How do QR and WY (Oman Air) compare?

[Melburnian1]

Ex MNL, I have used Oman Air (WY) for two return trips to UK (back from Europe), and found it unfailingly excellent despite its small fleet.

How does QR compare to WY ex the cheap Asian gateways of MNL (and CGK) to UK/Europe?

Aerolopa suggests two possible J seating configs on the B773 used between MNL and DOH for mid 2027: either 1-2-1, but the best window seats (away from the aisle) face backwards which is something I've never experienced, or an even worse, a dated 2-2-2 J class layout that unlike Oman Air lacks a proper divider, and doesn't permit easy aisle access from the window seat.

I found the food on Oman Air to be constantly reliable and terrific.

Is QR a bit overhyped given how with the B773s it has six possible seating layouts (assuming aerolopa is correct)?

 

[elanshin]

Ex MNL, I have used Oman Air (WY) for two return trips to UK (back from Europe), and found it unfailingly excellent despite its small fleet.

How does QR compare to WY ex the cheap Asian gateways of MNL (and CGK) to UK/Europe?

Aerolopa suggests two possible J seating configs on the B773 used between MNL and DOH for mid 2027: either 1-2-1, but the best window seats (away from the aisle) face backwards which is something I've never experienced, or an even worse, a dated 2-2-2 J class layout that unlike Oman Air lacks a proper divider, and doesn't permit easy aisle access from the window seat.

I found the food on Oman Air to be constantly reliable and terrific.

Is QR a bit overhyped given how with the B773s it has six possible seating layouts (assuming aerolopa is correct)?

1-2-1 with backwards is Qsuites.
If its 1-2-1 reverse Herringbone it's exCathay on loan.

Anything else is an ask to get changed (if you book qsuites but they equipment swap you can request changes).

WY is alright if you get their 787s. Just hope they don't somehow swap to a 737M8. Idk why they thought launching MCT-SIN on a 737 would do well....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have flown both.

I rate WY highly, especially with the apex suites… the window seats on that are probably the best business class seat flying.

QR had amazing hype and I had high expectations. I found it didn’t meet those expectations, especially the Qsuite itself… lots of flaws in the seat which are in need of an update (newer versions of the seat fix the issues such as not having a flush headrest, which makes it difficult to sleep).

Other little problems like the backward facing seats… if the person in front has their window shades open, there is direct sunlight onto your head in the rear facing seat! You can use an eye mask, but the sun still burns you!

Food… average at best. Nicely presented, and an ok wine list with choice of two champagnes, but not ‘outstanding’.

The lounge? Aside from the restaurant and some design elements, would rate it on par with QF international business lounges.

I had a choice to fly QR again early next year to and from Europe… decided not to. And not because of any issues with transit through the ME.

 

[drron]

Thanks for starting this thread' I have booked a cruise in late June starting in Lisbon. I was hoping for some award at least 1 way to or from europe. Was having no luck. Seats aero next to useless.
Then you mentioned WY. So back to AA and looked at awards through MCT As usual we head to BKK before and after a long trip. So looked first t BKK - MCT. virtually every day had j awards but most days also 2 F awards. They do appear on QFF but less days. .

Two F awards through AA 100000 points plus 180USD.
On QFF 1 J award is 73400 plus 317 aud.
One F award was 107800 plus 317aud.
We were then able to get 2 F awards on WY to LHR though the final flight is BA J to LIS.

Could not find any QR awards n June.

 

[MELso]

There's a little gotcha to be aware of on WY: out of some airports (e.g. KUL/SIN), a 737 with recliners is used so check what's going to be operating your flight before booking.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There's a little gotcha to be aware of on WY: out of some airports (e.g. KUL/SIN), a 737 with recliners is used so check what's going to be operating your flight before booking.

And sometimes one of the two-daily BKK flights.

But OP is ex MNL so should be ok.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

The lounge? Aside from the restaurant and some design elements, would rate it on par with QF international business lounges.

Having experienced a few QR Premium lounges including BKK & CDG I would absolutely disagree.

First there is real champagne..
Second, there is à la carte dining.
Third, there are concierges and waiters ready to serve you.
Which QF business lounge offers this trifecta?
There is no day spa, but otherwise they are on a par with QF F lounges.

