akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2336 posts, RR: 53 Reply 1, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 13414 times:
AT THE AIRPORT
After our bus was cleared to proceed, we had to drop off the Doha bound passengers first at the main terminal. The disembarking was quick and we were soon on our way to the Premium Terminal.
Premium Terminal
We pulled over at 19.00. The remaining passengers were ushered to the entrance.
Entrance
Our boarding passes were scrutinized before proceeding the security, which went smoothly. We were through within five minutes.
“Upstairs, Sir!” One of the security members said.
“Thank you,”
Stairway to heaven
On the same floor level, there is a small Duty Free area after the security. The prices are moderate, especially regarding spirits and tobaccos.
Duty Free overview
A friendly gate attendant greeted us upstairs. After jotting down our flight details, he waived us towards the Business Class lounge.
Business Class Lounge
Entrance
Once through the sliding doors, you will find the dining are on your left.
A waiter is always on hand
FIDS
Mezzanine level
Since our last visit two years ago, the Business Class area has been expanded. Do you see the two brick walls on the right of the above photo? There were used to be the windows being formerly located facing towards the airport curbsides.
We went left and made ourselves comfortable on the upper wing.
View towards the restrooms
Fountain and wall dividers to the First Class lounge
Each lounge level has its own well-stocked bar.
(Non) alcoholic drinks in the fridge
White wine ice bucket and spirits
.
Red wine corner
More spirits and champagne ice bucket
I was about to pour the champagne, when a lounge attendant approached me and insistently said, “Please, let me take care of that for you,”
Me with my partner’s and my well topped up champagne glasses
It was time for a obligatory visit to the restroom.
Nicely designed washbasins
Real of paper hand towels
FLIGHT STATUS
Our itinerary:
Route: DOH-KUL
Date: 2 August 2010
ETD/ATD: 20.10 / 20.10
ETA/ATA: 08.50 / 08.55
Flight number: QR 620
Plane: Airbus 330-302
Registration: A7-AEN
Delivered: First delivered 7 February 2008
First Officer: Captain Abdul Monin
Unlike two years ago, we did not see any lounge attendant who wandered through the lounge area calling passengers to go onboard. We just remained seated and sipping our champagne. At 19.30 my partner got anxious whether and got off to find out whether it was time for boarding.
Not long after, the lounge attendant who served our champagne, approached me, “Are you going to Kuala Lumpur? It is boarding now,”
“Thank you,” I quickly gathered our belongings and made way to the gate., leaving our champagne glasses unfinished.
I met my partner and we went downstairs together towards our boarding gate.
Our gate 1A
Although the last call was not made yet, we were apparently the last passengers to go onboard. The doors were closed as soon as we got in and off we went. Despite the lighting on the tarmac, I managed to shoot one rather decent picture of A7-BAF out of many blurrier others from behind the bus window. Little I knew that I would be meeting her two weeks later in Bali.
A7-BAF
Our bus came to a stop next to A7-AEN which seems a regular visitor to KUL.
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2336 posts, RR: 53 Reply 2, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 13380 times:
ON BOARD
Business Class
As we entered A7-AEN at 19.40, Indonesian flight attendant Yenny greeted us at the door, “Good evening, Mr. Akhmad. Nice to have you on board,”
She got in charge of our row during the flight.
Malaysian purser Farul looked at our boarding passes and waived us through to our seats.
Our seats
2A and 2B
Big sized pillow and wrapped thick blanket had been placed on each seat.
Neighbor view
My seat
2A
Legroom
Yenny took the coats of other passengers
We did not bring along any coat. It was summer anyway!
Yenny appeared on our side. “Good evening, Sir. Can we offer you anything to drink? Water, orange juice or laban?”
“Orange juice for me please,” my partner said.
“Can I have the last one?” I asked.
“Certainly,”
Our welcome drinks were delivered shortly.
My laban and my partner’s orange juice
I looked out the window while sipping laban.
A7-AEI
One of the perks of flying J is that you have got an individual battery charger which I really needed for the sake of my trip reports.
