Flying the World’s BEST Business Class from New York to Doha: Qatar Airways 777-300ER Qsuites
by Krish Patel
Considered to be the world’s best Business Class, Qatar Airways Qsuites are very spacious, private, and comfortable. They’re found on the majority of the airline’s Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft. Qsuites were the first Business Class product to offer sliding doors and became a pioneer for privacy and comfort in the airline industry. With a hard and soft product that consistently excels, Qatar Qsuites is more than just a good Business Class.
The Ground Experience
My journey from New York to Ahmedabad with Qatar Airways began with the first leg in Qsuites on the 777-300ER via Doha’s Hamad International Airport. I arrived at Terminal 8 about three hours ahead of my flight, which is the home of American Airlines and British Airways at JFK. In addition, AA’s OneWorld partners operate from T8 and this includes Qatar.
The dedicated check-in area for Qatar Airways is located towards the left end of the terminal building. The Business Class check-in queue is distinguished from the rest because of a plush purple rug rolled out in front. It wasn’t very packed and easy to pass through. The staff who checked me in were quite professional.
OneWorld Business Class passengers can use the American Airlines priority lane to clear security. I opted to use the TSA line instead because it was less packed.
Qatar Airways doesn’t have their own lounge in New York. Instead, Business Class passengers flying Qatar can use the Greenwich Lounge run by American Airlines and co-hosted with British Airways. If you have a higher level of OneWorld elite status, you’ll be able to use the Soho Lounge accessible to Emerald members. I’ve already covered the Greenwich Lounge in an article and featured it in our British Airways Club Suites review, so feel free to click on either to view more information about the lounge.
My gate for this flight, which was departing out of Concourse C in Terminal 8, was located 20 minutes from the lounge via the underground walkway. I wish it wasn’t this long of a walk for Business Class passengers, as it makes the ground experience feel less convenient.
Boarding commenced 50 minutes prior to departure, which is pretty typical for a long haul international flight. As the boarding time approached, the gate area became very crowded and it was impossible to find a seat. Qsuite passengers receive priority boarding in group one, and I was among one of the first onboard.
Boeing 777 Qsuite Cabin and Seat
On the Boeing 777-300ER, there are 42 Qsuites arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. The seats alternate by row, with those in even-numbered rows facing forwards and those in odd rows face backwards. Odd-numbered seats are positioned closer to the window or closer together in the center section. Each seat offers 21.5 inches of width and 74 inches in bed mode.
The seats in the center section form what’s known as the quad. These seats face each other and have dividers that can be slid down to communicate more easily. You can also slide across the TV screens if you prefer to socialize with everyone traveling in your party, making this the perfect configuration for business travelers and families looking to relax. In addition, the backwards-facing seats in the center section can convert into a double bed.
It’s also worth noting that there are overhead bins above the seats in the center section, making the Qsuite interior feel slightly less spacious on the 777 than the A350. The bins are a very spacious size and can easily hold several carry-on bags.
I love the rose gold accents found on the seats and elegant purple finishes. Qsuite is a visually striking seat, with high-quality fabrics and leather stitching that all contribute towards the attention to detail. The seats with gray padding really define the purple accents.
Located in front of each seat is a 21.5-inch Oryx One entertainment screen. Qatar’s selection is one of the most renowned in the world, with hundreds of movies and TV shows across many genres. You can spend the entire flight deciding upon what to watch. In addition, there are several music playlists and games available through the entertainment section. There are also dedicated slots for kids entertainment, the flight map, and information about Qatar Airways. I found the screen to not be very responsive at certain times during the flight compared to the Qsuite screen on the A350.
Beneath the IFE system is the leg rest. It can easily accommodate a backpack during takeoff and landing, but serves as spacious room for the feet in bed mode.
Adjacent to the IFE screen is the seat console, on top of which is a foam marble surface. Beneath the side table is a storage pocket, as well as a preset of seat controls to adjust the seat to any customizable position. There are also buttons to control the suite lighting and a do not disturb indicator. You’ll also find a headphone jack, charging outlets, an NFC reader, the IFE remote, and literature pocket.
To the side of the seat is a coat hook, as well as an adjustable reading light.
Beneath the reading light is a storage compartment which doubles as an armrest. The forward-facing seats feature a larger storage compartment. The one in my suite still offered a decent amount of space for small personal items, but nothing bigger than a laptop. The compartment extends upwards with the push of a button and doubles as an armrest.
Tucked away, but right adjacent to the seat itself is another button for the suite’s lighting and a control to raise the seat to the takeoff and landing position.
The Qsuite comes with a plush adjustable headrest. Although it’s quite soft, you may feel it push slightly into your chest and neck area while sleeping.
Located above each seat is an adjustable reading light, individual air vent, and flight attendant call button.
Of course, the signature feature offered by the suite is the sliding privacy door. It remains locked for taxi, takeoff, and landing, but can be closed at any other point during the flight. The door doesn’t extend from floor to ceiling and a small opening remains beneath the door even when closed.
After takeoff, I decided to use the lavatory. Across the two Business Class cabins, there are plenty of lavatories and one was almost always readily available. They’re very spacious and clean and include luxury rose-scented Diptyque skincare products. You’re provided with plenty of counter space and a well-sized toilet. Dental and shaving kits can be found in the lavatory during the flight and aren’t in the amenity kit provided (more on that later).
About three and a half hours into the flight, I requested to have my seat be converted into a bed. Unlike many other airlines, the flight attendants will make the bed for you when you’re ready to sleep. The bed includes a plush mattress pad, thick blanket, and two sleeping pillows. There’s plenty of width and my legs never felt restricted. With the door fully closed, you have utmost privacy and feel like you’re enclosed in your own little cocoon.
