'This HAS to be the world's best business

Release time：2024-05-21 09:38:41 Source：Culture Compass news portal

‘I keep forgetting we’re on a plane,’ my husband, Dan, says as we settle into our gigantic thrones.

Around us, passengers are sipping on the finest Champagne, perusing a menu that consists of plates of poached Atlantic lobster with smoked salmon and grilled Angus beef fillet, and opening their red ribbon-wrapped Diptyque gifts, which have been left on our marble tables.

We’re on board a Qatar A350-1000, flying in ridiculously luxurious style from London Heathrow Terminal 4 to Doha, Qatar.

We’re here to test out the airline’s Qsuite - business-class seats with doors that convert into a double bed when travelling as a couple.

I’d heard so much about the Qsuite since it launched in 2017, with experts in the industry repeatedly referring to it as the very best in the business-class world. ‘Better than some first-class cabins,’ one said. So I had huge expectations.

The Mail's Harriet Sime boarded a Qatar Airways A350-1000 for what turned out to be a very dreamy flight from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Hamad International Airport. Harriet and her husband, Dan (above), put Qatar's Qsuite to the test, with their seats converting into a double bed 

Harriet writes: 'I’d heard so much about the Qsuite since it launched in 2017, with experts in the industry repeatedly referring to it as the very best in the business-class world'

Our Qsuite experience begins at Terminal 4, where we’re granted access to a swanky private business-class check-in area before we head to Qatar’s expansive lounge for some quick pre-dinner drinks and snacks.

An hour later, and we’re boarding. Within seconds of stepping onto the aircraft, we’re presented with hot towels to freshen up and deliciously golden glasses of Duval-Leroy Champagne, which we devour in minutes before giddily getting acquainted with our seats while our jackets are hung up.

The Qsuite cabin, in the airline’s signature burgundy and grey tones, is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, with our seats, 5E and 5F, in the middle, facing backwards.

Our seats are big. Really big, with a width of 21.5 inches and legroom pitch of 79 inches, and mountains of space both above, below, and either side of my 5ft 7in frame. We could easily squeeze a couple of children or another adult in. But that would be silly. And not what the Qsuite is all about. It’s about total luxury, with acres of space and everything you need within arm’s reach.

I find a pocket to my right with a bottle of water and noise-cancelling Oryx One headphones, as well as space for me to place my laptop and small bag.

'Our seats are big,' writes Harriet. 'Really big, with a width of 21.5 inches and legroom pitch of 79 inches'

LEFT: Within seconds of boarding the aircraft, reveals Harriet, she is 'presented with hot towels to freshen up and deliciously golden glasses of Duval-Leroy Champagne'. RIGHT: The Qsuite cabin is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration

To the right of my gigantic 20.5-inch screen is a marble grey table where my amenity kit by Diptique, the high-end brand I always have to stop myself buying £100 candles from, is waiting to be unwrapped. Inside, I find a body cream, lip balm, and a glass tube of perfume that retails at £95 a bottle, along with socks and an eye mask. The large TV remote sits under the marble table, along with USB points and a shelf where I place my glasses.

The other Qsuites in the cabin are taken up by a mother and her daughter who seem delighted to be dining, sleeping and flying in style next to one another and businessmen who use the time to chat, well, business.

My first impressions of the Qsuite? Its enviable reputation is entirely deserved. But the thing that stands out for me is the cabin crew. They’re as good and knowledgeable as those you’ll find in top restaurants and have that effortless ability to switch between friendly and formal, depending on the requirements of the passenger they’re serving.

Harriet's very first impression of the Qsuite? 'Its enviable reputation is entirely deserved,' she writes. Above are Harriet and Dan's seats in slumber mode

The Qsuite is 'total luxury, with acres of space and everything you need within arm’s reach'. The image on the left shows the ergonomically arranged seat adjustment buttons and charging points. Harriet adds that there's 'mountains of space both above, below, and either side of my 5ft 7in frame' 

My stewardess is Hiba, who I immediately warm to. She has bright red lips and wears a wide smile throughout the flight. She starts by asking for our drink preferences once we’re in the air and goes through our dinner options.

The a la carte menu is extensive and offers an ‘order when you like’ concept. We opt for the three-course dinner in the sky at 7pm, three hours after take off.

Once we’re in the air, Hiba lowers the divider between our two seats, places a cushion to soften the gap, and presents my pre-ordered glass of Carmel Road Chardonnay.

On the dot, exactly three hours in, Hiba adjusts my tray table, lays down a white tablecloth, battery-operated flickering candle, three variations of a bread roll and asks which of the four different options of olive oil I would like. I’ve had worse service at Michelin-starred restaurants.

The food? Harriet reveals that she's 'had worst service at Michelin-starred restaurants'. The a la carte menu is 'extensive and offers an "order when you like" concept'

LEFT: This image shows how the Qsuite has more-than-ample legroom for Harriet. RIGHT: Storage containing a bottle of water and noise-cancelling Oryx One headphones

Above is a Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1000, the model that Harriet flew in

Yum's the word: A snap of the a la carte menu. Harriet and Dan opted for the three courses for dinner

Harriet's conclusion? 'The Qsuite is a marvel and one all airlines should try to replicate'

As we cross over the Adriatic sea and onto Turkey, I tuck into a starter mezze of hummus, moutable and muhammara followed by seared Atlantic halibut with parsley barley risotto. The food is outstandingly delicious.

Guests, as we’re called, are addressed as Mr and Miss/Mrs, and the question ‘Mrs Sime, would you like a top-up?’, seems to always land at the perfect moment. And the answer ‘yes please’ follows every time.

The huge burgundy-coloured doors on either side of our seats allow for complete privacy, while the seat numbers double as Do Not Disturb indicators, turning red to let cabin crew know you’re after some shut-eye.

After dinner, we decide to give the famous lie-flat double bed a go. I head for the large bathroom - which, unusually, has a window and floor-to-ceiling mirrors - to change into the White Company pyjamas and slippers I was handed before take off.

I return to find the cabin crew lowering our seats, before covering them with thick mattresses and topping with cushions, pillows and a duvet.

We snuggle up and drift off in minutes, waking hours later to find we’re about to land. The 6 hours and 20 minutes go by in a luxurious blur and I reluctantly leave the plane in Doha to connect to our Seychelles-bound flight.

I regularly write about how the golden age of flying is over. But is it? After this flight, I’m not so sure.

TRAVEL FACTS 

Harriet was hosted by Qatar Airways. London Heathrow to Hamad International Airport in Doha return business-class fare with Qatar Airways from £2,888pp ($3,644). Visit www.qatarairways.com.

PROS: Huge, comfy, very private seats, excellent service, delicious food. This has to be the world’s best business-class seat.

CONS: I tried hard to find anything that could be improved on. And failed. The Qsuite is a marvel and one all airlines should try to replicate.

Rating out of five: ***** 

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