Yenny returned to individually hand out the nighttime amenity kits. Nice touch on the contrary to our previous experience on the MUC-DOH leg! This amenity kit has similar content as the daytime one. One difference is the black colored bag.
Amenity kit
About ten minutes before ETD, Yenny passed on the pyjama bags as opposed to the comfort bag we got earlier. “I have brought the XL-ones for you. Please let me know whether they fit. Otherwise, I will exchange it,”
The difference with the daytime comfort bag is the bigger size of the bag where you will find a cotton pyjama top inside.
Hot or cold towel service followed shortly.
Pyjama bag
The content
Five minutes before ETD, an announcement came that all customers were on board. I counted 16 people in J.
Pushback commenced right on time. The lovely humming sound filled the cabin. The in-flights safety demonstration was displayed, followed by another announcement five minutes later that the IFE had been switched on.
Welcome greeting from attractive QR flight attendants
A330 or B777?
During the taxi, Yenny took the meal orders.
Attending family of three at the first row
I explored the content of the seat pockets. All of them are similar to those on our earlier flight, except for the menu.
Menu
Menu and beverage list inside a leather jacket
Main meal
Indulgence
Yenny just managed to finish taking the order of the first row passengers, when all the attendants were requested to get seated for take-off.
Let me take you along the take-off experience. My apology though for the blurriness.
Indulgence
The engines spooled up, followed by a powerful take-off
Lift off at 20.20
Doha’s skylines
Passing over Doha, we banked to the right to reach our cruising altitude.
IN FLIGHT
We leveled off at 20.30, Yenny continued her task shortly after the fasten seat belt signs were switched off.
“Good evening, sir. Are you joining us for the main meal?” she asked me.
“Can I have the butternut squash soup as a starter and the noodles?”
“Certainly. Do you want anything to drink to go with it?”
“I will have the Shiraz, please,”
“Certainly. How about you, Sir?” she turned to my partner.
“I skip the starter. I will have the noodles and the Shiraz as well,”
“Certainly,”
Cuisine
Fifteen minutes into the flight, the palate pleaser was served together with our Shiraz.
Shiraz and filled pancakes
The pancakes were filled with salmon caviar, a hint of coriander and accompanied with sweet chili sauce. My partner did not really like it. But I took care of his and mine as well.
Yenny cleared up our bowls and returned to set our table one by one. As a window seat passenger, I got attended first. The table setting procedure was strictly followed again. Firstly, she covered my table with a white crisp linen. Secondly, she folded a napkin across and laid it on my lap. Finally, she put richly filled bread bowl, mini pepper and salt containers, butter dish and a water glass.
Table setting
Close up of bread bowl
After setting my partner’s table, Yenny returned with my starter. The soup bowl was brought to my table covered. Once it was set, she removed the lid, revealing the piping hot squash soup.
Butternut squash soup
The soup was tasteful. The curry went harmoniously with the coriander, spicing each other up.
In the meantime, my partner’s main meal was delivered.
Pad Thai noodles
The noodles were wrapped in a crispy egg net. The sensation of well flavored soft noodles and cracking undertone of egg net was really fantastic.
Of course, Yenny did not forget to top up our glasses during the meal.
About thirty minutes later just after we finished our meal, our dirty plates were cleared up.
“Do you care for the dessert?” Yenny asked.
“No, I am fine, thank you,”
“No problem. I will keep your tables this way,”
We were completely stuffed. My bread bowl even remained untouched.
Yenny returned about ten minutes later. “Do you want me to clear up your table?”
“Yes, please,”
“Do you want anything else?”
“Could we have a glass of whiskey?”
“Single or double?”
“Just single to start,” my partner and I replied almost simultaneously.
‘What a funny girl,’ I thought.
Our whiskey was soon delivered with each a box of Godiva chocolates.
Whiskey and Godiva chocolates
Then it was about time to explore the rest of the cabin.
