• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  aadvantage • Airlines • American Airlines • Qatar Airways  >  Why Did I Choose American Over Qatar?
aadvantageAirlinesAmerican AirlinesQatar Airways

Why Did I Choose American Over Qatar?

Kyle Stewart Posted onNovember 5, 2017September 15, 2021 10 Comments

My wife and daughter spent the summer in Thailand as it is my busy season at work and I am nearly never at home – why shouldn’t they be at the beach instead? As a result, I have been traveling back and forth every other week for an extended weekend stay and completing some mileage/status running in the process. But after my first completed roundtrip and one-way of a roundtrip on two oneworld carriers, it’s left me asking myself: Why did I choose American over Qatar?


If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com.


If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.

What Did I Book?

I covered why I booked away from American and United in favor of a direct flight last week because there is no additional incentive to send them my business. This post is in regards to flights taken over the summer.

Departing from Bangkok to North America (one was into LAX and the other into Mexico City) I was able to snag a sweet deal on Qatar Airways in business class for $1,474 roundtrip (BKK-DOH-LAX). For my second trip I found a refundable ticket for $2,750 on American (BKK-HKG-LAX-MEX-DFW-NRT-BKK). For both trips I had to position from the east coast and those round trips (one paid for in miles and one paid for in cash by choice) were roughly the same price in cash. Because the difference in cost was negligible I have not included that into my calculations as either would not have had a material difference on my choice of carrier.

In so doing, I would earn the following from flying Qatar Airways but crediting my flight to American Airlines:

  • $4,638 EQDs (American Airlines Elite Qualifying Dollars)
  • 50,994 RDMs (American Airlines Advantage Redeemable Miles)
  • 34,768 EQMs (American Airlines Elite Qualifying Miles)

Flying on American Airlines metal and crediting flights to their own program here is what I have earned:

  • $2,400 EQDs (American Airlines Elite Qualifying Dollars)
  • 26,400 RDMs (American Airlines Advantage Redeemable Miles)
  • 36,704 EQMs (American Airlines Elite Qualifying Miles)

In total:

  • $7,038 EQDs
  • 77,394 RDMs
  • 71,472 EQMs
  • $4,224 in cost

What Did I Get?

Qatar

Flying on Qatar Airways was a dream. Don’t get me wrong, the product on 3/4 flights was inferior to American Airlines hard product.  From Doha to Los Angeles and back as well as one leg on the Doha to Bangkok leg were flown on Qatar’s Boeing 777-200LR which featured six across business class seating, 2-2-2. That’s not market leading by any stretch of the imagination.

2x2x2 Business Class hard product is due for an update
2x2x2 Business Class hard product is due for an update

The problem with that layout was that window seats involve either stepping over a stranger, or having a stranger step over me while sleeping on a long flight. While the seats were less than ideal as a hard product (the physical seat) I was able to snag a middle column seat on those three legs and therefore still had direct aisle access without having to step over or be stepped over.

Middle seat gives direct aisle access to both seats
Middle seat gives direct aisle access to both seats

The first leg on Qatar was on their Airbus A380 in a reverse herringbone design which gave me the chance to snag a window seat and maintain direct aisle access. This hard product is on par with any other business class product on the market. There was great storage, a large IFE screen, and a massaging seat. After flying Cathay Pacific’s reverse herringbone, widely reputed as one of the best hard products you can find, the Qatar seat was just as good.

Qatar's A380 business class product
Qatar’s A380 business class product
Impressive screen size
Impressive screen size
Cathay Pacific's excellent business class seat
Cathay Pacific’s excellent business class seat

The soft product was where the airline really shined. The food was excellent, less because it was chef quality and more because of the effort that was put in to the process. When I see pancakes on an in-flight menu, I don’t expect a flight attendant in the galley with a hot griddle and spatula in hand flipping hotcakes. I know they will be heated back up in an oven. It’s the luxurious and frankly very simple accoutrements to the dish that made it delicious.

Pancakes heated up on the oven but made great by caramel and creme sauce and a little love.
Pancakes heated up on the oven but made great by caramel and creme sauce and a little love.

