Great report, as usual, Patrick. Qatar’s bait-and-switch between the QSuite and these seriously deficient, worn out 1990s style Business seat is outrageous. It’s like booking in at the Ritz Carlton and ending up at the Days Inn.
The bait and switch thing would’ve infuriated me especially after all that planning and anticipation. I like how you include the entire take off and landing rolls and views from the windows. Most reviewers cut those in favor of the sound of their own voice. Half the fun of flying is the window views which many seem to forget. So I hope you always keep that in. 🙌🙌🙌
My worst equipment swap AMS-SFO. BA took us out of A380 First/Concorde room and put us in United coach - middle of the middle for 12h. Still working on the compensation 3Mo after the flight. Blessings!
“Lipstick on a pig!”. Ha, love it. I admire the way you handled this downgrade - great stoicism. I flew this BC product from Phuket to Doha. That was fine in 2017 but is unacceptable in 2024. still, it could have been worst and you could have been in Emirates shocking 2-3-2 configuration .
When I first saw your IG post promoting this content, I scratched my head in disbelief upon scrolling to the picture of that 2-2-2 business class. I'm really rooting for you to get the updated QSuites, but, in typical Qatar Airways fashion, you were left somehow disappointed. If I can remember, it was Nonstop Dan who compelled the airline's management to implement an airline-wide decree where those who booked for QSuites but got a last-minute equipment swap to a worse plane can change FOR FREE. Nonetheless, I'm grateful that you were still able to show us the experience of THAT particular business class product, despite having a feeling of disappointment. Not to mention, you even hopped on a rare white QR livery. Speaking of your remark at the end of the video, I haven't experienced any equipment swap on all my flights, and I hope I won't have to deal with one. Back in my first trip to Japan, I was hyping myself by watching the cabin preview of Philippine Airlines' A321neo, but I ended up flying their older, LCC-style, classic A321 en route to Narita and back. I just hope that PAL's refurbishment of all their classic A321s would be as quick as possible, since their new planes might have delayed deliveries in the coming years.
Definitely a bummer to be switched. I was glad to have to option to change my flight, although it was a bit too last minute for me on this one, so I guess I’ll have to see if I can make it work out someday
We had an ATC strike in Australia in the late 1980s. My mother's downgrade was from a 737 to an RAAF C-130 with bench seats. Free ear plugs though and box lunch of sandwiches.
Very frustrating to lose out on Q-suites and finish up in a very old, poor business class seat - especially on a 15 hour flight. Everything else looked great. I know aircraft changes do happen for "operational reasons" as they put it - but they should at least offer some sort of compensation. Very good and informative video.
My grandparents recently flew Qatar from Miami to Bangkok via DOH and they liked it a lot the worst part is that I could've gone but couldn't because I couldn't miss 2 weeks of school without serious consequences. My worst equipment swap would've probably been Spirit swapping my A320neo to a standard A320 like a year ago and I initially was upset about American Airlines swapping my 777-300ER to a 200ER but I soon realized it wasn't a bad thing at all since I was flying economy (which the seats are the exact same) and my seat on the 772 was in better shape than mine in the 77W lol.
My worst equipment swap was from Munich-San Francisco on United “Polaris” in 2021 of course when I looked at the seat map a couple of days before it was the new Polaris seat. When I get onboard it was the old 2-2-2. Still a good experience but definitely made me mad.
Great video! My flight from Manila to Doha changed equipment twice but I ended up in a q-suite! Just curious, what kind of passengers are flying São Paulo/Doha? Are they mostly those connecting to Japan/China?
earlier this year I was booked on an a330neo on VS upper class from BOS to LHR, but got equipment swapped to their only a330-300 with the weird direct eye contact seats. at least that was a 1-1-1 situation, the 2-2-2- sounds absolutely miserable
The problem with Qatar Business, is that their hard-product is too inconsistent. There are 5 different seat-configurations. 1:- The QSuites (773s, A351000s). 2:- The usual reverse-herringbone seats (A380s, 788s, A358). 3:- The Suites seats (789s). 4:- These old 2x2x2 seats (773s, A330s). 5:- The ex -Cathay 773's ,with their own different Biz-class seats. You may get an aircraft swap without much notice!! Thus the product you thought you bought, isn't the product you got. Happened to me a few times😣
The weird, lamp-in-the-head teddy bear is just creepy. It is a great place to meet & take selfies but I still don’t get it. It’s as creepy as the giant blue horse with red eyes at Denver International Airport. I chuckle. P.S. last minute fleet changes happen all of the time.
I live near Dubai, and I refuse to pay EKs prices (and I used to work for them), won't be ripped off, so if I go to Europe, the USA or Asia for example, I fly Oman Air or Qatar, cheaper and better and so what if it's an extra 2 hours.
