Qatar Airways is known for its Qsuites business class. This is one of the world’s best business class experiences, between an excellent soft and hard product. Nearly seven years after the product was introduced, it’s available on most long haul aircraft, but not all.
What many people don’t realize is that the airline is working on two additional new business class products, and one of these should be unveiled in the coming months. In this post I wanted to cover what we know about Qatar Airways’ upcoming premium products.
In this post:
Qatar Airways plans new long haul business class
Qatar Airways is planning a new business class product for its wide body jets, which is currently being referred to as Qsuites 2.0. Qatar Airways’ new CEO, Badr Mohammed Al Meer, has stated that this product will be revealed at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024, so we’re just months from seeing what the airline has in store for us.
Qatar Airways claims that the new product will be “a revolution of how people travel in business class.” While the claim was initially that this would completely eliminate the need for first class, Qatar Airways has reversed course on that, and now plans to introduce a new first class product.
While the product will be revealed soon, we don’t know when it will actually start to be installed on aircraft. I think it’s a given that this product will be featured on Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-9s (along with a new first class), though it’s anyone’s guess when that plane will enter service (as of now it’ll happen in late 2025 at the earliest). The airline could also introduce this on its remaining Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to be delivered, but there’s no indication of that happening.
I can’t wait to see what Qatar Airways has come up with. To be honest, I think we’re reaching the point where new business class products will be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Business class has come a long way over the years, from recliners, to angled seats, to flat beds, to direct aisle access, to doors.
This evolution has largely happened with limited opportunity cost in terms of space, since seating manufacturers have just become more efficient. This is also why nowadays so many business class seats have footwells.
Unless Qatar Airways is willing to dedicate a larger footprint to each seat, I don’t see how much more the product could improve. I mean, I do think ANA’s “The Room” business class sets the standard for business class seats, so if Qatar Airways can beat that, I’d be mighty impressed.
Qatar Airways plans new narrow body business class
Qatar Airways has a total of 50 Airbus A321neos on order. Initially these planes were supposed to be delivered in 2023, but due to the dispute between Airbus and Qatar Airways, that timeline has been pushed back significantly.
Qatar Airways is planning on introducing a new business class product intended specifically for these planes, since obviously narrow body and wide body planes are generally different given the layout.
Last year, Qatar Airways claimed that this product would be introduced in 2024, though I’m a bit confused about that timeline. It’s my understanding that A321neos are now only being delivered starting in 2026. Qatar Airways has also picked up some 737 MAX 8s, but those feature inherited interiors, given that they were intended for S7 Airlines.
So I’m not sure what exactly this new business class will entail, though I imagine it will be as good as narrow body products get. Realistically speaking, I think a reverse herringbone seat with a door might just be as good as we can reasonably expect, similar to what FlyDubai has planned for its upcoming Boeing 737 MAXs.
Bottom line
Qatar Airways is planning on introducing two new business class products, both of which may be branded as Qsuites. This includes a new business class product for narrow body jets (likely the A321neo, and eventually the 737 MAX 10, if/when that plane gets certified), as well as a new business class product for wide body jets (likely the 777-9, but perhaps also the A350-1000).
Qatar Airways puts so much effort into its premium experience, and I’m curious to see what the airline comes up with next. Call me a skeptic, but I feel like business class products can only evolve so much more. Regardless, our wait shouldn’t be too much longer, as Qatar Airways is expected to unveil its new wide body Qsuites product in July 2024.
What are you expecting from Qatar Airways’ new business class products?
I am personally critical of the "bussing" system at DOH instead of gates to board planes. I was even wondering why DOH garnered the second best airport title. I guess we all have different standards. I mean it's fine, I guess, if you are the most able-bodied individual. There are people who can't go up steps and lug a suitcase at the same time. I can't imagine doing this kind of boarding in the middle...