J lavatory
Love the lavatory with a window
Amenities
Shaving kits and toothbrushes
Eau de cologne, hand lotion, hand soap
Then, I made my way backwards. Somehow, I got the feeling that J cabin got darkened sooner than Y cabin.
Dark J cabin
Y cabin
Backward view
Front view
I wanted to get to know Yenny and her colleagues, so I headed to the galley. Yenny was not there at the moment. Malaysian flight attendant Azwani greeted me instead.
“Hello, Sir. Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you. I am just curious about the galley,”
“Oh yes, please. Do you want to take any picture?” Azwani asked upon noticing me holding a camera.
“Oh yes, may I?”
“Sure. Let me tidy it up first for you.”
J galley
“Please, have a sit here,” Azwani folded down the attendant seat next to her.
We engaged in a nice conversation about things like where we are come from, how long she has been working for Qatar.
“So, you are born in Indonesia. My colleague has told me that she is having a Malaysian passenger instead,” Azwani said. “By the way. I can speak Indonesian as well. I spent couple years living in Indonesia when I was young,”
Yenny returned to the galley and three of us got chit-chatted a bit until Captain Monin appeared.
“Hello,” he said.
“Are you the captain?” I asked while shaking his hand.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I am just a passenger sitting on 2A,” I replied.
Captain Monin had such look in his eyes which was somehow forcing me to ask, “Do you want me to go back?”
“If you do not mind. You are not supposed to be here,” he replied.
“OK, I am gone,”
I kept thinking, ‘Am I doing anything wrong? I just wanted to socialize a bit,’
Entertainment
I kept myself occupied with QR’s Oryx IFE system.
Start screen
Broadcast map
My own play list
I was so tired that I dozed off pretty quickly.
I woke up after another two hours. It was 04.40 on Malaysian time. From now on, any time reference further on this report will be Malaysian time.
I was wondering whether the mood lighting was on in Y cabin, so I went backwards again. What a difference from my previous visit. The cabin was immersed in blue. So calming.
Forward view
Backward view
When I returned to my seat, my partner was awake and both of us were in real need of some strong caffeine, I went to the galley to order a double espresso for me and a cup of coffee with milk. Azwani and Yenny were in the galley that time.
“Please take a sit. I will bring it to you,” Yenny quickly met my request.
“Before I go, I would like to thank you for your service so far,” I said.
“Thank you very much,” Yenny replied. “Would you mind filling out the feedback form for us?”
“Not at all.” I returned to my seat.
In-flight survey
Our coffees were delivered with each a tray of Shortbreads.
A small cup of double espresso and a big coffee mug
Window view
The sunrise starting
View of the wing
About two hours before landing, Azwani started collecting headsets out of the empty seats.
Cuisine
At 07.20, Yenny emerged from the galley to take our breakfast order.
“Are you joining us for breakfast?”
“Yes, please. I would like to have the energizer and Arabic breakfast,” I said.
“For me also the energizer and Greek yogurt instead,” My partner said.
“Certainly,”
Yenny set our tables and soon returned with the energizer.
Date and banana energizer
My partner’s table setting. Note the preserve offering
In the meantime, Farul was handing out the landing card for Malaysia.
Landing card
Our main meal was delivered not long after.
My Arabic breakfast consisted of cold and warm plates. The cold plate contained hummus, labneh, grilled feta, baba ghannouj and hard-boiled egg accompanied with pita bread. The warm dish consisted of warm beans.
Cold plate
Warm plate
I fell in love with QR’s Arabic breakfast when I got the taste of it for the first time two years ago. They have become my reference to similar dishes ever since.
My partner’s tropical fruit with Greek yogurt
I kept my window shade open from now on.
The sun is shining
While we were savoring our breakfast, menus were recollected from the empty seats. At 08.05 Captain Monin made an announcement that we would start to descend within ten minutes.
Landing
As soon as we were leaving our cruising altitude, our tables were cleared up followed by hot towel service.
Malaysian coast line
At 08.25, flight attendants were requested to seat in preparation for the landing.
