Luxury Reviews

Luxury Reviews Says 9/10

• The Qsuite is the undisputed jewel in the crown of the self-proclaimed ‘World’s Best Airline,’ but guaranteeing that specific product turns up can be a lottery. Is that really such a bad thing?

The Airline

Qatar Airways—the national carrier of the State of Qatar and a member of the OneWorld alliance—has built its reputation on an aggressively premium product and an expansive global network centred on its Doha hub. It frequently claims the titles for the world’s best airline and best business class, largely thanks to the revolutionary Qsuite. However, this review is not about that flagship. The reality of flying Qatar Airways is a high-stakes game of chance where the jackpot is the Qsuite (on the 777 or A350), and the slightly lesser prize is this: the Boeing 787-9 Business Class Suite with suite doors. The critical question remains: can the airline’s famed soft product—the service, dining, and amenities—successfully make up the difference for a hard product that is, by its own standards, second tier?

The Vibe & Fellow Flyers

Flying Qatar Airways is defined by its gravitational pull into the Doha connection hub—a Death Star-like crossroads of the world. This feels less like a flight and more a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. The passenger list is diverse, bringing together every reason for a premium seat: from high-stakes business trips to China to bucket-list honeymoons in the Maldives.

The atmosphere is busy but not social. You have a plane full of people crossing vast distances, all operating on wildly varying time zones, united only by their high expectations for the suite and the service. The resulting vibe is quiet without the usual holiday chatter and excitement.

The First Impression 9/10

As most passengers connect onward, the actual first impression of Qatar Airways is made at their airport of origin, where the experience meets a ‘normal’ terminal. Qatar cuts through the ordinary with its slightly defiant burgundy carpet rolled out at the premium check-in—a feature long gone from rivals. This luxurious catwalk sets the tone: a commitment to old-fashioned service, even if the glamour doesn’t quite match the Doha standard. Qatar Airways still believes in the velvet rope.

The Fast Track 5/10

The problem with priority access on Qatar Airways is the sheer number of premium passengers. Everyone, it seems, has either bought a Business Class ticket or holds a top-tier Oneworld card. The system wobbles under the weight of its own exclusivity. You get the benefits—dedicated lanes at security in transit, or the impressive, dedicated bus service to remote stands. However, when the bus for First and Business Class is packed with people enjoying their “priority,” or when the Fast Track lane for connections is twenty deep, the term itself becomes a bit of a joke. It’s not exclusive; it’s just the default crowd.

The Lounge 8/10

Travelling Qatar Airways Business Class at Doha features two flagship spaces that are less ‘lounge’ and more ‘terminal feature’: the immense Al Mourjan Business Lounge (South) and the newer, stunning Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden (North). Both of these require a dedicated review to capture their sheer scale and design, from the South’s sprawling reflection pool to the North’s views over the tropical ‘Orchard’ garden. They are the most premium experience short of the Al Safwa First Class Lounge, and are reserved for premium cabin travellers.

The problem with the experience is the result of Qatar’s enormous success. It is a genuine victim of its own grandeur; while the lounges boast features usually reserved for First Class—notably the exceptional à la carte dining and the Garden’s extensive quiet/day rooms—their sheer volume of users means they often feel less like a VIP sanctuary and more like a bustling, high-end concourse. You could feel that if “everybody is a VIP,” then nobody is, leading to complaints of queuing for the main dining rooms at peak hours and a lack of the personal, attentive service you expect in a premium space of this magnitude. The facilities are five-star, but the experience can sometimes be diluted by the number of passengers, making it a spectacular space that occasionally struggles to deliver true exclusivity.

The Priority Boarding 7/10

The ‘Priority’ lane is another queue and any exclusivity at the gate is hard to find. The Qatar Airways Ground Staff manage the volume of premium passengers with a polished welcome that continues at the aircraft door. After being directed to your seat you will eventually reach the sanctuary of your Boeing 787-9 mini-QSuite.

The Seat & Cabin 9/10

Let’s call the Boeing 787-9 mini-Qsuite what it is: a very solid suite that is not a Qsuite. The 787’s narrower fuselage prevents the space and complexity of the original, but the trade-off here is a net positive for many. While it features the essential elements—the sliding privacy door, excellent finishes, and a fully flat bed—it feels airier and less like a cave. Every seat faces forwards. There are no reverse-facing options, which, for anyone who dislikes flying backwards, makes this a winner. It delivers a spacious, private, and thoroughly enjoyable experience without needing the theatre of the Qsuite quad arrangement.

