Review: Qatar Airways Qsuites 777 New York To Doha

I wish Qatar would open up some more availability as it looks awesome. I never see more than two seats from/to the USA.

Thanks for the report.

Seems to be a thing now that people with infants only fly business. Oh well. Guess we all don't have to sleep on overnight flights anymore.
Had the soothing sounds of a crying misbehaving 2.5yr old from MEL to DOH for 14+ hours. That was great.
No one got ANY sleep. The whole cabin. Especially the parents sitting right with the child. But hey - those are the perks of an expat where the employer pays for Business Class flights home, aye.

I might be missing something... but isn't that just standard contactless payment rather than specifically Apple Pay?

Lucky wrote: “they’ve truly revolutionized business class with their new Qsuites. Amazing job, Qatar Airways. After flying Qsuites it’s tough to go back to any other business class.”

+1

Qatar now gets all my business travelling east from Europe: the combination of Qsuites on the 777 and their A350 J is unbeatable.

@ Richard G -- You're of course correct, my mistake. Thank you!

It isn't Apple Pay. It's just contactless payment (very common here in Europe)

I liked my QSuite between DOH-LHR a couple of weeks ago. However, the fact I could not be connected and send work emails before a meetingI was heading to in London was quite annoying. Also, the suite is quite cramped - surely lots of bling but when you close that door boy it feel claustrophobic.

I think this will only make it harder for many airlines to justify a first class cabin, with consequent further improvements in the business cabin that will undoubtedly come at the cost of service.

Great review! This looks like great product. Having flown their A350 in J and having been impressed, this looks like a step up even from that. The remote stand thing at DOH is such a puzzler. Brand new airport they spent billions on, and they still don't have enough gates for a 777 from New York to get a jet bridge? I don't get it.

I will never pretend to fly first class again. Now I will only pretend to fly Q-Suites.

"Sometimes you see a new seat introduced that’s sleek-looking, but you can’t help but wonder if the person who designed it has any experience actually flying in premium cabins. To give one example, all of the seat controls were so logically placed, as they were easily within reach, but weren’t so close that you could accidentally hit them with your elbow."

It's okay, you can say Singapore Airlines and their new A380 business class

I might have missed it in another post, but what did you pay for this flight Lucky? Or did you redeem points?

No comment on whether you liked the champagne?!? Just kidding, great review, Lucky. Hoping to try it for my honeymoon coming up.

AusBnT is reporting Canberra & Sydney have been announced as the next QSuite destinations

https://www.ausbt.com.au/qatar-airways-promises-qsuites-for-sydney-canberra-from-june-2018

@CS We have twice travelled to Europe and ME in business with our 1yr old and YES it is worth it for a little one to spread out. On your flight if the child was loud the whole time blame the parents but donMt jade the rest of us because you feel we shouldn’t be there. I pay for my family’s tix same as others and my little one isn’t cramped and uncomfortable for 10+ hours

"After the meal I asked to have my bed made, since I was tired at this point."

@Lucky - When is turn down service (and mattress pad) offered on QR? Does it depend on the flight time, when the flight is departing, etc.?

I am very impressed! Given that this is clearly the world's best business class product, I'd be interested to hear how you think it stacks against some first class products. For instance, BA is often touted as "the world's best business class product," and I certainly understand that having flown BA F several times. But how would Qsuites stack up against BA F?

Interesting that the pajamas are from The White Company. BA's new Club World bedding is also from The White Company.

Lanson Black Label is a respectable Champagne choice. It's cheaper than Veuve Clicquot NV or Taittinger NV, but I prefer Lanson Black Label to either for the same reason I love Krug and Bollinger--I love the nutty, oxidative nose and palate.

