Review of Qatar Airways flight Melbourne Doha in Economy

Airline Qatar Airways
Flight QR905
Class Economy
Seat 26K
Aircraft Airbus A380-800
Flight time 14:10
Take-off 14 Aug 18, 21:35
Arrival at 15 Aug 18, 04:45
QR   #10 out of 94 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 621 reviews
ISTFlyer
By SILVER 5115
Published on 31st August 2018

This trip would include these flights

PC 2672 Istanbul-SAW to Ankara ( Economy ) Airbus A320neo, Codeshare: AZ 6089 ( click here )
[ Bonus: ibis Hotel Ankara Airport - Review ]

QR 314 Ankara to Doha ( Economy ) Airbus A321-200 ( click here )

QR 904 Doha to Melbourne ( Economy ) Airbus A380-800, Codeshare: BA 6374, IB 978, S7 4735 ( click here )

QR 905 Melbourne to Doha ( Economy ) Airbus A380-800, Codeshare: BA 6375, IB 979, S7 4736 ( you are here )
[ Bonus: Free Doha Stopover Hotel Review: Safir Hotel ]


QR 257 Doha to Ankara ( Economy ) Airbus A320-200 ( click here )



Route Overview ( MEL-DOH )

Bonus : Click here display


Pax for this flight

First Class: No first passengers on board
Business Class: %85-90
Economy Class: %85-90



ONLINE CHECK-IN



Online check-in wasn't available 48 hours before departure and an error code appeared both from the website and the mobile app.

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But an upgrade offer was shown at the manage my booking section.

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I have re-attempted one hour later and this time the system told me that I couldn't check-in online at that moment because there was more than 48 hours for my connecting flight to depart.

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The next day online check-in worked.

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I haven't changed my pre-booked seats.

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The night before my flight an upgrade offer for the DOH-ESB was offered.

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Tracking the outbound flight

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A7-API, one of the newest additions to the fleet. I would fly this bird for the second time.

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Luckily, I didn't experience a traffic jam as there is construction on the Airport freeway.

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MELBOURNE TULLAMARINE AIRPORT - MEL



I had arrived to Terminal 2 at 20:00 which means that I had 1 hours 35 minutes until the flight takes-off.

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FIDS

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Most of the check-in desks were closed 1h30min before departure as most of the passengers had completed their check-in. There were 2 Priority check-in desks open and 1 Economy at that time. As I was a Oneworld Ruby member at that time, I used the Business Class check-in which I had only waited for 2 minutes.

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Security & Passport Control:

Priority Is not offered for OWR so I headed Into the regular line which took me 20 minutes to complete security because they were too slow, but the passport check dured less than 5 minutes.

Due to the time I had just headed to the gate.

Boarding Pass:

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GATE AREA & BOARDING



Gate 9 was our gate for the day and the aircraft was visible at that time.

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Captain Andrés preparing for the flight.

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Another view of the aircraft

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There was three different areas to sit at the gate. One for families for children, one for groups 1&2 and one for groups 3&4&5. Business Class passengers boarded the aircraft from the lounge level.


Boarding for Groups 1&2 started at the same time with OWR, OWS and OWE passengers which was 50 minutes before departure. Just a quick information that QR accepts OWR passengers to use a priority boarding lane as some other OW carriers don't.


The aircraft from the gate.

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QR 905 MELBOURNE to DOHA



I have boarded the aircraft from door 2L, and used the staircase to reach my seat.
Welcome on board.

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Seat:

The seat was slightly different from my previous QR 904 flight but it had the same comfortability. The legroom was quite good for an Economy Class seat.

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The scheme of the seat was different from A7-APD or A7-APE which I experienced on my previous flights with QR. There is no remote control on this type of seat but the power supply is over the tray table instead of under the seat. Also, it's possible to notice that the tray tables are different.

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In addition, the PTV's are bigger than the other A380 seats.

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The seat pocket contained a personal amenity kit and headsets.

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Before Takeoff:

Our route today

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An EK A388 ( A6-EOD ) would serve EK 407 tonight to DXB was parked next door.

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Shortly after this EK A388 was push-backed an EY 77W was visible.

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At that time, refreshment towels were distributed.

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Later on another EK aircraft, this time EK 408 from DXB arrived and parked to the gate next to us.

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Then we started our push-back process as the safety video was played.

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A QF 738 taxiing.

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VH-YIV a VA 738 arrived from Nadi.

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Were taxiing to the runway

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A last view of the terminal

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We had just took of

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Route map as we gain altitude.

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Just after the seatbelt signs has been turned off, menus were distributed.

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Dinner would be served after takeoff.

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And, breakfast would served before landing.

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And, the beverage menu

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MAIN MEAL/DINNER - QR 905 MELBOURNE to DOHA



There were three options for the main meal service: chicken, beef and pasta as usual. I went for the mushroom tortellini which was served in a tomato and olive sauce.

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Besides the main meal, the tray contained a salad dish, a chocolate & orange mousse cake, bread, butter, cheese, a small Cadbury chocolate and a small water.

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After the meal, tea/coffee was served as usual.

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Water was provided before the cabin lights were darkened.

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IFE - QR 905 MELBOURNE to DOHA



This aircraft had a larger screen than my previous flight ( QR904 ) but didn't have a remote control so every command that was given was done on the touchscreen. Also at this aircraft, the power supply was underneath the IFE screen instead of under the seat. The entertainment system was the same as the previous flight and contained the same contents. Today I have watched 2 movies as it was a long flight.

