Why Qatar Airways’ 2nd-Gen QSuite Made Me Rethink Business Class And The Idea Of Privacy On An Airplane
[Photos are taken by the author of Flightinterior.com and are subject to copyright law.]
Qatar Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Business Class configuration
Pros:
- More privacy than expected thanks to sliding doors
- Same layout, thus same degree of privacy for all BC passengers
- Up to two windows per seat
- Fantastic service
- Selection of snacks and fruits available in the galley area
Cons:
- Reverse Herringbone layout (subjective opinion)
- 2 out of 30 seats have no window at all
- Ground experience in FRA (primarily lounge access)
[Photos are taken by the author of Flightinterior.com and are subject to copyright law.]
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My Business Class trip on Qatar Airways to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia started in Frankfurt, Germany. Up until summer of 2024, Qatar Airways had mainly operated its Boeing 777-300ER´s to and from Frankfurt Airport. That meant that most of these flights (but not all of them!) had the original QSuite layout onboard. I tested this product a year earlier on exactly the same route, in case you want to check out my review on the 777 QSuite product as well!
For today though, you will join me as I take you onboard Qatar´s not so “new” QSuite 2.0. To this day, this seat configuration can only be found on their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners (but not their 787-8 fleet).
A look at the rather small PrimeClass Lounge at FRA Airport
We live in a day and age where booking a Business Class ticket alone doesn´t automatically grant you access to an airport lounge. In fact, Qatar Airways alone has four different types of Business Class fares: Lite (P fare), Classic (R fare), Comfort (I,D fares) and Elite (C,J fares).
Be aware that the newest “Business Lite” fare does NOT include complimentary lounge access at any airport. When you book a stopover package with Qatar Airways, your ticket will automatically be in Lite Fare. Unfortunately, it is not possible to upgrade to any of the other three fares with this package.
Since I had booked such a stopover package directly on the airline´s website, I found myself in this situation. Still, there are a few ways to access airport lounges as we know. Given that I was quite a few hours early at the airport due to my connecting flight to Frankfurt, I decided to pay for the lounge stay anyway. Usually, tickets are 45 Euros per Person, which is completely overpriced for such a small lounge with little food selection. However, you can get this ticket for less using e.g. a DragonPass ticket. Personally, I paid for it using my Revolut membership. For standard users, the price is 37 Euros, but I got it for under 30 Euros thanks to my Revolut discounts. You can read more about the lounge and its entry fees on the airport´s website.
Qatar Airways features 30 lie-flat Business Class Suites in a 1-2-1 configuration with a sliding door for added privacy onboard the B787-9.
Please note: The window seats in row 5 do NOT have a window at all.
I booked a seat in the last row, being row 8, since it offered me the most amount of privacy.
For many, the “reversed-Herringbone-layout” isn´t anything new. And yet, most airlines do not offer a door. And let me tell you: The door is indeed an absolute gamechanger! It really does make you feel that much more private and seperated from other passengers. While this commonly used layout is still my least favorite compared to the other Business Class products I got to try out, Qatar Airways made me like it a lot more than expected. So much so to the point that I started wondering whether the original QSuite could actually be labeled a First Class product instead. And so here we have it: Nowadays, more and more airlines shift from spacy and splendid cabins to narrower but still luxurious seats. This allows for more seats which generates more revenue for the airline. Especially Business Class seats contribute heavily to the airline´s profit, which is why we see many of our favorite carriers working on replacing their First Class products with a competitive Business Class seat.
From experience I can tell that the main difference between the QSuite and QSuite 2.0 is a not a reduce in overall privacy (which is great in the 2.0!), but less space to work with. And no, I am not here to complain. Instead, before paying thousands of USD, Euros or Avios, one should know the differences to expect when booking this Business Class product.
In row 8 you have one window. The second one is completely blocked by the IFE (this is also true when you sit in row 7).
[All seats are facing in the direction of the flight.]
[Photos are taken by the author of Flightinterior.com and are subject to copyright law.]
Settled into seat 8K onboard Qatar Airways “QSuite 2.0”.
Boarding went smoothly and the lovely crew came by to serve a pre-departure drink of your choice, as well as a refreshing towel.
