I recently had the chance to fly the new Qatar Airways Boeing 787-9 business class suite from Milan to Doha. While I’ll review the entire experience in a separate post, I wanted to first share my specific impressions about the cabin and seat.
Continue reading: Qatar Airways’ New 787-9 Business Class Suite: How Good Is It?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Had the chance to try this new cabin layout recently (DOH-KTM flight), and could compare it to a BCN-DOH in the 'normal' cabin of the 787-8 as well as the Qsuites on other segments. This is really nice and as good as it can be. I prefer the QSuites of course on the 777 or 350 but otherwise this is an awesome, quasi-flawless product.
Really hoping AA will choose the Adient Ascent seat with the double bed configuration a la Hawaiian.
Out of curiosity, what specific plane did you fly on? I flew on A7-BHC In December on DOH-ISB, but in Economy. I saw that this plane operated to MXP this past week. The Business class really looks nice. I have flown Qsuites as well as their A350 and 787 business class, as well as their old 777 configuration. These seats, while not Qsuite, looked really nice, and a step up from their already great 787 business class.
I assume QR has no plans to utilize the 787 range. Their cabin configuration is meant to be for medium haul flights, and I cannot see them utilizing it for long haul given that they have many planes with Qsuites. Ultimately, QR chose this products purpose to be for short haul, and I doubt they would put a "inferior" product on longer routes unless they have to.
Ben, as a point of interest, my daughter is a design engineer with Adient in Huntington Beach and has worked on components for this very seat. She has made me aware of the engineering that goes into such a seat. I will have to send her your review. Thanks.
And this is why I'm one of the few people still praising 2-2-2 business.
Why? Leisure airlines. When you fly to Fiji, are you more likely to be in a suit & tie and trailing a laptop & briefcase, or in a floral shirt with your significant other alongside? Private, quasi antisocial seating is not always the way forward.
Whats with the door not closing? Seems if you fit a door it should close, otherwise whats the point, afterall other doors close fully.
It can't be security risk, as none of these are so high you cannot look over the door, not that you would see much through the crack anyway.
Who greenlit those god-awful quote pillows
It's like someone's tacky aunt got to add one thing to an otherwise gorgeous product
I am wondering if I am the only one who is having issues with the current trend of (almost) total isolation between the passengers in premium classes, with the exception of the Q-suite. I have six children. When they were small we travelled between the US and Europe a couple times every year. With a few exceptions we fly in the first class, and I bought seats even to 3 months olds. Hard to imagine how toddlers or even younger passengers could travel in a these new premium stalls. And yes, I know, I should not be complaining, but instead having joy for being able to fly again, regardless of the class.
"Each seat has a door, though the door doesn’t quite close all the way, much like you’ll find on Delta’s A350s, for example."
not following this statement, doors on D1 Suites close all the way..
Qatar's interiors look flawless and then those awful pillows, look like someone fished them out of a clearance bin at the TJ Maxx in Doha
Really don't like the q-suites. Too claustrophobic for me. Feel trapped and cramped. The blanket doesn't help because its so thick. Maybe if the table wasn't where it is, it might help. Felt like I was having anxiety attacks flying MAD-DOH-SYD. No thanks.
It feels like a waste for just a few inches difference. But the lower weight makes sense. Who cares, it's a new Business class seat to experience!
If you're using a MacBook, you need to bring an adapter or extension as the plug socket is upside down and it's not possible to fit the MacBook adapter in
I prefer the 787-9 seats over Qsuite and prefer the older lie flat product above both of those.
Qsuites did not have enough vertical space in the cubby for me. The tray is mounted too far below and takes up too much space, losing an inch or two. Made it hard to bend at the knees while lying down. Didn't help the whole experience that the cabin was uncomfortably warm nearly the entire flight, despite asking FA's to make it cooler. 14 hours of sweating while in nothing but shorts and a t-shirt, isn't my idea of a good time.
787-9 seats were similar to Qsuites, but I appreciated the wireless charger and phone holder, in addition to other storage areas. A bit narrow in the shoulders when flat, but I could bend at the knees when on my back.
The older product (I don't remember which aircraft), while not enclosed, had a lot of pitch, better width, and more padding. This was certainly more comfortable to sleep on than the other two.
YES! I agree about the tray and just made a comment about it. I thought I was probably the only one. I'm not a tall guy at all, but laying flat and bending at the knees was impeded by the tray location. I feel it takes up too much room in the footwell/cubby area.
I hadn't yet been able to try 2-2-2 in a fully-flat layout, but Fiji Airways (as stated in your reply) provided an angled-flat seat and a 2-2-2 layout, which is uncomfortable and separated couples when in bed mode. Besides, couples traveling in Q-suites can opt for a set of double-bed side-by-side seats, which ensures both intimacy and privacy.