I don’t often get excited to fly. As a professional travel blogger, I spend half my life on planes. The experience can be mundane at best, stressful at worst. But when I’m traveling on the inaugural scheduled flight of a brand new A380, it’s a different thing completely. Especially when there’s Qatar Airways business class involved.
Qatar Airways Business Class
This particular inaugural flight is on Qatar Airways’ sparkling new A380, and it’s flying from Doha to London. But I had to get to Doha first, and the story begins a couple days ago…
It begins just as it ends: with business class. But this is the airline’s all-business class flight. I’ve never flown on an all-business class flight before, and I can’t wait to experience it.
Qatar Airways Lounge at Heathrow
I start in the restaurant of the Qatar Airways lounge in Heathrow with my press group and our hosts from Qatar Airways, our trip’s sponsor. A steady stream of canapes and champagne comes from the kitchen.
The food is excellent, particularly the tom yum gai soup. Between courses I skip out to explore the lounge.
I’m usually unimpressed by airline lounges, having been spoiled by the BA First lounges and Concorde Room at Heathrow, but this one is different.
It’s truly luxurious, from the impeccable furnishings to the exquisite range of pastries on offer.
Qatar Airways All Business Class Flight
In the terminal, the Qatar Airways all-business class service means that boarding is expedient—there are only 40 seats on the plane—and the flight attendants treat us like actual human beings.
The leather seats are comfortable, the TVs big, and the meals surprisingly good for airline food. The only downside is that the touch screen on the remote control for the entertainment system is finicky. Details.
We arrive in Doha seven hours later, embraced by the heat as soon as the door opens. But we’re whisked away on air-conditioned buses kitted out with overstuffed leather chairs on the short drive to the arrivals hall.
There’s even a Qatar Airways business class lounge here where passengers can relax before going through customs.
Qatar Airways A380 Business Class
But we breeze through, heading to the Four Seasons Hotel Doha on The Corniche in the skyscraper-studded business district.
After a one-day layover in Doha and a good night’s sleep in the hotel, I’m off to the airport again to fly on the aforementioned inaugural scheduled flight of the Qatar Airways A380.
The dedicated check-in area at Doha Airport is luxurious, with complimentary water and snacks next to the desks.
A bit unnecessary is the requirement of an escort to take my group from the desk to passport control and security, especially since we have to wait 15 minutes for her to arrive.
But when we’re past security, we get to enjoy one of the largest airline lounges I’ve ever seen.
The Qatar Airlines lounge in Doha Airport is massive, with two stories of seating, three food areas, and a giant water feature in the middle. Let it never be said they don’t go big.
And speaking of big, the Qatar Airways A380 is just that. We’re handed roses as we board the plane, which has spacious first and business class cabins and a luxurious lounge and bar in the back.
The Qatar Airways business class seats have no less than three storage spaces (although none is large enough to hold my handbag), and there are water bottles, his and hers limited-edition Giorgio Armani amenity kits with lotion, lip balm, and perfume, and large personal entertainment systems (although still with the finicky remote controls). There’s WiFi for a fee, too.
The Qatar Airways A380 first class cabin has even bigger seats and more legroom, and the largest bathrooms I’ve ever seen on a plane.
The flight itself is a dream. The cabin is pressurized enough that even with a ruptured eardrum—yes, I’ve been traveling too much lately—I don’t feel any pain, and the ambient noise so low I barely need my noise-canceling headphones.
My Arabic mezze platter is as good as the food on the flight to Doha, and the wines and champagnes are impressive.
There’s even a celebratory cake in the lounge in honor of the inaugural flight, which is a nice touch.
Qatar Airways Business Class: The Verdict
When we land at Heathrow, I can hardly believe seven hours have gone by so quickly. In fact, I can barely believe my entire trip has gone by so quickly.
The all-business class flight, the one-day layover in Doha, and the A380 have been a luxurious blur, and while I usually can’t get off a plane fast enough, I linger a while before alighting from this one.
If every trip were like this, I would become a perpetual traveler.
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An all-business class flight?!? Never heard of that! Amazing. Also, I can’t get over how that’s an airplane bathroom… This was such a fun read. Thanks for sharing.
Happy travels 🙂
Yeah, it was really amazing! Glad you enjoyed reading about it!
The business class looks absolutely gorgeous and luxurious!
Yeah! It was great!
Soundas like a very pleasant experience! I’d love to try travelling in First or Business class someday 🙂
I hope you get to! It was lovely!
Looks amazing! Love the cake at the end too.
Yeah, the cake was a nice touch. Delicious, too!
Wow I want to go on one!
I hope you get a chance to!
I don’t think anyone would mind flying frequently if this is the norm 😀
Definitely!
Wow. That bathroom is bigger than the one at my house! 😉
Seriously! It’s so big!
How lovely! I have enjoyed the business class on an A360 in the U.S. but nothing as sumptuous as this! So glad you had the opportunity to luxuriate like this!
Thanks Elizabeth! Business class is always so great!
It looks fab, I send quite a lot of people on business to the Middle East so will definitely bear Qatar Airways in mind
Suze
That’s great!
Looks fab! I will be flying Qatar Airways for the first time in two weeks, looking forward. Unfortunately not Business though !
Nice! I will keep my fingers crossed for a surprise upgrade for you!
Wow that is indeed luxurious. Maybe at some stage I’ll be able to board in one of those.
I hope so! You’ll love it!
Wow, that looks like a fab way to travel! I love that you share all your experiences with us! I hope you’ll find time to take a look at some of mine on my page sometime, happy travels! Jersey Girl x
Thanks! Looks great!
Flew business with Qatar to South Korea last week through Doha. Less than half the price of KLM or BA and easily double the standard and service I’d normally get with either, what a lounge!!! Definitely converted to flying Qatar. Thinking about doing a stopover in Doha on the way home, your post has convinced me! Thanks
That’s great! I hope you enjoy it there!