Presentation of all food items had a personal touch that could easily be added by crews anywhere, the difference is that Qatar takes the time to add them, and other carriers don’t. When it comes to food on an airplane it’s certainly about taste and menu selection, but more than anything else, it’s about effort. Qatar puts in the effort to make the experience special. Dining on-demand or at scheduled times is a nice option for guests and again, requires effort and maybe some additional staff but makes all the difference.

How hard is it to heat the items separately and then plate it with care?
How hard is it to heat the items separately and then plate it with care?
Simple presentation, not much time or money but looks and tastes great.
Simple presentation, not much time or money but looks and tastes great.
Sauce on plate, add dollop of whipped cream, breadstick, and place packaged warm item on plate as shown. It's just effort, not a miracle.
Sauce on plate, add dollop of whipped cream, breadstick, and place packaged warm item on plate as shown. It’s just effort, not a miracle.
This mezzo plate requires almost nothing to setup, but looks and tastes great... why can't other airlines do this?
This mezzo plate requires almost nothing to setup, but looks and tastes great… why can’t other airlines do this?
Another mezzo plate
Another mezzo plate

Qatar’s service outside of the food was excellent. I was offered coffee after I had woken up, encouraged to use the full suite of services they offered, everyone was pleasant, talkative – I even got a great restaurant recommendation for Pattaya from one of the great FAs who asked me about my trip and happened to be from the seaside Thai city. Male, female, younger, older, every single encounter was cheerful, helpful and accommodating. Whether I was asking to switch seats to the middle section where I wouldn’t have a seat mate, for a different colored amenity kit (to take to my wife), for a loaner laptop or at checkin. The difference was effort.

Amenity kit for the wife.
Amenity kit for the wife.
Top flight pajamas
Top flight pajamas

The lounge is important – in fact it’s really important. On one of my four segments I landed in the middle of the night, and departed just before 7AM. I had to do some work and need to stay up through the night. Instead of going into depth on the lounge, I will refer to Matthew’s post regarding the lounge and leave some pictures that tell the story.

Artwork in the cavernous Qatar lounge in Doha
Artwork in the cavernous Qatar lounge in Doha
It's close to two football fields/pitches in size.
It’s close to two football fields/pitches in size.
One of the many bars in the lounge
One of the many bars in the lounge

American Airlines

Perhaps the best business class seat in the industry is the American Airlines Boeing 777-300ER design licensed from Cathay Pacific. I was able to utilize this seat both on a connection flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong on a Cathay Pacific 777-300ER as well as my connecting flight from Hong Kong to Dallas-Fort Worth. Irregular operations forced me to switch off of my originally planned route from Hong Kong to LAX utilizing the same product. On the return it was the same type seat from Dallas to Tokyo-Narita on a 777-200ER and following that on a Japan Airlines 787-800 with a similar seat design.

Without a doubt the hard product from American, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines beat the Qatar Airways 777-200 where I spent a majority of my time. However, the A380 was superior to all others given the massive screen size, plentiful storage options and massaging chairs (on all Qatar flights).

American licensed the design of the Cathay Pacific business class seat.
American licensed the design of the Cathay Pacific business class seat.

The greatest difference between American and Qatar has to be in the soft product. It’s not just that the food was bad, it was the complete and utter indifference to preparation and presentation.

American's first attempt. "Sichuan shrimp"
American’s first attempt. “Sichuan shrimp”

Compare that to the worst effort I received from Qatar:

A marked difference in effort.
A marked difference in effort.

After the rice was both searing hot and at the same time crispy and uncooked with a ramekin flipped over and baked in the same circle it arrived, I sent it back and requested an alternate dish.

"Gnocchi" and apparently oil. This is the meal you get on a flight that is twice as expensive as Qatar.
“Gnocchi” and apparently oil. This is the meal you get on a flight that is twice as expensive as Qatar.

It doesn’t get more disgusting than this “gnocchi” and I pushed it around my plate before eating what I could before giving up.

I sent photos of the two dishes in comparison to the American twitter team which was met with the same indifference as the onboard staff. Keeping in mind that I am both an Executive Platinum and was flying on a paid business class ticket, I was offered nothing and no blame was accepted for this shockingly poor dish.