KLIA in sight
Five minutes later, two cabin attendants walked along each side of the cabin and spraying something. I was wondering what it was all about. I would have expected on Australia bound flights before landing. Could any fellow A.netters know anything about it?
Anyway, let me take you along the landing moments.
Malacca Street
Port Dickson
Making an U-turn
Somewhere near Siliau
View on Bukit Tajam
Chasing our shadow
Touch down at 08.45
Entering the taxiway
New location of the low cost terminal being built on the background
VIP Terminal
During the taxi, a common welcome announcement was made. But at the end, we got warned that you will get sentenced with death penalty for drugs trafficking.
Anyway as we entered the platform, I realized that I found myself in another spotter’s heaven. This one in Asia!
Main terminal with many Malaysian B734’s docked
9M-MLC, former XL Airways B73H
MH B772
Uzbekistan B752
Silkair A320
We were finally docked at 08.55 at the satellite terminal. Before saying goodbye, there was time for a photo session.
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2336 posts, RR: 53 Reply 3, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 13287 times:
AT THE AIRPORT
Disembarking
We thanked Farul, Azwani and Yenny for the pleasant flight and made our way to the terminal.
Goodbye A7-AEN
Two QR ground attendants were apparently waiting at the end of the aerobridge and distributing leaflets about Malaysia.
Do’s and don’ts in Malaysia
Satellite Terminal
The corridor
I remembered vaguely the airy design of KLIA. But then, I got the chance to capture it.
Walking along Aerotrain corridor
Jungle in the airport
Impressive high ceiling
Signage
We jumped on the Aerotrain just before the sliding doors were closing.
Signage inside Aerotrain
This automatic shuttle train brought us to the main terminal across the platform.
Satellite terminal platform
Main terminal platform
MainTerminal
Interior
.
Signage
Before border control
The border control was a breeze. We reached the baggage claim area within fifteen minutes after disembarking.
Arrival duty free shop
Baggage claim area
Baggage information screen
Our baggage belt
Bunch of passengers waiting for their luggage. Note the QR ground attendant
The end of QR outward journey
While waiting for our luggage, I switched on my mobile phone and got a welcome message from fellow A.netter Airpearl immediately. You might be thinking what was about to happen. Well, we had an appointment with him. l will tell you more about it on my following report. But this time, I put an end to this part of my trip report series.
By the way, our luggage appeared on the baggage belt shortly after it got started. The priority tag did work out this time.
QR impressed me more during the DOH-KUL service. Friendly and hospitable attendants, great lounge in DOH, on board catering, Oryx in-flight entertainment and sophisticated aircraft brought our whole outward journey to a great finish. The five star experience was well deserved and it showed.
I do hope you have enjoyed my trip report from Dusseldorf until Kuala Lumpur. Please let me know what you think of it and do not hesitate to leave any comments or suggestions.
AI151 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2009, 303 posts, RR: 17 Reply 5, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 13068 times:
Hi Suryo,
An amazing TR and this is only you getting to KL. The amount of effort and attention to detail you have put into these 3 sectors has been phenomenal. I'm looking forward to the return portions without a shadow of a doubt.
I've fallen in love with the Business Class lounge at DOH. It looks absolutely stunning!
Quoting akhmad (Reply 1): I was about to pour the champagne, when a lounge attendant approached me and insistently said, “Please, let me take care of that for you,”
Very kind and efficient to say none the least.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): Captain Monin had such look in his eyes which was somehow forcing me to ask, “Do you want me to go back?”
“If you do not mind. You are not supposed to be here,” he replied.
“OK, I am gone,”
I kept thinking, ‘Am I doing anything wrong? I just wanted to socialize a bit,’
Sounds a tad bit harsh to say that the way he did. Thought he would have been friendlier.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): Five minutes later, two cabin attendants walked along each side of the cabin and spraying something. I was wondering what it was all about. I would have expected on Australia bound flights before landing. Could any fellow A.netters know anything about it?
