Based on our recent trip to Bangkok via Doha and Birmingham, this was likely our first and last time flying with Qatar Airways. Despite their reputation as a top-tier airline, our experience across four flights was anything but positive.

Priority Service & Seating Issues The priority service for disabled passengers was inconsistent and, at times, nonexistent. Despite paying extra for seats advertised as having additional legroom, we were given standard economy seats on all four flights. To make matters worse, fellow passengers sitting next to us confirmed they had not paid extra for their seats, yet their legroom was no different from ours. This left us feeling misled by Qatar Airways' booking staff.

Unfriendly & Indifferent Cabin Crew The airline’s staff across all flights were cold, unapproachable, and lacked basic hospitality. There were no smiles, no courtesy, and little effort to make passengers feel welcome. Interestingly, the only time we noticed crew members being warm and helpful was when interacting with passengers who spoke their language. It was a stark contrast to the level of service we expected.

Uncomfortable Seats & Poor Cabin Conditions The economy class seats were hard, cramped, and uncomfortable, making long-haul flights a struggle—especially when passengers in front of us fully reclined their seats. The lack of personal space and poor legroom (even after paying extra) made the journey incredibly uncomfortable.

Adding to the discomfort, two of our flights had visibly unwell passengers onboard, including someone seated next to me who was vomiting, sneezing, and coughing excessively. It was shocking that Qatar Airways allowed such obviously sick individuals to fly, disregarding the health and well-being of others.

Food & Health Concerns While the food and drinks were average for economy class, I fell violently ill after eating a salad dish on our return flight from Doha to Birmingham. Within minutes, I was vomiting in the restroom for over 20 minutes. Prior to the flight, I had no health issues—unlike the sick passengers we were forced to sit near. The lack of hygiene precautions was concerning.

Disorganized Boarding & Lack of Support Qatar Airways failed to provide the wheelchair assistance we had arranged for two of our flights. We were also taken onboard after most passengers, leaving no overhead storage for our hand luggage. When we raised this with cabin staff, they showed little concern.

To make matters worse, our departure from Bangkok was chaotic, with little guidance on which gate to go to. Even our boarding passes lacked this crucial information.

Damaged Luggage & Poor Customer Service Upon arrival in Bangkok, our suitcase was damaged. However, we couldn’t find a single Qatar Airways representative to assist us. We later filed a complaint via their website, but the response from their customer service agents was dismissive and indifferent.

Final Verdict: Not Worth the Hype From misleading seat assignments and poor customer service to sick passengers onboard and an overall lack of care, our experience with Qatar Airways was frustrating and exhausting. Their so-called "world’s best airline" reputation did not match our reality.

For future trips to Thailand, we’ll be considering Emirates, EVA Air, or Thai Airways instead. Based on our experience, we do not recommend Qatar Airways.

Unless you're traveling in first class, I would strongly recommend avoiding this airline. They seem to have little to no regard for their standard passengers. The app and online portal are extremely frustrating to use—you’ll spend ages trying to navigate it, only to end up needing to check in at the airport because it doesn’t work properly.

The check-in process at Heathrow is consistently the worst I’ve experienced with any airline—chaotic, poorly managed, and incredibly time-consuming. Unfortunately, the experience doesn’t improve much from there. The in-flight entertainment is subpar compared to other airlines, the service is unfriendly, and the food is disappointing at best.

There are far better options available, so I’d suggest avoiding this airline if you have a choice.