QR A380s "will not return for at least a year, maybe never"
May 13, 2020, 9:06 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
For the long term, Qatar may need the A380's especially on routes to Australia where they could not obtain any extra slots.
For high-demand locations that have ( and still would have ) slot problems, a decrease of 517 seats to 300 seater aircraft might not maximize the profit when things start to get normal.
For high-demand locations that have ( and still would have ) slot problems, a decrease of 517 seats to 300 seater aircraft might not maximize the profit when things start to get normal.
Even the A380’s most ardent supporter and user - Emirates - believe that the aircraft’s days are numbered. This from their highly-experienced President, Sir Tim Clark ..........
https://www.airlive.net/the-a380-is-over-says-emirates-president-sir-tim-clark/
”We know the A380 is over” Emirates president Sir Tim Clark declared earlier this week, although for balance he also allowed that the Boeing 747 had similarly seen its day.
“But the A350 and the 787 will always have a place,” Clark told The National, positing a future that belongs to fuel-efficient twin-engine jets, at least where long-range flying and the global networks of hub-based airlines was concerned.”
May 13, 2020, 4:32 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
May 13, 2020, 9:16 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,851
I'd take a punt on first class for the 'local' middle-east flights and in addition to QRPC Platinums in J, maybe also Oneworld Emeralds in J (counterpoint would be to look after QR's own first, but the next logical step might be QRPC Platinums in Y and that could well be a bridge too far).
May 15, 2020, 1:53 am
#25
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
What a waste of time and money. Remember Al-Baker crying about not getting his “beautiful” A380. This ended up being a total bust for them and confused people flying Qsuites and introduced this somewhat quasi-F product that doesn’t even really exist. They should open the F lounge to long haul J pax now especially with the A380’s gone.
Someone flying DOH-KWI doesn’t need showers and day bedrooms.
Someone flying DOH-KWI doesn’t need showers and day bedrooms.
May 15, 2020, 2:18 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,252
What a waste of time and money. Remember Al-Baker crying about not getting his “beautiful” A380. This ended up being a total bust for them and confused people flying Qsuites and introduced this somewhat quasi-F product that doesn’t even really exist. They should open the F lounge to long haul J pax now especially with the A380’s gone.
Someone flying DOH-KWI doesn’t need showers and day bedrooms.
Someone flying DOH-KWI doesn’t need showers and day bedrooms.
These J passengers can already pay for Al Safwa if they want it and I don't understand what 'confusion' it's caused for Qsuites passengers - why would a J passenger think they have access to the F lounge? Al Safwa was always going to lose money, it's deliberately over the top and a prestige 'halo' project, not about ramming it full with J passengers.
May 15, 2020, 2:23 am
#27
Join Date: May 2020
Location: LHR
Programs: OWE, *G
Posts: 219
As much as I like the A380, I found it good for medium-haul dayflights, eg. from LHR to DOH, since all the flight could be spent at the bar. If I weren't spending the time there, I'd much rather have QSuites. Sad to see it go, though.
May 15, 2020, 5:49 am
#28
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,948
What a waste of time and money. Remember Al-Baker crying about not getting his “beautiful” A380. This ended up being a total bust for them and confused people flying Qsuites and introduced this somewhat quasi-F product that doesn’t even really exist. They should open the F lounge to long haul J pax now especially with the A380’s gone.
Someone flying DOH-KWI doesn’t need showers and day bedrooms.
Someone flying DOH-KWI doesn’t need showers and day bedrooms.
QR F was flying for many years before the QSuite was introduced, and QR F is an excellent product.
AAB has said, for a number of years, that he didn't envisage a future for longhaul F, so the QSuite came as no surprise to anybody - it was designed to be better than J, but not as good as F; and that's precisely what it is.
I will miss QR F, and having flown more than 120 longhaul F sectors I know the product inside and out!
In terms of the Al Safwa, it will remain for QRPC Platinums in J, but I sincerely hope they do not open it to all J.
M
May 16, 2020, 2:56 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Programs: Too many...and an Amanjunkie
Posts: 1,667
QR to retire about 50 planes - report
QR is planning to retire about 50 aircraft due to Covid-19, based on remarks by Al Baker in a BBC interview: https://www.airlive.net/breaking-qat...avirus-crisis/
The A330's and 380's would make 33 aircraft and maybe some older 77W may count for the total of about 50 a/c.
The A330's and 380's would make 33 aircraft and maybe some older 77W may count for the total of about 50 a/c.
May 16, 2020, 3:07 am
#30
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
My point was that it’s gotten confusing since they really don’t have an F product, and without the A380 it’s really worse. And while I agree not to just let everyone in to ruin it, there has to be some middle ground. They made this beautiful Al-Safwa lounge and I admit it’s probably one of the best F lounges I’ve been to, and I’ve been to a lot. They should have some barometer at this point given where their business plan has gone. Taking the A380 out just leaves the beautiful Al-Safwa lounge even more empty, so what’s the point in even having it? Especially with hotel rooms that long haul passengers (for the most part) can’t even access?
If you ever have spare time, sit in front of the Al-Safwa entrance and watch literally one after the other who just arrived from LAX, DFW, IAH, ORD, JFK etc... who need a shower or have a long layover and a bed turned away and told “oh this lounge isn’t for you. Go across the terminal.” I must’ve seen fifty people in a span of 15 minutes while they processed my purchase for entrance. Which I would also add, only people in the frequent flyer community know you can buy entrance it’s not advertised.
The point is they should think about how they want to utilize the Al-Safwa lounge moving forward. Keeping it empty to where there’s only domestic passengers on hour flights doesn’t seem like a good use of the space. Imagine if you will UA Polaris lounges we’re only allowed to be entered by people flying on domestic flights. And the guy who purchased an international J flight of 10-12 hours was turned away and told to go use the United Club.
If you ever have spare time, sit in front of the Al-Safwa entrance and watch literally one after the other who just arrived from LAX, DFW, IAH, ORD, JFK etc... who need a shower or have a long layover and a bed turned away and told “oh this lounge isn’t for you. Go across the terminal.” I must’ve seen fifty people in a span of 15 minutes while they processed my purchase for entrance. Which I would also add, only people in the frequent flyer community know you can buy entrance it’s not advertised.
The point is they should think about how they want to utilize the Al-Safwa lounge moving forward. Keeping it empty to where there’s only domestic passengers on hour flights doesn’t seem like a good use of the space. Imagine if you will UA Polaris lounges we’re only allowed to be entered by people flying on domestic flights. And the guy who purchased an international J flight of 10-12 hours was turned away and told to go use the United Club.