This has happened when I've travelled to many places and normally its some kind of pesticide which is harmless to humans and kills the insects if there are any on board.
airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4066 posts, RR: 51 Reply 6, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 12923 times:
Hi Suryo,
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): Please let me know what you think of it
Yeah, I liked it More then part 2 to be honest.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 1): Yenny passed on the pyjama bags
Very nice! This is not so common on J-class, I think.
Great food also. Breakfast looks delicious. Not sure on that main course, with the noodles, looks a small portion. Also, next time you take dessert and show us. Also ok, just the picture (then you don't eat it, when you don't want)
Quoting akhmad (Reply 1): a common welcome announcement was made. But at the end, we got warned that you will get sentenced with death penalty for drugs trafficking.
Oh yes, it always makes me think. We come from Netherlands and yes, they've an extra eye on 'us'. Actually, since the moment you leave your bag at the check-in desk in AMS, or DUS in this case, it's out of your own responsibility. Others, read baggage handlers, can do everything they want with your luggage. From own airport experience I know there is hardly any additional security around in the baggage cellars, and you never know if somebody uses your bag for some transportation. We can only hope it will all ok with the bags like it's the case usually. But otherwise people can get in big trouble in countries like Malaysia, Singapore and also Thailand (as well others in especially that region).
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): Bunch of passengers waiting for their luggage. Note the QR ground attendant
Nice. Good service. I know this is done by the Japanese companies JAL and ANA also. Much welcomed by passengers, not only for assistance with baggage, but also with additional questions on arrival procedures, ground transportation and directions etc.
QR is way to go! Can't wait to have them in AMS, assuming for April 2011 start of operations...
btw that captain is probably old generation. They are not too easy with such things. Youngers crews are easier to talk with, is my experience. On several flights I took (in J) I spoke over 30minutes with the captain etc. in the forward galley. We even drank a coffee together and spoke about the business. It fully depends. Maybe he thought you're after his ladies
Regards
Eric
[Edited 2010-08-28 15:17:00]
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
airpearl From Malaysia, joined May 2001, 934 posts, RR: 37 Reply 8, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 12462 times:
Hi Suryo
Wow, what a meticulous and detailed account of your flights! Thanks for the excellent collection so far - they're highly enjoyable. Qatar Airways really does look like a class act. I'm not surprised you've stuck to them again this time round. Certainly even among the better GCC carriers, I think QR tops them in the consistency of its inflight service - from my own experience, I find QR doesn't try to blind you with unnecessary frills and bling, but provides a solid quality experience.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 1): Despite the lighting on the tarmac, I managed to shoot one rather decent picture of A7-BAF out of many blurrier others from behind the bus window. Little I knew that I would be meeting her two weeks later in Bali.
Night shots are never easy. The little Ixus doesn't do too badly. Funny about BAF... she's a machine I'd been on too.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): ne of the perks of flying J is that you have got an individual battery charger which I really needed for the sake of my trip reports.
Hard work this... hehe. And I'm not surprised you needed it!
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): The difference with the daytime comfort bag is the bigger size of the bag where you will find a cotton pyjama top inside.
In these days of cost-cutting, the amenities offered make QR look like a premium-J class today. Impressive.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): Captain Monin had such look in his eyes which was somehow forcing me to ask, “Do you want me to go back?”
“If you do not mind. You are not supposed to be here,” he replied.
A bad day at work for Mr Monin? What a strange and abrupt end to the otherwise nice chin-wag.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): Five minutes later, two cabin attendants walked along each side of the cabin and spraying something. I was wondering what it was all about. I would have expected on Australia bound flights before landing. Could any fellow A.netters know anything about it?
It's disinfectant, standard on intercontinental flights into Malaysia. However, on most airlines, you will have an announcement warning ahead of time that this will happen.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): QR impressed me more during the DOH-KUL service. Friendly and hospitable attendants, great lounge in DOH, on board catering, Oryx in-flight entertainment and sophisticated aircraft brought our whole outward journey to a great finish. The five star experience was well deserved and it showed.
