Business Class Flight from Bali to London (via Doha) with Qatar Airways - December 2015

I started the journey feeling odd returning to the UK after a three month trip, I left the UK on 22 September 2015.  So much has happened to us since then.

Where do I start about Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport. A new airport but a sad mess.  Bad signage and a long wait for Qatar Airways Premium check in, despite only two customers. 

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Dreadful Business Class Lounge in Bali

Security seemed difficult but they were then sweet but the lounge Qatar Airways use was terrible. Poor a/c, bad WiFi and made to order food where the pasta was not cooked properly - a lounge that was so bad people left it to go outside to be cool.

​Bali to Doha Plane

On the plane it was brilliantly cold and the champagne was perfect, and in proper glasses. Qatar Airways staff seem concerned about the lounge tales from various customers. I was in seat 2B (no First Class on this flight) and got the New York Times to read.

We were told it would be a rough flight with turbulence and the crew were slow about the drinks after take off. Dinner had too many problems (eg blue cheese too strong; ice cream having 'freezer burn’ etc). During dinner I watched Hugh Jackman in Dukale's Dream, sobering stuff that everyone who drinks coffee should watch.

I loved the kind crew, and slept for a few hours, but expected better on a 9 hour flight.

Doha's Hamad International Airport

At Doha the airport was packed, because of Qatar National Day, but transfer security was quick and easy. 

I was soon in the Al Mourjan Business Class lounge drinking Krug and eating a butter chicken curry, while Tweeting a complaint to Qatar Airways about the Bali lounge. 

A380 from Doha to London

The next plane was an A380 and I was in seat 10F (the first row of Business Class upstairs). We were served champagne in proper champagne glasses again and I got the Gulf Times to read.

As soon as the bar opened I was there chatting to the crew and drinking more Krug.  They seemed fascinated by the photos from Issy and my travels. OK, I was their only customer. 

I could not get the WiFi to work and so then slept for a few hours.  The bed was very comfortable and my iPhone charged while I slept.

In the morning I got an Indian breakfast, after a mix up over what I was ordering, and it was surprisingly good.

🐻🐻🐻🐻 (4 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - the lounge in Bali was a very bad start to the journey but drinking Krug in the bar on the A380 cannot be beaten. My tips: asked for Krug in the Business Class lounge in Doha, order food there from their menu and drink at the bar on the A380, as you get the First Class wines there and can stretch your legs. 

The vodka & tonic, and the noodles, were the only good things about the Bali lounge.

The Bali Business Class lounge from hell.

What a relief to be handed this glass of champagne and cold towel.

From the adverts on Qatar Airways, the Gritti Palace in Venice has greatly improved since I stayed there.

My grilled chicken with green papaya salad. The salad I made at Four Seasons Chiang Mai was better!

The Krug serving Al Mourjan Business Class lounge in Doha.

The bar on the A380.

The Business Class bed on the A380.

The Southern Indian style baked eggs with potatoes, tomato chutney & sambhar (a lentil and vegetable broth) that I ordered by accident and enjoyed.