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Al Baker steps down as CEO for Qatar
Qatar Airways Group has confirmed that after 27 years, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive – His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, will be stepping down from his current position as Group Chief Executive effective 5 November 2023, and will be succeeded by Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer as Group Chief Executive for Qatar Airways. Al-Meer is currently the Chief Operating Officer of the Hamad International Airport in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
In addition to being CEO of Qatar Airways Group, Al Baker has also served as Chairman of Qatar Tourism, and CEO of Hamad International Airport. He has also announced that he is standing down from his current role in Qatar Tourism.
Having heard him at several press conferences, Al Baker was certainly not backwards in giving his opinion and was known to rule the airline with an iron fist. For all his faults, you can’t deny that he built a very impressive airline and led the industry with products such as the QSuite and offering free fast wifi from gate to gate. However, since Covid, it has felt like the crown was slipping to me. Complicated business light fares, multiple different types of business class seats with constant aircraft swaps which means you never know what you will end up with and sky-high fares.
It has certainly set the rumour mill running as to where Al Baker could go next. The primary rumour was that he could be the next chairman of IAG. Qatar Airways, of course, has a 25% stake in IAG. However, it has now been announced that Al Baker has been appointed advisor to H.E the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Luxury hotel discounts
Here is a round-up of the latest hotel offers:
- Book your stay in a room or villa at Anantara Palm Jumeirah up to four days prior to arrival and receive 10% off the best flexible rate. The offer is valid until 30/11/2023. The rooms are either set around the lagoon pool, with many having direct access or over the sea. The overwater bungalows, the only ones in the UAE currently, look stunning. Prices start from £196 per room. You can find more details here.
- Stay Longer Special for Anantara’s Niyama Private Islands, Maldives. Save 15% on stays of three nights or more with advance booking at Niyama Private Islands, Maldives, until 31/12/2023. Rates include breakfast but can be upgraded to half board. You can find more details here.
- Six Senses Rome. This offer includes a 25% discount on the best Available Rate (BAR) and access to the renowned spa, where guests can enjoy Roman Bath experiences. Only available to book through our luxury travel agent partners GTC.
- 25% off Rosewood Abu Dhabi with free access to the spa and sauna. The rate is non-refundable and non-changeable. Full payment is due at the time of booking. Here is our review of the hotel. You can find details on this page.
- IHG have a special offer for their Maldives properties. The Maldives Getaway offer is available for bookings from 23 October 2023 to 22 November 2023, for stays from now until 9 May 2024. At the InterContinental® Maldives Maamunagau Resort, where all guests enjoy Club InterContinental access you get 30% off the best flexible rate, breakfast and dinner inclusions and 50% savings on seaplane transfers when you stay at least four nights. The offer page is here.
United Avios collecting likely to end
The codeshare partnership between United Airlines and Aer Lingus that started in July 2008 is ending. The U.S. Department of Transportation has received a document from United stating that the airlines are ending their cooperation as of 27 October 27.
So why is this significant? Well, United is something of an oddity in that you can collect Avios on this Star Alliance carrier currently by crediting your flights to Aer Club, Aer Lingus’ loyalty scheme. Now that the agreement between the two airlines is being ended, I think it is unlikely that you will still be able to collect Avios on United. Hopefully, they will allow customers with flights already booked to collect the Avios still, but there is no guarantee. So far, there has been no announcement from Avios or Aer Lingus.
5 comments
With UA out of the system would that open up EI to offering TPs, on top of avios already earned, on flights in the medium term ( BA’s IT incompetencey aside of course)
I still don’t think they will do it except on the joint venture since they are not a member of oneworld and are semi-low cost. Bit of an oddity like Vueling. But we will see what happens. I can see them not offering anything on short haul in particular but hopefully I am wrong.
Al-Baker going, I bet there are sighs of relief at both Airbus and Boeing because for years he has been at war with at least one of them.
I did hear a rumour a while ago that part of the settlement over the A350 agreed with Airbus was that he would go by the end of the year but I now wonder if it was true.
Also now, maybe the Qatar A380 is safe in the skies for years to come.
Ah, this is interesting, I am about to take the rtn leg of a UA flight on Monday. Do you know if that can be reclaimed if I sign up to EI as I am only on BA/QT at the moment?
Yes providing you haven’t added any other loyalty number you can claim it afterwards.
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