Qatar Airways adds 11 weekly London flights

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• Peggerz says:

  2 Mar2 March 10:08

  Hi Rob.
  Just to add that Qatar are upping their game at EDI too with 10 flights a week going to 14, starting 1st July 2023.

  • Colin MacKinnon says:

    2 Mar2 March 10:30

    Hi Peggerz,

    Thanks to BA’s levelling up programme with the new 241s, we have just changed an INV-LHR-SYD to an EDI-LHR-SYD.
    We had decided against Qatar because we thought BA’s 05:05hrs arrival was maybe better than Qatar’s c17:00, and there was no EDI-DOH availability!

    But if there’s now availability on QR ex-EDI…….?

    We have got AKL-DOH-EDI with a three hour layover in DOH, so very happy with that.

    • Lol says:

      2 Mar2 March 17:34

      Be thankful you can even do such a trip.

• Tim P says:

  2 Mar2 March 11:57

  Qatar is also undertaking a major equipment reshuffle. My flight DOH – BKK in October has been changed from an A380 to a B777 and my booked first downgraded to business.

  I’m wondering whether the A380s are being re-withdrawn following Qatar and Airbus’ kiss and make up over the A350s.

  • VALittleRed says:

    2 Mar2 March 12:14

    Wouldn’t be surprised, Akbar has always said he doesn’t like them from a commercial point of view sadly. I would be sad to see the onboard bar go.

    • Neil says:

      2 Mar2 March 16:08

      Doubt it, the DOH-BKK route is always a roulette with equipment shuffles regularly happening pre COVID as well.

• Nick says:

  2 Mar2 March 13:52

  As if a government run by and for the hardcore Brexiteer/Tufton St gang would ever allow european governments to collect biometrics “on British soil” 😂

  No matter how sensible an idea it would be, there’s no chance it would ever happen. They’re already apoplectic that the EU hasn’t just rolled over and given ’special’ England an opt-out from the policy in the first place.

  • A says:

    2 Mar2 March 14:13

    Tbf they already allow it for US global entry, it requires a uk background check first. IMHO tufton st are most likely funded by multinationals and brexiteers are the foolish puppets of foreign (kremlin adjacent) interests.

  • Ray B says:

    4 Mar4 March 23:54

    If the EU thinks that it is fireproof they will be the losers if Brits decide to holiday outside the EU,they would suffer a considerable loss of income.

• M Jones says:

  2 Mar2 March 17:04

  Oh dear poor you. Imagine having to share your Egates with other country citizens! Spare a thought for us Brits who have to share our Egates with EU/EEA, Swiss, Canadian, US, Australian, NZ, Singaporean, South Korean and Japanese citizens!
  Seriously for EU citizens to be annoyed that UK citizens can use Egates there sometimes is incredibly hypocritical.

  • NFH says:

    2 Mar2 March 18:09

    Sharing e-gates between EU and non-EEA nationals would be fine. But EU citizens shouldn’t have to queue behind non-EEA citizens while they are quizzed about the reasons for their trip, are asked to show a return ticket, and their passport stamps are checked for compliance with the 90/180-day rule. That’s why there are supposed to be separate lanes for EEA and non-EEA nationals.

    And of course I sympathise with the many British citizens who knew and warned that travel to the EU would become more difficult, and who voted against this outcome, but whose warnings were misleadingly dismissed as “project fear” by a mendacious leave campaign.

    • M Jones says:

      2 Mar2 March 20:04

      I understand your points. However do you see that British nationals entering the EU always have to answer these questions, whereas EU nationals avoid them entering the UK as they still use E gates just as they did pre Brexit? Not reciprocal.

      This coming from a Remain voter who also agrees with your point above that the UK Government never had a mandate to leave the EEA. I hope to see us back in the EEA soon.

      • NFH says:

        2 Mar2 March 20:27

        I only partially agree with you, because e-gates exist only at some airports and Eurostar terminals. When travelling by Eurotunnel or ferry or via small airports, there are no e-gates. UK Border Force does question EU nationals where there are no e-gates, and sometimes refuses entry for spurious reasons. For example, UK Border Force refused entry to an EU grandmother who was coming to the UK to look after her UK-resident grandchildren, as UK Border Force considered this to be “work”. UK Border Force treats EU nationals far worse than EU border guards treat British citizens.

    • M Jones says:

      2 Mar2 March 21:33

      I disagree. I think both are equally as bad. Did you see Sweden are trying to deport an elderly women with Alzheimer’s back to the UK? I don’t condone UK either with that grandmother, nor that poor Italian girl coming over to babysit for a relative. Whole thing is ridiculously cruel on both sides.

      I seem to always have issue when entering the EU in Sweden, Netherlands or Norway..I get grilled and eyed up like a criminal. Compare that to Portugal or Italy where it’s an Egate then an automatic stamp after and no questions whatsoever. Kinda makes Schengen a bit of a mockery based on the suffering levels of scrutiny depending on the entry country. But my experiences in Sweden and Netherlands in particular are hardly reciprocal, when on the return flights their citizens shoot through the UK egates in seconds without any questioning.

      • NFH says:

        3 Mar3 March 07:07

        Yes, it is very unfortunate that the EU countries visited most by Brexiteers allow easy entry, while the EU countries visited least by Brexiteers are more stringent. The difference in approach is probably because high-income cold countries attract more people wanting to earn money whereas low-cost hot countries attract more people wanting to spend money.

