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Hong Kong to Europe on the Cheap - Qatar Airways Crazy Fare
Europe has become a very affordable trip these days. During low season, even traditional carriers such as Finnair and Cathay have launched their own specials, pricing a flight at below HKD 4000 roundtrip. After all, who would want to go with sunset before 4pm, gray skies, and cold bundle-up weather?
Qatar Airways has been the victim of the Gulf region's blockade. My last trip with them many years ago was absolutely painful with a transit in the dingy 3rd world terminal. Since then, they have opened a new international airport, relaxed visa entry requirements, and even offered free stopover hotels to make Doha a destination of its own. All that for HKD 4770 including tax to London. The incredible UK charges alone made this a steal. Return fares before Christmas shot up over the roof though so I had to leave from either Brussels or Vienna. Since my friend wanted to see the Christmas markets in Salzburg, Vienna would be my final stop. Flight #1 : Hong Kong - Doha Check-in counters close an hour before departure. I left more wiggle room today, arriving 1.5 hours earlier, only to find nobody at check-in. The agent asked a few questions on my itinerary, how to get to Vienna from London, in a strange sense of heightened awareness. Was it because I booked this flight 2 days before departure? The agent told me while many seats were blocked, there were plenty of empty seats on board, and to move up front once I'm on board. My row would be just for me tonight. Wow. On my last flights with Emirates and Etihad in 2017 to the UAE, the Hong Kong legs were all full. No wonder fares were so cheap. This would make the long flight to Doha far more bearable. Here is the Emirates flight waiting a few gates away. http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8034.jpg Another attraction of flying Qatar was the chance to fly both the A350 and 787. Tonight's flight would be my first on the A350, and I have fallen in love with the 787 thanks to its higher humidity and comfort. Boarding was timely and it wasn't long before all the passengers were on board. There were empty rows everywhere. Flight deck came on to note they were ready to leave but due to ATC, we would be delayed 30 minutes for departure. A few gates down, my friend flying to Adelaide half hour after me pushed back first and on time. Talk about luck. But I was very comfortable in my row of 3 seats. http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8027.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8030.jpg Pillows and blankets were already on every seat when we boarded. I normally hate these 3-3-3 seating configurations. They will be a torture for the window seat passenger on a full flight. http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8036.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8038.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8040.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8041.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8053.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8051.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8046.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8048.jpg We roared into the night sky for the 8.5 hour flight to Doha. I got some nice views of the skyline upon departure. http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8059.jpg Wetnaps were first distributed followed by drinks. There were no peanuts or pretzels though. Presumably due to low loading, the crew came to take dinner and drink orders one by one and brought out the trays individually. Our meals were not served from carts. Talk about premium service for cattle class! The meal was well-presented but I thought the main looked awfully small, albeit very tasty. http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8063.jpg Satisfied with my dinner, I explored the IFE, which was a responsive touch-screen complemented by a nice remote control. The A350's interior looked very new and the seat was upholstered in a good type of fabric that could be easily cleaned but soft enough. The red colours and mood lighting was soothing as well. However, I had noticed it was quite dry at cruise of 40,000 feet, a marked difference from the 787. We had bouts of turbulence throughout the flight. The seat belt sign was on during a long section over India. By then, I was happily dozing across my row, and being laid down, it insulated me a bit from the discomfort. As we neared the Gulf, a second full meal was served, again with trays carried individually and not from carts. I would have been satisfied with a simple sandwich but I suppose they were adjusting us to a second dinner in the Qatar time zone. http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8065.jpg Each passenger received 10 MB / 15 minutes of free wifi for the flight. Just enable wifi on your mobile and connect to the OnAir service, then log in. However, this service was not available for much of the flight due to certain country restrictions. Nevertheless, it was a great service enhancement ... attempt. http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8066.jpg As a sign of regional tensions, the lights along the UAE coast were always in a distance and we flew over Iran before making a sharp turn south towards Qatar. http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8067.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8068.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8072.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8074.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8075.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8070.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8071.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8080.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8082.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong...7/IMG_8084.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171207/IMG_8086.jpg We looped around for landing, which gave me a nice overview of the bright city even in the late night. We landed not too far behind schedule at around 11:30pm, which would mean I would miss the last bus into the city. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171207/IMG_8097.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171207/IMG_8093.jpg The airport is right there! http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171207/IMG_8090.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171207/IMG_8101.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171207/IMG_8103.jpg The Business Class seat is a comfortable lie-flat product and not too far from the window to still enjoy views. Tonight, I made a lie-flat seat in Economy Class. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171207/IMG_8105.jpg The new international airport looked very sleek and clean, which was quite a refreshing change from overcrowded Dubai and the old Abu Dhabi facility. It was also quite empty as well. After a very long walk to immigration, I found the biggest crowd in the building, and it took almost an hour to get processed. Similar to the UAE, the agents were slow and inefficient and many counters were not open despite the long line. I exited landside well past 12:30am. I didn't want to tough it out to continue flying to London after a long flight from Hong Kong. Doha's hotels are not expensive and I wanted to sleep well and do some sightseeing the next morning before continuing to Europe. The Qatar free stopover program only works for long transits so I wouldn't get a night free on this leg, but a decent 4-star in the city only costed me QAR 160 or so. The taxi ride would cost almost QAR 50 for the 10-minute ride because flagfall from the airport was an expensive QAR 25. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171207/IMG_8106.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171207/IMG_8107.jpg Next up : Doha for a morning. The full flight report with more photos : Flight Report : Hong Kong - Doha |
Nice TR so far - love the mood lighting!!