Only hassle flying with them now is cost- the flights to Edinburgh are way more expensive than London and this is fairly new. Emirates to Glasgow Beats them every time on cost,so reluctantly have to consider that cost difference, and if too great it’s bling instead of Qsuites. This pricing discrepancy on destinations in same country not too far apart kind of extends to other destinations close together in different countries and I am sure there is a reason( tax perhaps in different nations but not in same). Other airline nes don’t seem to excessive a difference. Still this has been happening for decades and I change airlines as it does.

@ Lucky,
Can't wait to fly them later this week, same route in reverse. Everybody makes fun of Akbar Al Baker (including you, pretty funny micro-video, by the way), but one has to decide what one wants: OK, the man refuses delivery of imperfectly fitted planes, OK, providing good service is part of the FA's contract and obligations, BUT THERE IS THE RESULT !

In the meantime, the man manages to suppress at minimum cost the rebellion of the 3 US majors who fight hard to keep providing sh*t service at maximum price. He is VERY smart.

Napoleon, who was about the same size, was also impossible. That's called Leaving a legacy.

Lucky, you can enjoy Dana Al Fardan's music during the entire flight, since her album Sandstorm is available in the QR AVOD (Audio -> Western -> Classical), including the QSuite music and the official Hamad International Airport theme "The Beginning".

@ Pierre

Al Baker Akbar (Ooops...)

@Brooklyn Boy - That's the reality for BA, even their supposedly premier (First) offering wouldn't even make it into the top 10 Business Class offerings

A minor quibble, but Lanson bubbly seems low end for what is touted as a borderline first class product. Understandable that they aren't serving a premier cru, but how about something in between, like a Veuve Cliquot vintage year, Roderer, or Bollys?

You'd rather have electronically closing window blinds? Like the ones that didn't work on my Qatar A350 flight last year where the cabin crew had to try and block out the light using menus?

My 1-year old daughter has flown many times in Economy with no problems. I will be flying with her in Business Class in October for the first time. On the return in AA, the 10% fee will total about $520. Probably taking Swiss through Aeroplan on the outbound where I hear it’s only a $100 fee.

Is AA the best way to book QSuites on Miles?

Anyone have a list of champagne from high end to low end? If I am going to be pretend to be a snob i need to know what I am pretending about.

Thanks much.

Thanks for the review. It does look awesome. Unfortunately you found the seats to be hard. That is my opinion of the old 777 seats as well. No matter how shiny and new and novel if the seat is too hard to get a decent nights sleep the upgrade misses the mark for me.

What's the easiest way to book the QSuite using AAdvantage miles? I have been looking for QR701/702 but I have trouble finding open space since QR is not on expert flyer. Does anyone have any experience booking QSuite with miles? On a separate note, why do you need NFC in biz class is there anything you need to pay for. NFC would make more sense to me in eco class.

"Infant fee?" When did that start in air travel? I don't have kids so maybe I missed it, but babies in arms were free that last time I heard. What does the airline provide in exchange for this fee?

@ Lucky: "To start I ordered a glass of the white champagne"
FYI There is no such thing as "white champagne": it is either "brut", "demi-sec" or "Rosé".

@ Charlie
There alreay was an Infant Fee on Panam in the 50's. If you were a regular of "I love Lucy", you would know that she boards a NY bound DC-6 in Nice with a 25 lbs cheese wrapped as a baby, in order to avoid the excess baggage fee. When she is told that on international routes, the infant fee is 10%, she and Ethel proceed to eat the whole thing.

@ R B -- Hah, last time I referred to the champagne as brut champagne, BrooklynBoy (accurately) commented the following:
"@Lucky — I’ve seen you write something like this a few times so just a quick correction. “Brut” Champagne just means the Champagne is dry, i.e. it has fewer than 12 grams per liter of residual sugar after bottle fermentation. Rose Champagne is also often brut. So in this case you mean they offer both Blanc (white) and Rose (pink) Champagne. :)"

are there any decent products out there other than muslim airlines?

@ Lucky: the French in me has never heard of 'Champagne blanc'.
"Blanc de Blancs" is used for high-end Champagne sometimes.
Anyway...Keep up the good work.

