Premium cabin airline seats have come a long way over the years. We’ve gone from recliners, to fully flat beds, to seats with doors, and now we even see some products that have double beds (or at least that’s how they’re marketed). That brings me to a question that a reader asked.
What’s appropriate for couples in airplane double beds?
A gay OMAAT reader who asked to remain anonymous shared that he’s flying Qatar Airways Qsuites soon for the first time with his partner. With the Qatar Airways Qsuites having a “double bed” of sorts (often referred to as “honeymoon seats”), he wants to know if he’s putting them at risk by picking those seats and then having the beds made next to one another.
There are an increasing number of airlines offering some sort of double beds in first & business class, ranging from China Eastern, to Lufthansa, to Qatar Airways, to Singapore Airlines, and more. Among the airlines with such a product, Qatar no doubt has the strictest laws against homosexuality, at least on paper.
So, would I feel comfortable sleeping in the double bed next to Ford? Yes, 100%. First of all, keep in mind Qsuites doesn’t offer a true double bed — there are still separate footwells, so you’re not able to spoon (at least not for your bottom half), even if you wanted to, and felt comfortable doing so.
However, personally I wouldn’t recommend any sort of public displays of affection (PDA). That’s not necessarily due to being gay, but just because Qatar heavily frowns down on PDA (heck, in Qatar it’s appropriate for same sex people to greet one another with a kiss on the cheek, while it’s not appropriate for opposite sex people).
Don’t get me wrong, it’s highly unlikely you’d be “policed” in this way, but if your goal is to be 100% cautious, then it makes sense to avoid that.
While I can’t imagine it would ever come to this, I sort of wonder if giving someone a kiss before going to sleep on a plane qualifies as PDA? You’re in a suite with a door, though the door isn’t so high, and people can still look over it. So technically if you give your spouse (gay or straight) a peck on the cheek, is that PDA (specifically, the “public” part of “PDA”)? I don’t know. Like I said, that’s theoretical.
But seriously, there’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of with sleeping next to your travel companion in Qsuites, whether it’s your girlfriend, husband, cousin, grandma, sidepiece, stuffed animal, or whatever.
So my advice is yes, sleep next to anyone, but no PDA. And to state the obvious, absolutely don’t try to join the mile high club.
What airplane beds actually have the most privacy?
While we’re on this general topic, of all the airplane seats out there, which actually offer the most privacy in bed mode? There’s only one product in commercial aviation that offers 100% privacy, and that’s Etihad’s The Residence on the Airbus A380. This is a three-room suite, and you literally have a private bedroom that can accommodate up to two people.
Ironically, though, I actually find the bed to be rather uncomfortable for two people, as it’s really not that wide. If I were traveling with someone, I’d prefer two First Class Apartments, purely in terms of comfort when sleeping.
I’d say the second most private first class product that can accommodate two people is Lufthansa’s Allegris first class on the A350, and specifically, the First Class Suite Plus. Once again, this is a super comfortable bed for one person, but for two people, it’s definitely on the tight side, compared to having two separate suites (and there’s no discount for booking this compared to two seats).
This product has privacy partitions that go from the floor to near the ceiling (no one could look over them), though the thing to be aware of is that the door handles are essentially cutouts in the “door” fabric, so you can see through them.
Bottom line
As a general rule of thumb, if an airline offers double beds in a premium cabin, you should have no qualms booking them and sleeping in them regardless of whether you’re gay, straight, or whatever.
Even for a country like Qatar, there are no laws against sleeping next to someone of the same sex on an airplane, and that same principle applies here. Of course I wouldn’t recommend trying to do anything beyond sleeping, but I don’t think that’s what was being asked here (and if it is being asked… well, then I don’t recommend doing that).
Where do you stand on the correct etiquette in airplane double beds?
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