@@PatrickSheaAviation I did the shortest one a few years ago. Istanbul to Cairo. Istanbul is in Europe, you fly over Mainland Turkey in Asia to Cairo in Africa
well, that is always the risk you face when an airline does not offer a consistent business class product. Qatar Airways has so many different business class products, the QSuite, the Business Suite in the new Dreamliner, the Super Diamond reverse herringbone , the 2-2-2 Diamond seat, the old minipods you got, the reverse herringbone Cathay Pacific seats and a recliner for short haul. But even the old seats you got are much better than the narrow 2-3-2 sliders in Emirates 777 that make up for 50 % of their fleet. By the way , those old minipods are 180 degree flat, even if you felt a slight angle that is just because the seats are worn out, which is a well known problem of those old minipods. Some airlines fixed that with ottomans for the feet to relieve the seats. 🙂
Been Qatar’d three out of eight flights so no more love for this airline. BTW the QR/EK tiny nation international hub model is not new nor originated by the Middle Eastern/Gulf. It was actually pioneered by KLM/Schipol and in the 60/70s by CX and SQ all three based in countries with no domestic flights nor large population base. This is how these airlines could compete (and excel) with the older major ex-colonial airlines: BA, AF and LH.
Great report, as usual, Patrick.
Qatar’s bait-and-switch between the QSuite and these seriously deficient, worn out 1990s style Business seat is outrageous. It’s like booking in at the Ritz Carlton and ending up at the Days Inn.
The bait and switch thing would’ve infuriated me especially after all that planning and anticipation. I like how you include the entire take off and landing rolls and views from the windows. Most reviewers cut those in favor of the sound of their own voice. Half the fun of flying is the window views which many seem to forget. So I hope you always keep that in. 🙌🙌🙌
BY FAR the best travel vlogger on UA-cam.
Kudos to the passenger who kept their window shade open 😎
Thank you Patrick, great vlog as always.
My worst equipment swap AMS-SFO. BA took us out of A380 First/Concorde room and put us in United coach - middle of the middle for 12h. Still working on the compensation 3Mo after the flight. Blessings!
My heart goes out to you - that’s a triple downgrade. seriously, BA is just the worst😢
“Lipstick on a pig!”. Ha, love it. I admire the way you handled this downgrade - great stoicism. I flew this BC product from Phuket to Doha. That was fine in 2017 but is unacceptable in 2024. still, it could have been worst and you could have been in Emirates shocking 2-3-2 configuration
.
Their menu, their in-flight meals are amazing. Another wonderful vid from you ✈️🌏🎥
Thanks man! Definitely a god tier soft product
When I first saw your IG post promoting this content, I scratched my head in disbelief upon scrolling to the picture of that 2-2-2 business class. I'm really rooting for you to get the updated QSuites, but, in typical Qatar Airways fashion, you were left somehow disappointed. If I can remember, it was Nonstop Dan who compelled the airline's management to implement an airline-wide decree where those who booked for QSuites but got a last-minute equipment swap to a worse plane can change FOR FREE. Nonetheless, I'm grateful that you were still able to show us the experience of THAT particular business class product, despite having a feeling of disappointment. Not to mention, you even hopped on a rare white QR livery.
Speaking of your remark at the end of the video, I haven't experienced any equipment swap on all my flights, and I hope I won't have to deal with one. Back in my first trip to Japan, I was hyping myself by watching the cabin preview of Philippine Airlines' A321neo, but I ended up flying their older, LCC-style, classic A321 en route to Narita and back. I just hope that PAL's refurbishment of all their classic A321s would be as quick as possible, since their new planes might have delayed deliveries in the coming years.
Definitely a bummer to be switched. I was glad to have to option to change my flight, although it was a bit too last minute for me on this one, so I guess I’ll have to see if I can make it work out someday
Same thing happened to me a year ago from DOH to PHL. People were pissed.
We had an ATC strike in Australia in the late 1980s. My mother's downgrade was from a 737 to an RAAF C-130 with bench seats. Free ear plugs though and box lunch of sandwiches.
Very frustrating to lose out on Q-suites and finish up in a very old, poor business class seat - especially on a 15 hour flight. Everything else looked great. I know aircraft changes do happen for "operational reasons" as they put it - but they should at least offer some sort of compensation. Very good and informative video.
Great Trip Report And Info
Thanks!
My grandparents recently flew Qatar from Miami to Bangkok via DOH and they liked it a lot the worst part is that I could've gone but couldn't because I couldn't miss 2 weeks of school without serious consequences.
My worst equipment swap would've probably been Spirit swapping my A320neo to a standard A320 like a year ago and I initially was upset about American Airlines swapping my 777-300ER to a 200ER but I soon realized it wasn't a bad thing at all since I was flying economy (which the seats are the exact same) and my seat on the 772 was in better shape than mine in the 77W lol.
