Hey everyone, we’re back with another flight review, this time taking on Qatar Airways Business Class. We flew from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Doha, Qatar on flight QR853, which is a 7-hour journey that typically departs at 8:20 PM. We arrived in Doha around 10:20 PM, ready to share our experience with you!
This time around, we weren’t flying on a plane with the fancy Q-suites, which are those awesome fully enclosed pods. Instead, we were in the regular Business Class seats, so we’re here to give you the lowdown on how those stack up.
Booking Process: A Smooth 9/10
To book this flight, we used our Avios points, which is usually a pretty straightforward process. You can either transfer points from your British Airways account to your Qatar Airways account or book directly through the Qatar Airways website. We usually prefer to transfer points from British Airways, so we found the booking part to be a breeze. It’s finding affordable business class tickets that can be a challenge, especially with Qatar Airways, as their “Flexi Awards” are double the price of standard bookings. Finding those non-Flexi awards is a bit of a treasure hunt, but we managed to snag one!
Booking Business Class KUL to DOH
As shown in the screenshot above, booking a one-way Business Class seat with Avios costs approximately 50,000 points and 749 MYR in taxes, which is about $175 USD at the time of writing. In our case, we booked our trip as part of a continuing journey, which cost us 228,000 Avios for two Business Class seats, traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Washington, D.C. However, the above screenshot is only for KUL to DOH and with classic award seating, not Flexi awards, which typically cost about half the price.
The only thing that kept this from being a perfect 10/10 was the calendar view when searching for flights. It’s a week by week system, which can be a bit tedious when you’re trying to look further ahead. A month-by-month view would be much more user-friendly!
Check-in and Boarding: A 10/10 Experience
Now, here’s where the magic of business class really shines: check-in. We flew through the airport with ease! There were barely any lines, and they usually prioritize business class passengers, which means a smooth and stress-free experience.
We did have a slight snag with the lounge. Since we booked with points, we didn’t have access to the business lounge in Kuala Lumpur. However, our priority passes allowed us to chill in one of the regular lounges. It was pretty busy, but we managed to grab a quick drink and head to our gate.
Seat and Comfort: A Very Comfortable 8.7/10
Here’s the thing about the Business Class seats: they’re really darn comfortable! While not as fancy as the Q-suites, they still turn into fully flat beds with tons of legroom. We’re talking serious legroom, and it’s something we really appreciate, especially when you’re trying to get some shut-eye on a long flight.
We’ll have to double-check the configuration, but we think the seating layout was 2-2-2, which means two seats on one side of the aisle, two seats on the other side, and two in the middle.
Shariff, being 6′, had a great experience, but even I, at 5’1″, found the legroom to be fantastic. So, while they might not be the most luxurious seats on the planet, they definitely get the job done when it comes to comfort! We gave them a solid 8.7 out of 10.
In-Flight Entertainment: A Decent 8/10
This is where things get a little more subjective. The in-flight entertainment on Qatar Airways is not exactly stellar. It can feel limited compared to other airlines, likely due to their adherence to Islamic-based content guidelines. We’re not saying it’s bad, just that it could be better. Shariff, who always raves about the complimentary Wi-Fi on Turkish Airlines, was disappointed. Qatar’s Wi-Fi can be spotty at best, and we’ve even paid for it and barely been able to use it. We gave this category a 5 out of 10, but Aroob, being the movie buff she is, found the movie selection to be decent enough for an 8 out of 10.
Cleanliness: A Stellar 10/10
Qatar Airways gets a big thumbs up in the cleanliness department. The seats were spotless, the bathrooms were sparkling clean, and everything was wrapped up nicely. A true 10 out of 10 for a clean and comfortable flight experience.
Cabin Crew Service: A Pleasant 9/10
Qatar’s cabin crew service was great – always attentive and friendly. We didn’t have any standout experiences, but we didn’t have any bad ones either. The crew’s bubbly energy and genuine attentiveness made for a pleasant flight. We gave this category a 9 out of 10.
Food and Beverage: A Solid 7/10
Honestly, the food on this flight was a bit of a mixed bag. Aroob got the soup, fish, and a chocolate fondant. The soup was a solid 8 out of 10, the fish was decent (7/10), and the fondant was a 10/10 because, well, who doesn’t love chocolate? Overall, Aroob gave the food a 7 out of 10, but it’s a reminder that your experience might differ based on the choices you make!
We’ve always loved the food on Turkish Airlines, so it’s our go-to for airline food comparisons. While Qatar Airways does a good job with Business Class meals, it doesn’t quite compare to Turkish Airlines cuisine. That being said, it’s not bad by any means; it’s just that some dishes can be inconsistent, sometimes amazing, sometimes a bit bland.
Wi-Fi Connectivity: A Big 0/10
This one was a major disappointment. There was no Wi-Fi connectivity on this flight, and to be honest, we’ve never had Wi-Fi on a Qatar Airways flight from Malaysia to Doha, even on flights we’ve taken to America. This is a big letdown for those who need Wi-Fi on long haul flights for work or even just for entertainment. It’s something we definitely recommend factoring in before booking, as they seem to struggle with this.
Extra Amenities: A Pampering 8.5/10
Qatar Airways definitely knows how to spoil their Business Class passengers. We were treated to Diptyque toiletries, which are a luxurious touch, and a full set of White Company pajamas. Aroob even wore hers for the video!
The pajamas are definitely a nice perk, and although Shariff wasn’t wild about the rounded neck ones, he did appreciate that the airline even offered pajamas at all. We did wish they offered a wider range of sizes, as the largest size they had was a large. Overall, we give the amenities an 8.5 out of 10.
Punctuality: A Perfect 10/10
This flight left and arrived on time, making for a smooth and stress-free journey. We give this a perfect 10 out of 10!
Baggage Handling: A Rolling 10/10
We can’t speak too much about our baggage handling experience on this flight since our journey was an onward continuing flight, hence we didn’t get our bags during our layover. However, our bags did make it back in one piece with no signs of damage, plus they came out in a timely manner. So we’re going to go ahead and give this rating a 10 out of 10.
Overall Experience: A Decent 8.5/10
Aroob gave the overall flight experience an 8.5 out of 10. It was a comfortable and pleasant flight, but nothing stood out as truly amazing. We’re so used to the Q-suite experience on Qatar, that it was hard to truly compare. Additionally, the shorter flight meant there weren’t many standout events or experiences to rave about. It was a quick hop, eat, sleep, and land.
Shariff agreed, giving the overall experience an 8.5 out of 10 as well. He would likely give a lower rating if you included the lounge experience in Kuala Lumpur, but we’ll save that for the next vlog!
Would We Recommend Qatar Airways? Absolutely!
Would we recommend flying Qatar Airways? Absolutely! They are consistently rated amongst the top airlines in the world, and it’s easy to see why. They offer a consistently reliable experience, with friendly crew, clean and comfortable seating, and great amenities. It just so happens that they also have a really amazing business class lounge in Doha, which we’ll tell you all about in our next vlog/blog post! Stay tuned!
Audio Recap for those who get eyesores from reading
