The World’s Most “Perfect” Business Class: Qatar A350-1000 Qsuites Doha to New York
by Krish Patel / aviationwithkrish.com
A lot of us know Qatar Airways Qsuites to be the world’s best Business Class. It’s obvious that nothing is really perfect, but Qatar’s Qsuites are as perfect as the experience gets in terms of Business Class travel, which is what I really noticed on a flight operated by one of their A350-1000s from Doha Hamad International Airport to New York JFK. Starting from the lounge, to the seat, to the service, this was seriously a memorable flight.
Ground Experience at Hamad International Airport
When flying out of Doha, Qatar Business Class passengers get a premium check-in experience at the Al Mourjan check-in counter. I don't have much to share on the check-in experience at DOH because I arrived from Ahmedabad, India off a connecting flight to Doha. Upon arrival in Doha, I was required to clear security, which was actually quite fast. I found myself at Qatar’s Al Mourjan Lounge located up the set of escalators in no time at all.
The Al Mourjan Lounge is accessible to OneWorld (Qatar Airways, British Airways, Malaysia Airlines, American, etc.) Business Class passengers. It is considered to be the world’s best Business Class lounge (according to Skytrax 2023), spanning over 100,000 square feet. I love the stunning architecture and design of the lounge. You will notice a reflective pool upon entering the lounge, as well as the stunning chandelier and spiral staircase that leads up to the a la carte restaurant. This lounge offers every amenity one can think of, from luxurious showers to relaxation pods to prayer rooms and even two restaurants.
Besides the main a la carte restaurant, the second restaurant is more casual, with salads, sandwiches,Arabic dips, and breads. I ordered an eggs benedict at the sit-down restaurant and grabbed some bread and Arabic dips from the buffet. The bar located along with the buffet selections at the upstairs restaurant offers a great selection of wines, cocktails, mocktails, beer, whiskies, and caffeinated beverages. Instead of paper menus, each table features a QR code that you can scan on your phone to view the food and beverage selection. The presentation of the tables in the lounge is well-thought through and gives the feeling of a fine dining restaurant.
I also checked out the business center. The chairs at the workstation are comfortable to sit in, and power outlets are easily accessible. It is worth mentioning that you are not allowed to drink anything (including water) at the workstation. From there, I went to take a shower and enjoyed one of the best airport shower experiences. Qatar’s shower suites are stocked with expensive Diptyque soaps. While you are waiting for a shower suite, you can reserve one of the relaxation pods, with plenty of storage, a plush couch, and a plush chair. Blankets are available on request. I enjoyed my visit and left the lounge 45 minutes prior to departure.
When I flew via Hamad International Airport from New York to Ahmedabad, my layover was in the afternoon, when the lounge was barely packed. From 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM, it is rush hour at Doha Airport, and the lounge is quite packed. I would suggest grabbing a shower suite or a spot at the sit-down restaurant before 7:00 A.M. because that is when the lounge tends to get packed and seats fill up quickly. A lot of U.S. bound departures from DOH (AA121 to PHL, QR707 to IAD, QR701 to JFK, QR725 to ORD, QR739 to LAX, etc.) leave around the time of the morning rush hour.
All flights from Doha to the United States and Canada depart from the C Gates because those are the only gates in the terminal with an additional security check, prior to boarding. Once you enter the gate area, there is no turning back. Qatar Elite members and Business Class passengers get priority boarding. Boarding commenced through 2 glass jet bridges, one of which was for Business Class passengers. The boarding gates closed 20 minutes prior to departure.
Onboard Cabin and Suite Experience
Qatar’s Qsuites are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration on both the A350 and Boeing 777, alternating between front and rear facing suites. My suite for today’s flight was suite 3K, a rear-facing Qsuite on the starboard side of the aircraft. Each suite offers direct aisle access, is fully lie-flat, and features a privacy door that is unlocked once inflight. The door isn’t the full length of the suite, so a small gap would remain when it is fully closed. On the A350-1000, there are 12 rows of Qsuites, with 46 total suites. Between the larger Qsuites cabin and Economy Class is a mini Business Class cabin, with 8 suites. The middle suites E and F can convert into a double bed if you are traveling as a couple. One of the most unique features of Qsuites is the Qsuites Quad. Each quad features 4 suites that face each other. You can slide the IFE screens in the middle to socialize with others traveling in your party.
The Qsuites are visually striking to the human eye, with elegant purple finishes, textured doors that slide for additional privacy, and beautiful leather stitches. The seat controls, IFE remote, and tray table are within an easy reach. To the side of the suite is the seat console with the seat controls, IFE remote, charging port, headphone jack, small storage area, a literature pocket that is quite small and thin (consisting only of the safety information card), and a side table.
Across from the seat console is an adjustable reading light and a coat hook. Beneath the reading light is a storage area with the headphones and water bottle that can be either raised or lowered and doubles as an armrest. Directly in front of you is the large Oryx One entertainment system and beneath the IFE is the tray table, which folds out and is great for eating or working.
