Oct 03, 2009 02:33 AM
8144 Views
I recently flew Qatar from NY to Trivandrum via Doha; the flight from NY to Doha was good. The flight was 50% empty so we all literally slept our way to Doha on the 777. Non-veg food was good and frequent, service was good...everything was good (hold on!!); when I got to Doha, the airport sucked big time - had around 2 hrs to kill, the so called duty free store is hyped up - very expensive.
You can buy better quality chocolates anywhere in the US..trust me..never make the mistake of waiting to pick up chocolates from there. Security check is a joke - you can take all that you want (water, fluids...you can even wear your shoes. The state of the airport is bad not to mention the kind of people that walk around. The only place where you can get a phone card is from a restaurant -- you have to stand in line with people who are there to order food. People dont care about lines - they just come right in front of you in the line, the cashiers dont care either. If you can do the same you dont have to wait long. And btw, the restrooms are the dirtiest ever!!Stinking!!Run run run...
Around an hr left I decided to grab some coffee (from costa, similar to starbucks) and then walked by the "lounge"- I thought nice - maybe I will sit there for a half hr -- walked in --its $60 for entry and you can sit there upto 4 hrs! OK never mind I just have an hr to go. I walked out. At boarding time, all passengers were rushing to the gate, pushing, pulling...finally got to the bus.
They check your boarding pass at the gate, before boarding the bus and wait...one more time! And yes, at the gate, they wanted me to check in my hand baggage (that had my laptop as well) -- I didnt have time to remove anything..oh well..i had given up already. Pushing again to get off the bus and get on the flight. OK...I stood behind until all the sprinters were gone.
I got on the flight, at the main door, a cabin crew member asked for my boarding pass--ohh..i put it in my bag, after a 14 hr flight and a 3 hr bad airport experience she wants me to go thru my bag to get her the boarding pass. Oh well..."Can I sit and then give it to you?"..no you can stand right here and find it. I stood there next to her, while all the others made their way thru. I couldnt find it --images of her taking me off the flight flashed thru my mind, I didnt know what to do..finally...yes, I found it!
I said "here" not looking at her and walked away. Ok so now I'm on the flight sitting next at the exit row...the flight was smelling so bad - of SWEAT. I cursed myself for choosing to fly the "5 star airline", I had forgotten about my good experience from NY to Doha. Sigh, sigh, sigh...well another 4 hrs and I should be off this flight. Food was good, I tried to nap for a lil bit so that I wouldn't be jet lagged.
OK.., landing time...once we touched down, I heard many seat belts come off and people were literally opening the overhead compartments to get their luggage. I knew what was ahead of me - pushing, no manners at all, men brushing against you...and worse, stinky (not that you could if you dont stink!! :) It was 4am or so...there were many flights getting in from the middle east. Around 1000+ passengers trying to get screened for H1N1. Omg, I thought to myself, how long would this take? Well...no lines, people just kept pushing you, I didn't have to walk..another 30-45 min wait to see the "Doctor". There was no air conditioning or windows, so stuffy, just standing there you could get any disease. All the doctor does is stamp a form that you had filled out while on the flight. Ok..now enough of details about Trivandrum airport...I will hold off talking about that, hopefully the new airport with be opened soon.
Now on my return journey, my flight was at 5am, same rules here - no lines, people just come stand in front of you when waiting in line at the gate. Surprisingly there was not much stink (or maybe I was just too sleepy). They served the worst ever food I've eaten (I usually am not picky with my food and eat everything they serve, whether spicy or not). The food was horrible - I'm not even sure what they served, it looked liked tiny dosas with extra spicy onion masala, a raw cutlet, hardly fried, a bad dessert. I was hungry so I eat a lil bit and gulped down some water and went off to sleep, looking forward to the better food from Doha to NY. I had an hr before the next flight left. I was literally running - the security check in was a breeze, finally got to my gate; I had to use the restroom - even though I knew the state, guess what -- the women's restroom was out of service! OK...never mind...no time to go find another one. Another 1 mile line to get to the counter, I heard ground staff yelling "anyone for the JFK flight"--yes, I shouted...they escorted me to the front of the line, then to the US flights special security checkin -- they literally open each hand baggage, shoes off, ---I didnt really care but felt better. Ok off I run to get on the bus...it 2 levels down...the bus is ready to leave - I see relaxed faces that comfort me...once at the flight, everyone got off one by one and formed a line, wow..what a difference! I was seated at the exit row, no one next to me, until after take off...an African guy in his traditional suit left his seat some place and found his way to the seat next to me..omg he was stinking--so bad. I told the flight attendant I had to move to another seat...thankfully found 3 free seats in the aisle row. OK..now breakfast time (it was 8.30 am doha time), they served good bfast and off I was to sleep. I woke up after 5 hours or so....I thought I may have missed my meal... I saw people had a tiny ice cream in their hands. OK..so maybe lunch will come soon. I stayed awake hoping they would feed us. An hr went by--I watched a tv show...the flight attendants where 2 rows behind me.I walked over to ask them if I had missed a meal and they said no, we will serve a meal around 4..ok maybe 4pm doha time..still a couple of hrs away..they said I could have an ice-cream..and offered some cold pre-made sandwiches. I took the ice-cream and went back. Later on I wished I had taken the sandwiches..i was famished, they hadn't fed us for more than 8 hrs by then. I could see many people asking the same question. I could sleep...I couldnt watch tv..i wanted food...I wish I had something in my bag that I could munch. Still no food no water/juice, no snacks, 2 hrs before landing (the total flight is 14 hrs, so you do the math) they served lunch or dinner whatever you call it. I ate everything they served, including the crackers (I've never had crackers on flights before cos I would be too full to eat them). Everything tasted so good...and it was time to get off...the moral of the trip -- Never fly with Qatar. Wonder what they are trying to save --and I forgot to add a bunch of lazy flight attendants...they were sleeping most of the time.
