Qsuite Business Class on the Qatar Airways 777-300ER is always a comfortable ride, but the excellent service and delicious catering on my flight from Tokyo to Doha made this particular journey one of my best-ever flights on Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways 777-300ER Qsuite Business Class Review (NRT-DOH)
I booked this ticket, with a connection to Amman also on Qatar Airways, for only 40,000 AA miles…the very best deal in the AAdvantage program when it come to business class redemptions. Where else can you get nearly 20 hours of premium cabin service for that price?
After several hours in the JAL First Class Lounge, I proceeded down to the gate, where I had to check-in for my flight, since I was connecting on separate tickets through Tokyo Narita.
It took some time to verify since Jordan (my final destination) was still requiring testing at the time, but soon I was holding boarding passes for both flights and boarding commenced shortly thereafter about 45 minutes before scheduled departure.
Qatar Airways 807
Tokyo (NRT) – Doha (DOH)
Monday, March 22
Depart: 9:55 PM
Arrive: 5:00 AM+1
Duration: 13hr, 5 min
Distance: 5,165 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Seat: 2B (Qsuite Business Class)
Let’s begin with the onboard service, because it really represented something so special and so above and beyond even what I normally am used to even on Qatar Airways.
Service
The service was over-the-top excellent. I feel like I hold Qatar Airways to a much higher standard than US and European carriers, but even so, the service from Joey and Wattana (pictured below) was so excellent (attentive, gracious, prompt, kind) that I cannot help but to shake my head in amazement…and thanksgiving.
I appreciate a flight attendant who constantly patrols the cabin, notices when you wake up, asks if he can bring you a hot beverage or fresh-squeezed orange juice, and returns moments later with a hot towel. It’s classy. It’s Qatar Airways.
Service is on-demand on Qatar Airways so it is not like there were set meal times on this journey. But Joey and Wattana had this uncanny sixth sense to anticipate your needs.
Sure, using the flight attendant call button was encouraged, but it was not even needed because they were attentive enough to proactively see when you needed something without being obtrusive or overbearing.
Furthermore, passengers were graciously addressed and no attention to detail was spared. You will not below how beautifully meals were presented, which takes just a few extra moments to arrange but shows such an admirable commitment to excellence.
Suites
The 777-300ER business class cabin featured 42 Qsuites, which are proprietary seats but based on a platform from Collins Aerospace. Seats are arranged with forward-facing and rear-facing seats at alternate rows. Even-numbered business class seats face forward while odd-numbered seats are rear-facing. Seats are 21 inches wide and convert to a flat bed that is 79 inches long.
I chose seat 2B, a forward-facing window seat (not that it matted too much – the entire flight operated under darkness). Every Qsuite seat has a sliding door which provides a good deal of privacy when closed.
While I’m not a huge fan of closing doors in business class, you do feel private when all are closed.
Seat storage includes a large compartment on my wide and space in the footwell.
A power plug and USB port were easily within reach and overhead and side lighting provided plenty of illumination, even when the cabin was darkened (which it was for the entire flight).
After being unable to sleep on my JAL First Class flight to Japan, I had no trouble falling asleep on this flight. Not only was the cabin much cooler, but there were individual air nozzles above my seat. Qatar Airways business class bedding includes a large velvety-soft blanket and a pair of pillows. Your bed is made upon request and a mattress pad is added.
Food + Drink
Menus were distributed prior to takeoff. Like all longhaul Qatar Airways flights, meal service was a la carte, the menu was extensive, and the drink menu contained a rich variety of alcoholic beverages from around the world.
After boarding, I was offered a warm towel and a choice of beverage. I chose Qatar’s signature mint lemon juice.
I sandwiched two delicious meals in between my sleep. For supper after takeoff, I began with a bowl of warmed mixed nuts (almonds and cashews) and a glass of water (as much as I enjoy the rosé Champagne, I did not drink alcohol on this flight so as to maximize my chances of a good rest).
For my appetizer, I began with a bowl of split pea soup, which was rich and creamy.
It was served with a savory three-in-one bread roll.
Next, I ordered poached lobster medallion with grilled scallop and smoked salmon with keta caviar, edamame, and a petit Mediterranean salad. I love scallops and found this entire dish quite delicious.
I must also comment here how much I enjoy Qatar’s meal service presentation. The “candle” and salt and pepper mills add a touch of elegance that gives the entire meal a more premium feel.
For my main course, I chose a baked herb-crusted salmon with olive and tomato sauce, served with mashed potatoes and snap peas. It was delicious.
