Qatar Airways’ new fare structure ‘irks’ travellers

A three-tier fare structure recently introduced by Qatar Airways seems to have taken air travel by the national carrier beyond the reach of hundreds of passengers.
While the airline says the new fare structure is meant to avoid “blocking seats for low fares” many passengers say it makes travel (by the national carrier) exorbitantly costlier, especially if one makes last-minute booking.
Several passengers have complained to Gulf Times against Qatar Airways’ new fare structure. A passenger said when he approached the airline for an economy class seat on Qatar Airways to Thiruvananthapuram on December 17 he was given a quotation for QR5,030 (return fare included).
He said: “This is somewhat the fare Qatar Airways charged its passengers to Washington DC in October. What’s the logic in levying the same fare for travel to a destination which is one-fourth the distance of Washington DC?”
The passenger also said he was offered a return fare of QR2,970 to Thiruvananthapuram provided he bought the ticket by December 20 and travelled in July 2008.
Passengers complain that air fares to Indian destinations are almost two times costlier than other destinations operated by the airline. They point out some of the Gulf-based budget carriers operate flights to Indian cities at charges as low as QR1,000 (return) provided the seat is booked in advance.
16/12/07 Gulf Times, Qatar

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Categories: Foreign Dec 2007