Service was curt. While my FA was polite and did exchange the first dish, the replacement was served by another FA who was both unsurprised and uncaring about my concerns. Suggesting that it’s “airplane food” shows that American FAs have zero experience on other carriers who can somehow perform the miracle of preparing food with care besides flopping a ramekin onto a plate. In fairness to the FAs on American, they can’t prepare food they don’t have – some of it comes down to what’s provided by American and their catering menu. But when Cathay Pacific can offer a wagyu beef burger on demand that rivals that which is delivered on the ground and they cater from the same airports with the same catering companies, blame falls on both the catering department of American corporately and the crew who are unwilling to put lipstick on a pig.

I didn’t have much time to visit the lounges from American, but in Hong Kong I did visit the Wing and again yield to Matthew’s excellent review.

So Why Did I Book American Airlines Over Qatar Airways

There were two reasons really, but unfortunately nostalgia played into effect more than it should have. The first reason was that I simply missed the window to book my second return on Qatar for the amazing price I found the first time. In the end, Qatar prices were only marginally higher than the one I booked with American, however, American’s times were better for my schedule.

Secondly, I felt like if I were to have an issue in my travels, the “aadvantage” of holding Executive Platinum status with American might have gotten me out of a jam and my schedule was tight on the return. In the end my status did come into play, but no more than Qatar would have helped for any other oneworld Emerald traveling on a business class ticket. I guess I booked a little bit for nostalgia in the end and that was a mistake. I won’t be quick to repeat it.

That being said, one thing did go my way. As a result of an extensive mechanical delay by American, I was rebooked on a much more expensive flight and was able to drop a leg of my journey. This altered my EQDs and thus, my redeemable miles working in my favor but cost me nothing extra. This was a happy accident and not something I can count on again. What I can count on is the deplorable food and standard service I received on American compared with my exemplary service and food on the less expensive Qatar Airways.

I have discussed in-depth my departure from American Airlines which only began as a result of the deterioration of their elite program. I was happy to accept and absorb the service failures in favor of a program that I generally found to reward me for my business. One of my managers when I was in the food service industry said, “Never let your customer taste the competition” and this is a prime example as to why. Once I tried Qatar Airways, and later United I won’t be returning to American on a paid long haul premium cabin ticket.

Do you think that American or their peers can continue to compete in the face of a much better product? Will they reverse course or should we all move our business and let them die on the vine?

Previous Article Interview With OneJet CEO Matthew Maguire
Next Article Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: November 05, 2017

About Author

Kyle Stewart

Kyle is a freelance travel writer with contributions to Time, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post, MapHappy, Live And Lets Fly and many other media outlets. He is also co-founder of Scottandthomas.com, a travel agency that delivers "Travel Personalized." He focuses on using miles and points to provide a premium experience for his wife and daughter. Email: sherpa@thetripsherpa.com

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter

Related Posts

  • Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge Review

    Review: Qatar Airways First Class Al Safwa Lounge

    January 25, 2023
  • Oneworld lounge LAX review

    Review: Oneworld Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)

    January 12, 2023
  • Marriott Elites Soft Landing, Hyatt Globalists Back To 2019 Levels

    January 8, 2023

10 Comments

  1. Vet&Banker Reply
    November 5, 2017 at 5:07 pm

    I am still flying AA, even when I expected to change most paid flying to AS. But having experienced Qatar this year in J, I (and especially my wife) are fully converted, or at least sold that international carriers are far beyond domestic when it comes to long haul business class. We have virtually no experience, but why risk AA to Asia when we can take a bet on Qatar (which was fabulous) or Cathay/JAL (whose economy destroyed AA in a straight comparison)/ANA?

    TBH, it probably works in AA’s favor, as we earn miles on AA domestic flights to spend on international partners. Maybe they see no reason to improve international J/F if they can count on nostalgic paid tickets and foist the award trips off onto partners? 😉

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      November 5, 2017 at 8:53 pm

      They need the revenue from long haul premium cabins. They could fly the back of the plane empty and still make money if the front 1/3 was sold even at discount prices, but they would lose money on every flight selling only the coach tickets and losing out on premium sets. So I am not going to be part of the problem any more, it will be Qatar when I can in the future, Cathay Pacific, Singapore, whoever shows they put the customer first and a product worth buying.