I am personally critical of the "bussing" system at DOH instead of gates to board planes. I was even wondering why DOH garnered the second best airport title. I guess we all have different standards. I mean it's fine, I guess, if you are the most able-bodied individual. There are people who can't go up steps and lug a suitcase at the same time. I can't imagine doing this kind of boarding in the middle of the day in the Middle East. I have not experienced boarding by bus in the middle of the day at least since I started flying QR in 2010. The Al Safwa lounge and the LV Lounge at DOH are great experiences, when they are at their best. Private Rooms for long layovers at Al Safwa is hit or miss. I have better chances at a Private Room with Turkish at IST. I still prefer QR though. The only time I don't fly QR is if SQ or TK gets me sooner to my destination and saves me a significant amount of time.
Inconsistency is the worst experience an airline can offer. Qatar sells you a QSUITE experience, priced accordingly, and randomly swap planes on you to the 777-300 2-2-2 layout. You go from expecting a private door, to having to jump over a lie flat stranger to get to the bathroom; they do not credit you anything for the downgrade, but originally up-charged for the QSUITE. This plane swap from a QSUITE to a 2-2-2 has happened...
Inconsistency is the worst experience an airline can offer. Qatar sells you a QSUITE experience, priced accordingly, and randomly swap planes on you to the 777-300 2-2-2 layout. You go from expecting a private door, to having to jump over a lie flat stranger to get to the bathroom; they do not credit you anything for the downgrade, but originally up-charged for the QSUITE. This plane swap from a QSUITE to a 2-2-2 has happened to me at least 5 times; if the down grade was to any other 1-2-1 I would have zero complaints, as I still like the 360-900 with no Q suite, but its always a 15 hour flight swap to a 2-2-2. Never been swapped planes on another airline and I have flown well over 1 million miles.
Fortunately, I have not had this experience. At least not yet. I guess this happens on certain routes/markets. I would be pissed, big time, if I found myself in your situation. I agree a 1-2-1 is acceptable, but hopping over someone to go to the bathroom is not.
"The onboard experience on QR is bar none."
Completely disagree. Depending on the type of aircraft you end up on the experience can be like night and day.
I travelled WAW - DOH a couple weeks ago on one of their awful old A330's with 2 x 2 x 2 seating. Or, you can end up on Qsuite. It is like from the worst offering out there to the best hard product wise.
Speaking of Qatar, any word on what Akbar Al Baker is up to these days?
@Lucky. Do you know why for months there has been zero award availability on QR when trying to use AA miles?
Excited to learn more.
The onboard experience on QR is bar none. Catering is generally superb (even from SFO my home airport and I generally critique this aspect a lot.) However, the ground experience in Doha leaves a lot to be desired. Last Year I was connecting from the states to a flight in the subcontinent, I was the only pax in the J cabin, and of course being a remote gate, boarding was chaotic. No priority boarding and...
The onboard experience on QR is bar none. Catering is generally superb (even from SFO my home airport and I generally critique this aspect a lot.) However, the ground experience in Doha leaves a lot to be desired. Last Year I was connecting from the states to a flight in the subcontinent, I was the only pax in the J cabin, and of course being a remote gate, boarding was chaotic. No priority boarding and then they botched the shuttle ride to the plane. It made me feel like a standout because when it was my time to board they had already filled the shuttle with Y passengers and then a ground staff had to halt the plane to make “room” for me. Ik first world issues. But small touches like this really help enhance the experience. Not to mention, during the departure banks the lounge is chaotic. I mean a layover of 2h 15 mins, about 30 of that is spent, exiting and getting airside again. And then an hour wait to maybe grab a drink, coffee, or a shower. Me thinks not.
Qatar generally caters their return flights too from Doha
What ground experience do you desire in DOH? I think you need to hug lamp bear.
They really have more money than they know what to do with.
Please be forewarned they are ruthless and unapologetic about downgrading people from Qsuites at their whim. Would absolutely never trust them again after they downgraded me without a hint of conscience.
I can't wait to see what Qatar Airways has in store for us!