Blanc de blancs means it is only made with Chardonnay.

@Nick in Chicago: I think we all know we can’t generalize infants like that. I mean there is a family with small kids that travels to SFO from ZRH in SWISS F very often and their children behave perfectly. But then again there are situations like on my flight from Tokyo to Zurich in SWISS J with two infants (parents in F) with their nannies who had way too much champagne to care anymore. Those infants then strolled around in the cabin played with their lights and threw some of their toys and magazines around hitting some fellow passengers and generally keeping everybody awake. And this just makes me angry. On another occasion my suit was ruined by an infant who threw its food in my direction. (I LOVED THAT SUIT!). Because of that while I still try to be open minded, it doesn’t need much to get me and other people to annoyed and (falsy) generalizing that all infants are bad. It’s just a few times (in contrary to the dozen times where we had nice flights with or without them) but those times are remembered and therefore the issue is likely to be generalized even though we know better. So don‘t take it personally, but I hope you can see why we‘re so annoyed (sometimes).

On another note: Does anybody know what that HDMI is for? like am I supposed to plug in my laptop and use the IFE screen as a second screen? (omg that would be so cool)

@NickInChicago - so what you’re saying is that your screaming offspring has a right to destroy the flight for EVERYONE?

@Petter Niklas:

LOL at which point did I say that? Who is everyone by the way? Are you saying I shouldn't fly at all because of the possibility my daughter may cry here and there?

@Nick Art - point taken. Children are only bad and misbehave like you describe when their parents don't care. We're not in that class of parents and make it our priority to do everything possible to ensure our child doesn't bother others.

A major inconsistency re window shades. In the article where you claimed to be solar powered you said you prefer to have the window shades in the cabin up. Now you’re grumbling that all window shades are up too early?
Thanks for the review. It was worth the wait.

Absolutely CS. If you're flying with an infant in economy then you are doing it wrong. More space, attentive attendants, shorter queues, several free bags, what's a parent not to love about the forward cabins?

I'm still jolted to see the arrival involving steps from the aircraft and a bus to the terminal.
Lucky, it's time to use your influence and tell us what's going on at HAM/DOH.
A brand new airport, and you'd think you were in Lisbon.

Any concerns flying through Doha given current political issues in case of weather or mechanical problems - being able to fly out on another carrier?

Great review Lucky, and it does look like the world's best experience!

Which reminds me - I need to make some changes in my career, to have business flights like this, for now I'm stuck with the intra-Europe short hops. I'm more a commuter than a flier 🙁

It appears one of the pictures answers a question I had, but if someone could confirm I would appreciate it. Is it possible to make a "three person suite" in the middle? I read all about the four person suite, but is it possible to segment off one of the four seats so a party of just three can travel "together"?

@ R B and Dave: Blanc de Blancs means that it is only made form white grape varieties, unlike regular blancs, which are made of a mix of white (most often Chardonnay) and red grape varieties (mostly Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier).

Blanc de blancs are not necessarily made exclusively from Cardonnay, Pinot blanc or other white grape varieties may also be used, but Chardonnay will in most cases be the only or dominant variety.

I do miss the Armani perfume in the Qatar amentity kits!

SUGGESTION:

I get that your blog and lifestyle are all about reviewing airlines and their products and flying non stop around the universe, BUT here’s a thought:

Instead of always doing back to back flights and only focusing on the flights themselves, why not start a trend of articles on this blog of “10 hours in Hong Kong” or “5 Must Do Things on a Layover in Singapore”? That way you’re not just flying flying flying without enjoying these amazing countries, and you expand in content for the blog and make it more fun. Let me know what you think.

I already love this blog, but the rare times you write about your experience in a city outside of an airport lounge or an aircraft is a good breather.

btw LOVE ur review, fantastic job as always

It would be nice if you spent more time reviewing other airlines besides Emirates and Qatar Airways. As readers we are overdosing on them. Time for something new please.

