When my girlfriend and I had to rebook our trip to South Africa we were extremely lucky to find a great Qatar Airways business class fare between Oslo and Cape Town. Even better, this routing mean that we would finally be able to fly in Qatar Airways QSuites business class on their flagship Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.
Although the routing of our new itinerary was a bit out of the ordinary, it gave both of us a chance to try out QSuites together. This also was the first time my girlfriend had ever flown business class with Qatar Airways which is always a treat.
Arriving In Doha
Following our flight to Doha a Qatar Airways bus dedicated for business class passengers transported us to the main terminal. As we entered the terminal we proceeded immediately to the transit security area of the airport. All passengers, even those transiting, have to clear security at Hamad International Airport. Although I find clearing security while transiting rather annoying, it’s a fairly common practice at large international airports.
As we arrived in the transit security area we were overwhelmed by the long lines of passengers waiting for the security screening. Thankfully, because we were traveling in business class we were able to use the priority lanes with considerably shorter wait times. Transit security took just a few minutes and before long we were airside in the main terminal. At this point we had about 2 hours until our flight to Cape Town so we decided to visit the Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Class lounge.
We ultimately decided to not spend much time in the lounge due to crowding. During the overnight connection nearly every seat was taken and the lines for the showers were well over an hour. Instead of searching for a seat in the crowded lounge we decided to leave the lounge and explore the terminal. After all, we wanted to stretch our legs before the 10 hour flight to Cape Town.
As we walked we of course made sure to check out the famous Urs Fischer Lamp Bear in the center of the main terminal.
Hamad International Airport has so many shops and exhibits that passing the time during a layover is quite easy. After walking around for a few minutes it was time to board our flight to Cape Town. As with most Qatar Airways flights, the boarding process began well in advance of our scheduled departure time.
Boarding Qatar Airways Business Class To Cape Town
We reported to our departure gate about 30 minutes before our scheduled departure time. When we arrived the boarding process had already began and we boarded with Zone 3 passengers. The jet bridge was divided into two boarding doors, the L1 boarding door for business class and the L2 boarding door for economy class.
At the end of the jet bridge door we found the elegant galley walls adorned in the signature Qatar Airways QSuites decor.
If you board an aircraft and see the above galley wall you’ll quickly realize if your aircraft is outfitted with QSuites. With Qatar Airways there is always a chance of an aircraft swap, so seeing this design is a great sign of a comfortable flight to follow.
Qatar Airways QSuites Business Class Cabin
As I entered main business class cabin of the Airbus A350-1000 I caught my first glimpse of QSuites.
The cabin is arranged in a 1-2-1 layout in which every business class passenger has a completely enclosed seat with a sliding door. The window seats alternate between true window seats and “aisle” seats while the middle section alternates between adjacent separated seats. Couples traveling together will definitely want to try to book rear-facing adjacent seats as these can be turned into a double bed! If traveling alone, these rear facing seats do feature a divider which is a bit lower than the rest of the suites walls.
Similar to the A350-900, Qatar Airways opted for a flat ceiling that lacks overhead locker space. This helps make the cabin feel spacious despite the walled-off suites with doors.
It was hard to photograph the cabin during the night time boarding process as the cabin was illuminated by the orange and purple glow of the overhead mood lighting. Even so, the QSuites cabin on the A350-1000 is quite impressive at first glance, especially when boarding at night.
Qatar Airways QSuites Business Class Seat
My girlfriend and I were unable to pre-book the adjacent center seats for the 10 hour flight to Cape Town. Instead, we selected seats 8D and 8G which are forward facing aisle seats in the middle section of the cabin.
Seats 8D and 8G are separated by a divider can be lowered with ease and locks into the center of the seat. With the divider lowered it is very easy to see and talk to your neighbor even though the seats are a little far apart.
Located directly next to every seat is a small ottoman/cubby area that offers a significant amount of in-seat storage.
The aisle seats have a small handle you must pull to open this storage area. However, seats situated away from the aisle feature a small latch you have to press to open the leather cover.
The one thing I disliked about this arrangement is that with the cover closed, the area was basically dead space. It was uncomfortable to sit on the ottoman (not recommended) and the seat wasn’t large enough for another passenger to sit there either. Considering the space was mostly useless I wish Qatar would have made these center storage areas deeper.
