qatar airways...a 5 star airline....NOT!!!
The last forum on this topic seems have been locked...
But taking up where it left off....in the air, they are a very good airline but on the ground, no matter in what country you are in, they are still worse than the worst...they have not trained or empowered their employees to engender good customer service...regardless of which class cabin you fly or what your Privelage Club status might be.
My wife and I were recently in Thailand when the airport in Bangkok was shut down. We were in remote Thailand and tried to reach QA via the numbers they had posted on their web site (give them credit for their foresight to do that) however, the numbers would not work....flipping over to a busy signal after first ringing. After over 50 calls, I contacted the Doha main office. The first response was that it was impossible for that to happen. When I asked the agent to call one of the numbers on another line to check out my story, she found I was right. Her response was to tell me that I had to go to the office in Bangkok to fix the problem even though I explained I was over 8 hours away. She said that the tickets (which originated inDoha) could only be change in Bangkok), When I asked to speak to her supervisor she said she was not allowed to let me do that. Long story short, we made our own arrangements and flew out of Cambodia.
After returning to Doha, I contacted their "customer service" people to see if I could get my return tickets refunded and to try to be constructive critical. They couldn't find my records though I gave them the reference number and E-ticket #'s. I had to scan and email those to them. The response...."It was not Qatar airways problem that there was the airport closure so we have no obligation to help you."
Since the tickets were mileage tickets, I then tried the Privelage Club route. They were more helpful but claimed that they could not credit me with the miles and that the only thing that could be done would be to rebook the same leg (Bangkok to Doha)sometime in the next year and for a change fee, I could use the tickets for a return trip to Doha. Whoopee. It seems like this airline would show some helpfulness to someone who has logged nearly 100,000 miles with them in the past year.
How any business can claim to be "world class" when they can't handle this kind of simple problem is beyond me. It would be so easy for QA to simply copy one of the world's truly world class airlines and implement similar, already developed and refined policies, procedures, information management software and management protocol rather than trying to re-invent the wheel.
Perhaps only Mr. Baker has the answers.
Took me a while to locate this ... Anyway, following from my earlier postie - some improvement.
One of the privilege club reps actually was thinking when s/he replied to my email. The answer was not favourable to me personally but at least, it was a proper answer. Good. I hope they keep it up.
/Apparently, someone from QA reads QL .. or maybe they took note of my zinger of an email...but I think they probably read QL... my email was not that bad. It was only chance no. 2.
//And let it not be said of me that I only remember and communicate the bad points but the good ones as well. I generally don't mince my words or actions either way.
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Don't want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama
I had very little trouble on my last two flights, 17th Dec and Yesterday morning except that on a red eye flight home the silly trolly dolly woke me up to offer me a 'refreshing towlette'. Grrr :o(
Did you Google it first?
m with eaglemmanuel, you have to call several times to reconfirm what's really the answer to your concern....different customer care agent, different answer...isn't it cool?
Lol! You could be right. I asked their privilege club a simple question and instead of thinking and replying, they simply copy pasted the same portion from their website, when I quoted FROM their website when I asked my question.
Maybe they don't understand English.
Maybe will fly Emirates then.
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Don't want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama
I can't comment on this particular case.
But in my experience QA is certainly the worst airline I have ever flown with, bar none.
you have lots of options to fly to UK. It's true, Qatar Airways is the shortest in time, but if they are really that bad for you, you can choose Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Gulf Air, Turkish Airlines; just to mention a few one.
It's true that had working hadn't killed anyone yet, but why to take risk?
They are building on it give them time. I've seen my share of the worst airline in world and to be honest, I have seen a number of innovative features in their airport. Rome wasnt built in a day.. cliche, yes.. but true.
it has to be the most retarded airline and plus doha airport has to be the wrost in thr world. the staff working there is racist and lazy and useless. shame on qatar with so much money they couldnt even make there airport a better place with professional people. all the retarted badooz working there have no professionalism at all...
i hope you get your refund back and dont ever fly with this airline.
Its not just you who experiences this... many ppl face similar situations, All Airlines will have some or the other problems, I had an issue with Kingfisher Airlines, I tried to change the time of flight from mornin to evenin at their bloody damn office in mumbai, but it was in vain, I had to buy new ticket for this, instead of changing morning to evenin flight, the reason coz I had got them issued from Doha, and I paid in USD. I was like SO WHATT? but they juss wouldn't I completely agree with zmountain man "I don't think they are awful but rather that they are not 5 star and they really need to do some work on their ground operations"
But certain;y having 100000 miles, they should ahve luked into your matter a little more seriously!
Juss keep cool dude! can do much!
zmountainman...why would QA change if you still have to fly them?
I wouldnt change if I was QA.
Therein lies the problem. All the Govt companies and many other companies have no option other than QA. QA have their fixed clients.
Like you said most of the time you will not be able to dump QA for other Airlines.
I think I'm right in saying that the 5* only refers to their business and first class in-air service. It would help if they made this clear in their adverts.
Let me clarify a bit. I don't think they are awful but rather that they are not 5 star and they really need to do some work on their ground operations.
Loose your mind and find your heart.
Yes, most of the front office is Asian.
But they are given no authority to help customers or deviate from a protocol...even so much as to call a manager.
Loose your mind and find your heart.
I agree with you that it wasn't their fault but good customer service dictates that they try to help their customers out. And as far as their employees safety, the QA office is about 15 km from the airport so there was no danger.
And you are right about Emirates too. I will just have to pick my poison.
Booking out of United or Lufthansa online still uses QA airlines but you avoid their management.
Loose your mind and find your heart.
zmountainman, I could not agree with you a more....they are an awful airline with the beaucracy of its home country imbedded in its working operation.
Unfortunately, as we live in Qatar we don't much choice but to fly QA.
I'm curious.. isnt most front office of QA from South Asia or the Philipines?? You mentioned birthright, what does that got to do with crediting you with miles... I feel for you but some policy sucks but in your case you should make a formal complaint.
In some cases, I am stuck with them but where I have a choice that is nearly equal, I will fly on other airlines. What is 300 QR difference if I can avoid a hassle and then get some respect?
I know that this represents the main problem facing Qatar. They have the cash to be a 1st world country with world class services. The problem is that their culture has not had time to grow and mature into a 1st world mentality.
Overall, the people of Qatar are wonderful but some of the management people are there because of birthright more than by qualification and therein lies a problem.
Loose your mind and find your heart.
Sorry for what happened to you in Bangkok but it really is not QAs fault that it happened and NO they should NOT reimburse anything to u or credit your miles.
Did you think that no body picked up ur calls in BKK coz maybe the office was closed for the safety of the staff??!!
If by World Class airline u mean "Emirates" then No I dont agree with u... I went to Dubai flying on Emirates last month....it was horrible...New Terminal 3?? It had hundreds of Check in counters its huge, but only 3 were operating which caused a long massive queue at the airport..
Just coz u didnt get what u WANT (which is not ur right) doesnt mean that the airline is bad..
Every body used to say Emirates is the best..I totally disagree..They are bad on flight and in airport.
zmountainman ...so are you still gonna fly with them?