Review of Qatar Airways flight Doha → Sydney in Economy

Qatar Airways QR908 Doha to Sydney

Flight Details:
Airlines: Qatar Airways
Flight: QR908 DOH - SYD
Reg: A7-APF
Aircraft: Airbus A380-861
Class: Economy
Seat No: 66A
Departure Doha Hamad International Airport: 8:00PM
Arrival Sydney Airport Terminal 1: 5:10PM [Actual: 4.31PM]
Flight time: 13 hours 04 mins
Distance: 12804 kilometers or 7815 miles

VIDEO: Qatar Airways QR908 Doha to Sydney

Introduction

This report is from April 2023. I had 1 hour transit in Doha and had arrived from Mumbai. Read trip report - IndiGo 6E1305 Mumbai to Doha

Pre-Departure

I had selected the seat at the time of booking.

I checked Doha weather before departure. Weather was fair.

Qatar Airways London returning aircraft usually operated the Sydney flight, read report - Qatar Airways QR909 Sydney to Doha

I tracked the flight to Sydney. Qatar Airways A7-APF would be operating to Sydney.

Transit

I had a short transit of 1hour in Doha due to change in Daylight saving time in NSW. The Indigo Airlines arrival time was 6.45pm. As the aircraft was late by half hour. Incoming aircraft had docket at Concourse B and departing aircraft gate was in Concourse C.

I had to rush after disembarking from the flight.

Being worried that I would miss the flight. I walked quickly and reached the security by 7.25 pm.

Video: FLIGHT TRANSFER AT DOHA Airport

Security Check

Transfer security check is opposite to the transfer desk. I put my things in the bag to reduce the checking time. Bag was passed through x-ray and I was cleared. I checked the flight information board to confirm the gate. Then took escalator down to enter the departure area.

Departure Area

I had checked that the boarding gate would be C12 upon disembarkation and also on the information screen. I walked briskly knowing it would be a good 10-15 minute walk. I had explored the terminal on my previous trip.

As I was walking towards the Concourse C, I thinking of my options, one was taking the mid-field train. Decided against the idea as it would have meant waiting for the train and also I had to walk back. Which would have meant additional time to reach gate.

Video: A walking tour of Doha Hamad International Airport

Boarding

As I was walking towards the Concourse C gates, I was met by ground crew looking for Sydney bound passengers. I informed her that I was travelling to Sydney. She reported to boarding gate on the walkie talkie. I was the last connecting passenger to board and they were looking for me.

I had to run on the travelator with bag on the back to keep up with her.

Reached boarding gate - 10 minutes before departure. Ground crew took my passport and boarding pass to the counter. While I passed security and had bag x-ray at gate.

As I reached the counter, heard the ground crew say to the other staff should we print Qatar Airways boarding pass for the passenger. Other staff said no. He had informed the crew that I was connecting from Indigo.

Boarding pass details entered in the system, I was allowed to continue on the flight.

Onboard

As all passengers had already boarded. When I reached the seat, co-passengers were already seated in the aisle and middle seat. There was couple from Ireland.

My seat had blanket and headphone, the lady was seated in the middle and man on the aisle seat. She took the headphone from my seat and said it was for her. I was tired to bother about a headphone, I said ok.

Later she found hers and returned mine.

Seat 66A

Door was closed on time at 8pm.

Indigo boarding pass did not have gate details

Captain made announcements providing details and flight was ready for pushback

Qatar Airways prayers before flight

Safety demonstration was conducted on personal screen.

Pushback and TAxi

Pushback commenced on time. Aircraft was parked in pier C

Flight information

Aircraft parked on the C pier

While aircraft was pushed back, crew conducted safety check in the cabin.

Aircraft taxied slowly.

DOH And DIA in one frame

Taxi passed an American Airlines B777 and Qatar Airways aircraft.

Long taxi, Cabin lights were turned off for departure.

Ready for departure

Rolling on runway 34R, departure towards North.

After takeoff aircraft turned South.

Flight information

Flying over the sea.

Cabin lighting was changed

Flying towards Abu dhabi

Flight information

Drinks Service

Drinks service commenced an hour after departure as the aircraft flew over the Arabian sea.

Drinks and snack

Flying over the Arabian sea

Crew distributed sea salt rice crackers

 I selected gin and tonic for the drink

Lower Deck Cabin View

After drinks, I walked back to use toilet. Toilet was clean.

View of Economy cabin.

Economy class 3-4-3 seating

WIFI

I switched on WI-fi to check the menu.

Wi-fi information

Dinner

I checked the economy menu on the website as dinner trolley appeared in the aisle

Dinner

Dessert

Meal service started 1 and half hour after departure

Dinner presentation

 I chose the chicken option

Unwrapped view of dinner, I had whisky for drink.

Dinner - Kung Pao chicken with wakame rice and garlic bok choy, infused bread, Dessert - espresso coffee mousse

Rest time

After dinner, window shades pulled down for resting

4 hours after departure, crew distributed crisps

Late night snack with water

Sea salted English crisps with apple juice and water

Sea salted English crisps

After the snack, I was sleepy. Cabin lights were switched off.

but wasn't able to sleep well and woke a few times in between.

