• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home  >  Flight Reviews • Qatar Airways  >  Review: Qatar Airways A380 First Class Doha to Paris
Flight ReviewsQatar Airways

Review: Qatar Airways A380 First Class Doha to Paris

Matthew Klint Posted onSeptember 20, 2018May 31, 2020 9 Comments

After literally a day in the Al Safwa lounge, I ventured back into the terminal and proceeded to the gate for my connecting flight to Paris. This would be my first time aboard a Qatar Airways A380.

Boarding had started early and I found myself one of the last passengers onboard. Stepping onto the aircraft, a pair of flight attendants greeted me. Inspecting my boarding pass, one escorted me left to my seat in the front of the upper deck. This flight took place in 2016, but more on that below…

Qatar Airways 039
Doha (DOH) – Paris (CDG)
Sunday, June 05
Depart: 07:25 AM
Arrive: 01:20 PM
Duration: 06hr, 55min
Distance: 3,091 miles
Aircraft: Airbus A380
Seat: 2A (First Class)

Qatar Airways A380 First Class Seating

The Qatar Airways first class cabin routinely receives mixed to negative reviews. It is true: compared to other premium first class products or even Qatar’s own Qsuite Business Class suites, there is far less privacy in this cabin.

However, I found the seat extremely comfortable in the seated and lie-flat position, thereby mitigating the lack of privacy. Like Lufthansa First Class, the eight open seats can be partially shielded by a retractable privacy partition. Other seat controls include a multi-way seat adjuster and power outlet. Each seat also has a closet large enough for a garment bag or two articles of clothing. The closet door includes a place to store your shoes.

Comfortable bedding is provided and the seat transforms to a large bed in lie-flat mode (81 inches).

And what a beautiful aircraft this is:

As we took off from Doha, I snapped the following pictures:

Qatar Airways A380 First Class Bar

My favorite feature of the flight and this aircraft is the beautiful onboard bar. Qatar spared no expense in carefully choreographing every detail. I loved the accents in the overhead lighting and the roses.

I wrote about my conversation in the bar with a flight attendant from Iran, which was absolutely the highlight of the flight.

You can see the alcohol selection pictured below: I did not drink any alcohol in the bar. I did, however, enjoy some mixed nuts, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and was beckoned to stand behind the bar for a picture…

Qatar Airways A380 First Class Dining

Qatar Airways offers a la carte dining-on-demand in first class. The menu for my flight had both breakfast and lunch options:

With an early departure, I enjoyed breakfast after takeoff and a light lunch before landing. Breakfast included Krug (more for the photo, if I am being honest) with a strawberry and fig smoothie, cappuccino, bircher muesli, and a cheese omelet. Fresh breakfast breads were proactively offered.

On both sides of the front of the cabin, a snack station offered light treats like popcorn and nuts as well as juices and water.

About an hour before landing, I ordered Arabic mezze followed by a steak sandwich. The mezze turned out be a trio of fried items that I simply passed on. The sandwich wasn’t great (it could have been warmer), but was also respectable for an airline sandwich.

I ordered cappuccino after and a FA proactively brought dessert as well. Just what the doctor ordered, but talk about a beautiful dessert…

Qatar Airways A380 First Class Service

I won’t call the first class service bad, but it was a typical Qatar Airways business class flight. In one sense, you can label Qatar Airways’ business class service akin to first class on other airlines due to the personalized, on-demand nature of it. But the service just dragged on this flight. With only eight passengers in first class, I thought service might be a bit quicker than in business class, but it took an hour for breakfast and 30 minutes for lunch. I don’t like extended waits between courses, but I cannot blame the FAs for not hustling. Apparently three FAs is not enough for a full-cabin.

And perhaps this is something I bought on myself, but the FAs must have thought it was my first time flying in first class based on the number of pictures I was taking. It seemed the FAs got a kick out of it and giggled as I continued to take pictures of every angle of each cup and glass and especially when I started taking pictures of the seat in its various positions. That’s not a complaint, but it felt like I was just a source of amusement.

All that to say, the crew was very well-intentioned, courteous, and cheerful.

In case you are wondering, I always ask FAs for permission to post their pictures on my blog.

Qatar Airways A380 Business Class

While visiting the bar, I took a peak at business class. Qatar offers reverse herringbone seating onboard the A380 in business class, a seat I have reviewed on the A350.

> Read More: Qatar Airways A350 Business Class Doha to New York Review

Qatar Airways A380 First Class Lavatory

I love the large lavatories located on either side of the upper deck landing of the forward staircase. Some carriers turn this area into a lounge, which makes no sense to me. It is so nice to have some room when using the facilities, even if there is no shower like the Etihad and Emirates A380s. Fresh flowers, toiletries, and Rituals soap and moisturizers were available.

> Read More: Etihad Airways A380 First Class Review
> Read More: Emirates A380 First Class Review

Qatar Airways A380 First Class Amenity Kit

I received a Giorgio Armani amenity kit with contents inside including socks, eye shades, ear plugs, toothbrush, toothpaste, and comb. Qatar currently uses Brics for its amenity kits.

