Qatar Airways under probe

any news about the so called probe.... what did they find

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This airline is run like a camel caravan. The groundstaff has no idea how to run an airlines nor the folks onboard.  I have been lied to about my seat numbers. It was changed unceremoniously at the last minute. My daughter had to travel 16 hours without a bassinette. This is a joke.

I promised to myself I will never ride an airlines run by arabs.  

If you think Qatari passengers are favored then you are sadly mistaken. You won't believe other Qatari's horror stories, including my own, with QA if I told you. You said it yourself, that man is universally loathed, even by Qataris...ESPECIALLY by Qataris!! He barely speaks Arabic and everyone knows that he's still CEO because of his "wasta". Its not like QA can get any worse without him. There's nowhere to go BUT up!

The CEO promised that the airline would be profitable by 2007 when he was quizzed on the matter in 2005.

Recently he he said it would be profitable by 2010, and now internally at QA it is common knowledge that the airline won't be profitable until perhaps 2012 or beyond.

Last year the airline reported a loss of $800 million. Emirates, by comparison, has maintained an operating surplus every year since its inception.

Staff morale is at rock bottom and until the removal of the CEO this doesn't seem likely to change. In the meantime I guess people like me will continue to fly via Dubai rather than being bumped off Qatar Airways flights (it happened to me too and I'll never fly with when I can possibly avoid it).

With a bottomless pit of money, hugh cash being dumped into the airline, lets face it i think anyone of us would be able to do what hes doing now, the main thing is to see how much the airline is making. In terms of profit, which at the moment stands at nothing, hehe he said that profit would come after 2010, so if you ask me how the airline is doing? i would say its not doing very well seeing how the main part of the business is making a profit which it is not doing now, i know that their on an expension plan, but look at emirates and etihad, they are both reporting profits, emirates reported a hugh profit the first half of this year, so lets face it...... it can still manage because of the wealth of the nation nothing else. !!

Although QA CEO have management flaws, No one can deny how he has turn one of the worst airline in the region (back in the 90's) into what it have became. The guy took in so many challenges.He elevated the airline status while coping with the Qatari society . With the in-society criticism of his role in anti-Qatarization, Not Favoring Qatari passengers, Serving Alcohol(Locals have grilled him over those issues).

Not to mention he barely speaks Arabic & never addressed the local media. Yet he was expected to turn it into an international airline. He had turn an ordinary airline like Saudi or Kuwait airways into a well known name.Maybe he've lost it from being over-pressured.

For those of you who doesn't know. The recent restriction on cabin crew was all because of weekly column in a daily local newspaper questioning the behavior of the cabin crew.

They do favour Qatari passengers, thats the reason you get off loaded. Plus if your boss gave you over a billion pound I am pretty sure you too could build an airline, particularly if your boss had grand plans for his country.

As soon as he goes you may find that service improves, when everyone hates their job and hates the boss the attitude can rub off on the passengers.

Plus they are so short staffed everyone is over worked and stressed out that making your life easier if it means hassle for them is not going to happen.

As for cabin crew behavior, well we have all seen them out in town and they behave exactly as you would expect young people to act away from home for the first time.

Most of them are very young (as the airline cannot hire experienced crew as the whole world has heard how bad it is at the airline) so what they do is only natural.

All other airline crew behave the same they just aren't living in a Muslim country.

The airline does have potential though, I take nothing away from the Emir's vision for it, and I generally have good flights when aboard.

It's just a shame for the people working for them that life has to be so difficult.

I give the CEO about a year tops, then he will go, after this with the right CEO and management things will change for the better.

Look at Emirates, they are huge, OK they have there problems too, but its on the right track.

I hope the Emir realises sooner rather than later I think its a shame his vision is being squandered. Fingers crossed.

And PM I am going to take a break soon, and also bow out of posting its too tiresome and I always get into arguments with people.

So prepare to see the end of Aviduser.............

But I might be back maybe under a different name...who knows......:)

Merry Christmas all

Cheers

avid

great to read this! and here i was thinking i am the only one suffering from qatar airways callous attitudes to passengers. after being offloaded twice in one year(both with confirmed tickets ) and having no response to my complaints, i chose emirates for my long distance journeys and i now travel QA only when i have no other option.

do it right - the first time!