There was additional storage located in a small shelf under the fixed counter area of the seat, but just above the seat controls. This area was basically large enough to store the amenity kits and in-flight menus. This shelf also proved a handy location to place the IFE remote when removed from its storage area. More on that in a second.
Located directly under the shelf area are the QSuite seat controls. This is perhaps the most elegant display of seat controls that I have ever seen on an aircraft. Further, the seat controls were extremely intuitive to use as the little depictions made it clear what function every button served.
Along the back wall of the QSuite seat was an adjustable reading lamp with various settings. In the first setting a small light is illuminated from the underside of the lamp. The next settings turn off the underside light and adjust the brightness of the reading lamp itself. These little reading lamps pack quite the punch which is an appreciated feature when trying to read in a cabin that is otherwise dark.
Next to the reading map was a small button that served as the in-flight hanger. I suppose you could hang something from this in flight, but I don’t see how it would be at all useful.
Qatar Airways QSuites Business Class Pre-Departure Service
When we arrived at our seats we discovered a few amenities distributed to QSuites passengers. Of course these included the leather Bric’s Milano Amenity Kit, but also a plush blanket and a throw pillow. Each white throw pillow featured a different phase with the Arabic translation on the reverse side.
Inside the leather Bric’s Amenity kits were the same products included in the hard shell kits. This includes a Qatar Airways branded eye mask, flight socks, ear plugs, and various Monte Vibiano skincare products.
As we settled into our seats, various crew members stopped by our seats to introduce themselves. This included our primary flight attendant who asked if we would like a pre-departure beverage. We both requested a glass of the Gosset Brut Grand Rose as our pre-departure beverages.
Since we were among the last passengers to board the flight we had a very short wait until we pushed back from the gate. As we pushed back and taxied to the departure runway the cabin crew came by to collect pre-departure service items. Since we arrived late I didn’t have enough time to finish my glass of pre-departure Champagne. Instead, the cabin crew collected my half-consumed glass prior to departure. However, as my glass was collected the flight attendant made it clear that a fresh glass would arrive shortly after takeoff.
Qatar Airways QSuites Oryx One IFE System
Every QSuite seat comes with a large 21.5″ in-flight entertainment monitor featuring Qatar Airways’ Orxy One entertainment system.
The Oryx One system is loaded with up to 4,000 entertainment options available throughout the flight. The IFE monitor is touch sensitive, but can also be controlled with the handheld remote found along the side of the suite.
The QSuites Oryx One remote is much larger and slimmer than IFE remotes found on other aircraft. The remote is basically a smartphone contained in a plastic housing.
Like a smartphone, the Oryx One remote has a rear mounted camera although I couldn’t figure out what it could be used for.
One feature I especially appreciated about the remote is that you could watch something on either the large IFE screen or the small remote. I loved being able to watch the tail camera on the main display and also have a movie playing on the smaller IFE remote. Likewise, you could also have the tail camera displayed on the IFE remote while a movie played on the larger screen if you wished.
Overall, this iteration of the Oryx One system and remote are far superior to prior versions.
Pre-Planning Your Oryx One In-Flight Experience
One of the interesting features of the Qatar Airways QSuite was the inclusion of an NFC reader. As far as I could tell, passengers can use this NFC reader as a pay terminal for in-flight shopping with a contactless credit card. However, the NFC pad serves a much cooler purpose.
Evidently, the NFC reader allow passengers to pair their smartphone to the Orxy One system. Prior to boarding the aircraft passengers can download the Oryx One app and view entertainment options for their flight. While viewing entertainment options passengers can also create playlists or favorite certain entertainment options. As you arrive at your seat you are then able to pair your phone to the system and those playlists will populate in the Orxy One system. The below video from Qatar Airways further explains how this functionality works.
This is a fantastic feature as the Oryx One has so much content that finding something you want to watch can be difficult. Also, the Oryx One system presents movies in odd orders which means you might not see a movie that you would want to watch in the first place.
Departing Doha
As we taxied to our gate the flight attendants played the new soccer themed safety video which was a bit… long. At just over 6 minutes this may be the longest safety video I’ve ever had to endure.