As seen to your right, the windows of a Dreamliner can be dimmed in five stages. Thus you can look outside even when the sun is shining into the cabin. It works like a pair of sunglasses – quite convenient when you are an airline based in Doha…
Apart from the refreshing towel and welcome drink, you will find a Dyptique amenity kit.
Is there any brand that does amenity kits better than Dyptique? The unique scent profile is by far my favorite when it comes to amenity kits.
I chose seat 8K specifically for the amazing RR Trent 1000 engine views. It´s one of those views that are hard to beat…
[Photos are taken by the author of Flightinterior.com and are subject to copyright law.]
The cabin lighting is well conceived and enhances the overall experience even further!
Another perk of flying on a Dreamliner: You can have a look outside while sitting on a toilet at up to 43000 feet in the sky.
Apart from this life-enriching adventure, Qatar Airways offers branded soap, hand lotion and a scented facial spray, all of which are from the French designer Dyptique. In addition to that, you will also find a shaving kit and a toothbrush kit. This selection is certainly impressing. Comparing it to my most recent Lufthansa First Class flights, there is barely any difference. Hence, this is as good as it gets in Business Class! Or perhaps Lufthansa was just lacking First Class-worthy products?!
As soon as cruising altitude has been reached, you can take snacks or fresh fruits to your seat. That´s a bonus point for the 787s and their extra space too.
Speaking of fresh fruits: It goes without saying that this selection of fruits was handsdown one of the best you could imagine on an airplane. I ordered it along with a cappuccino. “Almost forgot this is the whole point”.
A shrimp and bread as a pre-appetizer + wine tasting, recommended by the lovely crew.
What would Qatar Airways Business and First Class be without the classic, original Arabic Mezze?
Without a shadow of a doubt, missing out on this fantastic appetizer would be a disastrous scandal! 😉
The main course: Chicken and rice with nuts (oh… and more champagne!)
This was unfortunately a bit too dry for my taste but certainly more than enough to feel replete.
In terms of sheer space, this cabin offered more than expected! Despite the reverse-herringbone layout it felt spacious. I would even call it cozy, thanks to the door which provides maximum privacy when laying flat. But more seats in a single cabin comes at a cost, of course. The footwell is limited and can be narrow for some people. But no need to worry – chances are high that if I fit in it, so will you! 😉 For reference, I am about 2 metres tall and therefore take up quite a lot of space. Still, it was surprisingly easy to lay down and catch some sleep. And yes – this is also true if you too prefer to sleep on your side.
Don´t forget to look outside your window once in a while! Apart from the approach into DOH (picture 1), you would miss out on major cities such as Baghdad as can be seen from above in picture 2.
Bonus tip: Most trips departing from Germany and other European countries to Doha will fly southwards over Turkey and Iraq before entering Qatari airspace, offering breathtaking views! My personal recommendation is to check the flight paths of the last few flights on FlightRadar24 to see from what side you are most likely to approach your destination. In my case, choosing a window seat on the right side of the aircraft was more than perfect!
Just before we touched down into Doha, the crew handed out a fine selection of Läderach chocolates.
And once again, it´s the little details and extras that elevate this experience to another level.
Upon arrival in Doha, you will either park directly at the gate or find yourself at a non-gate position. The second option was true for me and it allowed me to take another look at Rolls Royce´s seventh wonder of the world: The Trent 1000.
Business Class guests are picked up in a seperate and more luxurious bus and brought to the terminal. Since DOH is a main hub for international air traffic, bus rides can take quite a long time until you reach the gates. While this might be annoying to some, aviation enthusiasts will definitely get their fair share of close-up views of Qatar Airway´s impressive fleet of aircraft.
Do you have a long layover in Doha and want to know what your best options are to make the best out of it? In my lounge reviews you can see what lounges you have access to. Sometimes, this includes Qatar Airways flagship “Al Safwa” First Class lounge, even as a Business Class passenger. Find out more here: Lounge reviews
[Please note that all flights and lounge reviews are self-funded and not sponsored in any way. All views and tips that were shared are based on personal experience on the day of travel and can vary. The owner of FlightInterior.com does not take responsibility for any deviating expectations.]
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