Well summarized. Great to see you enjoyed the QR experience once again.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): Well, we had an appointment with him. l will tell you more about it on my following report.
lychemsa From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 906 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 12357 times:
1. Fantastic report as usual.
2. That Captain seems like a nasty guy.
3. I could never eat humus and baba ganoug for breakfast.
burj From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 856 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 12140 times:
Great trip report!
When I saw the pictures of the menu my first thought was "One of them had better get the Arabic breakfast!" because I was curious what food they would serve! I was very relieved to read that you ordered it and enjoyed the pictures!
As for the pilot, I'm actually not surprised since here in the U.S. they have very strict rules about having passengers in the forward cabin SEATED whenever pilots enter or leave the cockpit. In fact the rule is that one FA must be standing guard with the large cart across the aisle to act as a barrier! Of course this is for the single aisle domestic flights here. Not quite sure how they handle wide body int'l flights.... So that is what I'm used to seeing.
I'm always amazed when I read trip reports where passengers get to mingle/talk with pilots...
I look forward to hearing about your time with Airpearl!
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6211 posts, RR: 79 Reply 11, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 12009 times:
Hi Suryo,
another excellent piece of work, I could get used to that flow of reports! The catering looks very good - and I like the mood lighting during boarding.
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): Captain Monin had such look in his eyes which was somehow forcing me to ask, “Do you want me to go back?”
“If you do not mind. You are not supposed to be here,” he replied.
That's odd. Probably he didn't like a crew member being involved in a longer (personal) conversation with a passenger.
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6112 posts, RR: 56 Reply 12, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 11966 times:
Suryo! Another amazing report with fantastic pictures! Service sem great,preentation of meals fantastic but the main course again seems very small.
The captain seems very rude;he could have said that in a different way.
Looking forward very much to your continued adventures in Asia!
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
rogerbcn From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1140 posts, RR: 19 Reply 14, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 11347 times:
Hola Suryo!
Well, well..... I am speechless.
I think you said at the begining of your asian adventures that you tried to upgrade to first, well I think you can save the miles for another J trip, I do not know what type of service would you get in First....
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): I was about to pour the champagne, when a lounge attendant approached me and insistently said, “Please, let me take care of that for you,”
From a European point of view that sounds just unheard of.
Obviously, nothing can be perfect in this life and the 'conversation' with the captain brought you back to reality; but you wait until you get onto an American company and try to access the toilet, as I did once on NW AMS-SEA, while he was getting out of the cockpit; he ordered me 'Stand behind the line!'... Gloooops... Yes Sir! No problem. Since then, I avoid visiting the toilet while on American carriers.
Salut!
Roger
"At reise er at leve" H.C. Andersen (Travelling is Living)
Contact Air From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 1154 posts, RR: 14 Reply 16, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 11183 times:
Hello Suryo,
Great third part of your trip report - I liked it a lot. You described the fantastic service experience in a very detailed way - I was sometimes feeling like being on the flight myself.
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): I was wondering whether the mood lighting was on in Y cabin, so I went backwards again. What a difference from my previous visit. The cabin was immersed in blue. So calming.
Looks great, I like it.
I'm looking forward to your further travel experiences.
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): “Who are you?” he asked.
“I am just a passenger sitting on 2A,” I replied.
Captain Monin had such look in his eyes which was somehow forcing me to ask, “Do you want me to go back?”
“If you do not mind. You are not supposed to be here,” he replied.
“OK, I am gone,”
I kept thinking, ‘Am I doing anything wrong? I just wanted to socialize a bit,’
That's a little, don't you think?
Thanks a lot for sharing! Will you post any TRs on the regional flights?
Cheers,
Roni
A Stop Away From One-Stop, Is Non-Stop : Airbus A340-500
Carfield From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1733 posts, RR: 9 Reply 18, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 10946 times:
Thanks for a fascinating report so far!