The trade-off for the door is a noticeably narrower cabin and footwell, making the whole experience feel a little more cozy than spacious. Crucially, storage space is surprisingly minimal, which is a constant battle for those who travel with more than a novel and a toothbrush.

The Amenities 10/10

The details here justify the perfect score. The seat itself, despite being the ‘mini’ suite, manages to be supremely comfortable for both working upright and for sleeping fully flat. The seat is supportive enough that a restful night is genuinely achievable. For the tech-savvy, the convenience is impressive: there is a dedicated, working wireless phone charger built right into the suite wall.

The Diptyque amenity kit—complete with quality skincare and fragrance—elevates the offering far beyond the standard airline fare. Qatar Airways understands that luxury is a collection of small, premium details.

The Service 10/10

The crew on this flight broke the usual Qatar mould. While the airline can often feel by-the-book, this service was genuinely warm and fantastic.

They were constantly in the cabin. The service was proactive, not reactive: wine and water were topped up before I knew I needed it. My name was used consistently from boarding to descent, and it made a big plane feel instantly like a private jet.

The excellence was in the details. For turndown, the crew not only presented the bed like a luxury hotel but also thoughtfully dimmed the 787’s electric windows. Simple and without a hint of the usual robotic efficiency. This was, quite simply, superb flying.

The Dining 10/10

The commitment to an actual dining experience, rather than just an airline meal, is clear the moment the service begins. A great looking menu and separate wine list were waiting at the seat, promising something far beyond the usual Business Class offerings. The first touch was the warm, traditional welcome of Arabic coffee and dates—a small, highly effective bit of theatre post-takeoff.

The service is tray-free, with tables laid by the crew with proper linens, making it feel less like a flight and more like a minimalist, elevated restaurant. The small electric candle on the table is another premium detail that lifts the ambience. Everything served, from the excellent à la carte courses to the accompanying wines, was top-tier. Even the water choice—a proper bottle of San Pellegrino—proves that no detail was left to chance. This is Business Class dining pitched firmly at the First Class league.

The Entertainment 10/10

The Oryx One system on the 787-9 is fantastic. The huge touchscreen is responsive with an extensive selection, no struggling to find something new. They catered for everyone with a solid library, including a dedicated section of Disney for kids of all ages.

The hardware is equally excellent. The provided headset is a truly effective noise-reducing unit—the rare kind that actually works, not the usual foam-and-plastic souvenir. For those who can’t look away from the world outside, there is a live outside camera feed (for the wannabe armchair pilots among us), which runs perfectly alongside the main program via the Picture-in-Picture feature.

The screen also serves as the suite’s control centre, managing the window blinds and lighting. As for connectivity, Wi-Fi was available—the older generation, sadly, not the promised Starlink—but the entertainment setup itself is superb.

The Attention to Detail 10/10

This is where Qatar Airways does not simply compete; it operates in a different league entirely. The level of meticulous care on display across the entire journey is the very definition of luxury, making most competitors appear to be running a bus service.

It starts and ends with infrastructure. At remote stands, dedicated, plush coaches were provided exclusively for premium passengers, removing the crowded bus transfer entirely. This operational flawlessness even extends to the maintenance: an Aircraft Appearance Team polishes the planes, ensuring even the landing gear wheels are spotless.

In the cabin, the crew runs a masterclass in product knowledge, delivering a comprehensive, scripted introduction. The little things are everything: wireless charging is tucked neatly into the suite; the lavatories are consistently immaculate, with the toilet paper folded into a hotel-grade triangle throughout the flight (a detail that should be mandatory industry-wide).

The sleep experience is phenomenal. The turndown service is completed with surgical precision by the crew, who insisted on fitting a thick, quality mattress topper. The ultimate touch, however, is the bedding: the crew change a separate, new, luxury silk-like pillowcase cover for sleeping—ensuring you sleep on a flawless surface.

Dining was equally precise. Wine was perfectly chilled and served with the bottle presented, and the table was dressed with a crisp cloth and napkin, placed by hand. The final touch? The lavatories on the 787-9 offer a genuine ‘loo with a view’ (a window you can open the blind on). This is an airline that is truly obsessed with the details.

The Good, Bad & Turbulent

Is it Worth It? Yes. On this occasion the luxury service stars aligned and Qatar Airways put their best foot forward. Even a half-sized Qsuite tastes like a full-sized win

Fly This For A chic, private suite that lets you enjoy restaurant-quality, on-demand dining with service so sharp and attentive, you’ll momentarily forget you’re hurtling across the sky in a metal tube.

Don’t Fly This For The satisfaction of telling your friends you flew the biggest, best Qsuite, as this is the slightly less capacious, though still excellent, little brother.