If Al Baker is actually Qatari, but to be fair even the worse stuff I can write about him doesn't really do him justice he's worse.

Its fair to say that if he left resignations might fall from from the current high numbers.

He really is terrible, and sadly he calls the shots, so anyone else involved doesn't really get a say.

He is single handily ruining the Airline and gonna turn it into a pointless erection bit like him really

de-mob = demobilisation. As in when soldiers leave the army (can apply to anyone really).

Blokes, after the war were issued 'de-mob suits' etc.

If you are said to be 'de-mob happy' you are probably lightheaded due to the impending release from duty.

Not quite Christmassy yet, PM - hope with the next few days holiday I will get into the spirit of things! :P

the expression 'demob happy' springs to mind (re aviduser) hee hee

No offence, avid xx

There is no Organisation in this Organisation..lol

Is a micro manager and more often referred to as a MASSIVE CNUT.

It makes sense that the Qataris are not cabin crew, can you imagine one having to get some else a drink hilarious.

Hang on I am still laughing !!.

Anyway apart from that the Qatari pilots are so ridiculously poor and universally loathed that Pilots want to leave as much because of the and them and the preferential treatment they get, SURPRISE. To the stupid mis management of AL Baker.

Unitll he goes the airline will stay on a downward trajectory.

But lets face it, whats the point Emirates is huge, The airline is no more than a Vanity project for the Sheiks and the Country, pretty much like everything else here really. Pointless

The CEO is usually described in the media as, rather vaguely, 'very hands on'. From the stories I've heard he could be better described as a micro-manager who despite a lack of experience and expertise still insists on making every decision himself.

There is world wide a shortage of pilots (google 'pilot shortage' and read some of the stories internationally) so it's no wonder that pilots are getting more and more demanding.

It's funny that one of the complaints about QA is the lack of Qataris working for them. At the end of the day the law prevents Qataris from working as cabin crew since it's tantamount to being a 'servant', in the eyes of the Sheikh who made that decision (and we all know who I'm talking about).

than this is something new, never heard of an airline ceo treat his crews as possessions rather than human capital.

i bet hugh hefner treat his girls better than this guy.

what the heck.. rumors goes the company is not run by qataris anyway.. so this thread should be free of qatari-bashing substances.

Many moons ago I worked in a PR department with Gulf Oil Corporation in London and we organised a seminar for all the Oil Tanker Captains.

Now, I'm not sure, but I believe English is the language of the seas when it comes to conversing with Trinity Pilots etc to, say, guide these Mammoths (loaded with extraordinary amounts of oil) into Port.

Imagine our horror when, after the main speakers sat down after giving their speeches and were taking questions, we discovered that the majority of the Captains couldn't speak English!

EEEEEEEEK

It is one hell of an achievement to get into the cabin, it takes a lot of hard work and determination, it also takes your company to ignore you failed your exams multiple time before you passed, that you were fully funded funded throughout your training, and were effectively personally tutored.

Check out an excellent forum www.pprune.org

I get my gossip from here amongst other places, the pilots talk about Qatar is illuminating.

It is one hell of an achievement to get into the cabin, it takes a lot of hard work and determination, it also takes your company to ignore you failed your exams multiple time before you passed, that you were fully funded funded throughout your training, and were effectively personally tutored.

Check out an excellent forum www.pprune.org

I get my gossip from here amongst other places, the pilots talk about Qatar is illuminating.

even if an investigation is done, anything found will be swept under the carpet.... !! its the national airline... Ground Service is not only Awful, its a nightmare, to me in my personel opinion 5 star service should start from the minute you start youre travel, that is at the airport, i have been to the airport a few times to send friends off, and let me tell u its not a plesent place, the Business class terminal which they claim to be great doesnt even let family or friends in to say good bye, the last time i went there to send of a mate, i was told this was for passengers only, I wrote to them but as usual no response, the other terminal, when i went i was screamed at by a police men and was told to GET OUT, no kidding thats what he told me... GET OUT !! and this was to my friend who was the passenger by the way, how do they expect to get anywhere with an attitude like this, tourists will get a shock.

Cabin crew are leaving in great numbers as all the restrictions imposed by the company is crazy, its like Big Brothers Watching You... hahaha i know i love complain, i have nothing better else to do. :) yeah i think etihad or emirates is a better bet, besides i dont think that they are that more expensive, also facility wise i think the other airlines are far better, well till someone else posts somethin, take care

is the Investigation really going to take place or its just on the paper...?

