Flying Qatar Airways

Yes on the road again, this time with Qatar Airways from Cape Town to Manila, where I will be spending the next three weeks. I did a bit internet research and as I am paying for this flight I have no option as to take the cheapest flight available, but cheap doesn’t mean bad. Qatar advertises to be the World’s 5 star Airline, so expectations are high.......and met.

Even so the planes have a very plain look from the outside with this white and grey, inside they are good, very clean and modern. I love the lights on the side, different colours gives the interior a great look. I had plenty of space in my seat and the seat was really comfortable, so everything went off to a good start. We were totally in time and took off smoothly. Every seat has its own TV screen and I have to admit that the entertainment system is one of the best I have seen so far, very easy to use, loads of new movies and plenty of choice in general, I could even watch my movie while we had a stopover in Johannesburg.

Now being a chef, the food is of course very important. First minor disappointment, no choice of food on the first leg to Johannesburg, but we were served a spicy hot Chicken Byriani with some lovely Dhal, really good. So we are all happy, the plane is quite empty, but filled up completely in Johannesburg. Service was impeccable all the way through, we were served the food on paper underlay’s, nice touch, the wine was excellent, Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, just the food between Johannesburg and Doha was very bland, I had Chicken in mushroom Sauce with potato and vegetables, very, very bland, especially after the super Byriani. Breakfast was a simple roll filled with scrambled egg, nothing special, but the coffee was really good and again, service was top notch.

But overall I have to say flying Qatar Airways was a top experience on the first leg. I am now for 12 hours in Doha Airport, after flying such a great Airline the home airport was just simply no good. I did expect more from a Middle Eastern Airways, not that everybody has to be the same like Dubai, but even the toilets were old and grotty, water everywhere, just not nice. The Food Court is not satisfying to say the least, sorry but I am a foodie and there is just no choice. I think this airport needs work, a lot of work, the best of the whole airport is the kids section, if families have a long lay over, that is the place to go, there is food available close by and the kids can go wild. Don’t buy anything in the Duty Free zone, it is very expensive, a lot more expensive than going shopping at home.

Watch out for more news from Qatar Airways, my next leg and some photos of the food served!!!! This blog is basically life, just landed here in Doha and the blog is online!!!!