[Anonymous]

[OSS1947]

My wife had to travel from Pakistan to Argentina for delivery end of 2010. She was in her 31st week of pregnancy. The best choice as it seemed to be was Qatar Airways in terms easy of travel (no plane change at Brazil) and minimum transit time at Doha Airport. The total travel time itself is a grueling +23 hours one way.

Qatar being advertised as a 5 star airlines, definitely seemed a good choice opposed to Emirates which required a plane change at GRU Brazil. Plus they have been advertising that they welcome expectant mothers.

But it seems the airlines is not really bothered about taking care of passengers with needs. She was not given any priority at any stage of the flight nor at the airports. She was not assigned a seat on her request nor was she looked after in the plane. The staff did not even respond to the Service Calls most of the times and had little access to drinking water in her condition.

Over all, she has had a horrible flight experience with Qatar Airways and dreads flying with them.

It seems that the airlines is fine to travel if and only if you do not have any special needs.

[robsmith100]

OSS1947 – My Gran would actually totally disagree with you in terms of QR’s handling of people with special needs. When ever she flies, she takes the option of a wheelchair. On her last flight back from JNB via DOH, she said the service was exceptional. She was not flying in any of the premium cabins but from the checking to the boarding she had assistance all the way, was given priority boarding before any other PAX were allowed to board. Even in flight they were supported to her needs. Once at the destination she was escorted all the way through to arrivals.

[SaveFLR]

I normally use QR when I go to far east destinations, maybe 6/7 times a year. After about 40 flights with them I’ve never seen something similar, maybe they can have some others problems, but their handling for me is really good. I can remember only a few airlines at the same level, perhaps you had an unlucky journey, but I’m sure is only a single bad experience.

[skyguy79]

Hi there ! I really feel for your situation but like robsmith100 says I can only say my experience Lahore-Doha-Manchester in 2008 was excellent flying Business and Economy class on the same day !

But then again I had no special needs.

What I would do is “Like” Qatar Airways on Facebook and post your grievance there or failing that email them directly for investigation <a href="mailto:[email protected]“>[email protected] .

Hopefully they may offer a free ticket or upgrade as compensation.

I will say this much that Qatar Airways like other major Arab carriers offer very poor airport and reservation/admin services ( apart from the First / Business lounges ).

If I can be of further help please let me know.

[OSS1947]

I dont know. Maybe they are better with older ppl but as for the experience for pregnant women. I have another friends unhappy tale on the same route even though she had her mom flying with her. And I saw that first hand as I was on the same flight as well.

This was our first experience with Qatar, and unfortunately was not a pleasant one.

Thank you skyguymanchester for your suggestion, I have already gotten in touch with them via their website. waiting for a reply. If they dont reply, can get in touch from the other side.

[craigwatson]

I’m sorry, maybe i’m missing something, but since when does being pregnant require special assistance?

They may advertise that they welcome pregnant mothers, but all that means is they will allow them to travel up to a certain time, as opposed to others that refuse to carry pregnant woman at an earlier time in their pregnancy.

[OSS1947]

Aah. sorry for the wrong usage of words. Not special assistance rather should be priority. Thank you craigwatson. Special assistance does make it sound as if they have special needs and sounds quiet offensive.

[LuganoPirate]

Just to echo Robsmith, my wife also flew JNB-Milan via Doha with Qatar for the first time last month. She was blown away by the experience and has now refused to allow me to book LX/LH, our usual carriers of choice, when we come down in August.

She was in Business and said it was her best flight ever. She sympathizes with Mrs. OSS (and this is her speaking, not me) but does not see why being pregnant makes you deserving of any special treatment (unless there are complications of course).

As she points out, you don’t need to be the first to board, you can also sit it out, wait for the queue to go then board without waiting. If there is a bus involved, she would hope a gentleman would in any case give up his seat to a pregnant lady.

She also finds it incredulous that she would undertake such a long flight without either a break of a day or two in Doha, or else at the very least a Business seat. Had she been in business she would have been very well taken care of.

We must not forget that sometimes, when thirsty, a few minutes wait can seem an eternity, but on the other hand the crew often have 200+ passengers to take care of, so it can be a little while before they can get to you.

I’m sorry OSS1947 if this forum is not quite giving you the sympathy you hoped for but I hope it won’t put you off and you will continue to contribute. I’m sure we will all be interested in the outcome.

In any case, I (and Mrs. LP) wish your wife all the best during the rest of her term, a safe and easy delivery and a fit and healthy baby at the end of it all. Do please update us on your baby’s birth.

[skyguy79]

Hi again OSS1947 !

I’ve been thinking of you all day and how to help.

If you look at the following thread on the BT Forum, your wife is not alone. I have also posted many links from disgruntled QR passengers :

http://www.businesstraveller.com/discussion/topic/Qatar-Airways-Customer-Service

Also, although a completely different continent, I have found you emails of key European management of Qatar Airways :

http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/legal-info.html

Maybe send a group email to them all and one may forward your query to the Qatar Airways Pakistan or Qatar Airways Buenos Aires managers ?

I have also heard and sometimes seen that Arab airlines cabin crew sometimes intentionally discriminate against Pakistani/Indian /Sri Lankan/Bangladeshi passengers as in the UAE / Middle East there is a large population of labourers from these countries so they assume everyone is a labourer and treat them with contempt.

It’s not right but it happens. I would also post on airlinequality.com the rating site that rates QR as 5 star. 5 star in the sky maybe but on the ground I wouldn’t even give them half a star.

I also have the email of someone very high up in Qatar Airways senior management whom I have had the pleasure of dealing with and who is a very nice gentleman. If you can let me have your email, I will gladly send you his details as I don’t want to post these here.

Regards and best wishes !

[connieP]

I had the worst experience with Qatar Airways and they truly do discriminate against pregnant flyers. At 33 weeks pregnant I had researched online what was required for me to fly. I found a post on the help forum explaining what was required for different weeks. I copied and pasted the information required in a doctor’s note. It seemed straightforward and I admit I did not read the fine print (further down the page where they gave contradictory information). I arrived at the airport with my doctor’s note explaining that I was fit to fly with no problems with a single pregnancy. Apparently I also needed another form signed by a Qatar Airways doctor with THE EXACT SAME INFORMATION. They refused me to board the flight, gave me no help in finding a hotel nor a doctor whom I could contact. I then contacted the Qatar Airways office the next day and they told me it could take 3 to 4 days to get the confirmation from Qatar to enable me to fly. They refused to fast-track it even though we had been refused boarding the night before.

In the end we cancelled our flight with Qatar and re-booked with another airline that had much more reasonable policies (ie. accepting the doctor’s note that I already had). I would never fly with them again.

[Author]

Posts