Qatar CEO calls British Airways "low cost carrier"

[Mattg]

The Qatar Airways CEO is at it again. This time, he rated his airline's Oneworld partner British Airways 2/10 and called it a low-cost carrier.

The controversial comments have made headlines... I'm not sure he's that far off, though?

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker Strikes Again: “Low Cost Carrier” British Airways Deserves 2/10 Stars!

Akbar Al Baker marks British Airways 2 out of 10.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[kpc]

I tend to agree that Ba is like a LCC

 

[Daver6]

It's like a LCC except for the low cost bit

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Short haul economy? Absolutely low cost! But their short-haul club Europe is an excellent soft product. Long haul, let's not forget we were sleeping flat out in business and first class years before their major competitors! (Today the business class seat gets a bad rap, but it's actually pretty comfy )

 

[Berlin]

Short haul economy? Absolutely low cost! But their short-haul club Europe is an excellent soft product. Long haul, let's not forget we were sleeping flat out in business and first class years before their major competitors! (Today the business class seat gets a bad rap, but it's actually pretty comfy )

Agree with the short haul Club Europe even though the little bottles of Pommery are sorely missed these days. I'm not so fond of those longer haul business class seats with their idiotic backwards forwards configuration- nah. Especially when compared to Qatar's Qsuites, they're really a LCC in comparison.

Btw- not I am a bit friend of human rights-ignoring Qatas but I love it when they stir the pot in the airline industry. BA a low cost carrier? Not far from the truth, for the most of it.

 

[Saab34]

American is another. Economy 737 is a joke.

The 10 across 777 is low cost in my book.

 

[Berlin]

American is another. Economy 737 is a joke.

The 10 across 777 is low cost in my book.

I always found AA okay but I hardly ever torture myself with Economy. Their so-called "First class" is okay imho, especially on Domestic routes.

 

[Seat0B]

In my experience, all American airlines provide a low cost carrier experience regardless of fare paid or status tier, and their lounges are pretty low-rent too.

 

[Berlin]

In my experience, all American airlines provide a low cost carrier experience regardless of fare paid or status tier, and their lounges are pretty low-rent too.

Really- in their premium cabins? I find this way too harsh: To begin with, contrary to most European legacy carriers, AA actually bothers to have true Business class seats instead of squeezing you into a cattle class with an empty middle seat. Service can be hit and miss but I often had lovely or at least friendly and attentive flight attendants, no different from let's say LH, BA or AF where you can also end up with a dragon crew if you're unlucky.

And with the option to pre-order your main meal online they've been years (if not decades) ahead of the competition for a while now. The lounges are cough, I give you that- but that's the standard over in US, the competition is no bit better either.

So all in all, I think they're okay- just like many legacy carriers are.

 

[Seat0B]

Really- in their premium cabins? I find this way too harsh: To begin with, contrary to most European legacy carriers, AA actually bothers to have true Business class seats instead of squeezing you into a cattle class with an empty middle seat. Service can be hit and miss but I often had lovely or at least friendly and attentive flight attendants, no different from let's say LH, BA or AF where you can also end up with a dragon crew if you're unlucky.

And with the option to pre-order your main meal online they've been years (if not decades) ahead of the competition for a while now. The lounges are cough, I give you that- but that's the standard over in US, the competition is no bit better either.

So all in all, I think they're okay- just like many legacy carriers are.

Wow what a different experience you had . I flew AA "F" from Dallas to Seattle (not a full transcontinental flight, but certainly not a short flight either) a couple of years back and the seats were the usual 3 abreast with the middle seat converted into a table/arm rest storage area. Awful.

 

[Berlin]

Wow what a different experience you had . I flew AA "F" from Dallas to Seattle (not a full transcontinental flight, but certainly not a short flight either) a couple of years back and the seats were the usual 3 abreast with the middle seat converted into a table/arm rest storage area. Awful.

Really? What type of aircraft was that I wonder? I’ve done maybe around 50 Domestic flights in J over the past 10 years or do and not a single one did I end up with 3 seats and a middle seat taken out. I didn’t even know that AA had those...

 

[Seat0B]

Really? What type of aircraft was that I wonder? I’ve done maybe around 50 Domestic flights in J over the past 10 years or do and not a single one did I end up with 3 seats and a middle seat taken out. I didn’t even know that AA had those...

I can't remember the aircraft type, sorry!

The experience stuck in my mind as not what I was expecting.

 

[serfty]

Wow what a different experience you had . I flew AA "F" from Dallas to Seattle (not a full transcontinental flight, but certainly not a short flight either) a couple of years back and the seats were the usual 3 abreast with the middle seat converted into a table/arm rest storage area. Awful.

Really? What type of aircraft was that I wonder? I’ve done maybe around 50 Domestic flights in J over the past 10 years or do and not a single one did I end up with 3 seats and a middle seat taken out. I didn’t even know that AA had those...

AA have never had that in 'F' this century.

The closest thing were the newish 738's just before USair merged from within when several seats had that in economy to keep the total seats down so they could use one less FA.

 

[Berlin]

I can't remember the aircraft type, sorry!

The experience stuck in my mind as not what I was expecting.

Maybe you were on a really random replacement aircraft or something?

I’m not doubting you- weirder things have happened. It’s just very different from the norm unless I am missing something here.

 

[Seat0B]

Maybe you were on a really random replacement aircraft or something?

I’m not doubting you- weirder things have happened. It’s just very different from the norm unless I am missing something here.

The closest thing were the newish 738's just before USair merged from within when several seats had that in economy to keep the total seats down so they could use one less FA.

OK, I've just gone for a walk down memory lane and checked my travel diary - the trip I recalled was in 2014 (which is actually quite a while back, and certainly more than the "couple of years ago" I originally stated - time flies). I also just googled and found that US Air merged with AA in 2013, so maybe it was a US air airframe or a random replacement as you suggest. This was a connecting flight after a J ride from SYD-DFW.

I assure you it really happened and as a result I have never bothered to book premium on a US carrier again. But based on both your comments, I may try again if we are ever allowed to visit the USA again!

 

[serfty]

This was a connecting flight after a J ride from SYD-DFW.

I would not be surprised if the connection was not in First Class.

American did not use "Business Class" fare buckets on Domestic flights until a few years ago and often if booked on QF to DFW/LAX/SFO in business class a USA domestic connection would be in Economy.

 

[Seat0B]

I would not be surprised if the connection was not in First Class. American did not have Business Class on Domestic flights until a few years ago and often if booked on QF to DFW/LAX/SFO in business class, the USA domestic connection would be in Economy.

Well given my obviously shoddy memory, that may well be the case , but I don't think so. We were in Row 2. Anyway, doesn't mattter. Probably time for me to collect new data

 

[Mattg]

The 10 across 777 is low cost in my book.

Don't Emirates, Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand (among others) also have 10-abreast seating on their 777s?

 

[drron]

Having spent a few hours on a QF 738 in J PER-MEL-BNE,the same plane,I feel the premium cabin seating on an AA 738 is definitely more comfortable than QF.
All right AA calls theirs F but it is usually cheaper than QF J for similiar distances.

 

[OATEK]

WHen BA decided to charge J passengers for seat selection, you just new they were continuing down-market.