Next came a delicious cheese course, served with grapes and a basket of neatly-arranged crackers.
Finally, I included the meal with a hazelnut tart and a cappuccino.
After a refreshing rest, I had breakfast before our arrival in Qatar, which began with a proactive offer of a cappuccino from Joey.
I had slept for nearly nine hours and was hungry again, ordering a full breakfast before landing. Breakfast included fresh-squeezed orange juice and a mixed berry smoothie to start.
I also ordered Greek yogurt with a rhubarb compote and toasted granola with nuts. I grew up eating rhubarb and find it to be one of the most undervalued vegetables. I also enjoyed a butter croissant and scrambled egg dish with creamed spinach, mushrooms, baked beans, baby potatoes, and cooked tomatoes.
I finished off breakfast with a fruit platter, which included honeydew melon, grapes, apples, pineapple, mango, and strawberries.
The food on Qatar Airways is always superb, but I found the catering out of Tokyo Narita particularly delicious.
Each passenger was presented with a box of chocolate truffles from Läderach prior to landing.
One thing is certain: you will never go hungry on Qatar Airways.
Amenity Kit
Each passenger was offered a small green Brigs-branded amenity kit that included an eyeshade, earplugs, socks, and a trio of skin products from Castello Monte Vibiano (skin cream, lip balm, and moisturizing spray).
Additional amenities were available in the lavatory.
Passengers were also offered a hygiene kit with mask, latex gloves, and hand gels. Masks remain compulsory on flights to or from Japan.
Lavatories
Business Class includes two lavatories in the front of the plane and two more (oversized) lavatories between rows six and seven, which divide the two business class cabins. Not only was the lavatory clean both times I used it, but the supply of dental kits and shaving kits was full. Hand lotion and facial spray from Diptyque was also available.
Pajamas
Pajamas from The White Company were proactively offered prior to takeoff. Feeling lazy, I did not change into my pajamas prior to takeoff, as I usually do. Instead, I waited until after I had eaten before changing.
IFE + Wi-Fi
Qatar’s extensive “Oryx One” collection of in-flight-entertainment provided hundreds of games, music, TV shows, or movies to choose from. Despite a flight time of nearly 13 hours, I maximized rest and did not watch a movie on this flight. There’s also an entire library of Islamic literature as well as information about Qatar Airways.
Noise-canceling headphones are offered and are perhaps one of the few items upon which there is room for improvement. I find these types of headphones rather uncomfortable when worn for extended periods per the ear.
“Super” Wi-Fi was available for purchase at a cost of $10. I connected and was very pleasantly surprised at how fast it was. I got a bit of work done before dinner, then switched devices to my phone and ended up not really using it beyond reading some news article before landing.
You can easily switch devices once connected.
Landing in Doha
We landed at Hamad International Airport in Doha as the sun was rising. As is often (annoyingly) the case, we parked a remote stand and had to deboard via airstiars and onto a bus.
Qatar Airways does offer a special bus with fancier seating for business class passengers.
I was soon on my way to the Al Safwa Lounge ahead of my connection to Amman.
CONCLUSION
The service, seat, and food onboard this flight made it my best business class flight of 2022. I love long flights and this journey from NRT to DOH gave me plenty of time to eat, sleep, and relax. I fly a lot of business class products and this one is my favorite. While the seat itself is not all that much better than a reverse herringbone product, the entire package of service, food, and other amenities onboard make Qatar Airways my favorite. Throw in the wi-fi as well, which has gone from being unusable to lightning fast and only $10 for an unlimited flight pass without data caps, and I really think Qatar Airways represents the best overall business class product in the world at this point.
Have you flown Qatar Airways Qsuites on the Boeing 777-300ER? Is flying Qatar Airways as pleasurable for you as it always seems to be for me?
I’m not the one who calls out every little grammar error but this is hilarious: “Throw in the wi-fi as well, which has gone from being unusable to lighting fasting”
Matthew, were you originally booked into the old business class? I’m flying in May (NRT-DOH-CDG – took the scenic extra long route just to fly with Qatar and because there was availability) and I’m booked in the old 2-2-2. Odd to see that for such a premium destination they would use this configuration, regardless of their current fleet problems. Sometimes it changes, per Expertflyer, to QSuites, which for now are confirmed between DOH-CDG but even that one sometimes gets old 777 business, 787 or A350… Fingers crossed!
I’ve already flown QSuites and it’s simply STUNNING.
Hi Fernando, it was always QSuites from the date I booked it, about two weeks prior.
Was this booked on AA.com? Thanks!
Yes!
