Known for an elevated travel experience with exquisite lounges and five-star service, Qatar Airways Business Class is unquestionably a premium travel product. But is it worth the extra money to upgrade your flight experience with the airline? Find out what you need to know in this unbiased, unsponsored Qatar Airways Review.
With so many options out there in this hectic travel world, let’s take an inside look at whether the Qatar Airways product offers good value, and is their premium Business Class product worth the hype?
Let’s walk through the full A380 Business Class experience, including pre-boarding, onboard service and arrival in Doha, Qatar.
Comparing International Business Class Flights
I’ve personally flown nearly every mainline airline’s International Business Class product, so I am coming from a position of solid experience with these products. I’ve taken over 100 Ultra long-haul flights, with many between 11 and 17 hours or more such as the 17-hour San Fransico to Singapore flights, so I have a lot to compare against.
My experiences with Qatar Airways have mostly been on Boeing 777 aircraft flying to and from Doha by way of places such as Montreal, Dallas, Los Angeles, and in this case London and Frankfurt on the A380 Double Decker aircraft.
Qatar Airways History
With some airlines aging over 100 years old such as Amsterdam-based KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Qatar Airways is a relative newcomer to the aviation world but as quickly as the country of Qatar has exploded with growth, so has the airline. The airline has one of the youngest fleet of planes averaging 5 years.
As its name implies, Qatar Airways is the flag carrier airline of the tiny, ultra-wealthy nation of Qatar. The company operates out of its home base at Doha’s Hamad International Airport and flies to 6 continents and some 90 countries.
Pre-Boarding Experience
My Qatar Airways experience for this trip began at London Heathrow Airport shortly after an 8-hour flight from Canada. As such, I did not have to deal with any customer service for check-in or baggage on this leg.
On the return flight, I was impressed with the spacious check-in lounge at Doha’s Hamad International Airport. The process of bag-check and exclusive Business Class security was ultra smooth and efficient.
Qatar Airways London Heathrow Premium Lounge
I made my way over to London Heathrow’s Terminal 4 and to Qatar’s Premium Lounge. Qatar refers to their service experience as ‘understated but attentive five-star service’. Scerece spaces, with Arabic and Islamic detailing, make the space like a luxurious club or spa.
Luxury showers with heated floors are available for connecting passengers, a really lovely way to refresh after an already 8-hours of flying to London.
I didn’t have much time between flights but a quick made-to-order burger was just what I needed. The food was hot and fresh and served with fries and delicious coleslaw on the side.
Plane Configuration and Boarding on the A380 Upper Deck
Qatar Airways offered a 3-class service on this A380. Business Class is located in the centre section of the upper deck, with four abreast seating in a herringbone 1-2-1 pattern. You load directly onto the second floor with no stairs to climb onboard like on a previous Lufthansa 747-800 Flight I took to South Africa.
Unfortunately, the innovative Q-Suite Seating was not available on this flight, however, the fully lie-flat seat was very comfortable.
On-board Amenities Provided
My only disappointment on this flight was the White Company London sleepwear was not available on this flight. I have to confess that I never wear the PJs inflight, but they do make a nice gift for my family.
A very nice hard-shelled Bric’s Amenity kit was provided with all of the standard amenities such as a toothbrush, lip-blam, refreshing facial mist (which I love), lotions, socks and earplugs
Qatar Airways Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity
The aircraft was equipped with its Oryx One in-flight entertainment system, featuring a full complement of movies, Binge-worthy TV programming and music channels. I’ve especially found the TV programming to be very good on all of my Qatar Airways flights.
Connectivity on the Airbus A380 included Wifi, SMS/MMS and email capability.
A Completely Different Take-Off Experience
The feel of flying on the upper deck of the huge Airbus A380 is like nothing else. Every time I fly on one, I am amazed at how this 560-ton machine can physically leave the ground, and with such grace. The amount of power you experience, when they engage the engines to take off power is extraordinary.
Dine on Demand Experience – Eating on Your Schedule
A major part of the onboard experience in Business Class is dining. Qatar consistently excelled in the six ultra long-haul business class flights that I took with them, including this round trip from London-Doha-Frankfurt.
Once the seatbelt sign went off at ten thousand feet, the flight crew was noticeably calm — without the typical frenetic rush and scrambling to prepare drink carts.
My Flight Attendant promptly came to my seat after take-off and took my drink order restaurant style. For dining, there was no fixed meal time, I simply rang the call button to request meal service at my leisure. Service started with a delightful table setup including an LED candle and Arabic-inspired dishes that set a luxurious ambiance for my meal.
Can You Drink on Qatar Airways?
Yes, most definitely. Although Qatar is a Muslim country and the airline is wholly owned and operated by the Qatari government, the airline freely serves alcohol inflight.
Lounging in the Stunning A380 Upper Deck Bar
The midship bar and lounge on the Qatar A380 was staffed for nearly the whole flight and offered premium cocktails and a selection of Laurent-Perrier Champagne. I especially enjoyed the Brut Rosé, while spreading out on the luxury lounge seating and listening to a bit of Spotify.
The bar was quiet in both directions, and I was able to enjoy a peaceful drink and some reading time away from fellow passengers. Bar snacks were served, and when I was really hungry I returned for the dine-on-demand service at my seat.
Arrival at Doha’s Hamad International Airport in Qatar
Arriving at Doha’s Hamad International Airport offered incredible views of the city as we circled the man-made Pearl Islands and around Doha’s incredible, modern skyline.
Upon arrival, Qatar Airlines Business and First passengers have exclusive access to the Qatar Airways Customs Lounge, offering luxury seating areas, cappuccino, teas and private customs officers to greet you.
Conclusion
I have found that Qatar Airways delivers consistently good value and a very premium Business class experience from end to end at a price similar to, or sometimes even less expensive than other airlines. My experiences with Qatar Airways have always been top-notch.
I’ve flown a number of times since and this flight stands out as one of my all-time favourites, partially due to the unique experience of the lounge on the aircraft. Sadly, Qatar has said it will be phasing out its A380s in favour of the new fuel-efficient A350s.
I would compare Qatar Airlines Business Class most closely with Singapore Airlines’ product. It is a step up and far superior to that of United Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa and KLM, which I typically fly.
FAQ for Qatar Airlines Business Class Review
Can you order your meal ahead of your flight?
You have the option to select your dining options before you board via the official airline’s website once you have a confirmed reservation number.
How many meals does Qatar Airways serve on a long-haul flight?
Usually, two meals are served, a dinner or lunch service and a pre-arrival meal. The timing may be at your leisure if the flight has a dine-on-demand service.
What is the Qatar Airlines Privilege Club loyalty programme?
Qatar Airlines is a member of OneWorld with OneWorld members including British Airways, American Airways, Qantas, and Japan Airways to name a few.
Privilege Club is Qatar’s own branded loyalty programme, part of OneWorld. They offer Avios, similar to British Airways that can be used for upgrades, flight purchases and other flight amenities.