Sir.. my travel agent in Sydney, Australia, Traveltoo, introduced me to your site/newsletter so this is the first time I have read you. I was interested in your review of the Qatar's Qsuite. I noticed your comment about the entertainment system. I flew QR JFK/DOH and had three seat changes on the plane because the entertainment system didn't work in each seat and I found the remote control to be very annoying and fiddly to use. BUT more than anything that frustrates me with Qatar is their ground service and the fact that they can't handle matters if an issue arises, PLUS the fact that they are part of the One World (OW) Alliance and refuse to allow emerald status members of OW into their first class lounge if not actually flying first, something Qantas, BA, Cathay etc permit. QR's business lounge is like a zoo. In the majority of cases QR doesn't have a first cabin even if you wanted to fly it. Some may say BA only allows first passengers into the Concorde Lounge, so what's the difference? The difference is that BA has an actual 1st lounge. To me, the Middle East airlines are all bling and no substance.

@ Craig Garabel

Yep, I’d agree with you: BA doesn’t let OWE into its Concorde Room, which is the *real* 1st class lounge at T5. Qatar has a similar system in Doha.

But I’m not sure when “QR’s business lounge is like a zoo”. I’ve always found it calm, quiet and usually more than half-empty (didn’t Lucky recently post something about the Doha lounges being pretty empty since the boycott started?).

“The Middle East airlines are all bling and no substance” suggests you haven’t actually read any of Lucky’s Review. Qatar, at least, is clearly little bling and mostly substance.

Which airline are you suggesting is better (in J, at least)?

Great review. I smiled when I saw the photo of an omelet and chicken sausages - I suspect this combination is one of the hot meals you have eaten the most often in your air travels! Indeed, you probably have enough photos of "omelet with chicken sausages" to start a separate site! As unexciting as it seems (and usually is), I always look forward to a hot breakfast in the sky. Aside from the comfort food factor, It usually means you're getting close to your destination, and that always makes me happy no matter where I'm sitting 🙂

With regards to the window shades, the A350-1000 features electronic ones and all A350-900s do as well (in business) so presumably the new ones with Qsuite will have too. I think Qatar sets the standard very high to the point where no other carrier can compete. Even Singapore Airlines lags behind in comparison. Just amazing

@Ben/Lucky
I hope I'm not to late, but the song you are looking for is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6Zc7Btns-U

With kInd regards

My recent QR flight SGN-DOH also arrived at a remote stand and utilized the business class bus system. It was actually better than arriving on a jet bridge as the bus drops you at a door which, after a short escalator ride, drops you directly into the transit security area next to the transit assistance desk. No long walk from the gate, or train ride. Having arrived on the same flight a week earlier at a jet bridge and making the trek to transit security on foot my wife and I initially grumbled at the use of the bus but when we saw where the bus dropped us off we were not disappointed at all.

Is there an armrest on the window side? If not.. ill just stick to their Original business class which is beyond amazing on its own. I don't need a patrician on an airplane... just the unlimited legroom and a way to lie down is fine. I wouldn't give up an armrest for the 5 or so hours id probably be sitting. Even economy gets an armrest

I just did the same trip as Lucky, going the other way. I concur with everything he said. This indeed is better than SQ (probably why they feel the need to upgrade theirs). Perfect flight, perfect comfort, perfect crew, good meals (just good... but served so well) and the wines have gone down. Special mention to the lavatories which have to be the most elegant in the sky, maybe barring the Emirate showers.

Ironically, I am going back on the A 350 in 3 weeks, 🙁 , and it used to be the prized flight compared to the 777. Things change quickly.

@Lucky: Great review! I took the same flight, QR 702, a few days before you did (on Monday). Everything you said rings true. Even the meals looks nearly identical... except for the smoked salmon. My wife and I got 3 slices each to your one, with caviar on each!