Following the safety video was some additional information which highlighted some of the quirks and features of the Qatar Airways Qsuites cabin.
The primary focus of the video was on the sliding door and how to operate the emergency release in the event of an emergency.
Shortly thereafter we regained control of our Oryx One systems and were able to continue watching the tail cam of our departure from Doha.
It was also during this time that I was able to take a look around and fully admire the fit and finishes of the QSuites cabin.
I specifically loved the way Qatar Airways chose to display seat numbers and the textures used on the sliding doors.
Qatar Airways Business Class Menus
After the relatively short wait for the departure runway we were in the skies above Doha avoiding UAE airspace. As we climbed over the Persian Gulf and Straight of Hormuz the flight attendants left their jump-seats and began the in-flight cabin service. This began with them visiting every passengers’ seat to record in-flight dining requests.
Qatar Airways offers a “dine on demand” meal service which means you can order anything on the menu at any time throughout the flight. However, it’s best to reserve any items you’d like (or think you might like) early in the flight to avoid missing out later on.
Prior to the cabin crew arriving at my seat I quickly browsed the in-flight dining menu to decide if I wanted anything specific during the flight. The in-flight dining menu began with a short note from Qatar Airways which partially explained the dine on demand service.
The menu continued with an a la carte late night dining menu. Our flight to Cape Town departed just after 2AM which meant only heavy snacks and breakfast options were available.
The in-flight dining menu continued with a list of non-alcoholic beverages available at anytime throughout the flight.
As the flight attendant reached my seat I reserved all of the meal options I wanted for the entire flight to ensure I wouldn’t miss out on anything I wanted. I then browsed the wine list to see if I wanted any wines or alcoholic beverages as well.
Qatar Airways Business Class Wine List
The wine list on our flight began much like the dining menu with a note from Qatar Airways introducing their award winning wine selections.
The next pages of the wine list included various wines and Champagnes along with a brief profile on each.
The wine list included a Chardonnay from California and a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile.
The list also included a discovery wine from Austria and an obligatory Bordeaux from France.
There were also more exotic reds available from Australia and Argentina.
Finally, there was a dessert wine and port available. Looking back, perhaps I should have done a little wine tasting at 35,000 feet.
If you’re not a wine drinker there are also a few cocktails, spirits, and liqueurs available. Qatar Airways’ beer list is rather limited which could be disappointing for a beer drinker.
Because it was the middle of the night and I wanted to get some quality sleep I opted to teetotal instead of ordering another alcoholic beverage.
Qatar Airways Business Class Dine On Demand Meal Service
Although I didn’t feel like drinking on the flight I decided that I should try to eat. The flight was blocked at just over 10 hours and I hadn’t eaten since shortly after departing Oslo earlier that day. Even so, I wasn’t too hungry so I decided to order some of the “lighter” options from the late night dining menu. My dinner service began with a bowl of the soup of the day.
Immediately after placing my order a flight attendant came by to set up my suite for dining. This included a table cloth, a bowl of fresh bread, salt and pepper, butter, olive oil, and an electronic tea light. The soup followed shortly thereafter. After I finished my soup a small plate with a beef and onion panini and fries arrived.
As I polished off the last of the fries (my girlfriend snuck a couple) the flight attendant asked if I’d also like dessert. At first I was going to pass, but as I initially declined the flight attendant recommended the warm lava cake. Much to my girlfriends dismay, I accepted and she went to bed.
I requested the turn down service immediately after I finished my dessert. This included the flight attendants placing a mattress pad on my seat and reclining the seat slightly. Since there were about 7 hours left in the flight I knew that I’d have plenty of time still for a great night of sleep.
Sleeping Over The African Continent
While my QSuite was being prepared, I quickly visited the lavatory to change into the provided pajamas. For year’s Qatar Airways has been providing the same pajamas set from The White Company. I love these pajamas as they offer full body coverage, but are very light and breathable.
After changing into the pajamas I returned to my seat where I found a nearly completely dark cabin.
I then shut my door so that I could get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.
As I closed the door to my suite I also pressed the small DND (“Do Not Disturb”) button in the suite.
When you press the DND button the seat number backlighting changes from white to red. When pressed, the red lighting lets the cabin crew know that you’d like to be left alone.
