My Journey: Navigating Umrah Pilgrimage and Airline Adventures

[wajidiqbal84]

Embarking on my Umrah pilgrimage journey from London's Heathrow to Jeddah via a Doha stopover with Qatar Airways was marked by some amusing twists and turns.

Opting for an economy ticket, I decided to enhance my journey by securing a seat in the small upper deck section of the Qatar A380 economy class. While pleasant, it didn't stand out as extraordinary. However, the prospect of an upgrade bid for the leg from Doha to Medina added a new layer of excitement. It did not cost much.

Upon receiving confirmation of the upgrade, I was initially puzzled by the mention of a first-class upgrade, given the absence of such seats on the A350 aircraft. It dawned on me that Qatar Airways' regional classification of business class as first class was the cause of the discrepancy.

At LHR, I was assured of lounge access in Doha but I faced disappointment. Despite a brief transit window, attempts to access the lounge for a quick change into Ihram were futile, highlighting a miscommunication regarding lounge access policies for onlie upgraded passengers.

The flight was nice, the a350 did not have Qsuites. The crew were caring and professional. A lot of passengers changed into ihram on board and plenty of information was provided about approaching Miqat by the flight deck crew.

Seeking clarification from Qatar Airways' customer service, I learned that the upgrade did not entitle me to lounge access, contradicting the initial assurances. This revelation underscored the importance of verifying information to avoid misconceptions and disappointments during travel.

On the return journey, marked by an upgrade on Royal Jordanian Airlines, I encountered a contrasting experience. Despite the upgrade, there were no queries regarding lounge access at Amman Queen Alia Airport, showcasing inconsistencies in lounge policies across airlines.

However, the journey with RJ was nothing to write home about. The business class cabin on the Embraer 195 presented ergonomic challenges and impersonal service from the cabin crew. The seats were wide but with poor recline. There was no IFE and iPads were handed out. The food was okay.

[wajidiqbal84]

[Abbas Ali]

Very nice photos and trip report - thank you for sharing.

Abbas

[Zulfiqar]

Thanks for the trip report. Nce photos as well. Umrah Mubarak, may your prayers be realised.
QR does not give lounge upgrade when you upgrade after buying your initial ticket. Outright Business Class ticket purchase is usually the only way - thats what i have read on their upgrade policy. So I am surprosed that lounge upgrade was promised at LHR. Q-suites are fantastic but the older style business class still good-and i love the A350.
Nice to see the L1011 at Amman (is it Amman?), although in a bad shape, seems like they are emulating Karachi aircraft dumpyard... aka Karachi Airport.