Qatar Airways

History of Qatar Airways

Prior to 2002, Qatar, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Oman used the unified airline operator Gulf Air. However, due to the beginning of the policy of rooting in all countries of the region, the Emir of Qatar decided to establish his own airline. Doha, the capital of the emirate, became the base for Qatar Airways. From the very first day of its existence, QA has occupied the niche of elite transportation – so, even the company’s economy class is as comfortable as the comfort class of most other air carriers.

The company initially served flights in the Middle East (to Istanbul and the Gulf), but Qatar has gradually established connections to Europe, Australia and the USA. Since 2007, QA has been an exclusive partner of Boeing and Airbus, which means an exceptional level of training for engineers and pilots. Qatar Airlines has experienced only two incidents in its history (both during the withdrawal of an airplane from the hangar).

Qatar Airways fleet

The company’s air fleet – 236 aircrafts – is one of the largest in the world. Despite its size, the fleet is regularly updated and kept in perfect condition.

Qatar Airways flight destinations

The only direct destination available with QA flights from Russia is the Moscow-Doha flight. The flight is operated from Sheremetyevo airport. There are two flights (departure times are 00:50 and 17:25 Moscow time), the flight takes 5 h 25 minutes. All flights are operated in comfortable airplanes with rich menus and exceptional service. The cost of the flight is not cheap – the minimum price starts from 44,000 rubles in economy class. Please note that at the end of the week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) only a night flight from Sheremetyevo is available.

Classes of service

QA can please its passengers with three classes of service – economy, business and first class. Even QA’s economy class is comparable to similar comfort classes on other airlines.

Qatar Airways Loyalty Programs

QA has two loyalty programs:

• Beyond Business — corporate discount program for customers of companies that often use QA for their employees’ flights;
• Privilege Club — the opportunity to accumulate “avios” that can be spent on upgrading service levels, paying for tickets and purchasing services from QA partner companies. Members of the rewards program have the opportunity to sign up for a prepaid MasterCard, which also allows them to earn avios and spend them around the world. Qatar Airways has the largest partner network of any airline in the world – you can spend bonuses at 500+ companies in over 40 countries. Four tiers of the rewards program – Burgundy, Silver, Gold and Platinum – give you access to extra luggage, free business lounge access and airport transfer service.

Luggage allowances

Even in economy class, QA’s baggage allowances are increased compared to other competitors. The cost of one non-standardized piece of baggage for Russians is 13 USD/place. Standard restrictions on the carriage of the following items apply:

• explosive materials;
• corrosive, radioactive and chemical/biologically hazardous substances;
• magnetic devices;
• fireworks and any illuminating powders;
• compressed gas cylinders;
• undeclared weapons.

Check-in

Check-in opens 24 hours in advance and closes 45 minutes prior to departure. To check-in, go to qatarairways.com, then select “Check-In” and enter the booking code/passenger’s name in Latin characters. Then click on the “Check-In” button. In the window that opens, select your seat and set of services and then confirm your check-in. You will be provided with an electronic boarding pass, which you can print out at a special airport terminal or present electronically at baggage drop-off.

Qatar Airways Contacts