Flight Review – Qatar Airways Business Class A350 Philadelphia to Doha
Qatar Airways offers an incredible business class experience which is consistently ranked among the top business class offerings in the world. While the airline rankings typically always talk about the QSuites, Qatar does not fly them on all major routes currently.
Flight Details
- Route – Philadelphia to Doha
- Flight Number – QR 728
- Aircraft Type – Airbus A350-900
- Flight Time – 21:00 to 16:25(+1 day)
- Flight Duration – 12 hours 25 minutes
Check In
We arrived at the Philadelphia Airport a bit early. Check in counters opened only about 3 hours prior to departure and were completely empty. While there were separate queues for Economy & Business Class+Priority customers, the business class queue did not have any staff. I guess we reached way too early. Probably the only time we have flown in business and checked in via the economy counter.
Airport Lounge
Qatar Airways uses the BA Galleries Lounge for its business class passengers. The lounge is a bit small but covers all the basics. As vegetarians we had to manage only on salads and some snack items but I guess you can’t really expect to be pampered with veg options unless you are in the Middle East or India. It anyway helped a lot in sticking to healthy choices.
The lounge has a small business center and a self service drinks counter. There was hardly any rush and the staff was attentive. Lets read that as the first time a lounge staff complimented me on my choice of clothing. I was wearing a casual T Shirt and he said to me “Most people don’t understand what true style is”. To be honest my style quotient would be in the negative territory but enough about that.
Boarding
There were separate well managed queues for business class passengers. The flight was on time. We were quickly escorted to our seats by the flight attendants. Another flight attend came shortly afterwards and introduced herself. She cross checked with us about our selection of an Asian Vegetarian Meal on the flight. She also mentioned that she was more than happy to cater to our choice from the food menu as well.
Seating
The seats on the Airbus A350 had a 1-2-1 herringbone configuration with direct aisle access for every seat. The seats were large and comfortable. The seat has two large storage areas on either side. There is also a separate storage area for your footwear which is a nice touch. The tray table is just below the large TV Screen and a simple push at the bottom releases it. The seat also has a power socket and a USB charging port. Seat controls are conveniently located and easily accessible.
Amenities
Qatar Airways has partnered with BRICs for its Amenity Kits. The Amenity Kit contains an eye mask and cosmetics from Castello Monte Vibiano. The kit had a hydrating facial mist, anti ageing moisturiser and a lip balm.
Sleepwear is provided by the White Company London. The pyjamas were soft and of high quality. A pair of slippers is also provided. There is a pillow on the seat along with a soft blanket.
Food & Drinks
Shortly after boarding, we were offered a hot towel along with a choice of beverages. I had the champagne along with some warm nuts. The dinner service started shortly after takeoff. I had the Garden Pea Soup which was excellent. For the appetiser, I chose the Arabic signature mezze which consists of Hummus, Taboulen and Moutabel with Arabic bread. Main course was Basmati Rice with Vegetables and Dal. For Dessert I had the Lemon Orange Cake which was simply amazing. One of the best desserts I have had in the sky.
For breakfast I had the platter of seasonal cut fruits along with Steel Cut Oats with berries and cream. Additional fruits, snack items and champagne was kept for the guests in the centre area.
In Flight Entertainment
The seat featured a large entertainment touch screen along with a remote which has touch screen capability for easy navigation. The selection of entertainment on offer was above average and you can easily keep yourself busy for 10-12 hours.
The Staff
The staff was courteous and extremely attentive to your needs. I did face an issue and had to remind them multiple times to make my bed. But apart from that, the service otherwise was good.
Bottom Line
Qatar Airways has an incredible business class offering and it does not disappoint. Their food is among the better options out there and their hard product is quite good. Check out the youtube video below for a more detailed review. What do you think ?
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