Qatar Airways introduced its latest Business Class product, which it calls “QSuite”, at the end of 2016, but this was my first time flying in it. Qatar is my favourite airline and I think the Business product they fly on their A380s, B787s and A350-900s is already the best in the world, so I was surprised they felt it needed to be so drastically changed.  Using sliding doors and screens they have created private individual and/or sharing suites for passengers travelling Business Class, either alone or with friends or family. The suites are akin to what you might expect in First Class, so Qatar markets this product as “First in Business” to emphasise both their leadership in the Business class travel segment and it’s similarity to a First class product on other airlines.

QSuites are being retrofitted to all their existing B777s and embodied on all newly delivered 777s and A350-1000s. They’re available on some flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Doha (DOH) and progressive deployment across the network as planes become available.  Starting 2019 they’ll retrofit their A380s and A350-900s, but the 787 Dreamliners don’t yet have dates because extra design work has to be done to fit the suites into its slightly narrower cabin.  At the moment, aircraft with QSuites do not have a First Class cabin, so Business is the “pointy end”.

After half an hour in Qatar Airways’ fabulous Premium Lounge in Heathrow’s Terminal 4, we boarded B777-300ER registration A7-BER, which was operating flight QR8 on 30th July 2018, at 15:30, in time for its scheduled 16:00 departure.

I’d been sceptical about the Qsuites on a few fronts: I thought they would be cramped and claustrophobic; I didn’t like it that some seats face backwards; and the suite screens would block views through the cabin.  But my first impressions of my seat, 1K, were very positive indeed!  The suite was much more spacious than I could have imagined and the high quality of craftsmanship in the seats and fixtures was evident.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My window seat, 1K, faced backwards towards the forward-facing Mr A in 2J. Going backwards was no great issue, but landing in the dark in DOH did feel unusual.  Legroom was excellent, with a ‘not too slim’ cubby hole for your feet in the bed position, underneath the amply sized video monitor.  To my right was a shelf area for my nicknacks but there were also plenty of little stowage cupboards around the seat, including one under a padded stool-come-seat by my right arm, where Mr A could sit comfortably for a short time.  The tray table is stowed below the monitor and provided a good, sturdy, large space for dining or working. The suite extended over 3 windows.  Mr A had that seat/stool and shelving area to his right too, which meant that his seat wasn’t right next to the window. But it was certainly close enough to give great views without stretching or twisting his body.

The suite screens are fixed open on the ground, and unlocked by a Flight Attendant once the seatbelt signs have been turned off. The seat’s take-off and landing position does actually have a slight recline to it, and seatbelts are normal over-lap style.  When the screens are closed you have a marvellous private space to yourself, but they’re not too high so that cain crew can make sure you’re not getting up to mischief!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the fully reclined (bed) mode, the seat is very comfortable, horizontal, with decent width and very good length.  But I didn’t get any decent sleep because of a noisy child across the aisle. That’s the other potential draw-back of Qatar’s QSuite design, which enables the screens around 4 centre seats to be lowered to create a great work or family space of 4 seats facing each other: but could that mean you will have to cope with noisy workmates, or a noisy family? We had the latter.  A coupe of times I had to stand up and berate the child, as his mother wasn’t doing anything to calm him. It’s a tricky one which Qatar needs to manage delicately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the hard product improvements, Qatar Airways has also refreshed and upgraded its onboard catering in Business and First classes. I enjoyed a restaurant standard 5+ course dinner, beautifully served on new china, with nice new table furniture including a cute faux table light and petite salt and pepper mills (and the salt was pink!).  The selection of wines is also very good, from the Pommery white Champagne or Drappier Rose de Saignee, classic white Burgundy and Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux, to dessert wines and 1992 Colheita Port.  And I should note that Qatar Airways offers a very good machine-made coffee selection, which is by no means the norm in Business class.

As usual, onboard service was excellent, from a well-trained international crew (shout out to Kim!), and the flight crew addressed the passengers before departure and before landing, which I always find very comforting.

In terms of timings, our doors closed on time at 16:00, but LHR congestion meant we didn’t push back until 16:18 and we took off at 16:38 from runway 27L.  We touched down at DOH’s runway 34R at 00:53, just 8 minutes behind schedule.

Qatar Airways’ QSuites are a fantastic way to fly! They offer space, privacy and great comfort to the business class traveller.  I agreed with the statement on the pillow in my suite: “This is My Happy Space”.  I can’t wait for the next time….  10/10

BTW the free amenity bag by Bric, in a cheerful bright blue colour, contained socks and eye mask and quality moisturisers by Montevibiano. Slippers were provided in the footwell, but PJs were provided ‘on request’. Toothbrushes and other amenities are available in the two pleasantly restyled lavs at the front of the cabin.