Arriving in Doha after leaving Hamburg this very early morning to fly to Frankfurt and to Doha on my way back to Cape Town. In Frankfurt I speak once again with the Station manager to assure that the airline gives me a hotel room as my transfer time is 11 hours. Arriving in Doha I experience that the 5 star service on board does not apply to the ground staff. No hotel at the airport and yes, the IATA rules say that if the transit time is more than 8 hours one is entitled to a hotel room, and yes, Qatar Airways is part of IATA, but no, the rules do not apply to Qatar Airways. No hotel room – they actually don’t even care at all..
Well, of course I can apply for a visa, pay for a visa and then go in search of a hotel in Doha – assistance, no assistance at all – that is my problem.. . I guess, that this is the last time I use Qatar Airways… So I will sit now for 11 hours waiting for my flight.. what a delight.. 😦
I got a frequent flyer card from Qatar Airways and I tried now twice to give it back.. but somehow nobody wants to take it here. Well, I will sent it back – so much for flying with arab airlines..
Besides the inconvenienced of not being able to sleep at all, the trip is has been a good one so far. The talk show went well, even I am not sure that my previous employer will be happy about my analysis regarding my “no-show” the last time I was invited.
The deal with the Udo Lindenberg Foundation, the contribution to the small 1-minute-movie-teaser regarding the Safehouse project, the meetings with Viola & Hermjo and Joachim & Sandra – all went well and hopefully the results are fruitful for HOPE Cape Town and the people we are looking after in the Western Cape.
Now I will start counting the sheep or the minutes.. 11 hours times 60 minutes.. a lot to count… hopefully I am falling not at the end asleep and miss my flight..
Filed under: General, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, Doha, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, IATA, Qatar Airways, Udo Lindenberg
God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE 