Quick take: It’s still one of the best business-class experiences in the skies thanks to private suites, high-end amenities and on-demand gourmet dining.
Pros
Suite-style seats have closing doors for privacy, plus combinable configurations.
There are high-end amenities from The White Company and Diptyque, plus on-demand dining with restaurant-quality food.
You can access the world-class lounge in Doha.
Cons
Though there’s plenty of stowage, you might have trouble finding a place for your laptop.
You’ll have to be flexible if you want to book an award ticket.
It’s time for some updates like wireless charging and Bluetooth pairing.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Although airline business-class suites with closing doors are becoming more commonplace these days, Qatar Airways was the pioneer. The airline put its much-loved Qsuite into service in September 2017.
Since then, the Qsuite has racked up awards and accolades thanks not only to its spacious dimensions and closing privacy doors, but also to its gourmet dine-on-demand menus, exceptional inflight service and deluxe amenities like Diptyque skincare products and The White Company bedding.
What’s more, you can typically find award availability in a Qatar Qsuite using a variety of frequent flyer points or miles thanks to the carrier’s membership in the Oneworld airline alliance … if you have a little flexibility on timing and routing, that is.
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That’s how, on a recent trip back to the U.S. from Seychelles, I happened upon a Qsuite award that suited my needs. It gave me the opportunity to review what has become one of my favorite business-class experiences of all time on a flight from Doha to Washington, D.C.
Here’s what it was like flying in a Qatar Qsuite, how you can book it yourself and everything you can expect to enjoy on board.
How much does it cost to book a Qatar Qsuite? ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The cost to book a Qatar Qsuite will depend on your origin and destination, as well as whether you’re flying one-way or round-trip.
Qatar flies to various U.S. airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Dulles International Airport (IAD), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Ticket prices can range from around $6,000 to $11,000 one-way and from $11,000 to $16,000 round-trip over the next several months.
But because Qatar Airways is part of the Oneworld alliance, you can book award seats starting at 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles or 70,000 to 85,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles each way between the U.S. and the Middle East.
For my flight from Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) to IAD via Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH), I ended up redeeming 85,000 British Airways Avios plus $267 in taxes and fees. The ticket would have cost $6,002 otherwise.
Map watching: The award for “sexiest new route” of the year goes to …
Qatar Airways business-class passengers can select seats for free. However, you might find a lot of seats blocked off due to the fact that a Qsuite can sometimes be combined into a double or a quad; the airline tends to block those off to assign to groups traveling together. You can try calling customer service to reserve your preferred seat, though.
If you are flying in Qatar Airways business class, you can check two bags of up to 32 kilograms (70 pounds) each when flying to or from the U.S.
Checking into and boarding Qatar Airways Qsuite business class
Qatar Airways business-class passengers can take advantage of the following priority services at the airport:
Priority check-in
Yes
Lounge access
Yes, Qatar Airways and partner lounges
Does the airline participate in TSA PreCheck?
Yes
Priority boarding
First, after preboarding
My flight from Mahe landed in Doha late at night, and my onward journey to Washington, D.C., continued in the morning. So, I booked an overnight stay at the Oryx Airport Hotel within the airport.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
After landing and clearing security, I went to the hotel to drop my bags. Then, I walked across part of the concourse and took the escalators up to the airline’s Al Mourjan lounge. I won’t go into detail since we’ve reviewed the lounge, and little has changed. However, it is a massive, two-story facility with a plethora of seating areas, two dining rooms with buffets and a la carte options, a set of shower suites, a few different quiet areas, workstations, family areas and more.
In the morning, I made my way to my departure gate, which was a solid 20-minute walk from the central concourse. I passed through another security checkpoint and got my travel documents rechecked before I was shepherded into a gate-side seating area.
Boarding began about 20 minutes behind schedule, but it proceeded quickly. We were able to push back just a few minutes late and made up that time in the air.
How comfortable was the Qatar Qsuite? ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ERs with the Qsuite aboard have a large business-class cabin with 42 seats split into two sections.
The larger front section has six rows of four Qsuites, each in a 1-2-1 pattern. The back section — behind a galley and set of lavatories — has four rows of four Qsuites, each with a two-suite block in its own row.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Number of seats
42
Cabin layout
1-2-1
Seat recline
Chair: 78 inches, fully flat
Suite: 103 inches long
Seat width
Chair: 21 inches
Suite: 39 inches
Screen size
21.5 inches
There are overhead bins running along the sides and center of the cabin, which means plenty of storage space for each passenger. However, this does make the cabin feel a little less spacious and airy. As a plus, each passenger has a set of overhead air nozzles to regulate the temperature of each individual seat.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Each Qsuite faces either forward or backward, depending on the row. Odd rows in the front section and even rows in the back face aft, while those in even rows in the front section and odd ones in the back section face forward. Those on the sides are alternately closer to the aisle or the window. Those running down the middle are either closer together in a “honeymoon” configuration or farther apart in a setup better for solo travelers.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Best seats for solo travelers
A and K seats
Best seats for couples
E and F seats
Some two- and four-seat blocks of middle seats can be combined into mega suites of sorts. These are great for couples or families traveling together.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
I booked my Qsuite as an award at the last minute, so I was assigned seat 2G. It was a forward-facing Qsuite in the center, but it was separated from the person next to me by our wider armrests.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
My Qsuite had light gray fabric upholstery and slightly darker gray leather headrests, cubby cushions and stitched swaths. The Qsuite’s accent wall and closing door were in the airline’s signature burgundy hue.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
I measured the chair part of my Qsuite to be 21 inches wide at the shoulders and 22 inches wide at the hips; the entire space from the door on the aisle to the privacy divider separating me from my neighbor was 39 inches across. Those on the side are a little narrower due to the curvature of the jet’s fuselage.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The divider between my seat and the one next to me rose 14 inches above the center console. This doesn’t sound like much, but it provided plenty of privacy unless either one of us stood up.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Although it is locked in an open position for taxi, takeoff and landing, the door to the Qsuite is 52 inches high, including a 9-inch gap between its bottom and the floor.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
That allows flight attendants to peer over and check on passengers, but it still provides plenty of seclusion from noise and activity in the aisle.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Next to the seat was a flat, cushioned surface hiding a cubby where I found noise-canceling headphones and a bottle of water.
Adjacent to this was a large, faux-marble side table. It was 22 inches long and ranged from 14 to 23 inches wide, making it a good place to keep my laptop after takeoff. A shallow shelf below this was perfect to store a phone or a pair of glasses.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Below this was a series of buttons to control individual components of the seat as well as arrange it into preset positions for takeoff, landing and lie-flat mode. There was also a do-not-disturb indicator in case I wanted to forgo service.
There was also a universal power plug and two USB-A ports in addition to a touchscreen remote for the entertainment system.
The bi-fold tray table slid out from under the entertainment screen; it extended to a full size of 18 inches long and between 19 and 25 inches wide. It also rolled forward and backward slightly, making it easier to get in and out of the seat when it was deployed.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
In lie-flat mode, the seat measured 78 inches long; this included a footwell that was about 13 inches high and narrowed from 18 inches at the mouth to 12 inches at its far end. That was plenty spacious enough for me, but if you have large feet, the space might feel constrictive.
Flight attendants will turn the bed down for you with a mattress pad and duvet from The White Company. They will add a throw blanket and dress the larger pillow with a clean cover as well.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Thanks to the dimensions of the bed and the closing door, I was able to sleep for seven hours or so — uninterrupted.
In the past, I’ve typically selected a Qsuite along the side of the cabin closer to the windows. However, I actually preferred my seat on this flight. Thanks to the privacy divider, I barely noticed my neighbor. Also, since the seat was closer to the door and aisle, I didn’t have to swivel around the larger armrest to access the aisle.
Business-class passengers on Qatar Airways’ 777-300ER have four dedicated lavatories: two at the front of the plane and two next to the galley that separates the two sections of the cabin. Flight attendants kept them spotless, popping in between passengers to tidy them and wipe down surfaces.
Their faux wood and terrazzo surfaces, touchless faucets and Diptyque soap and hand lotion also made them more upscale than your typical airplane bathroom. Hopefully, any updates will include touchless flushing functions for the toilet as well.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUYAmenities in Qatar Qsuite business class
I found both a full-size pillow and a smaller pillow (each had a different destination stenciled on it) waiting at my seat on my flight from Doha to Washington, D.C. I also found a rolled-up purple blanket.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
A black, faux-leather Diptyque amenity kit was also sitting in my suite and contained:
Diptyque body lotion
Diptyque lip balm
Diptyque essential face cream
Diptyque eau de toilette
Ear plugs
An eye mask
Socks
Additionally, dental kits with toothbrushes and toothpaste were available in the lavatories.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Shortly before takeoff, as most passengers got settled into their seats, flight attendants came through passing out sets of cotton The White Company pajamas. The attendants had guessed each person’s size but offered to replace any sets that did not fit. I received a medium, which was blousy and breathable without being too large.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The seats’ entertainment screens are 21.5 inches across diagonally with crisp resolution. You can control them either with a touchscreen remote or as touchscreens themselves. The content in Qatar Airways’ Oryx One library was very up-to-date, with new releases like “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” and “Wish.” There was also a large selection of television series, including “Jack Ryan,” “You,” “The Tourist” and “Mr. Bates vs The Post Office.”
The entertainment system was easy to navigate, and the provided Phitek headphones worked well, blocking out most external noise. Unfortunately, you can’t pair your own Bluetooth headphones to the system on the 777, though.
You can purchase unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi for just $8 ahead of your flight or for $10 on the flight. Qatar Privilege Club members get one hour for free. Unfortunately, however, it might not work so well, as I discovered on my flight. Though there were portions of the journey where it worked enough to send emails, I could not conduct a speed test; there were hours at a time when the signal was simply not available. That has not been my experience on Qatar’s A350s in the past, so perhaps this was a fluke or specific to this 777. Regardless, it meant I was not able to be as productive as I’d hoped on my 14-hour flight.