This DND button worked just fine and allowed me to sleep for about 5 hours without a single disruption.
A Bright Wake Up Call
The window seat directly next to mine had a broken window shade which didn’t close. The cabin crew noted this issue on the ground, but was unable to fix the issue prior to departure. This wasn’t an issue at first, but the sun illuminated the issue (sorry) when daylight flooded the cabin. This wasn’t an issue for me thanks to the enclosed suite and the complimentary eyeshade. However, I can’t imagine the window seat passenger got much sleep as his suite was incredibly bright!
Over the next few hours several passengers woke up and either opened their window shades or turned on their overhead lights.
At this point I decided to turn back on the tail camera and watch us pass over the African continent. The tail camera is a lot more fun to watch during daylight hours.
As I sat up a flight attendant asked if I needed anything so I of course asked for a cup of coffee.
While sipping my fresh coffee a flight attendant asked if I also wanted to have breakfast. At first I was opposed to breakfast as I wanted to get a few more hours of sleep. However, the coffee proved rather strong and I decided to remain awake for the rest of the flight.
Qatar Airways Business Class Dine On Demand Breakfast
For breakfast I first ordered a honey greek yogurt and a smoothy. Both of those items, a bowl of warm pastries, the tea light, and salt and pepper shakers arrived quite quickly after I placed my order.
I have to say, the greek yogurt with honey was very tasty, especially when I discovered the honey at the bottom of the bowl.
Breakfast also came with a side of jelly or jam which was a perfect addition to the warm croissant.
For my main breakfast course I decided to try the traditional Arabic breakfast. This was a bold choice that I regret slightly because I don’t traditionally eat olives, feta cheese, and pita bread for breakfast.
For that reason, I think I’ll stick to a western set on my next flight.
Admiring The Qatar Airways QSuites Cabin In Daylight
In the last hour of the flight the cabin crew opened most of the window shades electronically and turned on the overhead cabin lights. At this point I finally had a chance to see the QSuites cabin in natural lighting.
Personally, when looking at the entire cabin, I don’t think QSuites is as pretty as the older business class on the A350-900. In the below picture, the cabin looks more like an office building than an aircraft.
However, when you look at the fit and finishes of each QSuite, the cabin design is quite impressive.
The aisles of the QSuites cabin, with the curvy walls and purple doors, are especially attractive.
Personally, I prefer the older business class cabin design, but the QSuites are far superior from a privacy and comfort perspective.
Arriving In Cape Town
As the cabin crew completed their final cabin checks I sat back and admired the views of the Cape Town approach from the tail camera.
Cape Town’s airport was surprisingly small and consists of a single runway large enough to accommodate long-haul aircraft.
Touch down was extremely smooth and the taxi to our arrival gate was quite short. As I disembarked the aircraft I caught a glimpse of another OneWorld aircraft parked next to us.
In 2019 British Airways celebrated their 100th anniversary. The 747 parked next to our arrival gate featured one of four heritage liveries associated with that milestone. It was a pleasure to finally see one of these heritage aircraft in the wild, even if just for a few seconds.
Final Thoughts
I’m so thankful that I was finally able to fly Qatar Airways’ famed QSuites business class product. QSuites has been around since I first flew with Qatar Airways in 2017, but I haven’t been able to book it affordably. Luckily, rebooking our entire trip gave us that option. Better yet, I was able to bring my girlfriend along so that she could fly the best business class product in the world. It was a fantastic flight that left me begging for more.
My only issue with the QSuites cabin is that I don’t find it as attractive as other business class products. The inside of each QSuite is appealing, but the exterior is lacking. Personally, I find the entire cabin feels like I’m in an office building with cubicles. Outside of that, I absolutely loved flying in QSuites. The QSuites seat is superior to other Qatar Airways seats in every way.
As with most Qatar Airways flights the service on our flight to Cape Town was fantastic. The crew was extremely friendly and attentive throughout the flight. I especially enjoyed how proactive the flight attendants were. After sleeping for a few hours I decided to sit upright for a bit. A few moments later a flight attendant stopped by to see if I needed anything. It’s this attention to service that makes it a pleasure to fly with Qatar Airways.