Qatar’s Oryx One entertainment system is truly incredible. The quality of the display is excellent, with good graphics. It works by using the touchscreen or the android-like IFE remote located at the side of the seat. The IFE remote doubles as a browser for the entertainment screen, where you can also view the map. As far as the selection, Qatar offers plenty of movies, games, and TV shows. In terms of movies, there are plenty of genres, such as Hollywood, Bollywood, Arabic, African, Comedy, Action, and the list goes on. You can also watch live sports inflight. There are dedicated slots for kids entertainment, information about Qatar Airways, the inflight map, and the Holy Quran. It is possible to pair your phone with the IFE screen to use the phone as an IFE remote. While this is a cool feature, I didn’t try it out on this flight. Given Qatar’s great IFE selection of movies, and TV (including live TV), I could definitely see this become the future Netflix of IFE systems.
About 1 hour and 30 minutes after takeoff, I decided to check out the Business Class lavatory, which was quite clean on this aircraft. I found it to be a nice touch that there was a window in the lavatory, which is something that isn't found in all airplane bathrooms. The lavatory is stocked with expensive, rose-scented Diptyque soaps and creams, as well as face moisturizer. The size of the bathroom is quite generous, with a good amount of floor space and a large sink.
Once I returned from the lavatory, I converted my suite into a bed. With the door fully closed, you have your own cocoon in complete privacy. The leg room in Qsuites is quite generous, with plenty of space to stretch out when sleeping. On the Boeing 777 (both the -200 and -300ER), Qatar opted to keep individual air vents above each suite, which isn’t found on the A350, nor are central overhead bins. I felt that the cabin was slightly warmer when sleeping than on other aircraft, though I did end up getting a solid amount of sleep. Unlike many other airlines, Qatar offers a plush mattress pad for when it's time to sleep, making the bed more comfortable than on other airlines. It is also a nice touch that flight attendants offer turndown service in Qsuites. Many airlines only offer turndown service on request, or not at all. Having an extra pillow (that is available for you to take home) added a lot of comfort to the bed in addition to the main pillow. Qatar’s Qsuites bed is one of the best Business Class beds in the sky.
Food and Drinks
Qatar Airways is known for their exemplary food and beverage service in Business Class because they offer an industry leading dine-on-demand service, meaning that you can eat and drink what you want, when you want. Before departure, flight attendants distributed menu cards (and the wine list with a list of alcoholic beverages and wines for whoever wanted it) to each Qsuite passenger and offered welcome beverages, along with a wet Diptyque towelette. Qatar’s entrée selection for both breakfast and lunch on this flight was quite extensive, with flavorful vegetarian options. While the food selection is impressive, towards the end of the menu card is the full list of non-alcoholic beverages Qatar offers, with mocktails, teas, iced teas, coffees (both hot and iced), sodas, juices, and there is even a non-alcoholic sparkling rosé champagne, So Jennie. For my welcome beverage, I decided to go with Qatar’s signature non-alcoholic Lemon Mint, which was a refreshing start to one of the world’s best Business Class experiences. Unlike Emirates, Qatar serves pre-departure welcome drinks individually rather than off a tray. As far as pre-departure beverages that are offered, it’s nice that Qatar offers a variety of beverages, rather than just champagne, orange juice, and water, which is the case on airlines like Delta and American.
I decided to have my breakfast right after takeoff. I was served an assortment of breakfast breads and pastries in a bread basket, alongside butter and jam. I started with the fresh seasonal fruits, which were light and refreshing. For my beverage choice, I decided to go with still water, which was served alongside some warm nuts and a rose-scented hot towel. The other options consisted of home-made mango yogurt, cold cuts, or breakfast cereals. For my entrée, I opted for the California style omelet, which was served with mushrooms, ricotta cheese, and avocado. The omelet itself was flavorful and tasted fresh out of a kitchen. Unlike many other airlines, Qatar Airways serves the food restaurant-style, rather than on a single tray, which elevates the experience of Business Class to a standard closer to First Class. The artificial candle/paper lantern alongside the meal is an extra touch, but small touches like this really make a big difference.
Once I woke up from a nap, I asked the crew for an iced chai tea latte. For both the iced and warm chai on Qatar Airways, you can decide to have it with either saffron or cardamom, and I chose the latter, giving the beverage a nice flavor. The crew has a selection of light snacks, such as crackers, chips, and chocolate bars to snack if you are hungry mid-flight.
About 7 hours before landing at New York JFK, I opted to have my lunch. Artisan breads were served in a bread basket, alongside olive oil, butter, salt, and pepper. The breads tasted fresh like they came straight out of an oven. For my appetizer, I decided to have the Arabic mezze, which consisted of pita bread, tabbouleh salad, hummus, and baba ganoush. The presentation was beautiful and tasted great as well. I would highly recommend the mezze as an appetizer if you fly with Qatar Airways in Business Class, as it is their signature appetizer. I enjoyed the mezze with a Pineapple Margarita (non-alcoholic), one of my favorite mocktails on Qatar Airways.
