WORST POSSIBLE SERVICE! More like 1 star!

We had booked our honeymoon to the Maldives with Virgin Holidays in July 2014 and were allocated connecting flights with Qatar airways (Heathrow - Doha, Doha - Male) Time of departure was scheduled for 15.10pm and once landed in Doha we had 1 hour scheduled to make the transfer to the next flight. However we already got delayed in Heathrow for 1 hour before the flight took off. Having in mind that we only had one hour to change flights we of course worried that we might not get our connecting flight. We have brought our worries to the attention of two air hostesses who ensured us that there were many other guests on the plane having to catch a connecting flight and not to worry, floor personnel was aware and holding the flight. Once we landed in Doha at 0:30 and were finally able to embark the plane we had to run all the way from arrival gate C through transfers to check the connecting flight departing dorm Gate D and so run all the way there. If you know Doha airport you will realise how far this is apart. Once arrived at Departure Gate D (0:45) we were told that we could not get on the flight scheduled for 0:55 and would have to wait for the next one. We were taken to the information desk where the hostess was informing us that the next flight to Male was a scheduled for 7.10am! Now after a 8 hours flight, on our honeymoon this is not the information you would like to receive. The lady at the information desk gave us the option of a hotel or some Vouchers to spend at the airport until the next flight. Extremely tired we wanted to opt for the hotel. We were sent back to Terminal B where we were trying to find the correct desk to help us and after being re-directed about 3times by airport personnel we finally found the transfer desk.

We were offered to be taken to a hotel outside the airport, approx 25mis away, having to go through security, get a Visa and be back 2 hrs before departure of the new flight, it was after 1am at the time. Hardly time enough to get some sleep. We asked if we could stay at the club lounge instead to try and at least get some sleep. The hostess said this was not possible as the Club lounge was too full at the time. After we had to ask 2. More times and mentioning that we are actually on our honeymoon the hostess agreed to let's into the Club lounge - which was by no means busy and had plenty of free seats. I must say we were very surprised of the reaction of your staff, working in hospitality all our lives that the Club lounge was not offered to us directly, surely much less costly for you than a hotel room. Trying to get some sleep in the Club lounge we were then asked by the Club lounge team to move to a different area because they wanted to clean! So we had to move. There was barely any food on offer and no sign of the aforementioned Vouchers to spend at the airport. Again, highly disappointing seeing that we got barely any rest - or food- in the Club Lounge either.

Finally at 7.10am next day (after being delayed for 6 hours at Doha airport) we could start our journey to Male.

This 6 hours delay meant for us that 1. Honeymoon was already ruined! 2. Once finally arrived at our destination in the afternoon, rather than early in the morning, and dead tried after travelling for now 24 hours, the first day of our highly anticipated honeymoon was spend sleeping rather than enjoying ourselves. 1 day of holiday lost!

we sent a complaint whilst still on our honeymoon and only heard back after 2 weeks with a generic response and an offer for a Voucher of 150USD to be spend with Qatar Airways within the next year. Why would I want to fly with them again?

our way home was not much better which we tried to relay to the complaints department:

We arrived at Male airport and everything went fine with the flight to Doha and we actually arrived ahead of schedule. Due to the issue we had with our outward flight we still rushed like crazy to make the departure gate for the flight to London in good time. In our haste I left my Kindle in the seat back compartment of my chair. I realised this and mentioned it to the staff at our check in gate for the flight to London and the lady at the desk told me she would check with her supervisor and then come and find me to let me know what they could do. After 30 minutes no one had come to see me and I again approached the desk at which point the lady spoke to her supervisor (clearly this hadn’t happened before) the supervisor then did not say anything to me but relayed the message to the desk staff that “nothing could be done and I needed to phone once I was home”. No enquiry was made with anyone else in the airport and the supervisor did not even have the courtesy to explain this to me personally. I thought that this must be the case and as it was my fault for forgetting it put it aside even though I still do not understand why nobody even tried to reach the arrival gate to check the plane which only landed 30 minutes earlier. Not 5 star service.
Boarding was then delayed for our flight by 1 hour (no reason or apology given) which meant that from the time we arrived to the time the gate closed was almost 1 hour 30 minutes (plenty of time for me myself to go back and check on the kindle had they dealt with the issue straight away).

To top of another problematic journey, when we landed at our terminal in Heathrow our plane was greeted by several medical and police vehicles. As I am sure you can imagine with recent events in the air this was alarming. We were then told over the PA system that we must remain seated until further notice. We remained on the tarmac for 1 hour (!!) with no explanation what so ever from any of the staff as to what was happening and the only reason we found anything out was when a police constable arrived on the plane asking questions about two passengers who had been sitting in front of us. As we were given a brief explanation from the police we mentioned to the air steward who just passed us to perhaps inform everyone on the plane what was happening? He completely ignored us giving my wife a dismissive stare and no address was made. I am sure you will agree 1 hour on the tarmac with police on board would be alarming to the rest of the plane who had no idea of the situation and I am also sure you will agree this is not five star service?

Finally once we were home we tried online to follow the procedure for dealing with left luggage but were stuck at the point trying to enter details of the loss with the website not accepting my flight number. After two phone calls to Qatar reservations and double checking my online reservation (all of which confirming the flight number I was entering was correct) I was given the London number and told this was the direct line for lost luggage and that they would help. I have called this number repeatedly all day Sunday and all day Monday and no one has answered, and there is not even a voice mail. Again not what I would call 5 star service.

Our honeymoon cost more than £4000 ($6500) and has been ruined firstly by the delay which cost us the best part of one day but also by the complete lack of information and ability to deal with difficult situations of Qatar airways. You offered us for our initial complaint $150 to be reimbursed against another Qatar Airways product but when you consider we lost 10% of our honeymoon and had the terrible experience we did, followed by a return journey which although was nowhere near as bad was still not what we expected, you will forgive us for being insulted?

The response after this was again generic and no further offer made. We are still waiting or a call from the Manager.
DO NOT FLY WITH QATAR AIRWAYS!!