brunos

This is OT, but how can QR currently operate 5 dailies, even if SAW uses A320?
Is that because they need to fly to keep the slots? Is there so much demand during Covid?

ISTFlyer

Nothing to do with slots.

The flights are generally close to full and there is demand. Also, the fact that Qatari nationals are exempt from the 15-day hotel quarantine when arriving from Turkey, they could isolate themselves at home instead. Onboard my SAW-DOH flight this week, the flight was full of Qatari nationals and passengers transferring to the Gulf area, Iran, and Iraq.

Also, there is a huge cargo traffic between Qatar and Turkey so that might also be a factor in this.

The pre-COVID situation was 2 x 777/350/787 mix to IST and 3 x 320/321/330/787 mix to SAW
Now, it's 2 x 777 to IST and 3x 320/321 mix to SAW.

plunet

Yep, cargo will be a big factor here, Qatar is still under blockade conditions from its near neighbours, and Turkey among other nations has been a significant supplier of goods to sustain Qatar during these times.

jonk

i chatted with the QR twitter team about this and it sounds like -- from what they told me, and this very confusing page https://qatarairways.zendesk.com/hc/...ese-countries- -- that if i'm flying IST-DOH-LAX they will require a test for my IST-DOH flight. if so, does anyone know what the best istanbul testing location is in terms of turnaround time? i'm worried because my IST-DOH flight is on a saturday evening, meaning i'd get tested friday morning and hope i get my result in time for my flight.

thanks!

ISTFlyer

You do not need to get a COVID test if your final destination isn't Doha. The COVID test requirement for Turkey flights is only for passengers whose final destination is Doha.
I have recently flown SAW-DOH-ORD with QR and I didn't get tested for COVID nor I was asked any COVID certificate.

brunos

If you are transiting in DOH, tests are only mandatory if you fly from one of these countries;
https://qatarairways.zendesk.com/hc/...all-countries-

There are other specific rules to enter Qatar or some final destinations.

SpeedAdvantage

Saw in their page that they also have drive-in testing. And they are near the airport.

Lawyergirl

Has anyone flown from GRU recently? I just had my flight cancelled and am trying to ascertain when is the latest I can leave with the negative covid certificate that I got this morning. The website says "issued within 96 hours", the call canter has confirmed that this is indeed correct. I do, however, wonder if the check in agents will actually look at the test administered date (which in my humble opinion makes a lot more sense), rather than the issued date? Any personal experience?

brunos

Indeed, common sense suggest that QR follows all airlines/countries rule to take the testing time as reference.
96h is already more than any other airline/country requests. If QR requires a test whose report is dated up to 4 days before the flight, that would be quite ridiculous and a pure PR trick.
If the results take 3 days to be sent and you fly from GRU say to Asia or EU, you will potentially arrive 8 days (4+3+1) after the negative test. That test has become meaningless.

Note that the State of Qatar requires the test to be taken 48h before to be admitted in the country.

Lawyergirl

Totally with you on that one. Nonetheless, I have found myself in the situation where I had done the test for the departure (as close as I possibly could) that never happened - since Qatar chose to cancel less than 24 hours prior. I now want to postpone the flight by a few days so I get a descent connection to my new destination but don't want to be subject to the test again unless I absolutely have to. So as ridiculous as the "issued 96 hours before departure" rule is, I just want to understand whether this is what people are asked for, so I can ascertain when is the latest I can fly without needing to repeat the test.

brunos

Given the countries required to provide a test issued 96h before departure, I doubt that you will get posters with actual experience.

I would never trust QR website 100%. But they seem to know the difference between the words "issued" (your case) and "taken" (case of pax ending in DOH.
The recently switched from "issued 72h before" to Issued 96h before". They do not request a specific lab either, as opposed to those entering Qatar.
I would assume that issued means when the report was "printed".

Of course, your country of destination might be more stringent. However, I feel that this requirement is mostly face saving PR. Personally, I would be worried to have one of my leg with pax coming from India (or Brazil) given the laxity of the requirement. But I fully understand your situation and would not be worried if your PCR results where issued with 96h of the flight. Just my personal belief.

Matthieu Per

Hi all,

A quick question just to be sure. I have the following round-trip planned for the next weeks: AMS-DOH-GRU.

It is clear to me I will need to get a PCR test in GRU before the flight back as per the QR Medical Requirement policy. However, I am wondering if I will make it all the way to GRU and that's why I prefer asking the question on this forum.

I was pretty confident as, based on TIMATIC, Brazil lifted entry restrictions a couple of months ago. As a Dutch passport holder, I will qualify for a visa exception for a 2 weeks stay. I am also already aware I will require an insurance statement.

But... after browsing on QR website, I am not so sure they will let me go now! This is what you can read for Brazil in the "Travel and entry requirements" webpage:

Quote:

Travelling to Brazil

Does anyone have a recent experience? Is it just simply not updated?

Thanks