Several days ago, I wrote about how it looked like Qatar Airways would be resuming flights to a United States gateway that it cut a few years back. There’s now an update, as this has been officially announced.
Continue reading: Qatar Airways Resuming Philadelphia Flights, Taking Over American Route
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Look forward to the two more posts about this topic... Once the route goes on sale, and once the flights commence!
@ Hodor -- The flight is already on sale, and I don't typically do posts when routes commence. So you're spared! 🙂
Seems super fishy how QR and AA keep going into/out of this market in lockstep when they are still competitors (no ATI/JV despite their partnership) and aren't allowed to coordinate…
@ Yoshi -- Yeah, I'm with you there. I don't claim to know what's going on in the background, but it sure seems like there's a higher level of coordination than you'd expect to see for a non-ATI situation.
given that no US carriers are serving any cities in the Middle East right now, AA's intention to walk away from PHL-DOH is not that big of a deal.
the bigger story will be if the US airlines are able to restart TLV and if DL will actually start its service to RUH.
Gary quotes a source as saying EK's business class demand is down 50%; there is long term damage that has been done to the Gulf carriers because of the war but they all are trying to keep flights going - which will certainly eliminate any hope of profitability.
QR's takeover of PHL-DOH is just trying to keep its network alive and keep up w/ what EK and undoubtedly EY will do.
Good points. Besides, QR, EK, EY, etc. are better passenger experiences, and usually more reliable, anyway (unless QR does an aircraft swap, last-minute, from Q-Suite to 2-2-2 oldest cabins...)
As usual, no J award availability on AA. Just got an email that awards are plentiful on QA and BA however. Really screws all of us stupid enough not to have established transferable currencies.
"I have to imagine that most people would choose Qatar Airways over American"
I agree with your comment for business class and standard economy, but I can think of two advantages of AA over QR - premium economy and main cabin extra.
QR's economy is great, but I'd rather fly AA if I can get a few more inches of legroom with my elite status.
This is good news for QR travelers Ben!! So, how does QR's schedule look for the remainder of their major US destinations this summer? Any major reductions??
Wasn't this route being subsidized by the Qatar Govt as well? Maybe with the end of the potential subsidies and given the current conflict, AA felt it can utilize the B789 somewhere else. I flew on the route a bunch of times (mostly in J but sometimes in Economy Plus). I actually enjoyed the flight.
QR needs to offer a Premium Economy, they are behind.