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Would be interesting to see your thoughts on the City. I may use them in the future - plus, if possible, use the stopover programme, but need more convincing.
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A bargain fare, especially with the 'lie-flat' seating:D.
Makes me miss transiting through DOH though :(. Also, not sure if I entirely agree with your assessment of DXB:D! |
Originally Posted by roadwarrier
(Post 29450989)
Would be interesting to see your thoughts on the City. I may use them in the future - plus, if possible, use the stopover programme, but need more convincing.
http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8114.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8137.jpg This part of the world gets some scorching summers, but December temperatures are very comfortable for a walk on the Corniche. The Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I. M. Pei, is definitely worth a visit. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8215.jpg Many boats were moored in the bay this morning. I didn't expect any foreign vessels here due to the embargo, and the sea of Qatari flags confirm this. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8152.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8183.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8190.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8225.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8228.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8246.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8258.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8259.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8262.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8280.jpg The pearl industry historically supported this city before aviation and tourism. Hence, the waterfront is the rightful place for such a monument. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8271.jpg Souq Waqif is a tourist market that tends to come alive at night although the shops were already open by mid-morning. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8297.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8299.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8300.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8305.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8307.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8310.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8311.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8314.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8321.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8322.jpg The number of sights and calibre of attractions pales in comparison to Dubai, but it is far less crowded here and people are exceptionally friendly. I think at this point, one day is enough to see Doha. For architecture fans, the new business district over at West Bay may be worth another half day of exploration. More photos on my website : Doha Photo Gallery |
Animal welfare seems not to be the priority.....
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The number of sights and calibre of attractions pales in comparison to Dubai, but it is far less crowded here and people are exceptionally friendly. I think at this point, one day is enough to see Doha. For architecture fans, the new business district over at West Bay may be worth another half day of exploration. |
I didn't want to pay a fortune for a cab ride to the airport if I didn't need to. I made my way to the main bus station near Souq Waqif to find the airport buses. There are actually 3 lines that go to the airport, 2 of which start from here. The ticket office agents were very friendly and sold me the short-term smart card for 10 QAR which included the ride's fare, followed by broken English on the route numbers to take, and asking me where I am from with a smile. The bus station itself was basic and fairly chaotic with the bus route numbers mostly scrubbed off on the signage so I scanned around looking for my 747 or 109 bus. After panicking a bit, I finally found the 747 pull into a bus bay. The driver was very friendly and directed me to the bus next to him, the 109, which he said was an express.