Flying over Indian Ocean

Finally I fell asleep and woke after few hours, checked outside the window.

Light Snack

Light meal service started 7 hours after departure or 3 hours after previous snack.

Light Snack

Chicken harissa pastry

I had it with tea

Opened the box to check the pastry and mixed the ingredients to make tea.

Flying Over Australia

Slept for some more time and woke up and checked the map. Aircraft was flying towards Western Australian coastline.

Flight information

Flying over Western Australia

Cabin view as light switched to day light mode.  I slept again for sometime.

Brunch

Brunch started 2 hours before arrival

Beverage

Juices and teas

Brunch service was started 11 hours after departure or 2 hours before arrival.

Flight information

Brunch packaging

Brunch - Herb frittata with grilled chicken sausage, infused bread, fruit yogurt and seasoned fresh fruit

During the brunch service, hot tea cup dropped on my co-passengers pant. Crew apologised and handed him towels to wipe it from pant. Manager came and handed him an incident form and also some ointments to any burns. I didn't see who's mistake it was but I think the guy didn't support the cup when it was handed. He was grumpy from the beginning.  

Brunch service was completed before arrival.

I ate everything except the yogurt as I had drunk tea. Tray was ready for collection

Closer to Destination

Time passed and aircraft was cruising over Western NSW.

Aircraft turned South over regional NSW.

Captain announced descend would be commencing shortly.

Crew conducted safety checks.

Cabin view

Cloudy below but I had been a smooth flight. Crew played the Quarantine video and then handed the Australian incoming passenger card.

Incoming passenger card

I had kept pen with me to fill the details. I explained to my co-passenger how to fill the form as they did not know the origin country name.
I found out from the lady that they were from Dublin, visiting  their daughter in Australia.

Aircraft an hour from Sydney

As it turned South, I was thinking it would be landing on runway 34L

Turning towards North

I was looking at the flight map and noticed the aircraft was flying towards Pacific Ocean

As it flew past Sydney and over the Ocean, Knew there must be wind change and aircraft would be landing from East.

Turning North West over the Pacific Ocean. The East - West runway 25-7 is rarely used.

It is during winter months when the wind direction change that aircraft's land from East and take off towards the West. Landing from West and take off towards the East is very rare. Most of the time, the North and South runways are used. Long hauls usually take off in North or South direction, even when landing is from East or West.

Time for landing

Sydney Airport has 3 runways, 2 parallel North - South and 1 East -West. Approaching from East to land on Runway 25

Flying over the eastern suburbs. Camera view of East - West runway 25-7

Aircraft landed smoothly on runway 25 and had a short rolling taxi to the terminal as the runway is next to the International terminal.

Arriving at gate

Flight and Weather Information

Switched on my mobile and checked the weather and messages.

Arrival Information

Aircraft had landed 40 minutes early.

Arrival time for this flight is 5.10pm

Aircraft rotation

Disembarkation

Window view as the aircraft arrived at gate.

Waited for seat belt sign to switch off. I disembarked when the row ahead was clear.

Disembarking the aircraft

Qatar Airway A7-APF docked at gate.

Head on view

Immigration

I walked quickly to immigration, knowing its a full A380. Completed the immigration passenger declaration information in the self check kiosk. Got my ticket and walked towards the smart gate which is available to Australia and New Zealand citizens. There was a long queue for other nationalities. I was 3 in queue and was out of immigration in 5 minutes.

Baggage Claim and Quarantine

I reached baggage claim and watched as bags were hitting the belt.

This is where it stuck me. How would my bag be loaded on this flight, when I had to run and just made it. I wondered if i had strolled to gate, I would have flown next day with my bag, :D.

I also remembered the Air India flight from Delhi. Passengers were not allowed to board as we had arrived 15 mins before departure. Ground staff had said that cannot go for security and immigration clearance as the baggage cannot be transferred and captain didn't want to delay the flight.

Read trip report: Air India VT-PPV AI866 BOM-DEL

Soon I heard my name on the speaker to report to baggage counter. By then I knew what had happened.  When I reached the counter, I was informed that Qatar Airways had faxed about my bag. It was not loaded on the flight due to late incoming flight.

My passport and boarding pass was photocopied. I was asked if I know the brand, shape and colour of the bag. I wasn't able to remember the brand but told him that there is baggage tag.

I had to sign the form and got a report with tracking number. I was informed he would contact me when bag arrives. 

I was at the counter next to the quarantine exit. The lady officer asked if my name was announced on the speaker. I said yes. She took my incoming passenger card and was cleared to exited the quarantine check.

Exiting Airport

As I didn't have luggage, I walked towards the train station. Scanned the Opal card. A train had arrived at the platform, I boarded the train.

I realised I was on the  wrong train, which was going in the opposite direction. I disembarked at the next station to change train for Central. Being tired, I slept through the journey to wake up at the my home station.

I knew Qatar Airways operates daily to Sydney. I was expecting bag to be delivered next day. I got a message from handling company at 7p.m, bag had arrived. I received the bag at 9pm next day.

Hope you enjoyed the trip. Thanks for reading.

End of trip

:)