As long as Akbar ALBaker is running the show nothing will change.

1. I have heard of some very unfair dismals at Qatar Airways

2. Great Cabin Crew - Ground Service is awful

3. 5* - my bottom

With this investigation will there be any possibility that the humble passenger like me (!) Will be able to put forward their opinion?

I have been treated REALLY badly a couple of times.

We pay a good fair whack for the ticket and we get treated with contempt.

If anyone has a contact please let me know..........

Thanks Orry

Thanks alot, I'll have a look next time, just got stung by there fixed ticket policy.

to the UK. you fly to Abu Dhabi, then to the UK. You don't have long to wait in Abu Dhabi, so it's not too bad.

We've been with Etihad & found them a great airline, food, serivce and entertainment was 5 star.

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At least they have better service than BA, and who else flys to England?

It no longer say's "your 5 star airline"

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not that can be published on an open forum

There is always something in my mind that ask's how and why does QA obtain the 5 star ranking, they do nothing, i would think twice about getting into one of those aircrafts by reading what everyone has to say. hmm and in all their advertisements they always mention that... hmm, Does anyone have any interesting stories to share about QA hehe i am bored

Aviduser lol,

Wallah you're probably right . I have to admit that your description didn't surprise me at all.

"Never mind the cabin crew do get their revenge but it is too unspeakable to mention how." I'll PM u lol :D

Some are Wise ... Some are ...Otherwise

Aviduser, you seem to have lots of inside info about Qatar Airways !

Stories float a lot about the questionable actions of the CEO day in and day out.

Its also a well known fact that their staff turnover is too huge. I too got an offer from them couple of years ago to work in the finance department, but didn't join them due to sponsorship release problems. Now I think it was for the best !!!

Is the CEO he is universally loathed. Until he goes the airline will bumble along but will go no where.

300 Cabin crew leave almost every month, pilots are leaving as soon as they can they are struggling for staff.

As for people ringing in to ask why there are not more Qatari Pilots, well this is just typical arrogance, an airline can't just hire you because you are Qatari, its not like Qtel or any other government department where you can put your feet up all day. You actually have to work.

Look at the students the schools pump out here, that recent study saying the 15 year olds were all leaving school unqualified is it any wonder.

And some inside gossip, the Qatari pilots that do work for the company are UNIVERSALLY LOATHED. they are arrogant, vain, mean and nasty and lazy. They are hated by everyone co-pilots included. They spend most of their time lording it over everyone whilst trying it on with every female cabin crew they can.

They demand the best routes and refuse to do routes they don't want to do, its fair to say that they behave like spoilt children which lets be honest can hardly be a surprise for any of us.

Never mind the cabin crew do get their revenge but it is too unspeakable to mention how.

Who owns Qatar Airways ? Does the Prime Minister has a major share in it or is it the Emir ? Any ideas ???

Obviously, Akbar Al Baker has some major backing from powers that be.

As I said , this is a local affair, and I don't have enough informations to get an opinion. However, an investigation would not harm if the facts are fake.

Some are Wise ... Some are ...Otherwise

well he got the reply LIVE on air from one of the pilots working there

rebutting all his points.

Thats what turned the matter serious.

Ahhhhhh.....Frog.......if you only new the reality.......the person who says those words may not always be right.....or maybe the first person to be investigated first.....come to think of it...normally there is smoke when there is fire, am not a Qatari, but probably, they themselves have a valid reason for complaining???????

Well, it sounds like a local affair, but I guess the Marketing director was more-or-less right when he stated that recruitement of pilots is usually very selective and they're obliged to choose the best stuff for the passengers safety. I don't know if there are any other reasons why they would not accept Qataris as pilots, and why the latters would feel frustrated while working for that company.

We cannot compel anyone to stay in his job. Recruitment for a pilot’s job involves a lot of technical processes. We have to choose the best available talent in order to be able to compete with major carriers,” he said.

Some are Wise ... Some are ...Otherwise

well.....its about time!!!!

Yester day evening @ about 4:45pm (13 Dec 2007) while landing in Qatar I noticed there was an accident @ the QA hanger, there was ambulance + fire engine. Would any body have any idea what was going on there???

JJ