely an autocrat; and that's how he runs the airline. He'd be hard pressed to operate like that in the western world, what with unions, employee rights, and the like.
Well, sure, though I'm less certain of how much he relies on outside consultants. But no question that he has teams of managers to implement his vision. My point, however, was that QR is indeed, the embodiment of his vision.
Of course he's not setting state policy. But look at the power he's been given. He runs the airline, airport and tourism authority. When the blockade was implemented, he was given fairly free reign to get people going to Qatar again, as well as develop and implement strategies to bring in all the goods which had previously come in overland from Saudi, and he pulled it off.
This is what I meant/was talking about.
As I've said before, I think that none of the potentially embarrassing comments was inadvertent. My impression is that he's very deliberate and planful.
This is what I meant/was talking about.
As I've said before, I think that none of the potentially embarrassing comments was inadvertent. My impression is that he's very deliberate and planful.
#163
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But you might be over-egging it, and putting some sheikly noses out of joint in the process, by suggesting he was responsible for the mammoth logistical task of coordinating an emergency import strategy for everything from dairy products to building supplies. His airline was most certainly a conduit for many goods, but i think there was a little more behind the plan than arranging transport.
Again, I'm not belittling the man's very real achievements, just attempting to put them in perspective.
And remember his swipe at American Airlines, conflating crap service with the carrier's grandmother cabin crew?
#164
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