Qatar Airways A380 First Class IFE + Wi-Fi

I’ve reviewed Qatar Airways in-flight entertainment across several aircraft. Moves, TV shows, games, and music were available. Click here for an in-depth description. I appreciated the large screen onboard. For most of the flight, I had the camera tuned-in.

Wi-Fi is available onboard, though I gave up after several attempts to connect. First class passengers are given a complimentary wi-fi voucher.

Then vs. Now

Has Qatar changed between 2018 and 2016? Not really. New amenity kits, new blankets, faux candles, but everything else is still the same. Here’s a review from just a few months ago.

CONCLUSION

Qatar Airways is not a stunning first class product. While Qatar Airways has the best business class product in the world, it does not offer the world’s best first class product or frankly even come close. But I still very much enjoyed this flight and would not hesitate to spend the extra miles to fly in first class over business class on the Qatar Airways A380.

Previous Article A Touch Of Kindness On My British Airways Flight
Next Article Why British Airways Business Class Is Totally Worthwhile Within Europe

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Review: Royal Jordanian Crown Lounge Amman (AMM)

    February 14, 2023
  • Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge Review

    Review: Qatar Airways First Class Al Safwa Lounge

    January 25, 2023
  • cedric grolet burrata truffle sandwich

    Visiting Cedric Grolet’s Iconic Parisian Pâtisserie (Opera)

    January 22, 2023

9 Comments

  1. MILESMachine_ Reply
    September 20, 2018 at 1:31 pm

    Awesome detail and pics as usual, thanks Matthew

  2. dave Reply
    September 20, 2018 at 2:19 pm

    6hr and 555min, Thats a long ass flight if i’ve ever seen one . lol

    • Matthew Reply
      September 20, 2018 at 8:49 pm

      Thanks! Fixed.

  3. Debit Reply
    September 20, 2018 at 4:11 pm

    Which of the middle east airlines do you find hires the hottest flight attendants.

    • OVTraveller Reply
      August 17, 2020 at 6:38 am

      Thank you Matthew for your most comprehensive review. Having had to cancel my Qatar flights to and from Europe in their QSuits, due to the pandemic restrictions, your review helped to slightly overcome a sense of great loss. Hope it will all go away, better sooner than later,

  4. hbilbao Reply
    September 20, 2018 at 8:00 pm

    I have to say this: your pic is sooo cute.

  5. JustSaying Reply
    September 20, 2018 at 11:02 pm

    ZERO privacy……looks horrible!

  6. Paolo Reply
    September 21, 2018 at 3:46 am

    Most amenity kits are crap. The ones by Brics are keepers; attractive , functional and high quality. I like the look of their luggage range but it’s a bit hard to find: the only Bric’s store I recall is in the shopping arcade next to the PH Milan ( also, there’s a wonderful bookstore in the same arcade)

  7. Aaron Reply
    September 21, 2018 at 12:55 pm

    “The Qatar Airways first class cabin routinely receives mixed to negative reviews.”

    I think that’s a bit harsh. I’d it routinely receives positive to mixed reviews. The only sore spot seems to be the privacy*, but it isn’t any worse than what you’d on other airlines like Lufthansa or JAL or non-suites on Air France or a few others. And while yes, the Qatar suites provide more privacy, the first class suites are much more comfortable for sleeping in. Privacy aside, most people really like the design and look of Qatar’s first class.

    *Really, unless you plan on watching porn and/or m@sturbating, that much privacy isn’t needed anyway, imo.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for June

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 60,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Spirit Airlines Feisty Senior Citizen
    Feisty Senior Citizen Puts Drunk Spirit Airlines Passenger In Her Place June 2, 2023
  • British Airways Fine
    Justified: British Airways Slapped With $1.1 Million Fine From US Government June 2, 2023
  • United Airlines Worldwide Devaluation
    United Airlines MileagePlus Devaluation Spreads Worldwide June 2, 2023
  • American Airlines Flagship First A321
    The Dismal State Of American Airlines Flagship First Class June 1, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • American Airlines Pins Cockpit Door
    American Airlines First Class Passenger So Angry Over Meal Choices He Pins Flight Attendant To Cockpit Door May 11, 2023
  • Cursing Fight United Airlines
    “Don’t You Ever Tell Me To Speak English!” (Fight Breaks Out On My United Airlines Flight) May 17, 2023
  • Missed VDB United Airlines
    My Foolish $1,000 Airport Lounge Visit May 16, 2023
  • Spirit Airlines Flight Leaves Early
    Spirit Airlines Passengers Enraged After Flight Leaves Early May 8, 2023

Archives

June 2023
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« May    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

A fabulous flight onboard @qatarairways on the A35 A fabulous flight onboard @qatarairways on the A350-1000 in Qsuite Business Class from DFW-DOH. Qatar offers the best all-around business class product in the world with a spacious suite, plenty of privacy, excellent service, and superb cuisine.
The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

Privacy Policy

© Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.