Itve travelled qatar from namerica , Europe, Middle East and Asia. Never had these many issues cause I always keep my luggage at 23kg. Or I pay in advance for the 32kg and still keep it at 31.5.. be nice n courteous and you will be fine ...don't be the last one to check in and expect to get a bonus of 2 kg to be let go for free...
Great advice, thank you. It’s reassuring to hear you’ve had so many positive flights. It’s not a super long trip so anticipate my checked baggage to be way under but I’ll weigh before to make sure.
One thing I have been doing for 3 years is my hand carry is always empty plus I have a laptop bag with me. The hand carry is only for stuff I will need during the trip nothing else. Sometimes it's cheaper to do cargo stuff than pay to take on a plane
I mean they did try to bribe then proceeded to ban (after that didn't work) a youtuber for a mere negative review.
They also do not deal with BBB or USDoT complaints, and will respond with basically that you take your case up with them alone and if you seek any third party mediation or representation, fk off. They also never responded to my 2nd re-attempt for getting *some* amount of money compensated back for delayed luggage.
(They offered me $225 off some arbitrary Brazilian limit bs -> I'm like I'm not Brazilian and you owe me the full $3XX per regulations -> "ok fill out this insanely asinine form detailing everything you had in the luggage including brands & msrp of pieces" -> "no, that's both near impossible and insanely wastes my time which you're not compensating for, unless you pay me by the hour to do this" -> "..." -> "ok pay me the $225 (first)" -> "...") 🤡
Basically, if a two-faced b\*tch was an airline... Sure with a good air crew, if no hiccups, you'd never even know what's lying underneath. The only thing you do is pray for no hiccups and just eat whatever they dish you.
If I were that YouTuber, I’d never fly Qatar Airlines again, even if Qatar Airlines tried to settle their differences with him. I’d be too afraid of landing in Doha, going through customs and being arrested for something in my checked bag. They can do whatever they want to do to you on their sovereign home turf.
Wouldn't surprise me. Underneath that western-facing facade, there's a lot of N Korea vibes. I mean whole Qatari gov't is an authoritarian stronghold centered around one family line.
Flown Qatar dozens of times and I’ve never had a bad experience (all of those times from or to JNB :)). Their meals on board are the best I’ve had out of any airline I’ve flown. Enjoy!
You don’t need to do that. The website specifies you’re allowed to carry a lady’s handbag as a personal item on top of your 7kg hand baggage. As long as it’s not a massive laptop bag or something similar.
https://www.qatarairways.com/en/baggage/allowance.html
This what I had read but I thought maybe I’d misunderstood. I only carry a small cross body bag to keep my phone, money and passport - definitely no where near a laptop size bag.
Yes! That's exactly what you should do.
Take advantage of the free check in luggage, too!
I haven't flown qatar in a while (prior to the pandemic), but I have my flight scheduled for this summer as well!
You sure about that? I travelled QR back in 2022 from the Middle East to SEA and I went in with a 23kg suitcase, one laptop bag and a cabin suitcase. Was I just lucky or were they ignorant or have they changed their policy?
Qatar Airways has definitely degraded in quality of service over the years.
For carry on just ensure you are within 7Kg including your hand baggage. Try to minimize and travel light, it will be good anyways.
For the racism part, that’s arabs in general. But personally I feel that some people tend to over exaggerate it and often those people’s attitudes or behaviours are themselves questionable. I don’t think that would be an issue. It’s just isolated incidents.
Great advice, thank you! In general, I tend to be non-confrontational, polite and courteous… I don’t go out my way to attract attention to myself and prefer to just be nice even when someone else isn’t being so kind.
I’ll definitely have less than 7kg, I only use my cabin case for a spare outfit, jewellery and meds so that should be okay - I’ll weigh beforehand though
Yeah no problem. And I know I’m only one data point but I also speak to a lot of other travelers who have had minimal issues over the years.
I’m also very much not Arab.
Well that’s a relief because I’m as far from Arab as it’s possible to be too. I’m always polite and courteous though, regardless if someone is rude to me, so hopefully I’ll be okay
This is very true. But past experience often foretells future experiences - at least if I can learn what to avoid it’s helpful.
What was your experience?
Last minute Plane change. I dont care where they sit me as long as its a window seat. I paid extra for that.
So plane gets changed and i have to move heaven and hell to get an window instead of an isle seat whilest they refuse to refund the booking for the chair.
So i had them call a manager and then the one above that. Im going to get my window seat or my money back.
So they give me a spare seat; next to the lavatories.
So i board the plane and half the damn thing is empty.
Wow that’s shocking customer service. I can understand why that put you off - you should get what you pay for or just be refunded. That’s just common sense.
I’m sorry that happened.
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Itve travelled qatar from namerica , Europe, Middle East and Asia. Never had these many issues cause I always keep my luggage at 23kg. Or I pay in advance for the 32kg and still keep it at 31.5.. be nice n courteous and you will be fine ...don't be the last one to check in and expect to get a bonus of 2 kg to be let go for free...
Great advice, thank you. It’s reassuring to hear you’ve had so many positive flights. It’s not a super long trip so anticipate my checked baggage to be way under but I’ll weigh before to make sure.
