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Watch us fly Qatar Airways 2 different ways: Qsuite business class versus economy

Nov. 06, 2021
3 min read
qatarthumb
Watch us fly Qatar Airways 2 different ways: Qsuite business class versus economy
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Qatar Airways is one of the world’s most reputable airlines, flying to more than 150 international destinations from its base at Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha. Not only that, it’s part of the Oneworld Alliance, making it a brilliant option for travelers wanting to use their Avios.

Qatar’s ‘Qsuite’ product is widely regarded as the best business-class product in the sky due to its fully closed cabin, enormous seat and incredible food and drink options. Qsuite appears on four different Qatar Airways aircraft types: select Boeing 777-200LRs, 777-300ERs, Airbus A350-900s and all of Qatar Airways’ A350-1000s.

While we have already filmed and released a three-cabin review on the Qatar A380 including Qatar's elusive first-class cabin, we were yet to shoot inside a Qsuite and Liam and I jumped at the opportunity to capture this special product on video.

For our recent flight on Qatar’s 777-300ER, I had an economy seat while Liam flew in the coveted Qsuite.

By being creative with our exact routing we managed to save over 50% on Liam’s business-class tickets. There was no Avios availability on our selected dates and one-way QSuite prices started at a hefty £2,275, however, there are many short connecting flights around the Gulf and we had already planned to be in nearby countries before Qatar anyway.

We searched various departure points to see if this dropped the price, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. To our joy, flying out of the latter (with an overnight stop in Doha) lowered the price by a whopping 52% to just £1,091.

Watch the full video of our experience here:

Qsuite (business class) — Liam Spencer

We paid: £1,091

Liam thought the Qsuite was the best business-class product he'd ever experienced. He found the seat itself to be incredibly comfy with a ton of privacy thanks to the fully closing sliding door. According to Liam, the food was also not only absolutely delicious but on par with a "fancy London restaurant." The sleeping experience was perfect. Once he was tucked in he felt like he was in a bedroom in the sky.

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There were some downsides. It took the cabin crew over 10 minutes to come to his seat after he pressed the call bell.

Economy — Nicky Kelvin

We paid: £228

I loved the incredibly comfortable and spacious seat and it was a bonus that the cabin was so empty, allowing me to make a “poor-man’s business class” spreading out across multiple seats. The food was tasty and substantial and the crew were very attentive with fast and friendly service.

There was very little I could fault except that the dessert after the main meal service wasn’t great, perhaps a little “dusty."

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
4 / 5
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.