Perhaps all of these were discounted by the phrase "apart from ..." but if you exclude the restaurant and the design of the space, what's left to evaluate?
The left luggage service?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Having experienced a few QR Premium lounges including BKK & CDG I would absolutely disagree.

First there is real champagne..
Second, there is à la carte dining.
Third, there are concierges and waiters ready to serve you.
Which QF business lounge offers this trifecta?
There is no day spa, but otherwise they are on a par with QF F lounges.

Perhaps all of these were discounted by the phrase "apart from ..." but if you exclude the restaurant and the design of the space, what's left to evaluate?
The left luggage service?

Quality of the food, range of the food offering, quality of the bathrooms. There was nothing particularly ‘original’ about the soft product in the lounges in Doha compared to say the 10 really interesting and tasty salads on offer at the TK lounge in IST.

We were there overnight in the DOH lounge… arrived at 2am and onwards at 8am. If there were waiters outside the restaurant we didn’t see any!

Architecturally the Doha lounges are impressive on entry. The restaurant is a distraction to fill some time. But it wasn’t a lounge I would want to go back to. Compared to the TK lounge, which I would.

I dunno if any business lounge is ‘perfect’ or ticks every box. I’m not in a hurry to go back to the SQ business lounge at Singapore either.

AA flagship lounges however I do quite like… lots of variety of food and drink. Only been to one EK business lounge, but the food there was interesting and a bit of fun.

That being said will be trying out the QR lounge in SIN before a OW flight next year. Food is supposed to be quite good there!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Quality of the food, range of the food offering, quality of the bathrooms. There was nothing particularly ‘original’ about the soft product in the lounges in Doha compared to say the 10 really interesting and tasty salads on offer at the TK lounge in IST.

We were there overnight in the DOH lounge… arrived at 2am and onwards at 8am. If there were waiters outside the restaurant we didn’t see any!

Architecturally the Doha lounges are impressive on entry. The restaurant is a distraction to fill some time. But it wasn’t a lounge I would want to go back to. Compared to the TK lounge, which I would.

I dunno if any business lounge is ‘perfect’ or ticks every box. I’m not in a hurry to go back to the SQ business lounge at Singapore either.

AA flagship lounges however I do quite like… lots of variety of food and drink. Only been to one EK business lounge, but the food there was interesting and a bit of fun.

That being said will be trying out the QR lounge in SIN before a OW flight next year. Food is supposed to be quite good there!

Oh if you are talking about lounges in Doha it all depends which one you are in.
If you are in the lounges available to OWE or OWS then they are not the best.
The best in Doha are the ones reserved for PAX booked in QR F or J.

However the QR outstation Premium Lounges are superb.
If I remember correctly, they are available to any PAX booked in F or J on any departing OW flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Oh if you are talking about lounges in Doha it all depends which one you are in.
If you are in the lounges available to OWE or OWS then they are not the best.
The best in Doha are the ones reserved for PAX booked in QR F or J.

However the QR outstation Premium Lounges are superb.
If I remember correctly, they are available to any PAX booked in F or J on any departing OW flight.

The DOH lounge was entered as business class flying QR. So supposedly the second best after the QR F lounge.

The SIN lounge does indeed have good reviews!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

The DOH lounge was entered as business class flying QR. So supposedly the second best after the QR F lounge.

The SIN lounge does indeed have good reviews!

I have been there, I remember it clearly because I had to fight for admission.
We were flying on QR in J on QF partner classic reward bookings.
The receptionist waved my foster son (who has never had any status with any airline) through.
However my booking came up as "business lite" rather than as an award booking.
So they tried to direct me to the OWE lounge.
Eventually a manager resolved the issue with a comment that it was "another award booking mix-up".
I suspect the "mix up" was a deliberate strategy to try to direct anyone with status to the inferior lounges.
Although I have always wondered whether the other F lounge would have been better or worse than the QR J lounge.
My thinking at the time was that the other lounges offered paid access to walk-ins.
In my experience any lounge which offers that is generally inferior to class of travel or status only lounges.

 

[Warragul]

There's a little gotcha to be aware of on WY: out of some airports (e.g. KUL/SIN), a 737 with recliners is used so check what's going to be operating your flight before booking.

And Oman Air don't market First class any more. It is Business studio on some 787s until they are reconfigured out. Same seat as they had as First but probably Business class level for other stuff. They show as First on QF booking page.