Who's Flying Qatar This Year?

[wesheltonj]

My wife and I are flying to JNB at the end of May. I contacted Qatar yesterday to see what prior notification was required to fly with firearms. They collected some information; the rifle description/caliber, ammunition quantity/weight, and case dimensions/weight. Upon updating the information in my reservation, they advised that I'm all set but need to present 4457, passport, declaration of surrender of firearm, and approved SAPS gun permit at the ticketing counter. Painless? I'll find out!

Well not exactly, you will need to email them a copy of your 4457, passport and invitation letter in advance. You will again and present those at check in again and the surrender of firearm. The email address is in my Takeri review. And you need to get confirmation from Qatar that your firearm is approved. You cannot rely on the phone reps that it’s approved.

 

[Philip Glass]

I booked the in airport hotel in Doha

I hear it has an indoor pool and a gym. Maybe one day I'll get to check it out.

 

[Philip Glass]

Don’t know how you get these deals. Just called Patrick’s business and the best they could do on Qatar was $8600! Same as on the website. and this is for a September trip.

You have to start early and watch for deals. You can set a google flight alert as well. It can be very specific with the exact dates, cities, and class of service you select. (www.google.com/flights) It does require a google account which I have from YouTube.
This sub $5K deal only lasted a week or so then rotated to another departure city.
For next year I am going to start very early with the google alert. I'll have a group trip to Namibia in May for PG and Zimbabwe again in August For DG. My goal is to fly Qatar direct and skip JNB. Air travel is maddening but when you get a deal like me and my group did this year it is sweet!
Regards,
Philip

 

[IA1865]

Been looking to try a Qsuite myself! Finally, after 15 years and 7 safaris, my wife finally feels comfortable that our kids are old enough for her to join me on a trip to RSA later this year. This will be my 40th birthday and delayed anniversary so I was gladly going to splurge, however, I cannot seem to find anything less than 15K for round trip tickets. Hard to justify when I can get a premium economy for $2500. Planning on building a house this year and will use an Amex for as much as possible in hopes that I will have enough points for years to come and that Qsuite won't be so hard to swallow.

Definitely monitor on points here. I booked on their expanded availability (2x normal rates) with points round trip for 200,000 avios DFW-DOH-JNB. Caught a 25% bonus avio transfer offer so it ended up only costing me 160,000 points. Granted I went in January and spent a lot of time monitoring the website for deals and was flexible on actual safari dates.

 

[JBRC]

Last year we flew Qatar to Windhoek. Long flight through Doha though. Amazing service through out the entire trip. The only issue was we lost an engine over the North Atlantic and had to do an emergency landing in Oslo. This year it is Delta direct into JNB.

 

[Altitude sickness]

How long did that redirect? Add to your trip?

 

[JBRC]

How long did that redirect? Add to your trip?

It added a day to an already long trip. The whole trip home was around 72hrs. Qatar did set us in a nice hotel in Oslo and took care of everything the best they could. Other than getting home a day later I couldn't really complain about how they handled it. It could have been so much worse.

 

[Philip Glass]

Your post made me look again. For my flights in June and September it's non-QSuite between DOH & JNB. Did you mean to say it looks like all DOH-JNB flights are not QSuite?

The flights are on an A350 and have seats in 1-2-1 config, but not in QSuites setup. Probably this setup on them:
View attachment 600340

I just checked again and Seat Guru has QR 1363 on June 29th, DOH-JNB to be Qsuite. Who knows.

 

[xbr897]

I just checked again and Seat Guru has QR 1363 on June 29th, DOH-JNB to be Qsuite. Who knows.

I can tell you for sure that Seat Guru does not know That site has been going steadily downhill since they were bought out and their data is notoriously inaccurate in frequent flier channels.

I flew yesterday and the DOH-JNB segment was not Q Suite. It was 1-2-1 seating, but not Q Suite. I checked and Seat Guru showed flight to be Q Suite, but they were unsurprisingly wrong.

ExpertFlyer is much more accurate and, likely since they are a subscription based service, they focus a lot more on their data. I don't use SeatGuru for anything these days. They used to be good but today are mostly misinformation. I highly recommend to use ExpertFlyer if you want to have full confidence in the data you're seeing.

 

[Sideshow]

@Philip Glass been looking into flights to Namibia but can’t find a direct one. Dose Qatar fly directly? Cheers

 

[Philip Glass]

@Philip Glass been looking into flights to Namibia but can’t find a direct one. Dose Qatar fly directly? Cheers

They used to but not anymore. Now there are only flights from Frankfurt and JNB into WDH. The advantage to Qatar is that their flights arrive in he AM at JNB and you can make the connection to Namibia without an overnight.

