After reading a number of field reports on Qatar Airway's A350 aircraft, I would now contribute one as well. Apart on a review of QR's brand new A350, this report will also take a look at QR's other widebody aircrafts, the A330 with the oldest product and the rather new A380 as well. This trip was a rather short one, just managing 5 nights in London, but giving me a new perspective of London from my previous visit exactly a decade ago, as well as trying out Qatar Airways to determine of it deserves its 5-Stars status.
Background: Qatar Airways offered some very attractive fares from Singapore with the launch of its third daily flight. Seeing that my birthday is around the period of a national holiday, I jumped at the offer and booked the tickets at very a reasonable fare (or I would say budget fare) for the summer peak period, with prices almost half of what SQ is offering! The first SIN-DOH sector was originally booked on a B787-8, but QR moved forward the A359 3x daily services a week earlier and hence my itinerary ended up with 2xA359, 1xA333, 1xA380. All for the better as well after the many "horror stories" I read regarding QR's very cramped "nightmare-liners".
Warning: This report will be very picture intensive!
Check-in was performed online 36hrs prior to departure and bags were dropped at Terminal 3, where QR has 5 counters opened for check-in. Judging from the lack of check-in queues, the flight was apparently not too full, partly as this is a newly launched morning departure and offers less connections than the 2 evening flights.
Boarding passes for both sectors were issued, along with a ticket jacket. QR is strongly advertising itself as a 5-Stars carrier.
Some plane-spotting at T3. As expected, most aircrafts were SQ, SQ and more SQ, including a whale preparing for departure.
A SQ albino B773 pulling into gate.
China Airlines A333. CI has just recently moved to T3.
Jet Airways B738
QR's A359 landed from Doha slightly behind schedule. I would be flying on A7-ALA, which is the first A350 aircraft in commercial service!
Departing from Gate A14 today. Apparently the A350s all wear "sunglasses/eyeshadows". Cool look!
05 August 2015
Qatar Airways
QR 943
Singapore (SIN) - Doha (DOH)
A350-900
A7-ALA
Economy Class
A7-ALA being prepped for the flight. Simply love the blended winglets! I would be flying on the World's Best Airline (Skytrax says so) on the World's Newest Commercial Airliner (A350-900) on my birthday!
Expecting a late boarding due to the late arrival of aircraft, I was surprised that boarding was announced just slightly behind schedule. Boarding was orderly with passengers needing assistance, priority passengers followed by zones.
Boarding the A350 soon. Excited!
Welcomed by a couple of very friendly crew and directed to the correct aisle. Passed the Business Class cabin, which will not win awards as the most "bling-bling" or widest seats, but comfort and functionality wise, read from reviews that they are not bad.
Stepping into the Economy cabin. First impressions are good, with bright, clean, colour-coordinated and stylish looking seats and cabin. Crew are also along the aisles welcoming passengers and assisting with boarding.
Background: Qatar Airways offered some very attractive fares from Singapore with the launch of its third daily flight. Seeing that my birthday is around the period of a national holiday, I jumped at the offer and booked the tickets at very a reasonable fare (or I would say budget fare) for the summer peak period, with prices almost half of what SQ is offering! The first SIN-DOH sector was originally booked on a B787-8, but QR moved forward the A359 3x daily services a week earlier and hence my itinerary ended up with 2xA359, 1xA333, 1xA380. All for the better as well after the many "horror stories" I read regarding QR's very cramped "nightmare-liners".
Warning: This report will be very picture intensive!
Check-in was performed online 36hrs prior to departure and bags were dropped at Terminal 3, where QR has 5 counters opened for check-in. Judging from the lack of check-in queues, the flight was apparently not too full, partly as this is a newly launched morning departure and offers less connections than the 2 evening flights.
Boarding passes for both sectors were issued, along with a ticket jacket. QR is strongly advertising itself as a 5-Stars carrier.
Some plane-spotting at T3. As expected, most aircrafts were SQ, SQ and more SQ, including a whale preparing for departure.
A SQ albino B773 pulling into gate.
China Airlines A333. CI has just recently moved to T3.
Jet Airways B738
QR's A359 landed from Doha slightly behind schedule. I would be flying on A7-ALA, which is the first A350 aircraft in commercial service!
Departing from Gate A14 today. Apparently the A350s all wear "sunglasses/eyeshadows". Cool look!
05 August 2015
Qatar Airways
QR 943
Singapore (SIN) - Doha (DOH)
A350-900
A7-ALA
Economy Class
A7-ALA being prepped for the flight. Simply love the blended winglets! I would be flying on the World's Best Airline (Skytrax says so) on the World's Newest Commercial Airliner (A350-900) on my birthday!
Expecting a late boarding due to the late arrival of aircraft, I was surprised that boarding was announced just slightly behind schedule. Boarding was orderly with passengers needing assistance, priority passengers followed by zones.
Boarding the A350 soon. Excited!
Welcomed by a couple of very friendly crew and directed to the correct aisle. Passed the Business Class cabin, which will not win awards as the most "bling-bling" or widest seats, but comfort and functionality wise, read from reviews that they are not bad.
Stepping into the Economy cabin. First impressions are good, with bright, clean, colour-coordinated and stylish looking seats and cabin. Crew are also along the aisles welcoming passengers and assisting with boarding.
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