I opted for the vegan laksa for my entrée, which was spicy and full of flavor. The dish consisted of a spicy curry sauce, thin glass noodles, tofu, and vegetables. This was easily one of the best entrée I’ve had on a flight. The other options were a grilled filet of salmon or Qatari style chicken, one of the signature Qatar Airways dishes created by Chef Aisha Al Tamimi.
I wrapped up the meal with a double chocolate tart, which was very sweet and decadent. The tart consisted of two layers of chocolate, some fresh strawberries and mango cubes.
Before landing, flight attendants distributed boxes of two Swiss Laderach chocolates and asked Qsuite passengers if they wanted anything to eat or drink. I wasn’t hungry, but it was a nice touch that chocolates were distributed prior to landing. In addition, rose-scented hot towels were also provided alongside the box of chocolates.
Amenities
Upon boarding, each Qsuite is stocked with two pillows (one main pillow for the bed and the other as a secondary pillow which you can take home), a plush blanket, and a Diptyque amenity kit. In the side storage console, waiting for me was a water bottle and a pair of Oryx One headphones for the IFE system, which were of excellent quality. Qatar Airways has different amenity kits for both male and female travelers. While the contents are mostly similar, the exterior is quite different.
Inside the male amenity kit was a Qatar Airways branded eye mask, a pair of socks, a pair of earplugs, face cream, lip balm, body lotion, and a bottle of cologne provided by Diptyque. Qatar Airways did not include a dental kit in the amenity kit, but those (along with razors for shaving) can be found in the lavatory.
In Business Class on long haul flights, Qatar provides pajamas and slippers from the White Company based in London. Even though this flight took place all during the day, it was still a nice touch to have comfortable loungewear to sleep in. Qatar offers different pajama sizes, unlike many other airlines who offer pajamas in Business Class.
Service
Qatar Airways offers some of the best Business Class service. The crew on this flight were friendly, professional, and proactive. They offered turndown service to those who wanted to sleep comfortably and offered beverage refills. The flight attendants were very responsive. When I rang the call button, it took 10 to 40 seconds for the crew to respond. Before landing, the crew went through the cabin and thanked each passenger individually for flying with Qatar Airways, which was especially a nice touch. I felt that the crew on this flight took great care of me as a passenger, as if I were their own child.
Booking Qsuites/Pricing
Unlike other middle eastern airlines (Emirates, Etihad, etc.), the Business Class tickets for Qatar Airways are slightly more expensive. A regular ticket for Qsuites can often cost $3,000 or more one-way from Doha to New York. However, there is an option to purchase Business Class Lite when flying with Qatar Airways, which is slightly cheaper than regular Business Class. Business Class Lite does not include complimentary lounge access or advanced seat selection.
Qsuites are Qatar’s best Business Class seats, found on all A350-1000s, most 777-200s and 777-300s, and on select A350-900s. For this flight, I was traveling on an A350-1000, all of which feature Qsuites, it is worth mentioning that Qatar often makes aircraft swaps from aircraft with Qsuites to aircraft with less cutting-edge seats. This is often the case when traveling on the Boeing 777. Qatar’s flight from Doha to New York pretty much always features the Qsuite in Business Class, so this mostly applies for other routes.
Overall Thoughts
I love Qatar’s Qsuites. The seats are cutting-edge and feel more like a First Class product, rather than a Business Class product because of the privacy and generous amount of space. Qatar’s Al Mourjan lounge in Doha is a great space, with plenty of amenities such as shower suites, relaxation pods, large bathrooms, prayer rooms, gaming rooms, lots of seating, and two restaurants. This lounge is better than some First Class lounges, making it a 5 star lounge. The Qsuite seat also earns 5 stars, with an innovative design and quad configuration for the middle seats. Each suite offers plenty of storage space, a crisp touchscreen IFE, and a large tray table that folds out. Having a door for additional privacy is also a nice touch, even though the door doesn’t run the full length of the suite. Airlines such as Delta, Air France, British Airways, Etihad, and soon American have either installed or have plans to install Business Class suites with doors on their aircraft. When flying Business Class, I do appreciate the extra privacy, and a door takes it to the next level. The food, amenities, and service on this flight were superb. The food tasted fresh, especially the mezze I had for my lunch, which was beautifully presented. The restaurant-style food on Qatar Airways elevates the experience greatly. As far as the IFE, Qatar offers one of the best selections, though it isn’t as impressive as Emirates ICE in terms of the selection of movies and TV. The amenities on this flight were great. I wasn’t expecting to have pajamas on a daytime flight, but Qatar provided comfortable loungewear from the White Company. The Diptyque amenity kit was well stocked, though I do wish that they included a dental kit in the amenity kit and not just in the lavatory. The service provided on this flight was friendly. The crew acted professionally and were responsive when anyone rang the call button. If you are flying Qsuites, I suggest flying the A350-1000, because all of Qatar’s A350-1000s feature the Qsuite, while some of the A350-900s and Boeing 777s feature a different Business Class product. Qsuites is a great Business Class experience that I would certainly go out of my way for.