Another good experience with Qatar Airways. Flew Dubai-Doha-Heathrow.

Flight to Dubai was delayed due to 2 passengers who had checked in not turning up at gate and their baggage having to be removed. Despite a late arrival at Doha leaving a very short connecting time between flights of only 29 minutes, Qatar Airways were very organised and ensured that all connecting passengers made their onward flights and also their baggage!

As with the outward flight - excellent in-flight service. Both flights were full.

Arrival at Heathrow 30 minutes early was spoiled by having to wait 30 minutes for a gate to become available. Only negative aspect of the flight was after arrival at Heathrow. My wife who was flying with me is disabled and has difficulty walking and we therefore require wheelchair assistance. At all other airports on this journey it was provided with no problems, but at Heathrow the 2 passengers requiring wheelchair assistance were met with only one wheelchair. The person pushing the wheelchair then tried to run a relay taking one passenger so far, leaving them and then coming back for the other. This worked until we reached the immigration area where my wife was told to wait for a short time (10 to 15 minutes). Nobody came back and after 35 minutes my wife had to struggle on foot through immigration and the baggage hall.

Qatar Airways is not directly to blame as they use a contractor for wheelchair assistance at Heathrow. Having booked this 4 months in advance we expected better. Recent experiences of Heathrow have been getting worse and worse, and its declining reputation is only being affirmed by such incidents.