We left the station just after 10am and indeed it went without much stops and then onto the highway to the airport. It only took about 20 minutes for the journey. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8359.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8364.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8366.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8372.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8368.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8369.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8376.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8377.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8379.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8382.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8384.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8393.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8392.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8405.jpg Unlike my arrival, there was a far shorter line for departure immigration. The staff were just as inefficient, chatty, and slow, but I had plenty of time to kill. My bottle of water strangely made it through the security check as well. Soon, I emerged airside with a grand view of the big yellow bear. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8406.jpg This part of the terminal is a junction point and I wasn't too sure what to expect as there were corridors on all sides. I randomly chose one direction to find high-end stores, the lower-end convenience shop, and a food court with tarmac views. Prices were over the roof. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8414.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8416.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8417.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8425.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8423.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8428.jpg My gate sat at the front of the C pier, which was a short walk away past a comfortable TV lounge area and rows of Apple computers. With 2.5 hours left to my revised departure, I explored the empty terminal, but plane spotting was nearly impossible since passengers need to sit in enclosed seating areas by the windows for boarding. The wifi was a hit and miss despite so few people roaming around. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8433.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8429.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8430.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8432.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8434.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8435.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8436.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8441.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8465.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8456.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8452.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8455.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8468.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8472.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8481.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8483.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8486.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8493.jpg Since the terminal stretches quite far out, a people mover connects the further gates, but is not fully operational yet. The tracks hang above the concourse so it is interesting to spot trains moving over your head every now and then. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8499.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8501.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8500.jpg Today's delay was due to the incoming aircraft arriving late. There was a larger group of passengers waiting in the enclosed lounge this time, but I ended up having the entire row to myself once again. In fact, the rear section of the aircraft was quite empty with many passengers enjoying their exclusive rows just like me. The 777-300 looked slightly older and the remote control was not as sleek as my prior A350 flight. We ended up pushing back at around 1:37pm and with light traffic at the airport, we took off after a short taxi. http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8506.jpg More on board in the next part or visit my website at : Flight Report : Doha - London Heathrow |
Interesting report, thanks for the details of transport into Doha from the airport during a layover. I will be trying the Doha stopover in a few weeks.
The bus from the city looks useful; did you happen to find out how late it runs? I am aiming to go back to the airport at sometime around 22:00 or 23:00, with an 02:something departure I don't need to rush but I want some lounge time :) I'm happy to use an efficient bus. |
Originally Posted by flatlander
(Post 29538895)
Interesting report, thanks for the details of transport into Doha from the airport during a layover. I will be trying the Doha stopover in a few weeks.
The bus from the city looks useful; did you happen to find out how late it runs? I am aiming to go back to the airport at sometime around 22:00 or 23:00, with an 02:something departure I don't need to rush but I want some lounge time :) I'm happy to use an efficient bus. Public Transportation Schedules |
Originally Posted by flatlander
(Post 29538895)
The bus from the city looks useful; did you happen to find out how late it runs? I am aiming to go back to the airport at sometime around 22:00 or 23:00, with an 02:something departure I don't need to rush but I want some lounge time :) I'm happy to use an efficient bus.
Buy your ticket in baggage reclaim near to the exit, it's 10 riyals for 2 journeys by smartcard (or 20 riyals for 24 hours). You can also pay 10 riyals cash to the driver for a single journey. The drivers are supposed to stock the smartcards but even if they do, they may not sell them to you as they prefer to pocket the cash (the bus company wants to know if this happens, but will you really bother to report them?) One time I paid in coins - wonder how many QR-loving flyertalkers have ever touched a Qatari coin :D Also - nice photos hkskyline - thanks for taking them so I didn't have to, I basically did your trip in reverse recently. |
Originally Posted by :D!
(Post 29545781)
Done it a few times now - occasionally have a "taxi" experience as I'm the only passenger for the entire route, and when it's slow due to traffic, a taxi will get caught up in the traffic too. Only downside is that the bus stop is on the opposite side of the airport to J/F check-in!
Buy your ticket in baggage reclaim near to the exit, it's 10 riyals for 2 journeys by smartcard (or 20 riyals for 24 hours). You can also pay 10 riyals cash to the driver for a single journey. The drivers are supposed to stock the smartcards but even if they do, they may not sell them to you as they prefer to pocket the cash (the bus company wants to know if this happens, but will you really bother to report them?) One time I paid in coins - wonder how many QR-loving flyertalkers have ever touched a Qatari coin :D Also - nice photos hkskyline - thanks for taking them so I didn't have to, I basically did your trip in reverse recently. |
As the sun set over Europe, it was time for a pre-arrival snack. Too bad it was already night-time by the time we descended over central London.
http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8710.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8706.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8712.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8716.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8717.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8724.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8726.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8732.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8729.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8735.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8733.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8734.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8737.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8748.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8751.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8753.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8762.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8763.jpg http://www.globalphotos.org/doha/20171208/IMG_8764.jpg Empty planes aside, Qatar offers a far better experience from gate to gate than its other Middle Eastern counterparts, namely Emirates and Etihad, both of which I have tried earlier in 2017. Transit through Doha was quite comfortable thanks to a brand new airport facility, whereas Dubai is a crowded and dirty dump and Abu Dhabi is an even older crowded dump with flashback from the 1970s. The only downside was the lack of things to do in Doha, but that is reflected by the cheap hotel prices and plentiful choice for a decent overnight. The rest of the photo set : https://www.globalphotos.org/qr1.htm |
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