My worst equipment swap was from Munich-San Francisco on United “Polaris” in 2021 of course when I looked at the seat map a couple of days before it was the new Polaris seat. When I get onboard it was the old 2-2-2. Still a good experience but definitely made me mad.
Great video! My flight from Manila to Doha changed equipment twice but I ended up in a q-suite! Just curious, what kind of passengers are flying São Paulo/Doha? Are they mostly those connecting to Japan/China?
earlier this year I was booked on an a330neo on VS upper class from BOS to LHR, but got equipment swapped to their only a330-300 with the weird direct eye contact seats. at least that was a 1-1-1 situation, the 2-2-2- sounds absolutely miserable
The problem with Qatar Business, is that their hard-product is too inconsistent. There are 5 different seat-configurations. 1:- The QSuites (773s, A351000s). 2:- The usual reverse-herringbone seats (A380s, 788s, A358). 3:- The Suites seats (789s). 4:- These old 2x2x2 seats (773s, A330s). 5:- The ex -Cathay 773's ,with their own different Biz-class seats.
You may get an aircraft swap without much notice!! Thus the product you thought you bought, isn't the product you got. Happened to me a few times😣
Good point. Similar to how I feel about Delta One and their many products as well. At least Delta does far less equipment swaps
You mentioned lots of cities, but Qatar also flies to Atlanta. I was kind of surprised about that.
They do a great job at reaching major hubs of all airlines… except for Latin America
The weird, lamp-in-the-head teddy bear is just creepy. It is a great place to meet & take selfies but I still don’t get it. It’s as creepy as the giant blue horse with red eyes at Denver International Airport. I chuckle. P.S. last minute fleet changes happen all of the time.
Try Etihad A350-1000 please
This route also popular between Arab diaspora in Brazil
More than 20 million Arab Brazilian in brazil
Nice trip review on how Qatar connects Brazil and South America with Asia. Too bad about the equipment change.
Uhh you should probably rename the chapter.... Currently it says 'Hamas Airport'
🤣🤣🤣🤣
How so
Sheesh man… good catch…
it is 🙂
Well technically it is…
The good news is that it will be A350-1000 one flight out of 2; starting this 27 October;
I live near Dubai, and I refuse to pay EKs prices (and I used to work for them), won't be ripped off, so if I go to Europe, the USA or Asia for example, I fly Oman Air or Qatar, cheaper and better and so what if it's an extra 2 hours.
You did a tri continental flight. Asia, over Africa to South America 😊
Ha, yes! What a way to see the world….
@@PatrickSheaAviation I did the shortest one a few years ago. Istanbul to Cairo. Istanbul is in Europe, you fly over Mainland Turkey in Asia to Cairo in Africa
Had the same unpleasant surprise flying GRU-DOH last year. Well, I guess everyone will get Qatar'ed eventually if you fly enough.
well, that is always the risk you face when an airline does not offer a consistent business class product. Qatar Airways has so many different business class products, the QSuite, the Business Suite in the new Dreamliner, the Super Diamond reverse herringbone , the 2-2-2 Diamond seat, the old minipods you got, the reverse herringbone Cathay Pacific seats and a recliner for short haul. But even the old seats you got are much better than the narrow 2-3-2 sliders in Emirates 777 that make up for 50 % of their fleet. By the way , those old minipods are 180 degree flat, even if you felt a slight angle that is just because the seats are worn out, which is a well known problem of those old minipods. Some airlines fixed that with ottomans for the feet to relieve the seats. 🙂
Qatared. Sorry about that. Great video as always. 👍🏻
Thanks man
People rave about Hamad airport but it’s pretty awful for economy passengers in transit
Seems like you've been flying a fair bit in and out of Sao Paulo? Is it due to better award seat availability?
Cheap Qatar fares from Cairo in Business class for $1000 one way.
SP is cheaper typically, plus it has a ton of fun flights to take in and out
Been Qatar’d three out of eight flights so no more love for this airline. BTW the QR/EK tiny nation international hub model is not new nor originated by the Middle Eastern/Gulf. It was actually pioneered by KLM/Schipol and in the 60/70s by CX and SQ all three based in countries with no domestic flights nor large population base. This is how these airlines could compete (and excel) with the older major ex-colonial airlines: BA, AF and LH.
Thank You Patrick Could You Fly From Los Angeles To Doha On QR740
Probably San Francisco if anything… but I guess we will see 🤷♂️
i'm still angry at Qatar after what happened to Josh Cahill
I would of been so disappointed and annoyed you pay a lot of money to travel thei latest product and end up with a old worn out seat on a tatty 777
It is wrong because it is from Qatar.
First!!! do I deserve to be pinned?