Qatar Airways

[NOF]

Hi all,
I a considering flying out of Birmingham on 7th Dec 2016 business class @ 07:50

The issue: I am coming from Ireland so would need to fly in the day before. So I would arrive in at 22:35 on the 6th

1) Is there a Qatar business lounge?
2) How long can I hang around in there before the flight?

I tried to ring Qatar from IRL (to their UK office) but can't connect!

 

[Ray Finkle]

The only dedicated lounge Qatar have is at LHR.

I believe that Qatar use the No1 Traveller Lounge at Birmingham, their website suggests that they're open three hours before the flight.

There are a couple of budget hotels on site, if you could get something cheap enough it may be worth it?

 

[NOF]

The only dedicated lounge Qatar have is at LHR.

I believe that Qatar use the No1 Traveller Lounge at Birmingham, their website suggests that they're open three hours before the flight.

There are a couple of budget hotels on site, if you could get something cheap enough it may be worth it?

Thanks for the help. I did Google and found the A1 / No. 1 Lounge - I'm assuming all business travellers will have access to this?

And yes, I read it opens at 4:30am, which would mean about 5.5 hours hanging about... we'll weigh up a budget hotel.

 

[Ray Finkle]

If you can't find a hotel you could always spend 5 hours in the casino in Resorts World

Good luck.

 

[NOF]

Thanks guys. I have no issue killing 5 hours provided there's some Wifi... more than anything I want to get use out of the business lounge No issue waiting 5 hours killing time knowing that I can relax after in the lounge for a few hours before flight.

 

[Brummiegem]

Both the Aspire lounge and the Number 1 traveller lounge offer a discount if you book in advance.
Both also open at about the same time as well(0430).

 

[Ray Finkle]

I don't think you have to pay if you're on Qatar Business Class.

Well if you get bored check out Resorts World from the link below. As well as the casino there is a sports bar and also a coffee bar, all 24 hours. It's about a 10 or so min walk through the NEC complex.

https://www.resortsworldbirmingham.co.uk/sitecore/content/international casino/home/whats-here/sports-bar

 

[NOF]

Thanks for the info re. Resorts World - I can hang out at the bar if needs be (no interest in Casino to be honest).

And yes, business class don't pay for lounge access

 

[Brum X]

Thanks for the info re. Resorts World - I can hang out at the bar if needs be (no interest in Casino to be honest).

And yes, business class don't pay for lounge access

Just as a matter of interest, why have you chosen BHX to be your gateway airport ?? Not that im complaining, this is exactly what we need. People to use BHX as a pleasant alternative to much bigger airports.

 

[NOF]

Just as a matter of interest, why have you chosen BHX to be your gateway airport ?? Not that im complaining, this is exactly what we need. People to use BHX as a pleasant alternative to much bigger airports.

Dirt cheap business class flights to Thailand. Even using my point / other discounts, Qatar from Birmingham - Thailand is cheaper than my other available sources.

Is Birmingham a small airport? I'm guessing there's nothing to do there over-night?

 

[Brum X]

Dirt cheap business class flights to Thailand. Even using my point / other discounts, Qatar from Birmingham - Thailand is cheaper than my other available sources.

Is Birmingham a small airport? I'm guessing there's nothing to do there over-night?

BHX definately isnt Cork but it aint Dublin either, its in between Its a very pleasant airport indeed with many upto date facilities. The airport is open 24 hours a day, coffee shops and a few other shops stay open but the rest shuts down after about midnight until 4/5am in the morning.

As Ray pointed out we have Resorts World a short taxi ride away (5 mins) which is open later into the night.

 

[NOF]

Many thanks. If we go with it, we'll keep Resorts World in mind.

 

[Brum X]

Whilst at work today we had a Birmingham wide email in our office regarding a visit by Qatar representatives on the 11th May 2016 to promote there new route from BHX.

We have an office in Doha so they should do well out of that visit.

Great to see them visiting buisinesses in the Birmingham area to promote this route.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Very good to see.

We have an office in Doha so they should do well out of that visit.

Maybe you could have a word in the right ear and get yourself a business class seat over there

 

[Brum X]

Im not looking too much into this as they have reduced lots of routes incl MAN during this period.


QATAR Airways in this week’s schedule update has made further frequency changes on a number of destinations, between June and October 2016, as a result of aircraft redeployment. Planned frequency changes, including those reported on Airline Route on 03MAY16, as follow.
Doha – Birmingham 01AUG16 – 29OCT16 Reduce from 8 to 7 weekly
Doha – Boston 06JUL16 – 28SEP16 Reduce from 7 to 6 weekly
Doha – Copenhagen 03AUG16 – 30SEP16 Reduce from 14 to 13 weekly
Doha – Houston 05JUN16 – 28AUG16 Reduce from 7 to 6 weekly
Doha – Jakarta 10JUL16 – 30SEP16 Reduce from 21 to 20 weekly
Doha – Manchester 02AUG16 – 29OCT16 Reduce from 16 to 15 weekly
Doha – Miami 01JUN16 – 30AUG16 Reduce from 7 to 6 weekly
Doha – Nairobi 07JUL16 – 29OCT16 Reduce from 21 to 20 weekly, 18 weekly from 29JUL16
Doha – Philadelphia 01AUG16 – 29AUG16 Reduce from 7 to 5 weekly
Doha – Phuket 03AUG16 – 31AUG16 Reduce from 11 to 9 weekly
Doha – Pisa 08SEP16 – 29OCT16 Reduce from 7 to 4 weekly
Doha – Sarajevo Planned service launch from 07SEP16 is postponed to 02NOV16, 3 weekly service
Doha – Stockholm 01JUN16 – 30JUN16 Reduce from 10 to 9 weekly. Service will also reduce from 10 to 8 weekly from 01AUG16 to 30SEP16
Doha – Vienna 01AUG16 – 31AUG16 Reduce from 12 to 10-11 weekly

 

[Ray Finkle]

Sat pm flight is dropped for the period shown.

Back to normal as of 30th October, lets hope that it stays that way.

 

[User001]

It seems to be aircraft maintence issues, as they are rducing frequencies long term to accommodate a programme of maintence.

For both MAN and BHX sake I hope it does change back up in October, the last time MAN was told this news we were told it was a short term reduction, but got stuck back down at 10 weekly for nearly 2 years!

 

[nwoody2001]

Well, BHX and MAN have come off lightly, Pisa is pretty f*cked....

Could this also be due to the delays in the delivery of the A350s? QR have announced a lot of new routes recently and would appear to be in line with a lot of orders coming on line... could this be the limitation?

It certainly doesn't appear to be a BHX only issue and an airline wide issue, at least it give time over peak season to let the loads bed in and establish. Hopefully they will be back in October...

 

[JENNYJET]

I think it may have something to do with a FAA advisory regards to icing issues on Dreamliner engines, apparently the tips of the fan has not sufficient clearance to the cowling when ice forms or something of that ilk, the FAA can explain it better than myself but all Dreamliners require attention and maintenance is required, scheduling must by consequence be affected.

BUT I may be completely off beam though if many routes are temporarily shaved back it could be an engineering issue.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

If anyone really is interested, a 'PDF' document can be found at -

http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_G...6EAC0503E9E3623B86257F7A0057D10C?OpenDocument

It seems only to apply to 787-8's and 787-9's powered by GE GEnx engines.

Kevin