QR 788 J&F - my thoughts

[justinbrett]

Yesterday I flew DEL-DOH-CAI on QR, in the exact same seat (1K) both on 788. The first was in J and the second was in F.

First, I was curious on how the F and J service would differ, It turns out there was zero difference, no extra perks for the F flight and the menu was very similar (even some options were the same). So I guess it’s no different to US airlines selling domestic as F, except at least with this you do actually get points and SC for F.

The seat - I quite like for sitting. It was comfortable and had good controls to get the position just right. However…
The bed - terrible. Fortunately they were short flights but I did take a nap on the first and it was very uncomfortable. The space between the seat and table was very tight that when I slept on my side my thighs were hitting the table. Also no mattress topper. I would absolutely avoid on an overnight flight.

The food was very good on both flights, but no alcohol (champagne) PDB on either? I thought that was weird.

Service on the first flight wasn’t great, mainly because the FA assigned to me struggled with English (moreso pronunciation that vocabulary) and he couldn’t understand my Australian accent so I think he ended up avoiding me as much as possible. I get that this flight will be prioritising Hindi speakers which is fair enough. Service on the second flight was much better, the crew were mostly Asian and spoke perfect English.

No amenity kits on either flight which I guess is fair enough for the flight duration, but I thought the F flight might get one.

Boarding in DOH was painful, orderly queues with dedicated first class line - only to be let into the waiting area at the gate. No area reserved for first class. When it came time to board it was a free for all, first 50 or so pax were not first class despite them saying boarding is only for first class. Not a premium experience at all.

Overall, if this is representative of non-Qsuite QR then I won’t be rushing back. I’d give them another chance for Qsuites but the gamble it gets swapped out for something else is a concern.

 

[zainman]

Not sure how much of a gamble equipment swap is these days but flying from Australia you are guaranteed a Qsuite if you booked it (of course not on the A380's) and I think all of their 777 and A350 now have Qsuites too? Not sure

Not surprised the service isn't difference, the F is just how they sell J in middle east

 

[anat0l]

The "real" F is on the A380 or on the B777 (former Cathay Pacific aircraft). When we boarded the A380, since F is upstairs, our boarding call was exclusive and we bypassed the waiting area and straight to the bridge, and only Business passengers followed after us when they were called from the waiting area.

Boarding F on the B777... well, for me, the plane was parked at a remote stand, and First Class had their own bus from the lounge (and I was the only F passenger). So, again, no jostling with anyone else.

The experience you had should basically reflect a J one (as mentioned, shorthaul F is basically J, a la USA domestic), but I guess it was a mixed bag. If anything, QR probably pay a lot more attention if the flight was a longhaul one. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time that, where there is a waiting area (and especially where BPs are already scanned) that once boarding is called, it turns into a free for all, class and status be damned (not just in DOH or QR, e.g. happens in SIN and similarly set up airports). Surely there must be many here who can comment how it usually goes with boarding at DOH.

 

[justinbrett]

Not sure how much of a gamble equipment swap is these days but flying from Australia you are guaranteed a Qsuite if you booked it (of course not on the A380's) and I think all of their 777 and A350 now have Qsuites too? Not sure

Not surprised the service isn't difference, the F is just how they sell J in middle east

Except unless your holidaying in Qatar it’s going to have a flight on the other side.

Then again, it wouldn't be the first time that, where there is a waiting area (and especially where BPs are already scanned) that once boarding is called, it turns into a free for all, class and status be damned (not just in DOH or QR, e.g. happens in SIN and similarly set up airports). Surely there must be many here who can comment how it usually goes with boarding at DOH.

I expect these shenanigans at outstations but not at an airlines primary hub. That is where they should be at their best.

Ironically I flew QR out of SIN and that was very orderly, as was BA.

 

[SYD]

I’ve not flown the only proper F (A380) but you’d expect something like SYD-DOH (or if it’s still operating, PER-DOH) to be a good measure of F soft product (the hard product is dated).

Those two sectors you flew might also be considered a “regional” flight (if QR use that distinction)?

I’ve had multiple (more than I ever wanted) CGK<->DOH J flights in the last two years and in general the service has been to standard but a few misses along the way. Pretty sure they’ve had bubbles as PDB on those (and two from Europe - although, there are some ports where they claim it’s a local regulation that they can serve booze as a PDB).

The variation in seats across QR is problematic. From full QSuite privacy to the opposite with the older A380 and earlier 787 seats. The newer (no door) A350s seats have good storage but the mini 787 QSuite lite has hardly any storage (from memory).

Always had ammenities kits on all flights in J (even PJs). But they do have a large nicer type kits on “lonhghaul” and smaller versions on the shorter hops (eg DOH-Euro).

My only complaint re boarding at DOH is the bun fight that can be the common bus gates. They start boarding significantly earlier at bus gates, but don’t tell you the J buses start running about the time you’d board via an airbridge….

 

[justinbrett]

I’ve not flown the only proper F (A380) but you’d expect something like SYD-DOH (or if it’s still operating, PER-DOH) to be a good measure of F soft product (the hard product is dated).

Those two sectors you flew might also be considered a “regional” flight (if QR use that distinction)?

I’ve had multiple (more than I ever wanted) CGK<->DOH J flights in the last two years and in general the service has been to standard but a few misses along the way. Pretty sure they’ve had bubbles as PDB on those (and two from Europe - although, there are some ports where they claim it’s a local regulation that they can serve booze as a PDB).

The variation in seats across QR is problematic. From full QSuite privacy to the opposite with the older A380 and earlier 787 seats. The newer (no door) A350s seats have good storage but the mini 787 QSuite lite has hardly any storage (from memory).

Always had ammenities kits on all flights in J (even PJs). But they do have a large nicer type kits on “lonhghaul” and smaller versions on the shorter hops (eg DOH-Euro).

My only complaint re boarding at DOH is the bun fight that can be the common bus gates. They start boarding significantly earlier at bus gates, but don’t tell you the J buses start running about the time you’d board via an airbridge….

I think they count CAI as regional (which is why it is F) but not DEL. I did read on OMAAT that the difference between regional F and J is the serving of Arabic coffee and dates before take off, but that happened on both my flights.

I think it would be safe to say neither are premium routes for them.

Qatar Airways' Confusing Regional First Class Explained

Qatar Airways markets the forward cabin on many regional flights as first class. What's the logic for this, and what are the implications?

onemileatatime.com

 

[SYD]

I think they count CAI as regional (which is why it is F) but not DEL. I did read on OMAAT that the difference between regional F and J is the serving of Arabic coffee and dates before take off, but that happened on both my flights.

I think it would be safe to say neither are premium routes for them.

Qatar Airways' Confusing Regional First Class Explained

Qatar Airways markets the forward cabin on many regional flights as first class. What's the logic for this, and what are the implications?

onemileatatime.com

TBH, I think you lucked out on two relatively coughty routes.

At least CGK has plenty of booze (and no risk of running out, unlike MH… IYKYK).