Some things you didn't mention:

1) Our attendants advised us that the smaller aviation-themed pillow was "a gift" and we could take it with us. My wife used it on our subsequent connecting flights to Park Hyatt Maldives.

2) On the lie-flat beds: since you didn't get to experience it, we did and here's how it went. Before takeoff one of our attendants took note that we were traveling together as a couple and let us know that she could combine the seats into one bed when we were ready to sleep. The way it works was interesting. They made both seats flat as normal, and then fetched an oddly shaped leather-wrapped board. The board was cut sort of curvy to very tightly follow the contours of both seat edges. It filled the (1-inch or so) gap between the seats. The "mattress cover" they put on the seats were oversized on the sides enough to completely cover the divider. It was really cool.

I have a picture of the bed somewhere if you want it.

A note: we paid cash for that flight at less than half the current advance rate based on your prediction last year of QSuite JFK-DOH rollout. So, thanks for that! And also your advice/reviews that helped us choose PH Maldives and stay there for "free". I'm not even home yet... writing this from Singapore Lounge waiting to get back to the states 🙂

I just flew the QSuite from LHR to DOH and, contrary to general opinion, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. My seat was hard up against the aisle divider and it felt somehow claustrophobic. The seat itself is curved and it actually curves away from the wall, to avoid a 'wave' in the wall that curves inward. I found this a bit odd. Fortunately, I could sit on the small 'jump seat' next to the window, and this relieved the situation, though I would have preferred to be in my seat. I sat there for most of the flight, as I didn't eat, until I had to 'buckle up' for landing in Doha. I then connected to the A380 to Sydney, and felt relieved to be in the open window seat again. The A380 seat also appeared to be softer than the QSuite. So I'm not going to be disappointed if I fly the A350/A380/B787 again with the herringbone seating, as I found it overall to be a less confined experience. (Though I admit, the window QSuite looks to be a less cramped design, situated as it is, next to the window, rather than next to the inwardly-curving aisle divider.)

My dad just flew the qsuite configured 777 on a short flight between KWI and DOH (it was part of a longer connection) and he said that it was wonderful. The crew was exceptional. The food was great too (they served those wonderful "snack platters" as a light meal).
If it all there was a downside, he said that the seats were a bit too narrow (when compared to the reverse herring bone).

Is flying backwards noticeable & uncomfortable?

Best way to book this on miles, please?
And, what routes have this product?
Thanks for a great review--very helpful.

Re. champagnes. Blanc de blanc, Blanc de noir, and rosé. Terms such as brut and demi-sec refer to sugar content.

@ CS - many infants behave better than several adults. As long as it is paid for; families with infants can and should travel anywhere in the cabin they want. In case you didn't know, adults speak and infants cry... You probably cried as well when you were an infant...and I am sure you annoyed a few adults...

Hi,

Wanted to get your take on rear facing seat vs. front facing on QSuite. I had traveling couple of months on a standard front facing in QSuite but would like to try rear facing on my next flight. Right now, all seats are open for my flight. I am hesitant as I would always choose a front facing seat on a subway train but this is different. 🙂

Appreciate your take on this. Thanks.

Rear facing vs Forward facing seats is immaterial except for brief periods on the ground, climbing and descending. What counts much more is whether solo seats are closer to the window or the aisle. I find those near the window much more private. For 777s, THE absolute best seat for me is 10K; it mostly gives you a great view of the wing and engine. Engine proximity does not make it noisier. One more factor you may consider is whether you want to be on the sunny or shady side of the plane, warmer vs cooler although on very long flights you can get some of both. That of course translates to seats depending on the itinerary and the time of day, not forgetting that in the southern hemisphere, the sun is to the north at noon. You won't have to worry about the sun rising from the west, though, that happened only on the Concorde. Beautiful sunrise in the west on CDG-IAD winter afternoon Concorde flights.

Hi there travelling with Qatar soon on business class but my seat number is 18 d &18g but can’t find a seating plan ?