Loyalty to QR in doubt
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at 12:13 by stevescoots.
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AleRomUYParticipantHi all,
I would like to share with you some thoughts and seek for your expert opinion.
I have been until now a loyal customer of Qatar Airways, I have been a Privilege Club Platinum member for already 2 years in a row.
As many people have already written in these forums, all agree that the level of service has been downgraded A LOT!!!!!!!!
Even though, we continue flying on it and putting our money on the hands of the most bizarre person in the world, Mr Akbar Al Baker.
For different reasons, I have landed to know many dark things about the airline and its CEO. Especially related to the bad bad treatment they give to the cabin crew and the whole way the airline deals with employees, which I guess it may be common in Qatar per other readings.
My question today (and topic of forum) so far is coming to make me think if it is really worth it to pour my money on all Business Class tickets I have purchased on QR on the last few years (btw, I have ever only flown Business on QR, never tried Economy) when knowing that you are contributing to an airline with such low interest on human rights and which treats employees as slaves, and especially when you realize that you are funding with your money to keep such a guy as CEO in his position thinking that he is really running a 5-star airline. I don’t think it deserves the 5-star ranking anymore, by the way.
So, I am truly thinking about moving my loyalty and confidence to Etihad. For my travel purposes, it works as good as QR for me. The point is, do you think I may be able to transfer my loyalty and of course my many many miles, points and status to EY? And how to do it?
I’m quite sure EY would be happy to receive a Platinum from QR who is no longer happy with the airline, do you agree?
I would love to read your thoughts about this, you expert fellas!
Cheers2 Jul 2016
at 03:33
FDOS_UKParticipantI understand the word loyalty to mean a strong allegiance to someone or something and, with the exception of an apparently mentally unbalanced contributor on here in the past, I cannot imagine that this often applies to the airline/customer relationship, which tends to be highly transactional and where the former has the dominant position.
So we are not talking about loyalty, we are talking about WIIFM (what’s in it for me) and it seems to me that you have four main concerns
1 – The CEO
2 – the airline treatment of staff
3 – the product/service
4 – transferability of status and pointsPoint #1 – if you move to Etihad, you will no longer have to worry about Mr Baker (in the context that you are no longer supporting his business).
Point #2 – does Etihad treat its employees in a much better way than Qatar Airways? You will have to investigate and decide that for yourself.
Point #3 – I’ve only taken a few flights with QR and wasn’t particularly impressed with the product/service (to be fair, I only experienced the A340-600, with angled beds), but I have flown quite a bit with Etihad in business and like that much better (the seat is better, the service is a little hit and miss, but mainly hit and the F&B is good) – you will have to decide how you feel about that.
Point #4 – Only Etihad can confirm this, but they might do a status match. I’d be very surprised if you can transfer miles/points – can you book other oneworld carriers using your QR points? JAL and Cathay are good airlines, for example.
2 Jul 2016
at 05:19
AleRomUYParticipantDear FDOS_UK,
I agree with you in the meaning of loyalty, itself.
For what I have read, Etihad is better with its people and the service appears to be much better than QR nowadays. I used to fly EY on Economy a few years ago before joining QR Privilege and it was very good, even on Economy.
I have sent an email to Etihad Guest asking for this and for sure will share with you here what they reply.
I can use the QR miles on any other OW airline but that is not the point at this time, you know what I mean? I can even spend all my miles on QR and forget about them, but at this time I do not need to burn the miles and points.2 Jul 2016
at 05:35
NTarrantParticipantAleRomUY – the issue about Mr Baker and his treatment of staff was subject to and article in a newspaper and a TV program a few years back. Sorry, I can’t recall the TV program or the paper to give you access. I understand that some of the restrictions placed on cabin crew were lifted as a result of the articles and programs.
I think you also have to take into account that for a good number of the cabin crew, life working for QR is a lot better than what they left behind and will earn plenty of money to give them and their family a good life. The conditions they live in may also be better than they have had.
I haven’t travelled with QR for about a year, I have found that they have been more expensive when I have wanted to travel.
2 Jul 2016
at 06:24
WillieWelshParticipantIt’s always very noticeable that QR have no western cabin crew, lots of Indians and some Chinese and a few Eastern Europeans.
That is unlike the other Gulf carriers where there is much more of a mix. Presumably QR then pay rock bottom rates to the people they do employ but they are probably better than they could earn in their home countries otherwise why would people move to Doha, it’s not the centre of the known world by a long way.
QR standards have fallen but they are still light years ahead of many.
2 Jul 2016
at 18:53
rfergusonParticipantQatar used to have quite a lot of western cabin crew when it was in its early days. Over time both sides realised it was not a good marriage. The airline realised that the western crew were prone to being ‘disobedient’ and the western crew couldn’t cope with the restrictions placed upon them. Over time the crew became more and more eastern and less and less western. I fly QR semi regularly and find that the majority come from India/Philippines/Thailand with most of the arabic speakers from Egypt. Also a smattering of eastern europeans – predominantly from the Ukraine and Bulgaria.
I find Al Baker a bizzare man. Full of self importance and prone to the most ridiculous outbursts and threats. He makes crazy public claims that he will then contradict a week later. For example just before QR joined OW Al Baker insisted that QR had no plans to join the alliance. The next week, he announced they were. However, no one can doubt his passion for the airline. Apparently he is extremely ‘hands on’ and insists on doing many of his own ‘flight checks’.
I find Qatars service generally good. The catering is exceptional as are the lounges in Qatar. I have reservations about how the staff are treated but I guess for many of them it’s still a better deal than what they would experience in their home countries and (I hope!) they are free to leave QR and Qatar anytime they like.
Where Qatar truly excels is in its business class pricing. Some of their offers from Europe to Asia and Australia have been near the ‘unbelievable’ level. I’m flying to Sydney soon for £1300 return which is an absolutely exceptional fare. Add to that credits to BA exec club and the purchase is a no brainer.
2 Jul 2016
at 19:49
dwlhr09ParticipantHi, Do not know what flights you have been on but Qatar do have quite a number of western crew, consisting of mainly British and French with a number of Scandinavian crew amongst others. This is experienced with flying with then at least 5 or 6 times a month.
2 Jul 2016
at 20:14
AleRomUYParticipantDear rferguson,
I agree with you in the description of Al Baker.
On any single flight taken on QR let’s say in the last year, I have found no Western Cabin Crew. All from Eastern Europe and of course, the majority From Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia and Far East.
I agree that they would be making more money working for QR than in their countries, but that does not grant the airline the right to treat them with no respect of human rights. I know things may be better now, but still not sure.3 Jul 2016
at 03:35
stevescootsParticipantI would say crew from eastern Europe are “western” unless you mean western Europe. Flights I gave taken on QR (I was gold for 6 years) were 50/50 Caucasian/other. I dont care where the crew comes from as long as they do their jobs correctly. I agree re the service etc since joining OW and that why I have dropped to burgundy and on the rare times I will use them on price basis then i will use my BAEC to retain gold on that.
As for AB management style I agree with RFergusen. It better than what most crew from SEA would get at home and if morally you do not agree then do not fly them. training and experiance at QR would no doubt give them an increased chance to work for a more liberal carrier from their home bases.
3 Jul 2016
at 12:13 -
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