This is how you fly in the Qsuite of Qatar Airways, the best business class in the world
It's been a strange year for the aviation industry. It still is, but with vaccination advancing and the unstoppable desire to travel on the part of passengers, it finally seems that airlines begin to fly after going through the most serious crisis in memory in the sector.
And it is in the middle of this aerial rush when Airline Ratings, whose recognitions are granted based on strict evaluation criteria prepared by professionals in the sector with extensive knowledge and experience in the field of aviation, publishes its annual roundup of the world's best airlines.
Just in time to help passengers decide which airline to choose on their return to the skies. And here there is no room for doubt: Qatar Airways has been the brand new winner.
The Australia-based aviation safety and product classification agency compiles your Airline Excellence Awards based on different criteria such as the age of the fleet, the opinions of passengers, offers or products. This year, in a rare but tremendously necessary way, their team of global editors has also included the management that airlines have carried out to deal with Covid-19.
QATAR AIRWAYS, WINNER IN FOUR CATEGORIES
And in case this 2021 had brought few surprises, here is one more, direct entry to number one Qatar Airways, which has displaced the previous winner, Air New Zealand, who had been leading the first position for the last six years.
While it is true that Qatar Airways has been accumulating awards and honors for some time, its response to the pandemic has been decisive, both from the customer and operational point of view, to lift it to first place.
The company has also won awards for Best Airline in the Middle East, Best Catering and Best Business Class. This is the third year in a row that Qatar Airways has won the Best Business Class award in recognition of its proprietary Qsuite service, undoubtedly one of the most innovative aviation products of recent years.
For the CEO of the Qatar Airways Group, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, "receiving all these accolades from AirlineRatings is particularly special." And it is that during the last 16 months the aviation industry has witnessed some of its most difficult days, although the airline has continued to operate and support passengers despite the fact that many others have interrupted their operations due to the pandemic.
“Qatar Airways continues to reach new heights and set industry standards that deliver an unrivaled passenger experience, because excellence is in our DNA. Our commitment is to provide the highest possible degree of health and safety quality both on the ground and in the air, with a 5-star service as the core of our business”, clarifies Al Baker.
And although the response to this situation by the airline has been impeccable, the truth is that Qatar Airways has been close to excellence for many years, also thanks to innovative products such as its Qsuite, offering a First Class experience in the Business Class cabin.
This kind of room in the heavens has the first double bed in the business class sector, ideal for traveling as a couple, as well as with privacy panels that hide away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room, an industry first.
IS IT THE BEST BUSINESS CLASS OR NOT?
I had the opportunity to discover that everything that has been said and written about the Qsuite is true in a flight from Doha to Madrid just a few weeks ago, aboard a Boeing B777 of the company. This aircraft model has a total of 42 suites, distributed between two cabins. The rest of the seats belong to the tourist class.
The first thing to know when selecting a seat is that the suites are distributed in a staggered manner: those with odd numbers face the rear (reverse) and those with even numbers, in my opinion much better, face forward. Both, except for those in the central seats, have a window, although in the odd numbers the window is closer.
Although both the gastronomy and the service of Qatar Airways are indisputable, the 'wow' factor of this business class owes it all to the design of its Qsuite, a seat that has sliding doors that achieve exceptional privacy regardless of where we are sitting.
In the takeoff and landing phases and for safety reasons, the door must remain open, but once in the air and with the door closed, this luxury cabin becomes a spacious room with storage space including shelves, drawers and trays everywhere, although perfectly camouflaged, and a very comfortable seat that converts into a bed.
Nothing else to board the airline offers its traditional welcome drink, gesture that was banished during the months of the pandemic but that fortunately is already at full capacity. Taking off like this is another story.
Already in the air, the crew introduces themselves and again invites us to continue enjoying another drink and some snacks while the passenger selects his a la carte meal from the menu which is already on the seat. Being a little after 8 in the morning, I decide to skip the champagne to try one of the most popular drinks on board, its lemon mint . And I'm not wrong choice, I will repeat a few more times throughout the flight.
There is another menu, apart from food, dedicated to drinks, which includes a wide selection of wines, sparkling wines, spirits and even cocktails. On some airline flights it is possible select the main course during the 48 hours prior to boarding, a way to ensure that the chosen dish will be available and not sold out. In my case, I have no problem and everything I order is served after reaching cruising altitude.
My favorite starter on board Qatar Airways is their mezze, which is usually always present in the letter and where both hummus and pita bread they are sublime. Second, I decide on a pasta Although it is not the best dish I have tasted on board, it is quite tasty. After dessert, the crew always delivers a box of Godiva chocolates that taste like glory to me along with the coffee that I just had. I am happy to confirm that There are still details that not even the pandemic has banished.
On this flight, and due to the health alert, the airline did not offer the traditional cover service composed of a special pillow for the seat made into a bed and covered by a sheet and duvet for passengers who want to sleep.
Even so, I was able to do it wonderfully thanks, among other factors, to the fact that the seat becomes a bed and the amenities kit, which will soon become Diptyque, includes a necessary mask on a daytime flight. Earplugs, socks, some creams, and a facial spray They complete the business bag, along with another, in a plastic container, which included a hygienic mask and a disinfectant gel.
And for those who sleep is not an option, the airline's in-flight entertainment system, Common throughout the plane, it features more than 250 movies and more than 100 television shows. In the case of the Qsuite, the in-flight entertainment system is enjoyed in a 21-inch screen which, while huge for the suite space, was also too reflective on a day flight.
Another favorite entertainment for passengers is your Wi-Fi network that, although it is payable for all classes of the plane, the airline offers the first hour of flight free and more than competitive prices (about €9 for the entire flight) for those who need to be connected during the trip in, quite possibly, the best product in the airline industry to date.