nivsy

My trip was QR004 from LHR to DOH with a connection later to PER on QR900.

The first oddity was at T2 to check in for the 004. Interestingly, but maybe not surprising being BA Gold I have never flown out of T2 ever. It was ofcourse quiet but Qs forming for a few middle Eastern flights by the looks of things. The Qatar Airlines Y class Q was gently forming to around 60-70 pax perhaps and this was 2 and half hours before departure. For me I was seen quickly at Business check in, formalities took about 15 minutes, checking if eligible to fly to Australia, and exemption by pass numbers being phoned through. I was provided with a 20 pound refreshments voucher for Boots or WH Smith. No other shops open and advised that they are to be used at the A gate shopping as B Gate shopping all closed. My departure was from B gates.

The aircraft was a 359 Q suite. Boarding quick and easy and all crew in white PPE including hood and full protection goggles. I decided not to take any pictures. Odd initially but amazing how you "get used" to it. The difference with Qatar is that they really try and maintain a sense "normality". Pre flight champagne offered and accepted gratefully. Menu card with hot and cold meals for lunch and snacks. Tray service provided. Good choice of wines.

At Doha the business class lounge and showers open and functioning well. Very quiet.

The flight to PER was on 351. Q suite . Around 8 in Business and not many in Y. The flight of nearly 11 hours was well handled and dine on board still available. Limited overnight menu (it usually is) and normal breakfast menu with less pastries and all provided in plastic covering. Again plenty of sanatisers etc.

Formalities at the other end meant authorities boarding the aircraft and handling out forms. This ofcourse is different to normal and pax were not rushed to leave the aircraft until they were ready. I liked that. The bottom line of all of that now has me and all pax in a quarantine

hotel for the next 14 days.
In these difficult times it's nice to report positively about Qatar Airlines and having travelled previously with them a lot I would never hesitate doing so again. A trip made very bearable thanks to QR

ecanem22

Thanks for the report. Do you happen to know if the Al Safwa lounge was open again yet or planning to be?

nivsy

The Al Safwa was closed. Not sure when it will reopen. Likely depends on how QR ramp up services and thus passenger numbers safely.

Schwann

So they bought the full meal service on one tray? The soup/starter/main course/desert all at once?

Thanks for sharing your observations.

Neilgcal

Not forgetting the cheese course of course!

is there still an amuse bouche?

nivsy

Starter comes first separately. Then removed. Main comes next.I never asked for desert. Cheeses were available.

SAN_Finn

Taiwan actually pays some people lost salaries during quarantine.

HB7

Thanks for the reporting on how things are currently. I think everyone is keen to know how things are being handled during these trying times.

msm2000uk

A number of posts have been removed as they were against Rules 12 and 13.

Let's keep on topic, and thanks to the OP for the helpful report.

Msm2000uk
QR Forum Moderator

Aston100

Did you manage to see the seating arrangements in economy?

nivsy

​​​​​​Sorry no. The load was however very light. They did board by group as usual. No holdups.

subject2load

Thanks for the report nivsy - good to see that QR are doing the best they can to maintain quality onboard catering / service standards (as much as feasible in these troubled times), whilst taking sensible precautions to minimise the potential for contagion.

The journey overall must have been an interesting one - if only in the sense that it clearly would have been quite unlike anything previously experienced during all your previous years of flying !

I note that you’re BA Gold and was wondering if - as as alternative to Qatar - you had considered using* BA to get down to Australia (assuming they are currently still operating to Oz... ?) and, with it, the opportunity to enjoy their new bread & water rations enroute ........

(* er you don’t actually need to answer that question ! )

bonboncl

I was most likely in the same aircraft as nivsy, but the other way around on QR901 (PER - DOH).

It was pretty packed in Y (I'll say above 50%, even the crew was surprised) and it looked like a regular seating arrangement. Some rows were completely full (but I guess friends & family only were seating together).

Another interesting point to note is that they didn't offer a menu to economy passengers :-(.

Re the lounge, I can't believe the Qantas lounge in Perth is still closed as WA have already re-opened bar/restaurants for more than a week now. They blame it on "government" restrictions but I am struggling to see the point.

The good news is that Al Mourjan was the only lounge opened in DOH so they let me in with an Y ticket (Platinium status). It was definitely over-staffed with at least 10 pairs of eyes on me from the employee at any given time (except in the toilets).

mlqsko

Meaning?

nivsy

while not wanting to speak on behalf of the op, maybe meaning "over attentive". They can be and can take a bit of time to get used to. I also was aware of still a fairly large number of employees around the lounge (but not as many as usual).