Qatar Airways A380 Business Class Review

Qatar are known for their high quality business class offering. The Qatar Airways Business A380 product doesn’t does fail to disappoint. From the service onboard, to added perks like their in-flight bar, the A380 offers a great way to travel. We booked these flights during Qatar’s January sale. We paid approximately €1100 euros return each to travel from Helsinki to Bangkok. At this price, it represented excellent value and a great way to travel.

At the Airport

Doha is Qatar’s hub, and is designed for passengers in transit. We enjoyed the Al Mourjan Business Lounge, but it’s large size can mean it lacks the personal touch. Despite its good reputation, it doesn’t rank among my favourite business class lounges, but that’s not to say it isn’t a perfectly fine place to spend a few hours. It’s better than the so-called ‘First Class‘ lounge though.

On the plus side, this was my first time transiting through Doha without facing rude security staff during the baggage check. As such the process from plane to lounge was fairly easy and relaxed. On the whole, I’d recommend choosing the shortest transit time available. This isn’t because it’s an unpleasant experience, but because the service onboard is far better. As a result, I’d rather get to my destination sooner.

The Cabin

The flight boarded on time and the process was very efficient. Upon entering the aircraft we were shown to our seats and offered a welcome drink. We opted for champagne and this was accompanied by warm nuts and a hot or cold towel. Before long, boarding was complete and we were ready for departure.

Qatar’s A380 product is impressive. The seats are comfortable and feel very private. This was a daytime flight, but if you were looking to catch some sleep, it’d be no problem. Blankets and pillows were provided as standard. Pyjamas were available on request. A special shout out should be reserved for the Armani amenity kits. Expect high quality moisturisers and fragrances – perfect for refreshing during a longhaul flight.

I confess that I never really use inflight entertainment systems, and if I do, it’s usually for the moving map. The screen provided, however, was more than ample, and the display quality excellent. In-flight charging devices worked well, and the table layout made it very easy to watch content on laptops or work.

Food and Drinks

Despite landing at 7pm Bangkok time, this was a breakfast flight. I wasn’t much in the mood and instead opted for the steak sandwich – it was of a good standard. Qatar offer a ‘dine-on-demand’ service in business. I find the crew tend to push you towards eating as soon as possible after take-off. This said, if you ask to eat later, or request food throughout the flight, it’s never a problem.

The highlight was the A380 bar – from mojito’s to champagne, it was a novel way to spend some time during the flight. Bar snacks were available, and the seating environment was well suited if you were in the mood to socialise with fellow passengers too.

The service on-board couldn’t be faulted. The crew were proactive, and at any quiet moments a call on the service button resulted in a quick drink refill. Everyone on board was very pleasant, and genuinely worked to make the flight as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.

Conclusions

The Qatar Airways A380 business class offers a solid product. If you’re able to be flexible, you can find some great business class fares. I’ve always found the staff to be incredibly friendly and willing to please. I far prefer the service and experience onboard to the transit experience in Doha – the large and impersonal lounge (although impressive) isn’t my kind of thing, so I’d always opt for a short connection time. This said, the facilities offered on the A380 result in an excellent experience and are to be recommended.