Trip with F's on a BP. Firsts, family, Food and Fun.

[drron]

On the flight to Doha the wifi was very slow and nothing I really wanted to watch spent my time watching the world go by below us, snoozing and eating.






There was a smoked salmon piece first as the table was set up.




Then i started with the tuna tataki and the short rib for mains. Quite nice.




And mrsdrron had the salmon. just slightly overcooked.




The desert was just so so.


With the meal I had the french red and the Dr. Loosen with sweets.
Then back to watching the world go by and snoozing.

 

[drron]

We are now over Arabia.














And arrival at DOH.










At the gate.

 

[drron]

The 3 F pax were muddling around with their bags so they let mrsdrron and I off first. I think the walking stick worked again. The Supervisor told me to go to the transfer desks and they will contact lost luggage. Unfortunately from the way you walk towards the transfer desks they are out of site set back a fair distance. Asked worker who said go through the transfer security first. turned out to be the wrong advice.
So we went through the security. They took an age going through my bag, shaking out my dirty close and all actions done at least twice and they couldn't find whatever they were looking for and gave up.
We were told that lost luggage was near gate C16 and when you get there urn left just before the gate. But no signs and no evidence of the department. So I asked a QR employee who turned out to be a Senior Supervisor. He definitely kept QR's record for great recovery intact. He noted the walking stick and said i will go and see what I can do. Ten minutes later he returns and said yes they have a blue jacket. can you tell me the make. I had forgotten that but said it is a size 46 regular. Off he went and came back with my jacket.

But it was not over yet. We have to go through the paperwork. That entailed the jacket going back to whence it came whilst we were taken to the ....... transfer desks so back through an empty transit security line. I was taken to the staff member who was obviously in charge. Filled out a few papers and then she sent another staff member to the lost luggage office to bring the coat back. One I had the jacket another form to sign and then we had to go back through security. Once again my bag was put aside and the fellow had a quick search, took out the pill bag and saw the item they were looking for. Turned out to be a small pair of scissors that had gone through more than a dozen airports to finally be found on the second attempt at DOH.

But as he took them out he said if less than i think 3CMs they are allowed through. The scissors made the cut with a mm to spare. But from then on ty were in our checked luggage. The guy was very pleased when I told him he was obviously the world's best security officer.
So remember they do take security very seriously. As well QR loves paperwork and everything has to be done in the correct manner. That explains why they insisted on their PNR. I did have the ticket numbers but they wouldn't accept that. Previously with SQ they asked for either PNR or ticket number.

Then it was off to the Oryx hotel. There are several signs but often on the reverse side from the direction you are coming from. but didn't take that long to find it as I had studied the DOH floor plans. That next.

 

[drron]

it was bit of an unreal feeling on check in at the Oryx. You got the feeling that you were privileged to be able to stay. The fellow checking in was in stature a Basil Fawlty. but there was never even a hint of a smile. The first question was can i see your boarding passes for tomorrow. We did at least have them.
There were 3 staff at the desk. Another man and a woman who was only acknowledged when she appeared to get up from her chair when another customer. The second man stopped her with hand signals an dealt with the new customer as happened 3 or 4 times whilst we were checking in he had no booking and was turned away.
Finally to our room which was pretty comfortable.








And reunited with my jacket.


The view however was over the terminal with a walkway at the same level as the room and not far away so curtains closed. nturally not all those who walked by were quiet.
We decided to have dinner in the al Mourjan lounge. Mrsdrron was taken by the flower display in the hotel lobby.










We first walked to the other end of the lounge where we saw a food outlet. But it was only the Deli with not real dinner menu.


So right back to the other end and the main restaurant.