  2. Jay Reply
    November 5, 2017 at 7:51 pm

    “Maybe they see no reason to improve international J/F if they can count on nostalgic paid tickets and foist the award trips off onto partners? ”
    That makes complete sense. As long as they can keep first class foreign competitors out then they don’t have to improve their domestic product since the American public has no choice and then “foist the award trips off onto partners”. That is a brilliant insight.

    The US unfortunately has in general become a second class country (when it comes to customer service), so the US carriers understandably are able to get away with it.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      November 5, 2017 at 8:51 pm

      This is where we should all vote with our dollars. They can earn the domestic from me all day long – at a certain point I have to get to where I am going – but I spend double my US domestic spend on international flights in premium cabins during the year (one trip as a family and one or two for work) and that’s the part they just won’t get from me any more. It’s unacceptable.

  3. Suzy Reply
    November 5, 2017 at 8:25 pm

    After a decade being based overseas, our family will never fly American or any other US carrier for international flights if we can help it. This is a rule whether we are flying coach or business, whether on our dime, someone else’s, or when redeeming points or miles. Asian and ME carriers are just so much more pleasant, especially with children.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      November 5, 2017 at 8:49 pm

      Suzy, I couldn’t agree more. In fairness to some US carriers, United makes an effort on the soft product and their changes have been really good, though not Qatar-level.

  4. James Reply
    November 6, 2017 at 6:24 am

    I still wonder why you as a seasoned traveller even compared qatar to american. Its not apple to apple, more like apple to rotten tomato. Unbelieveable……

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      November 6, 2017 at 9:32 am

      I’m always happy to respond to a dedicated reader like yourself James. For those of us based in the US, there has been some stuck thinking that I should give that business to American when able if I am generally loyal to them, as they are uncompetitive and have no desire to rectify the matter, I agree with you that it is more like apple to rotten tomato – and I won’t be flying them long-haul if there is another option any more.

  5. Kate Reply
    November 6, 2017 at 8:23 am

    I’ve been a rewards member with American from the start. They do reward loyalty, permanently bumping me up a status when I hit 20 years with them (about to hit 30 years) Their customer service when travelling on mileage tickets is exemplary. I recently flew to Australia (almost impossible to snag mileage seats for one, never mind more, and in business!). The staff member spent 90 minutes, trying every option, to get me and my son there for free. I swear she had a map of Asia out trying every airport. She succeeded and we got incredible layovers in Hong Kong and Tokyo to boot. Another time, I was flying to Croatia (again with miles) on horrible layovers stopping in Boston for 8 hours (I fly from JFK!). American called the night before and asked if I wanted 2 seats that opened up on a nonstop (they had already set the seats aside for me). Third scenario – I was returning from Dublin on a mileage code share ticket. Are Lingus pulled one of their wildcat strikes. They refused to rebook me and my elderly mother (A.L. has horrific customer service which, having lived in Dublin, I’ve experienced almost every time I’ve used them, but I got stuck with them since this was a last minute flight for a funeral). American, despite not flying out of Dublin, had no problem helping us when I called them. They puddle jumped me on B.A. over to Heathrow and flew me and my mother home from there. Their behind the scenes staff are amazing.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      November 6, 2017 at 9:30 am

      I am glad to hear your encounters have been great, but I would ask if you think their onboard product is as exemplary as the experience you have had as a long-time customer. The stuck thinking I had in my head that I should give them my long-haul premium business has become unstuck.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Review: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea January 28, 2023
  • American - Delta JFK Incident Pilot Analysis
    A Veteran Commercial Airline Pilot Analyzes American – Delta Runway Incident At JFK January 28, 2023
  • Pre-Boarding With Children: How Old Until They Are Too Old? January 27, 2023
  • Dog Business Class Turkish Airlines
    Dachshund Flies Business Class To Paris…In Her Own Seat January 27, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Casting Couch? Kuwait Airways Forces Prospective Flight Attendants To Undress For “Research Purposes” January 4, 2023
  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • SWISS First Class Awards Bookable With United Airlines MileagePlus January 5, 2023
  • United Airlines 2023 Status Extension
    United Airlines Quietly Extends MileagePlus Premier Status…Again January 14, 2023

Archives

January 2023
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Dec    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

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! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.