QR001 DOH-LHR First ClassWe flew with Qatar Airways back in August 2012, so things may have changed since then. For certain, Doha airport has changed and the premium terminal described below is no longer in use. The flight came at the end of a long weekend we had booked for some sun and as a last hurrah with our BMI miles (Swiss first class outbound from London to Frankfurt to Zurich to Dubai, return QR via Doha - 4 countries in 4 nights!). Oh, BMI, we miss you. Anyway, QR is now part of Oneworld, so at least you can use BA Avios to book flights through Doha.
After taking a taxi from the Grand Hyatt Doha, we arrived at the airport's Premium Terminal, which was nice if unspectacular. Very clean, cool and quiet and no queue for check in. After progressing quickly through a worryingly cursory security, we ascended the slow escalator as though entering a shopping mall before being intercepted by a smiling lady who checked our boarding cards and directed us to the First Class Lounge. The SeatOur welcome on board was half-hearted with most cabin crew seeming fairly miserable (although a 1-hour delay is never going to help matters). A welcome glass of Krug was offered (good choice but no champagne is good if not properly chilled and this was warm) and coffee and dates were also served as a traditional Arabic welcome.
Our initial impression of the cabin was so-so - the style was ok and felt new, but the seats seemed narrower than SQ C or even EY C short-haul (though the dimensions on the Qatar website say otherwise). The IFE screen was very small and there seemed to be a lot of wasted space with wide gaps between the middle pairs. Looking back at business class, there was little difference between the seats (perhaps this is why QR are phasing first class out). The passenger in 1A used his Blackberry throughout take-off despite repeated but excessively polite (supine) requests from the FA including PA announcement. FA notified the captain who declined to intervene. |
The LoungeThough it was just 10:30 am, breakfast was being cleared and was not available on request. Not the best news when you have skipped the hotel breakfast to enjoy the lounge. However, we waited patiently and then enjoyed salad with arab specialities. The lemon and mint tea was very refreshing and, later on, decent champagne was served (Laurent Perrier Grande Dame). This was only on request and no top-up was offered. The lounge had loads of space and comfortable seating. Also a jacuzzi in the washroom facilities (first time we've seen that in an airport lounge) but gender-segregated. The washroom attendant standing close outside the toilet cubicle was somewhat disconcerting.
Communication between the gate and lounge was a major problem. We asked an attendant when we should go to gate - he simply read the time off our boarding cards - I could do that! After going to the gate to be sent away "for 10 minutes" we returned to the gate to be told it was still not time. So we went back to the lounge where the departure board indicated boarding in progress. After another 10 minutes we returned to the gate where we were told it was still not time (now 10 minutes to scheduled departure) but were invited to sit down at a table nearby. After a further 10 minutes it emerged we were awaiting a car. We had not been told about the chauffeur service. BMW 5 Series took us across the tarmac and we saw the cause of the delay. Some rich kid's super car (Bugatti I think) being loaded into the hold. Eventually take-off is 1 hour behind schedule with cursory apology from crew blaming "difficulties loading cargo". Food and BeverageThe first snack served was a kind of chewy mushroom ball topped with creme-fraiche - only moderately unpleasant. Surprisingly, the FA got a lot of orders wrong, but was at least trying harder to please. A starter of caviar was great - just a shame about the warm vodka served with it! Arabic Mezze was next - cold limp pitta, tired salad leaves, toasted sliced white bread - we'd had better in Islington! Not enough fish on board, so the main was chicken again. Oh well! As feared it was dry, overcooked. Sauce a sort of browny red flavour. Fortunately, the wine was excellent. Well chilled Montrachet (Domaine Marc Morey et fils, 1er cru virondot chassagne Montrachet 2008); The St Clair Family Estate Pioneer Block 2 (2010) Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was a canny choice. The Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou (AC St Julien 2nd cru 2007) confirmed my feeling about French wine. Lost the plot. Too complex, too acid, too much tannin. New World Cab Sauv had it licked. Like many other orders, the balsamic I asked for never arrived - not crewed by the A-team this bird.
Chocolate cake with orange zest and sauce. Nice idea but stodgy like it was cooked a week ago and lacking in the brown stuff. What I suffer for you people. Coffee with two Godiva truffles in a cute little box cheered me up. Cognac more so. |
Overall Impression
Mrs d2t had major problems in this flight. As one of only 2 women in first class (and the only non-Arabic woman) she was served last. This meant that she was being served her starter as I was served the main. In addition, wine was rarely topped up - after requesting a refill, Mrs d2t's glass was full to the brim and she didn't order anything else. Whilst Qatar Airlines is the home airline of a Muslim country, if they want to play on the main stage, it isn't acceptable to treat females differently to men, nor treat Arabic customers as superior to Western (or any other race).
Despite the cabin lights being turned off at 4pm, no pyjamas were given out because this was a "day flight." After asking why the seemingly contrasting ethos was in play, we were told "company policy." In general, service was poor and the hard product didn't make up for it. Despite emailing afterwards, we never received a satisfactory reason why Mr 1A was allowed to behave with total disregard for the cabin crew. Not only did he use his Blackberry on take off, but also his mobile and Blackberry during landing (whilst he was in the lie-flat position). Either rules are for everyone or they are not important and we should all be allowed to recline during all stages of flight. It is unacceptable for there to be different standards for different passengers.
Overall, QR F was not quite as good as SQ C which we flew from SIN to MLE (return) and SIN to BKK in April 2012, so if Qatar drop first class, we won't be crying. It is sad because all the shortcomings are easy to fix in principle but I suspect the staff attitude problems are cultural in origin. I would advise QR to recruit senior cabin crew from SQ or send them out on secondment. The best terminal in the world is still the Frankfurt First Class Terminal.
Despite the cabin lights being turned off at 4pm, no pyjamas were given out because this was a "day flight." After asking why the seemingly contrasting ethos was in play, we were told "company policy." In general, service was poor and the hard product didn't make up for it. Despite emailing afterwards, we never received a satisfactory reason why Mr 1A was allowed to behave with total disregard for the cabin crew. Not only did he use his Blackberry on take off, but also his mobile and Blackberry during landing (whilst he was in the lie-flat position). Either rules are for everyone or they are not important and we should all be allowed to recline during all stages of flight. It is unacceptable for there to be different standards for different passengers.
Overall, QR F was not quite as good as SQ C which we flew from SIN to MLE (return) and SIN to BKK in April 2012, so if Qatar drop first class, we won't be crying. It is sad because all the shortcomings are easy to fix in principle but I suspect the staff attitude problems are cultural in origin. I would advise QR to recruit senior cabin crew from SQ or send them out on secondment. The best terminal in the world is still the Frankfurt First Class Terminal.