      • M Jones says:

        3 Mar3 March 13:21

        Very interesting point. Never thought of it that way.
        The problem is that I as a remain voter who needs to travel to different countries in the EU on a regular basis get treated like a criminal entering the northern colder countries, and realise what a pain it all is now.
        Brexiteers fly into Spain, Cyprus and Portugal and very little has changed so do not see any downside.

• EU says:

  2 Mar2 March 17:35

  Can’t believe ETIAS is delayed again. The sooner we start charging people to enter the better.

  • Alex Sm says:

    2 Mar2 March 20:00

    You are already stamping UK passports and barring UK passport holders from using e-hates while enjoying stamp-free and e-border entry to the UK! What else do you need??? I’m not a Brexiteer but this lack of reciprocity is an utter disgrace…

    • Alex Sm says:

      2 Mar2 March 20:00

      *e-gates

    • M Jones says:

      2 Mar2 March 21:35

      Totally agree.

    • Phillip says:

      2 Mar2 March 22:28

      Cyprus allows U.K. passport holders use of “E-gates”! Or their version of, at least!

      • M Jones says:

        2 Mar2 March 23:01

        France, Spain, Portugal and Italy do as well as their main airports and in France case at St Pancras now. You do need a stamp after but it’s quick with no questions.

        Contrast that to to the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway where you get grilled and eyed up like a criminal. I find travelling to the US less of an ordeal.

        Makes a mockery of Schengen really that some members are so chill and others so OTT.

        • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

          3 Mar3 March 01:26

          Two weeks ago I was indeed “grilled” by the K Mar on arrival at AMS,

          It went something like this

          K Mar – how long are you visiting for

          Me – five nights until next Monday

          K Mar – enjoy your stay

          Me -dank u wel

          I was certainly left quivering like a jelly after that ordeal.

        • Rob says:

          3 Mar3 March 08:06

          Turn up Friday with your kids and of course you’re fine. Turn up on Monday with a return flight on Tuesday, with a laptop bag, alone, and expect serious discussions about why you are entering Europe for business purposes without a visa.

          (This is normally my situation. The reason I am not on business of course is that we are reviewing a flight or hotel, not attending meetings.)

        • M Jones says:

          3 Mar3 March 13:16

          When I see grilled I mean it.
          I do not mean the US style ‘business or pleasure, sir’ exchange.
          I mean demand to see proof of income, proof of return ticket, slow look through every page of my passport to count stamp days.
          I got royally told off the other day on a Denmark to Sweden ferry by the Swedes for having two British passports. I mean come on.
          Then you fly into Portugal or Italy and its an E-Gate and you are through.
          Lets remember EU citizens flying into most UK airport shoot through the E gates with no questions at all!

    • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

      3 Mar3 March 01:20

      Lack of reciprocity is called taking back control.

      It applies to the EU as much as the UK.

    • conspicuous-capybara says:

      3 Mar3 March 10:22

      If you think the UK-Schengen relationship is uneven you must be incensed at the discrepancy between an American sailing through e-gates in the UK and a British person being fingerprinted and questioned every time upon their entry in the US.

      • M Jones says:

        3 Mar3 March 13:18

        Well yes that is true.
        But let us remember Singapore, NZ and Australia have now reciprocated allowing Brits to use their E-Gates.
        However at least the US does have a GE system which is as good as an E-Gate albeit with considerable cost and hassle at the front end.
        My hope is E-Gates become the way, and hopefully EES/ETIAS will allow quick use of them once initial registration is complete.

• Alex Sm says:

  2 Mar2 March 20:07

  What is the UK equivalent of ETIAS for the EU citizens and what is the time for its introduction? Maybe this is the cause of the delay as they need to be synced for reciprocity reasons?

  • M Jones says:

    2 Mar2 March 21:27

    The UK will be introducing an ETA in 2025. My hope is over the next two years UK and EU can engage in further bilaterals to exempt each other from such schemes. Unlikely but this latest NI deal gives me hope of further good faith discussions to benefit the citizens and businesses of both sides. Lets see.

    • NFH says:

      3 Mar3 March 07:10

      The UK should impose reciprocal ETA fees for citizens of countries that charge British citizens for a similar e-visa. So citizens of ETIAS countries would pay EUR 7, US citizens would pay USD 21, Canadians would pay CAD 7, Australians would pay AUD 20 and New Zealand citizens would pay NZD 52. This would have the added benefit that these nationalities would pay in their own currency. Other nationalities should pay a flat GBP 5.

      • M Jones says:

        3 Mar3 March 13:24

        Maybe they should but that would probably be hard to administer.
        Australia however does have a reciprocal system, UK citizens are exempt from their fee as they are eligible for the fee evisitor.
        I suspect a flat fee of around £10 will apply.

• riku says:

  2 Mar2 March 21:06

  >>Anyone visiting the Schengen area who does not require a full Visa will need to apply in advance for ETIAS
  That is not true. ETIAS would not apply to British passport holders with a permanent resident card for an EU country.

  • redlilly says:

    3 Mar3 March 13:48

    Surely those British passport holders with PR for an EU country, fall under the category of those “visiting the Shenghen area who do not require a visa” (i.e. the caveat in the article)?

    This PR should also be linked to a passport, which “should” mean you can use an e-gate for EU citizens. At least if you need to go and see a border agent, you can show your PR it asked…

• Russ says:

  5 Mar5 March 09:22

  This is linked to your passport so why do they need your pic and fingerprints it goes against the whole idea in the first place. The questions they ask to get the ETIAS is ridiculas. Why do they need to know where you work how much you get paid ? How long you worked there and other private and personal questions which have nothing to do with travel just so you can go there for a holiday

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