In the US, the pilot and/or the first officer will first ring the flight attendants before being discharged in the lavatory. One F/A will join the other pilot in the cockpit, while the other is doing his or her business in the lavatory or grabbing a drink. So the confrontation will never happen. Nevertheless, the pilot was indeed very rude and that warrants a letter to QR or a comment on the survey. Yes the pilot is the commander of the plane, but that does not warrant rudeness. The pilot should have used a completely different tone in conveying the message, and I sort of wondered if the F/As would get a yelling from the captain after the poster went back to his seat. The passenger was obviously welcomed in the galley, and not considered a threat.
Qatar is a really good airline and I hope it can keep it up, unlike Emirates, which is suffering a major consistency issue and suffers declining service standard in all classes of service, especially in first and business class. Of course QR has a more "reasonable" expansion plan but I like QR crew too. The amenities look very nice, and offering PJ in business class is still a nice gesture.
tk747 From Australia, joined Sep 2009, 339 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 10931 times:
Great TR Suryo, it exceeding my very high expectations for this report haha well done!
For the first time I really want to fly Qatar Airways! This report is a perfect advertisement for them. The food looks very well presented and the Arabic breakfast is making me very hungry. That was very rude of the Captain though!
ojas From India, joined Mar 2008, 2794 posts, RR: 22 Reply 20, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 10922 times:
Hi Akhmad,
Excellent successive TRs!
Quoting akhmad (Reply 1): On the same floor level, there is a small Duty Free area after the security. The prices are moderate, especially regarding spirits and tobaccos.
Many O-D passengers flying J on QR prefer to go through the regular terminal just because the duty free variety is extensive there. Plus there is the OryX gold and silver lounges there as well, so that passengers can relax after immigration.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): “Can I have the last one?” I asked.
“Certainly,”
Laban! Yummy! .... that's the staple refreshment drink of the Gulf.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): One of the perks of flying J is that you have got an individual battery charger which I really needed for the sake of my trip reports
I really needed one when I flew the A340-600.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): “Yes, please. I would like to have the energizer and Arabic breakfast,”
My favorite as well.
Interestingly DOH - KUL is done a lot by the B777 fleet as well, I guess you folks got the A330 ... which will soon fly onwards from KUL to HKT!
Thanks for sharing
A lion does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep
ba319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8275 posts, RR: 56 Reply 21, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 10804 times:
Hi Suryo,
Nice report and pictures as usual, thanks for sharing your QR experience.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): Yenny returned to individually hand out the nighttime amenity kits. Nice touch on the contrary to our previous experience on the MUC-DOH leg! This amenity kit has similar content as the daytime one. One difference is the black colored bag.
- These are better bags than we got earlier in the year, they were pretty naff.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 2): The noodles were wrapped in a crispy egg net. The sensation of well flavored soft noodles and cracking undertone of egg net was really fantastic.
- Looks a tad on the small side to me.
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): Yenny returned to the galley and three of us got chit-chatted a bit until Captain Monin appeared.
“Hello,” he said.
“Are you the captain?” I asked while shaking his hand.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I am just a passenger sitting on 2A,” I replied.
Captain Monin had such look in his eyes which was somehow forcing me to ask, “Do you want me to go back?”
“If you do not mind. You are not supposed to be here,” he replied.
“OK, I am gone,”
I kept thinking, ‘Am I doing anything wrong? I just wanted to socialize a bit,’
- Hmm, sounds like the Captain is a bit of a grumpy sort.
vandenheuvel From Netherlands, joined Dec 2008, 469 posts, RR: 2 Reply 22, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 10660 times:
Hi Suryo,
A great continuation of your trip to Indonesia. I can now finally say I am awaiting your following part too. The Qatar service appears very comfortable and extensive.
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6211 posts, RR: 79 Reply 23, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 10581 times:
Quoting rogerbcn (Reply 14): Obviously, nothing can be perfect in this life and the 'conversation' with the captain brought you back to reality; but you wait until you get onto an American company and try to access the toilet, as I did once on NW AMS-SEA, while he was getting out of the cockpit; he ordered me 'Stand behind the line!'... Gloooops... Yes Sir! No problem. Since then, I avoid visiting the toilet while on American carriers.