 

[Philip Glass]

I can tell you for sure that Seat Guru does not know That site has been going steadily downhill since they were bought out and their data is notoriously inaccurate in frequent flier channels.

I flew yesterday and the DOH-JNB segment was not Q Suite. It was 1-2-1 seating, but not Q Suite. I checked and Seat Guru showed flight to be Q Suite, but they were unsurprisingly wrong.

ExpertFlyer is much more accurate and, likely since they are a subscription based service, they focus a lot more on their data. I don't use SeatGuru for anything these days. They used to be good but today are mostly misinformation. I highly recommend to use ExpertFlyer if you want to have full confidence in the data you're seeing.

Thanks for the update! I have used Expertflyer. It is sad that SeatGuru is not staying current since it is so easy to use.
I am guessing you were on an A350-900?
Qatar really needs to finish up their retrofits. It has been years since QSuite was rolled out.

 

[Philip Glass]

I can tell you for sure that Seat Guru does not know That site has been going steadily downhill since they were bought out and their data is notoriously inaccurate in frequent flier channels.

I flew yesterday and the DOH-JNB segment was not Q Suite. It was 1-2-1 seating, but not Q Suite. I checked and Seat Guru showed flight to be Q Suite, but they were unsurprisingly wrong.

ExpertFlyer is much more accurate and, likely since they are a subscription based service, they focus a lot more on their data. I don't use SeatGuru for anything these days. They used to be good but today are mostly misinformation. I highly recommend to use ExpertFlyer if you want to have full confidence in the data you're seeing.

I am guessing it is only the paid service that shows you whether it is QSuite Or not? I am logged into the free version and can make flight alerts. It only shows A basic 1-2-1 seat map with no further information.

 

[xbr897]

I am guessing it is only the paid service that shows you whether it is QSuite Or not? I am logged into the free version and can make flight alerts. It only shows A basic 1-2-1 seat map with no further information.

It may be that only paid version shows it, but I thought free did as well. I have the paid version so can't check the free one view.

For reference, here is what the Q Suite seat map looks like on Expert Flyer

and what the regular 1-2-1 business seatmap looks like

If you check both your flights you'll likely see the q suite seatmap from US to Doha and then the regular one from Doha to JNB.

 

[Scott CWO]

It may be that only paid version shows it, but I thought free did as well. I have the paid version so can't check the free one view.

For reference, here is what the Q Suite seat map looks like on Expert Flyer
View attachment 612657

and what the regular 1-2-1 business seatmap looks like
View attachment 612658

If you check both your flights you'll likely see the q suite seatmap from US to Doha and then the regular one from Doha to JNB.

This is consistent with my experience. Qsuite from USA to Doha and then 1-2-1 from Doha to JNB, Harare and Lusaka. Was not QSuite on second leg going to Africa or first leg leaving Africa.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I just got into Doha :50 ago from Harare/Lusaka and that was the seat arrangements on my flight as well

 

[Philip Glass]

This is consistent with my experience. Qsuite from USA to Doha and then 1-2-1 from Doha to JNB, Harare and Lusaka. Was not QSuite on second leg going to Africa or first leg leaving Africa.

In 2021 and 2022 I had QSuite the whole way. I am guessing these are the A350's that were sitting due to the paint controversy and now returned to service with no updating.

 

[xbr897]

In 2021 and 2022 I had QSuite the whole way. I am guessing these are the A350's that were sitting due to the paint controversy and now returned to service with no updating.

Same here. 2022 was all Q, last year and this year was mixed. Looking to end of schedule it stays non-Q for DOH-JNB/CPT

 

[wesheltonj]

Thanks for the update! I have used Expertflyer. It is sad that SeatGuru is not staying current since it is so easy to use.
I am guessing you were on an A350-900?
Qatar really needs to finish up their retrofits. It has been years since QSuite was rolled out.

Considering Qatar has already announced their new suite product (of course, without any details) that’s doubtful.

 

[Tusker]

Im flying from MIA to HRE with layover in Doha on August,,, just purchased a regular economy class ticket hopping to be able to upgrade. I had already the confirmation over the phone, but still I requested an email that was sent right away. FYI they told me at the airport check in desk that I am allowed to carry ammo (inside its secured box) inside me regular luggage,,, so I basically carry 1 suitcase with clothing and ammo and a second suitcase with the rifles