NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU: Qatar Airways has become a major global airline and a dominant player for flights between the US and Nepal. It currently has direct flights from New York (JFK), Washington (IAD), Houston (HOU), and Chicago (ORD) to Doha, and will be adding flights from Philadelphia (PHL) (April 2, 2014), Miami (MIA) (June 2, 2014) and Dallas (DFW) (July 1, 2014). It is expected to add more flights in 2014 and 2015.
With three flights daily between Doha and Kathmandu, Qatar Airways carries the most passengers between the US and Nepal. The fleet is modern and the average aircraft is less than three years old. Qatar Airways provides a wide variety of in-flight entertainment in many languages. With its well trained, multilingual staff, it has become the bench mark for quality, not just in Nepal, but in the entire airline industry.
With the exception of the flights between Philadelphia and Kathmandu, all flights from the US have a long layover in Doha in both directions. If the layover in Doha is more than eight hours, the airline may provide complimentary hotel and transfer (known as STPC) for tickets that are purchased at regular prices. Tickets bought at sales or lower yields normally do not come with a complimentary layover. During ticket purchase, please ask your travel agency if Qatar Airways will provide a STPC for your flight..
Please be sure to ask your travel agency about transit hours and find out if any complimentary or paid services are available during your transit. A variety of layover options are available for purchase from the airline. Normally, prior arrangements are needed to use these services.
Travelers who do not wish to leave the airport during a longer layover can take advantage of the Oryx Lounge. The cost is USD 40 per person for a stay of up to six hours and it includes meals, lounges for rest, and a shower area. Alternatively, the Silver Lounge is available by invitation, or for travelers who have accumulated higher miles from Qatar Airways. One can also avail of Silver Lounge services by paying USD 20.
Most flights from the eastern metropolitan cities in the US to Kathmandu take about twenty hours of flight time, make one stop in Europe and another one in Doha, and take about four to eight hours of transit time depending upon your flight selections.
Another advantage of flying Qatar Airways is the language skills of the staff. For Nepalese parents who may not have the luxury of traveling with their English speaking children, it is likely the staff can communicate in Nepali or Hindi.
Like any major airline, it has also interline agreements with a number of airlines in the US and provides connectivity to many cities. Qatar Airways joined the One World Alliance in October 2013, allowing itto reach more destinations worldwide.
Qatar Airways has special promotions throughout the year. We encourage you to create a Qatar Airways frequent flyer account with the airline as the likelihood of repeat flying in this airline is very high.
www.nepaltravelbook.com
Friday, February 13, 2015