I think it's not justified to generalize about US companies here. I have flown on numerous American carriers and never had any trouble with pilots. Even after 9/11 I have often been warmly welcomed to the flightdeck after landing.
You didn't meet a particularly nice individual on that particular AMS-SEA flight, but the captain on Suryo's QR flight wasn't a nice guy either. That can happen everywhere.
rogerbcn From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1140 posts, RR: 19 Reply 24, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 10383 times:
Hola PH!
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 23): I think it's not justified to generalize about US companies here
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 23): You didn't meet a particularly nice individual on that particular AMS-SEA flight
I was not generalizing, I just stated that some pilots are not particularly friendly. Suryo's one was another example...
Anyway next time I get diapers before flying American carriers....
Salut!
Roger
"At reise er at leve" H.C. Andersen (Travelling is Living)
25 PlaneHunter: Ok, but don't forget to get rid of them before walking through the body scanner in the US... PH
26 akhmad: Dear fellows, Many thanks for your replies. I truly appreciate it. @ rcaq: Thank you. Glad you like it. Great! Where are you going? I did not experien
27 vandenheuvel: Financially seen it's definitely not!
28 DunaA320: I couldn't see it in your photos. It's brown in colour (the shower gel is anyway) I think its a fairly new as I got samples a few months ago when I w
29 akhmad: You are right, Matt. I have checked them once again and none of them has been branded The Black Pepper. I can share you more details about the Molton
30 FLIEGER67: Hey, Suryo, once again, really well done. Superb service by QR beside the pilot´s behaviour. KUL looks like really nice, myybe something for me to do
31 FlyingFinn76: Hi Suryo, A great continuation of your story - this flight sounded like a better experience than the previous one, well done QR. Those pictures of KUL
32 akhmad: @ Markus: Thank you. Glad you liked it. I know. It could have been such a perfect flight. Why not? I would love to see your side of the story about KU
33 CrimsonNL: Hi Suryo! I somehow overlooked this report earlier, thats why my reply is a little late. Anyhow, great job as usual. I love the mood lighting! Kind of
34 akhmad: Hi Martijn, Never mind. Thanks for dropping by. Too bad, isn't it? Well to be honest, I have still got more flights to cover before the last part. Che
35 airpearl: Hahaha... yes that would be appropriate. What's amazing is we flew them in the same year but on 3 different routes. It's turning out to be quite the
36 infodesk: Hi Suryo, Another excellent installment with such attention to detail. QR impresses once again. The lounge at DOH looks great and i'm impressed by the
37 NZ107: Hi Suryo, These reports of QR are just adding to the many options already prevalent for any future trip to Europe! Another great TR. The lounge offeri
38 flightsimboy: Thanks for this great report. Looks like QR is getting very popular with A.netters Okay so that started in Holland lol. I was wondering why such a gap
39 akhmad: Hi fellows, Thanks for all your comments. @ Airpearl: Still waiting for yours though! @ Hannah: Thank you for your kind words. Agreed. Just like the Z
40 caleb1: Great report! The captain however, sounds like a real jerk. I hope he did not do anything to get the flight attendants in trouble. They seemed to be v
41 akhmad: Hi caleb1, Thank you for dropping by. Glad you liked my report. I hope the very same. It was too bad Captain Monin spoilt the friendly and relaxed atm
42 Quokka: Hi Akhmad, Great trip report: well written and I like the photos. The ones of the meals that you were served had my mouth watering, ha ha. It is good
43 akhmad: Hi Roy, Thank you for dropping by. Glad you liked it. You mean the Arabic breakfast one? I assume you have made a similar choice on your Emirates flig
44 IberiaA319: An amazing trip report with great pictures!! Thanks a lot for sharing!! Next Sunday, on September 26th, I will take, once again, the Qatar Airways fro
45 akhmad: Hi Eric, Thank you for dropping by. Glad you liked my report. Great to know you will be flying Qatar again tomorrow. I hope you can share us your expe
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