A combination of superb service from Gulf Air and the excellent Al-Maha service made one disabled traveller's trip an easy ride.
This was my first visit to beautiful Qatar, to visit my daughter and her family, but I was rather apprehensive about the journey and the whole transit process! I usually travel with my able bodied husband, and as I am slightly disabled and unable to walk very far, I was worried about changing planes, finding the correct departure point at the various airports and then actually managing to deal with the visa process and with finding my luggage, (and my family), at the final destination of Doha!
I need not have been concerned. From the point of checking in with the charming Gulf Air staff at Heathrow, and admiring the elegant uniform too, I was looked after so well all the way that I was amazed! I was taken to a waiting area, and then transported by wheelchair down seemingly miles of corridor and moving walkways to the boarding where I was able to walk on board and was seated in an aisle seat to make me more comfortable. After an excellent flight (good movies, good food and good staff too) we landed early at Bahrain, where I was taken by ambilift to the terminal and then escorted with wheelchair to the correct departure gate by a charming porter (although he did get lost initially!)
We took off again and shortly landed at Doha, where again the ambilift took me to the terminal, and there a member of the Al Maha staff was waiting to accompany us to their lounge area, where they took possession of my passport and processed the visa, whilst I sat in comfort with a complementary glass of orange juice! No stress here...
Then the beautiful girl from Al Maha escorted me and the pre-booked porter to baggage reclaim where they located my bag, loaded it onto a trolley and took me to the door of the building, where my daughter was waiting! The airline staff member then wheeled me out to the waiting car - and we set off to see the rest of my family! I have travelled a great deal in my life, and this was one of the easiest journeys I have undertaken - looking forward to visiting again, without any qualms now.
(Note - the Al Maha meet and greet service can be booked at any Qatar Airways outlet or at Doha airport.)
Jean Rasbridge is the owner of a disability business supplying power wheelchairs and other disabled equipment as well as the author of numerous articles on disability.
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