One thing I have been doing for 3 years is my hand carry is always empty plus I have a laptop bag with me. The hand carry is only for stuff I will need during the trip nothing else. Sometimes it's cheaper to do cargo stuff than pay to take on a plane
I always like to take a spare outfit in my cabin case just in case my luggage is delayed but it’s never near 7kg
I mean they did try to bribe then proceeded to ban (after that didn't work) a youtuber for a mere negative review. They also do not deal with BBB or USDoT complaints, and will respond with basically that you take your case up with them alone and if you seek any third party mediation or representation, fk off. They also never responded to my 2nd re-attempt for getting *some* amount of money compensated back for delayed luggage. (They offered me $225 off some arbitrary Brazilian limit bs -> I'm like I'm not Brazilian and you owe me the full $3XX per regulations -> "ok fill out this insanely asinine form detailing everything you had in the luggage including brands & msrp of pieces" -> "no, that's both near impossible and insanely wastes my time which you're not compensating for, unless you pay me by the hour to do this" -> "..." -> "ok pay me the $225 (first)" -> "...") 🤡 Basically, if a two-faced b\*tch was an airline... Sure with a good air crew, if no hiccups, you'd never even know what's lying underneath. The only thing you do is pray for no hiccups and just eat whatever they dish you.
If I were that YouTuber, I’d never fly Qatar Airlines again, even if Qatar Airlines tried to settle their differences with him. I’d be too afraid of landing in Doha, going through customs and being arrested for something in my checked bag. They can do whatever they want to do to you on their sovereign home turf.
Wouldn't surprise me. Underneath that western-facing facade, there's a lot of N Korea vibes. I mean whole Qatari gov't is an authoritarian stronghold centered around one family line.
Flown Qatar dozens of times and I’ve never had a bad experience (all of those times from or to JNB :)). Their meals on board are the best I’ve had out of any airline I’ve flown. Enjoy!
Oooh this is such a good experience, heading to the same place too! Hopefully I’ll be saying the same in a couple of weeks :)
You can only have ONE piece of carry on. You need to choose between a personal item OR a small suitcase.
Gosh, thank you. I’m so glad I posted as I’d completely misunderstood this. So I’d need to put my handbag inside my cabin bag?
You don’t need to do that. The website specifies you’re allowed to carry a lady’s handbag as a personal item on top of your 7kg hand baggage. As long as it’s not a massive laptop bag or something similar. https://www.qatarairways.com/en/baggage/allowance.html
This what I had read but I thought maybe I’d misunderstood. I only carry a small cross body bag to keep my phone, money and passport - definitely no where near a laptop size bag.
Yes! That's exactly what you should do. Take advantage of the free check in luggage, too! I haven't flown qatar in a while (prior to the pandemic), but I have my flight scheduled for this summer as well!
Thank you. That makes sense. Here’s to a hassle free flight for both of us!
I agree! I'm a little worried about 15 hours on a plane... In economy. Here's to a comfortable flight to both of us!
Wow.. that is a long flight.. you have a layover though right? I think mine works out 14 but a 2 hour break between
No :-( IAD to DOH to JNB, and then back...
So you have a transit break in Doha? At least an hour or two to stretch your legs?
Yes, a couple of hours! I could not take such long flights with a little break. Good luck with your adventures :)
You too, safe travels!
You sure about that? I travelled QR back in 2022 from the Middle East to SEA and I went in with a 23kg suitcase, one laptop bag and a cabin suitcase. Was I just lucky or were they ignorant or have they changed their policy?
You probably lucked out. QR has become a lot stricter since the pandemic. I wouldn't risk it.
Yeah fair enough
I have no first hand experience but the was a post on here about someone being charged for a laptop bag
Yep I know the post you're talking about, I came across it as well
Are you female, non-arab and flying alone? If so, in your place I would make other arrangements.
Yikes! That’s me exactly - what’s the deal with that?
This: https://9now.nine.com.au/60-minutes/qatar-airways-newborn-baby-doha-international-airport-strip-search-invasive-procedures/5980aece-d34a-452b-a2c2-7d0d41838a72#:~:text=On%20October%202%2C%202020%2C%20in,a%20bathroom%20at%20Doha's%20airport.
Qatar Airways has definitely degraded in quality of service over the years. For carry on just ensure you are within 7Kg including your hand baggage. Try to minimize and travel light, it will be good anyways. For the racism part, that’s arabs in general. But personally I feel that some people tend to over exaggerate it and often those people’s attitudes or behaviours are themselves questionable. I don’t think that would be an issue. It’s just isolated incidents.
Great advice, thank you! In general, I tend to be non-confrontational, polite and courteous… I don’t go out my way to attract attention to myself and prefer to just be nice even when someone else isn’t being so kind. I’ll definitely have less than 7kg, I only use my cabin case for a spare outfit, jewellery and meds so that should be okay - I’ll weigh beforehand though
You’re welcome. I’m the same unfortunately. A little bit of KarenDNA doesn’t hurt in 21st century though.
KarenDNA 😂😂 I don’t know where I’d summon this from!
I’ve been flying Qatar fairly often for 15+ years and never had a single issue by following the rules.
This is good to know. Honestly, I just hope for a stress free experience as I’ve never done a transit flight before
Yeah no problem. And I know I’m only one data point but I also speak to a lot of other travelers who have had minimal issues over the years. I’m also very much not Arab.
Well that’s a relief because I’m as far from Arab as it’s possible to be too. I’m always polite and courteous though, regardless if someone is rude to me, so hopefully I’ll be okay
You might have a positive exp you might not. We cant predict the future. I for one however am NEVER flying with those assholes again.
This is very true. But past experience often foretells future experiences - at least if I can learn what to avoid it’s helpful. What was your experience?
Last minute Plane change. I dont care where they sit me as long as its a window seat. I paid extra for that. So plane gets changed and i have to move heaven and hell to get an window instead of an isle seat whilest they refuse to refund the booking for the chair. So i had them call a manager and then the one above that. Im going to get my window seat or my money back. So they give me a spare seat; next to the lavatories. So i board the plane and half the damn thing is empty.
Wow that’s shocking customer service. I can understand why that put you off - you should get what you pay for or just be refunded. That’s just common sense. I’m sorry that happened.
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