While I generally like to walk after coming off a long flight and, as such, like a contact gate, Qatar does remote stand arrivals better than anyone else, IME. Crew is always waiting with the stairs and busses and, as you note, there is dedicated business class bus (also dedicated ones for first class). The bus drop off point is close to transfer security and immigration, which is nice.
On my DOH-LAX flight, the wifi was unusable for most of the flight. The service was terrible. No one proactively ever came by to clean off my table. I had to flag down a flight attendant multiple time to request they take empty glasses. Tried to rush me into dinner service right away while advertising on-demand dining. Told me that only one Arabic breakfast is reserved per aisle and so I could not get one. No proactive service whatsoever. May just be the route but was extremely disappointed in the service as compared to past experiences.
Sorry to hear about the bad experience.
Sounds like one-off. They usually consistently offer one of the better overall products out there.
“Told me that only one Arabic breakfast is reserved per aisle”
That must have just been on your flight.
Matt, love your blog. Wife and I flew QA in QSuites from CAI to DOH and then home to ORD in September. Have to agree with you, it was the best experience on a plane ever! We’ve flown extensively since 1977, including over 4 million miles on UA. None of the USA carriers can come close to the service on QA.
This service and catering is a First Class product in everything but name, however, here we go again. Why oh why would an airline ruin such a prestigious service and experience with the deplaning process. Hard stand again! To my point, at such a Huge facility, could someone please explain the logic. This just blows everything, IMO.
Can we please address the elephant in the room in covering this airline – they follow no rules, and respect no boundaries. The CEO is on the record stating that women are not suited to management positions because they are too emotional. That was after a group of female passengers were sexually assaulted by security offices trying to track down someone who miscarried in an airport bathroom. Then there is the very sad story of Marc Bennett and his work with Qatar Airways that ended with his murder. Google his name – the president and the airline should be criminally investigated not fated by sycophants who thinks the world will simply move on. The travel industry needs to readjust its moral compass – so those in the industry are held to account
I also change into PJs before take off. Not only more comfortable but if I spill food or drink I’d rather stain the PJs as I put the clothes back on an hour before landing.
I love it when FAs patrol the cabin as well. But that seems rarer as the years pass on. I don’t know why, but it seems like I’m being a nuisance by requesting their service by remote.
Have been primarily flying with them since 2011. Love everything except the busing in and out part which sometimes takes a long time to get into the terminal.
Please carefully edit your posts. Found several errors (word choices primarily). Other than that, I enjoyed this review but want you to remember that you write for a living so please write well. Thank you!
I’m not a great proofreader. Feel free to point out the errors and I will correct them. Thanks for reading! Keep the feedback coming.
Qatar Airways has a fantastic soft and for most part hard product, Period!
But if your aim is to get smoothly from A to B, also under disruptions, then there isn’t many airlines that can compete with their sheer incompetence/lack off willingness to resolve a problem on ground in DOH and through their call centers.
As a longtime Platinum (used to be), I can’t even enjoy the fine dining on board anymore caused by the multiple Qatar Airways inflicted ulcers dealing with their 5 star customer service.
Qatar Airways should be labeled the world’s best leasure airline. If you need to fly for work on a schedule think twice its not a business friendly airline.
Can you give me a detailed example? I’m not exactly a frequent flyer, but have flown Qatar more than a dozen times over the last several years and never had a problem.
Thanks for the very nice review. My wife and a friend are taking a much belated girls trip and are flying back to the U.S. on Qatar next week and she’s nervous as a cat about two women transiting the Middle East. This reassures me. One question though: did you find the seats to be narrow? 21 inches wide, especially in the shoulders area, seems a bit tight.
I did not find the seats to be too narrow – not at all.
Qatar is no doubt the best Biz class in the world right now, followed by ANA and then Singapore Airlines (in my view…).
For some reason, Emirates has a great economy/premium economy and an unbeatable First product but their business class is shockingly uncompetitive…(at least by their own standards)
I tend to think so too – Emirates is not bad on the A380, but there’s just something about Etihad or Qatar that are on a higher level.
Last year flew from Auckland to Doha in 777 Qsuite. That was great but very annoying transiting through Adelaide which took an extra 2 hours meeting Australian transit requirements, on departure and return. A great waste of time increasing our direct Qatar 2019 flight time of some 17 hours to 19 hours. Thankfully we were in Qsuite but will not fly Qatar again unless direct flight Auckland to Doha which other airlines do.
Shouldn’t this award be 40,000 AA miles, considering it’s Asia 1 to Middle East, per the AA partner award chart? Am i missing something?