How fine can you cut business class checkin on Qatar at LHR?

[schmalex]

Hi folks,

Does anyone have specific experience of how tight you can cut checking in on Qatar business class at LHR4?

I have a flight to Singapore next Sunday at 1505 but want to watch my lad play rugby in Newbury with an 1130 kick off.

My thinking is

1130 - 1200: First Half
12:00 - 12:05: Half Time
12.05 - 12.35: Second Half
12:40 - Leave Newbury
13:40 - Arrive LHR4 Short Term Parking
13:50 - Checkin and bag drop
15:05 - Flight Leaves

I'm trying to bribe the ref to bring the kick off forward, as it's cutting it damned fine!

[schmalex]

I think I've answered my own question. 1 hour.

[GCH]

A lot closer with carry on only. Conformance cut off time is 35mins.

[schmalex]

Ooh. That’s good to know. I’m only in Singa for 4 nights so might get away with carry-on if I can roll a couple of suits well enough!!

[dtmpower]

What about leaving at half time and watching the second half by video streaming ?

[schmalex]

I miss so many of his matches due to work travel that I’ve made a promise to myself and him that I’ll be there if I possibly can be.

[HotJambalaya]

GCH said:

A lot closer with carry on only. Conformance cut off time is 35mins.

Conformance at T5 is 35 mins. Its set by the individual airline at the other terminals. So check with QR directly. However an hour will be more then enough time.

[StevieBee]

Your itinerary looks entirely doable to me. More so if you can do carry on only.

That said, short term at T4 can be a bit hit and miss. May be worth doing valet parking to afford you a little headroom.

[audidoody]

You could shave 20 minutes off that by getting a car to drop you off at the terminal.

Vaket parking? Nah. Too many horror stories.

Edited by audidoody on Wednesday 17th January 10:11

[Amateurish]

Good for you for having your priorities right.

[schmalex]

I would never trust valet parking if time's tight, to be honest. I've been stuck waiting 10 mins++ for Purple Parking reps to turn up so many times that I'd prefer to be in control of my time at the airport!

I thought about a driver but I reckon I can hot-foot it to LHR and park quicker than the driver will get me there! I use the EK service a lot and there can be a lot of dawdling at 60 / 65 along the M4 - fine when you've got all the time in the world, but sometimes...

[Ynox]

Personally I think the best bet is to skip the 2nd half, maybe even the first half.

Hand luggage only and this is doable, but if you must be on the flight I think it's pushing it - a crash on the M4 or similar and you're screwed.

[schmalex]

I absolutely have to be on the flight. I've got a 1hr transfer window at Doha and the connection gets to SIN at 3.35pm on the Monday and I have a 4.30pm meeting at Marina Bay that I can't miss, but there's no way I'm missing the game (or as much of it as humanly possible!). I deliberately didn't take the 11.55am EK flight so I could watch it, so I'm damned if I'm going to miss the game AND not fly my preferred airline!!

I'm not that fussed about all the rubbish in the lounge beforehand - as long as I can get to watch the game, get to LHR and jump on the flight, that's all I need.

[Shay HTFC]

Aim for carry on and it should be a doddle!

[Taaaaang]

schmalex said:

I use the EK service a lot and there can be a lot of dawdling at 60 / 65 along the M4 - fine when you've got all the time in the world, but sometimes...

One of the drivers told me they are tracked and can be sacked for exceeding 65.

Whether he was lying and just didn't want to use his fuel, I don't know.

Back when they used to offer it, an Etihad car didn't drop below 100 taking me from Brum to LHR so it may be bks.

[schmalex]

There’s something in that. Some of the EK chauffeur companies do have trackers and limiters - I had one guy collect me in an S Class that was limited to 72. He said it drove him bananas.

Another bunch that EK use refund their drivers for fuel based on manufacturers claimed mpg, so they spend their whole lives sitting at 55, trying to eek out as much as possible. To be fair, he did say that if the passenger insisted he travelled at 70 (where safe and legal), he was obliged to do so.

[Mr Pointy]

Qatar Airlines business check in is very efficient & I've often been walking towards the security check ten minutes after entering the main door. I think there are three check in desks plus the First Class one which they feed Business Class in to if it's empty. You should have a fast pass for security as well so you won't have to queue with the long line of plebs.

I think you'll make it easily even with luggage although I doubt you'll get much lounge time (no great loss to be honest). The Qatar check in desks are at the extreme left hand end of the terminal as you look at it from the drop-off area.

[King Herald]

I know it is extreme, but how about early check in, check bag, get boarding pass, go see the match, rush back to airport......

They won’t leave with your bag on board unless you are present, plus you skip check in when you get back, just straight to immigration.

It depends on the flight, sometimes check in is not open that far ahead.

[Ynox]

schmalex said:

Hi folks,

Does anyone have specific experience of how tight you can cut checking in on Qatar business class at LHR4?

I have a flight to Singapore next Sunday at 1505 but want to watch my lad play rugby in Newbury with an 1130 kick off.

My thinking is

1130 - 1200: First Half
12:00 - 12:05: Half Time
12.05 - 12.35: Second Half
12:40 - Leave Newbury
13:40 - Arrive LHR4 Short Term Parking
13:50 - Checkin and bag drop
15:05 - Flight Leaves

I'm trying to bribe the ref to bring the kick off forward, as it's cutting it damned fine!

How did it go? Hope you made it!

[schmalex]

It’s next Sunday. I’ll update from, hopefully, the plane!

I’ve got to nip to Canada for a couple of days this week