Qatar Airways bans Youtuber

[justinbrett]

Josh Cahill, a German YouTuber, made a flight review video where he noted a decline of QR service.

When he later went to fly from AUH-BKK (presumably via DOH), he was told by the airline he was banned because of the video. He only speaks briefly about the incident in the video but says a dedicated video will be released this weekend. He referenced that QR attempted to bribe him to take down the original video.

He blurred out the QR staff so seems to be on par with most other YouTubers, which indicates it was the content and not the conduct QR took issue with.

 

[LostRedditor]

Pretty bad optics. I wonder what they think banning him achieves

 

[marki]

They flew when no one else did however very in covid times

 

[SYD]

They flew when no one else did however very in covid times

Sigh. They were making money and their country didn’t stop them flying…

 

[elanshin]

I'll wait for Josh's actual video to see what his overall story is. Interesting to see how it affects other YouTubers as well going forward.

Fairly disappointing to see, especially since in the past in 2019, nonstop dan called out QR for issues, they reached out and brought him into their office to see ways that they could improve instead.

In the meantime:

 

[justinbrett]

They flew when no one else did however very in covid times

That has absolutely nothing to do with the topic.

 

[dajop]

A YouTuber’s dream. Great for driving the algorithm, generating interest and increasing engagement and views.

Will be interesting to see what went down, but not something you’d think he’d want resolved particularly quickly. If it had been resolved and flew on the originally planned flight then he’d almost certainly have less views.

From an airlines perspective given it’s all about commodity class, a little extra publicity might not hurt them either, even bad publicity.

I wonder how many people familiar with Josh’s videos reacted to this news with a and how many reacted with a . I am certainly in the latter category.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I wonder how many people familiar with Josh’s videos reacted to this news with a and how many reacted with a . I am certainly in the latter category.

99% of his followers agree with whatever he says… no matter how wrong it is.

He posted a couple of years ago how he got kicked out of China, and the rules had ‘changed’. Which was rubbish, he was trying to use transit without visa and got it wrong. Anyone who disagreed with him were howled down.

 

[BAM1748]

They flew when no one else did however very in covid times

But so what, they're a state owned airline as well, but so what. They just don't like criticism perhaps in spite of their deep pockets that allows them to keep flying when others wont.

 

[justinbrett]

A YouTuber’s dream. Great for driving the algorithm, generating interest and increasing engagement and views.

Will be interesting to see what went down, but not something you’d think he’d want resolved particularly quickly. If it had been resolved and flew on the originally planned flight then he’d almost certainly have less views.

From an airlines perspective given it’s all about commodity class, a little extra publicity might not hurt them either, even bad publicity.

I wonder how many people familiar with Josh’s videos reacted to this news with a and how many reacted with a . I am certainly in the latter category.

Sure, as the saying goes, never never let a crisis go to waste. But he can't have possibly engineered it.

He has had a similar incident to this on Malaysian airlines. Who do I believe? A somewhat small time YouTuber or a failing airline?

He's a lot bigger now than he was in that incident (subs between Noel Philips and Non Stop Dan), and QR isn't exactly failing, but the principle is the same. Negative reviews hurt airlines, and there's always going to be one that doesn't think through the consequences of trying to silence one.

 

[moa999]

I am surprised he didn't cop a ban from China (he has been back since)

But this does seem poor from Qatar.
And it seems subsequently various people have sent him more, so will be interested to see the followup.

But the guy lives for drama to get the clicks (and not the only YTr who does that)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am surprised he didn't cop a ban from China (he has been back since)

But this does seem poor from Qatar.
And it seems subsequently various people have sent him more, so will be interested to see the followup.

But the guy lives for drama to get the clicks (and not the only YTr who does that)

Yes… clicks from titles like ‘shocking safety violations’… when in fact there aren’t any. I think in the aforementioned video he was complaining the window shades were down for takeoff or something… or the lights weren’t dimmed at night time. Something which varies between countries and airlines, and certainly wasn’t a safety violation.

 

[justinbrett]

Yes… clicks from titles like ‘shocking safety violations’… when in fact there aren’t any. I think in the aforementioned video he was complaining the window shades were down for takeoff or something… or the lights weren’t dimmed at night time. Something which varies between countries and airlines, and certainly wasn’t a safety violation.

He has definitely documented some. One I recall was not clearing the trays before landing, so on touch down there was meal trays and cutlery flying everywhere.

A lot of his flights are on non Western airlines so not exactly a stretch.

 

[p--and--t]

I’ve had excellent rides with Qatar and very so-so.

Although this is about soft product, the variability of QR hard product is wide as well.

As per all airlines depends on the crew, cabin manager, crewing training/rosters and management. VA used to be quite good - look at it now

 

[justinbrett]

I’ve had excellent rides with Qatar and very so-so.

Although this is about soft product, the variability of QR hard product is wide as well.

As per all airlines depends on the crew, cabin manager, crewing training/rosters and management. VA used to be quite good - look at it now

I agree. I flew long haul QF, SQ, QR and EK (all Y) within the same week.

I would rate QR on par with QF, SQ was by far the worst (worst seat and worst catering), EK was by far the best in almost all areas.

But I accept if someone flew the same airlines on different routes, different aircraft types or just with different crew the results may differ. Having said that I'm not rushing to fly SQ Y again.

 

[doctorstrangelove]

Flying QR PER-DOH-EDI tomorrow in J! Depending on the time of day he releases it should provide some topical entertainment in either the PER or DOH lounge!

From his initial video it's not a good look for a company like QR being thin-skinned when it comes to criticism. Massive flex for Cahill's ego though for being in their field of view!

 

[BAM1748]

Flying QR PER-DOH-EDI tomorrow in J! Depending on the time of day he releases it should provide some topical entertainment in either the PER or DOH lounge!

If in DOH you might get the "not available in this country"

 

[doctorstrangelove]

If in DOH you might get the "not available in this country"

VPN. Not my first rodeo in the despotates of Arabia!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

He has definitely documented some. One I recall was not clearing the trays before landing, so on touch down there was meal trays and cutlery flying everywhere.

A lot of his flights are on non Western airlines so not exactly a stretch.

But he’s outraged and tut-tutting about a deadheading pilot who had their seat reclined during takeoff. There was no one in the row behind the pilot.

Josh kinda needs to understand the reasoning behind the rules before he gets so outraged.

 

[justinbrett]

But he’s outraged and tut-tutting about a deadheading pilot who had their seat reclined during takeoff. There was no one in the row behind the pilot.

That is a blatant safety violation (as is the laptop sitting on the centre console which you conveniently forgot to mention).

Perhaps not in the country that aircraft is registered, but this is the reason airlines flying to Australia have to get a foreign AOC.

I've never heard QF or any other western airline say "Please bring your seat upfront for landing - unless there's nobody behind you in which case go nuts". If nothing else it's a terrible example for pax.