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It was interesting that this aircraft also had the July edition of the Oryx magazine. By the way, this report contains a flight which departed on 14 Aug 2018.

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QR route map

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QR Oceania route map

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Technical information about the aircraft

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An article about Qatar - Visa free entry for more than 80 nationalities

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Safety card

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Wi-Fi was available during this flight. 8 MB of free data was being provided to each passenger.

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I don't know why, but my device failed to connect to the system while we were over the Indian Ocean, maybe it was a technical error that occurred at that time and disappeared later during the flight

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MIDFLIGHT SERVICES - QR 905 MELBOURNE to DOHA



The same movie refreshments as the outbound flight was served as water, orange juice and rubbish collection runs were made during the flight

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Some route information as the first refreshment service was made

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For the midflight light meal, there was a choice between a chicken sandwich and a vegetarian one. I have chosen the chicken sandwich which was served with a small cake.

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The sandwich provided at the DOH-MEL sector was better than this one but this one is also above average considering all my flight experiences.

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Crew:

There were two cabin members serving the upper deck Economy cabin. Both of them were polite and nice to passengers. Every time when the seatbelt sign has been turned on they warned passengers which had unfastened seatbelts at that time and this means that they cared about our safety. In addition, I had a small conversation with one of the crews when I was waiting my turn for the restroom.

BREAKFAST - QR 905 MELBOURNE to DOHA



There were three selections for this breakfast meal. Omelettes, frittatas and pancakes were the options. My first choice was the pancakes with sultanas, cinnamon and apple compote which I've enjoyed.

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The tray contained, the main dish, some fruits, a peach&mango yoghurt, a croissant, butter, strawberry jam and a small water.

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The last tea & coffee before landing

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Flight information at that time

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Before Landing:

Opened my window blind

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A video about HIA and another video about Qatar was shown from the PTV's

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Just before we started our descend

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Descending

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Some information about Qatar which can be found from the IFE. It would be nice to see some of the monuments stated here.

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Rear camera

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Just aprroaching

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The airport is visible

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We had landed to DOH

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Started taxiing

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Doha ATC can be seen

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A7-ALT getting ready for his flight SIN

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This aircraft would serve QR 725, service to Chicago

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A7-BAS is getting prepared for his flight to Manila this morning

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Another QR 77W parked at the C concourse, QR 960 to DPS

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Arrived to gate B1

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By the way, connecting flight information wasn't available at the time we landed.

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DOHA HAMAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT-DOH



Last view of the aircraft from the gate

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I had almost 11 hours for my next flight so I have headed to the hotel desk to arrange something during my stopover. After a 20 minute wait at the queue the representative checked my documents and asked me would I prefer the airport hotel or a hotel in the city. I chose the city hotel option.

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Later on these documents were given to me

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It's time to head to the arrivals level to meet the hotel representative there.
A last view of the Teddy Bear from the transfer area.

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The immigration line wasn't that crowded when I arrived, but it took 45 minutes to reach the arrivals hall which is a long time. A lady with small children argued with an officer because of the long wait-time but the police told him that due to the high departure traffic, most of the booths in the arrival level was closed at that time.

After my handbag was scanned, I met my hotel representative, which told me to sit until we wait some more passengers which would be transferred to the same hotel. After another 30 minute wait for hotel guests a transfer bus arrived and we were in the hotel within 15 minutes.

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BONUS - SAFIR HOTEL DOHA



Bonus : Click here display



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Verdict

Qatar Airways

9.1/10
Cabin9.0
Cabin crew9.5
Entertainment/wifi9.0
Meal/catering9.0

Melbourne - MEL

7.4/10
Efficiency7.0
Access7.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness7.5

Doha - DOH

7.6/10
Efficiency6.0
Access8.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness8.5

Conclusion

MEL
(+) Waiting time for check-in
(-) Security guards were too slow
(-) Gate area was a bit messy
QR905
(+) Excellent food and inflight service
(+) Wide IFE screens ( Better than BA J )
(+) Professional and nice crew
(+) Toilets were kept clean at all times
(-) Onboard wi-fi had some issues
(-) Inflight magazines are not updated
DOH
(+) A free hotel was provided for a 11 hour transfer
(-) Long wait for immigration

The longhaul Y product of Qatar Airways is the best I have seen and I was impressed that they improved their service since I have flown at December. It's nice to see that their menus change in regular intervals and they haven't been reducing costs from passenger services. It is also nice that they provided a free hotel for a 11 hour stopover. Also I would like to note that it's not possible to book a free transfer hotel online unless you would stay for more than a night.

Although, QR was quite good during all 4 of my flights, the hotel wasn't that good and it would be better if they assigned me the Oryx Rotana hotel or if I chose the airport hotel option. The hotel was OK except the problem In the bathroom and the location but I think that it is not fair that some passengers receive a 5 star hotel and some receive a 4 star hotel when they apply for a stopover hotel and I was one of the unlucky ones that day. Some others had a chance to stay near the touristic destinations but I was one of those who was assigned to a hotel surrounded by car repair shops. In the future, I hope to experience Qatar in a better hotel having much more time to explore the country.

Information on the route Melbourne (MEL) Doha (DOH)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 3 avis concernant 1 compagnies sur la ligne Melbourne (MEL) → Doha (DOH).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est Qatar Airways avec 8.3/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 14 heures et 46 minutes.

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