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Qatar Airways increases flights from London, Manchester and Dublin

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When it comes to flights to the UK, and particularly London, Qatar Airways appears to be insatiable. Last year, it launched its eight daily flight to Heathrow.

This winter, it says it will have up to 10 flights per day to the airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with nine on other days.

This is on top of BA’s own two daily services to Doha as well as 10 weekly flights from Gatwick. Four Gatwick flights have been dropped – it was 14 – which explains some of the additional Heathrow capacity.

Qatar Airways increases Heathrow flights to 10 per day

Flights from Manchester will also increase from21 to 24 (over 3x daily) whilst Dublin goes from 14 to 17.

Flights do not appear to be loaded yet. It’s likely they will start from the end of October, which is when the winter season begins in the aviation world.

It’s unclear where the Heathrow slots are coming from to allow the increase, although winter is normally less busy than the peak summer months. It may be that Qatar Airways is able to mop up some unused capacity when flights to popular summer holiday destinations ramp down.

Either way, it is good news for anyone looking for excellent value Avios redemptions to Asia and Australia, as the additional flights should open up a few more reward seats.

The timetable, if confirmed, is a wonder to behold. There will be departures from Heathrow at 08.05 (A350), 08.25 (777), 08.35 (A380) and 08.40 (A350), with an extra 08.40 out of Gatwick for good measure.

These are all timed to catch the main ‘bank’ of onward departures from Doha. Good luck getting a seat in the Terminal 4 Premium Lounge!

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Category

Qatar Airways and Privilege Club

Comments (52)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Bystander says:
    1 Aug1 August 12:25

    I don’t know if QR still offers it, but there was a system whereby if one’s transfer time was more than 8 but less than 24 hours in DOH they would put you up in the Oryx Rotana and pay the $US50 visa fee (now scrapped). I was put on to this by QR’s staff when they were based in Poland. It only worked then from MAN, as that was QR’s only UK airport other than LHR. Since then I’ve used this from BHX and CWL (during the brief period that QR operated from there). The increased flights from MAN might stop that being available, but it could still work from BHX or EDI.

    On departure points: last year I went to CCU with QR. It was £900 cheaper (in J) to fly from DUB, and that’s having accounted for the LHR – DUB and DUB – BRS legs. As I would have needed to pay for an hotel at LHR the cost of staying at DUB was neutral in this calculation. Supper in the BA First lounge at LHR was free.

    • Gordon says:
      1 Aug1 August 19:49

      Thanks for of the tip on the complementary accommodation at Doha! I followed this up, and it is still available, I have an 8.5 hour layover, from a 2.5 hour one, after QR made a change, so this will come in handy.
      You need to request it via a form.

      https://www.qatarairways.com/en/hia-hamad-international-airport/transit-accommodation.html

    • John says:
      2 Aug2 August 00:45

      There hasn’t been a visa fee for Brits for 10 years and it wasn’t USD 50 anyway

      • Gordon says:
        2 Aug2 August 05:23

        The OP has already pointed out that the visa fee is “now scrapped” and In my post I was referring to accommodation and not the visa fee, as I already know that!
        Probably best speak to Qatar, as they still have this incorrect information on their website!

      • Bystander says:
        2 Aug2 August 16:11

        I never paid the visa fee, as QR did, but in 2016 their website told me that there was a visa fee and it was USD50. I was put on to it because I was concerned at a 45 minute connection from LHR to the one flight a day DOH – CCU. The nice Polish girl said that if I was concerned I would have to pay for an hotel and the visa fee myself if flying from LHR, but if I went from MAN I qualified for the deal. I flew from MAN (but back to LHR).

        I’m glad that Gordon has found the tip useful.

        • Gordon says:
          2 Aug2 August 18:12

          Form submitted! My flight is SGN-DOHA-LGW. QR have allowed me to submit the form, even though my flight is to LGW, I will see what transpires. Thanks again.

  • JK says:
    1 Aug1 August 12:26

    The check in area is already a mess – they’ve over complicated it and by trying to make the premium area separate, it’s actually counter productive. Should go back to how other airlines do it. Last time I flew with them there was a separate bag drop queue down the other end of the terminal which had very few people using it, maybe they expand that.

    • Tom says:
      1 Aug1 August 13:13

      The whole QR business experience these days is increasingly a bizarre pretend first class experience but done with business class staffing levels, catering, wines etc. I think the downward quality spiral has begun IMO (I was not hugely an Al Baker fan but it’s difficult to deny the extreme quality control has gone post-COVID).

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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