Qatar Airways Business Class Food and Drink REALLY Shines
In Qatar Business Class, you’ll be able to enjoy a dine-on-demand meal service. You can eat whatever you want whenever you want to do so during the flight. The inflight menu and wine list are provided at every seat upon boarding.
Qatar’s wine list includes red and white wines from countries such as Australia and France, as well as champagne and dessert wine. There’s also a selection of alcoholic beverages including spirits, cocktails, beer, and cognac.
The main menu highlights the meal choices available, including dinner, breakfast, and lighter snack options. There are countless options to choose from during the flight, however, they may run out of your meal choice since many people opt for the same dinner entree. In addition, you’ll also find non-alcoholic beverages listed on the main menu. There are juices, soft drinks, mocktails, coffee, tea, and So Jennie, a non-alcoholic róse beverage.
Before pushback, I was offered a pre-departure beverage, for which I opted to have Qatar’s signature lemon mint.
I chose to dine after takeoff and then get some sleep. The dinner service started out with warm nuts and a beverage of choice. I opted to have the pineapple margarita mocktail, which is one of my favorites.
The fine dining experience in Qsuite is truly one of a kind. Qatar sets up the table for the meal service in a restaurant-quality manner. Small touches such as an artificial candle are so extra, but really make the experience feel as if you’re eating at a fine restaurant. I started out with the artisan bread basket, which was served alongside salt and pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and a slab of butter. The bread was very fresh.
For my appetizer, I opted to have the Arabic mezze. It was beautifully presented with individual portions of Mediterranean delicacies and tasted great, consisting of hummus, roasted eggplant dip, and tabbouleh salad. The mezze selection was served alongside fresh pita bread to pair with the dips.
I had the corn soup as my entree. Unfortunately, Qatar ran out of the fig kofta I wanted, but the soup tasted delicious and was rich in flavor. It was also served with roasted crostinis.
I wrapped up the meal with the crispy chocolate mousse bar, which was served with a sweet mango and passion fruit sauce, as well as berries. It was presented nicely and looked great. For my drink, I ordered the non-alcoholic róse, So Jennie.
Mid-flight, flight attendants set up a snack basket in the galley where passengers could come and grab a snack or stretch their legs. I, however, opted not to grab anything from the snack selection.
After waking up, I decided to have breakfast. I woke up with the warm saffron karak chai, however, it was served in a plastic cup due to the turbulence as we began to cross over Europe.
My table was then set up for the second meal service. I started out with the pineapple and granola Greek yogurt, which was light and refreshing. Provided on the side was a bakery basket including breakfast-type breads and pastries.
For my main breakfast dish itself, I chose the ricotta and pineapple pancakes, which were very good. This tasted like something I’d expect to find on a five star hotel breakfast menu and were certainly some of the best pancakes I’ve ever had. I paired the pancakes with the apple cooler mocktail, which is a very refreshing drink that goes well with breakfast.
Before landing in Doha, flight attendants went through the cabin and gave each Qsuite passenger a box of Swiss Laderach chocolates and a rose-scented Diptyque towel.
Amenities in Qatar Qsuites
Upon boarding, each suite is stocked with each of the following:
A plush pillow with the signature gray and burgundy color palette
A take-home pillow branded with the Qatar Airways logo
A thick, plush purple blanket
A rose-scented Diptyque towel
A pair of noise-cancelling Oryx One headphones for the entertainment system
A water bottle
A Diptyque amenity kit
The amenities provided in Qsuite really make the experience feel luxurious, ranging from the high-end Diptyque products to the high-quality bedding items. The amenity kit is well stocked and includes an eye mask, pairs of socks and earplugs, Diptyque body moisturizing creams, cologne, and lip balm. I love the black leather pouch Qatar provides rather than the cardboard box, which I had as an amenity kit on my last Qsuite flight from New York to Doha.
Before departure, flight attendants will ask if you want a pair of pajamas for when it’s time to sleep. The Qatar Airways branded pajamas are very comfortable to sleep in and these ones were specially branded with the formula one logo as well. In addition, the pajamas came with a pair of slippers.
Provided in the literature pocket are two safety information cards, one of which explains the functions of the Qsuite door.
Service in Qatar Airways Business Class
From the moment I boarded until arriving at DOH, the service in Qsuites was truly world class. The crew were incredibly courteous and treated me as if I was their own child, making the experience feel very personalized. Flight attendants were through the cabin on a regular basis to offer beverage refills and simply check on passengers.
Booking Qatar Airways Qsuites
One-way Qsuite tickets from New York to Doha on Qatar Airways range between $6,000 and $11,000. Note that the cost to book a Qsuite will depend on the origin and destination. Qsuites are also bookable through a variety of points programs since Qatar is part of the OneWorld Alliance, such as Alaska MileagePlan and American AAdvantage.
You can also book using your Qatar Airways Avios. Several points, such as Amex Membership Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards transfer to Qatar Airways Privilege Club. Qatar charges at least 70,000 Avios for this flight redemption, with fares going up to 140,000 Avios. Qatar isn’t the only airline to use Avios, so you can transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio between any of the programs using Avios, such as Iberia Plus or British Airways Executive Club.
Overall Thoughts
Qatar Airways Qsuites are a solid award-winning Business Class product thanks to ultra private suites, renowned service, and gourmet fine dining. Since Qsuites are bookable through several points programs, paying the expensive cash fares can be avoided if you transfer enough points to your account. No matter which aircraft you’re flying on, whether it be the 777 or A350, you’ll know that you’re in for a treat if you’re flying in Qsuites. I really enjoyed my flight from JFK to DOH and can’t wait to fly this product again.