Review: Qatar Airways A380 Business Class

Roger Hohl
Roger Hohl
Executive Editor Roger Hohl always reports firsthand. He has been gathering experiences and impressions in the luxury travel segment since 2006, from the South Sea to China and Asia, across Europe to Africa and America. He is always on the lookout for the most spectacular and extraordinary locations, combined with the best possible comfort and service. His focus is on independent and critical perception from the perspective of the most demanding clientele, as today's customers in this segment expect the highest quality. His motto: pushing the limits - but always fair!

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It was quite a special feeling when I boarded the almost brand-new A380 of Qatar Airways. But before the actual boarding started, the check-in at Bangkok airport was on the program. The enormous capacity of the A380 makes me fear an almost endless check-in every time. The A380 version of Qatar Airways can accommodate 517 people. This is divided into 8 first-class suites, “only” 48 business class seats, and 461 economy class seats. Competitor Emirates has the same number of seats in its A380, but with a significantly larger first and business class, and fewer economy class seats.

Check-in and Lounge

The first and business class check-in process in Bangkok was, as expected, completely separate from the economy class. The waiting passengers in economy class were visible from a distance. The seemingly endless queue literally meandered through the terminal. The two business class counters were also occupied, so after a short wait of 3-4 minutes, I was asked to go to the first-class counter. The waiting time was used to have a friendly Qatar Airways employee explain the way to the gate and the lounge. Once again, it becomes apparent how much “more” personnel the Gulf airlines – especially on the ground – have available.

Qatar Airways provides “fast track” security and exit for every business and first-class passenger, which is usually only available to VIPs, diplomats, and crews. A really pleasant affair. There were no waiting times at security, and the exit was hyper-fast, taking only 3 minutes to process.

Business class guests of Qatar are allowed to use the Royal Orchid Lounge of Thai Airways. The occupancy was at the upper capacity limit, but still acceptable. The offerings and quality were okay, but clearly below the standard of competitor Emirates. Due to the high number of guests in the lounge, some of the staff had difficulty keeping up with clearing tables. The WiFi quality was very good.

Boarding and Seating

The gate was only a 3-4 minute walk from the lounge. Boarding for first and business class guests was efficient. However, what I missed were separate seating areas at the gate for premium class guests. Since all passengers were accommodated in one waiting area, first and business class guests also had to fight through the waiting economy class passengers to board first. This can definitely be improved. Also in Bangkok!

(c) Luxvisor (Roger Hohl)

Once on board, the almost brand new Qatar A380 impressed from the first minute. Due to the upcoming night flight, the full splendor of the well-known Qatar lighting conditions could already be admired. A pleasant red/orange/violet hue covered the entire cabin.

(c) Luxvisor (Roger Hohl)

The seating configuration of Qatar Airways’ A380 business class is arranged in a 1-2-1 layout. Whether this is good or bad is up to each individual to decide. For my taste, this is the ideal arrangement. For solo travelers (frequent flyers), there are individual seats, and for couples, there are double seats in the middle. Of course, the seat can be transformed into a flat bed. However, this is now state-of-the-art and no longer a special feature. All seats are angled, ensuring maximum privacy.

(c) Luxvisor (Roger Hohl)

Entertainment and Internet

The entertainment system with a high-resolution 16:10 touchscreen is superb, and the selection of movies and language versions is almost endless. The menu and air cinema (flight map) are also beautifully designed.

However, the on-air internet connection is a minor to medium catastrophe, as it is on all airlines that use this provider. It’s not suitable for surfing the internet, and the only things that work are email (e.g., on a mobile phone) and WhatsApp messages. Skype works in text-only mode with great effort and difficulty. The problem is not with Qatar, but with the on-air provider, which is a source of embarrassment because it comes from Switzerland!

Catering and Social Area

Here, Qatar Airways demonstrates another true strength. The service and quality of the catering are unparalleled. It’s a three-hour gourmet experience that you get to enjoy on a seven-hour flight. Every detail is perfect! Qatar Airways is the only airline in business class to offer a “Dining on Demand” concept, which means that there is no ordinary catering service, and you can order à la carte at any time.

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Transit at Doha Airport

I had a planned transit time of 55 minutes at midnight for my Qatar First-Class connecting flight to Dubai. Apparently, it was sufficient because the connection was officially offered. However, due to the delay, the transit time was reduced to 25 minutes. I had given up hope when we landed, thinking that neither I nor my luggage would make it to the connecting flight.

As I left the A380, a nice and tidy lady in a Qatar Airways uniform with a name tag (Passenger Hohl) in her hand greeted me, saying that we were running late, but Qatar Airways would do everything possible to make the connection. I immediately asked about my luggage, and they seemed perfectly prepared for the situation. The lady assured me that someone was already at the aircraft trying to locate my luggage and bring it to the connecting flight personally. After the initial surprise at the perfectly staged solution to the situation, I had 2-3 more eyes for the newly opened Doha Airport, which had been open for only 6 months.

We arrived at the new gate exactly on time (!), and the Qatar Airways escort confirmed at that moment that my luggage had already been loaded onto the connecting flight. I was accompanied all the way to the aircraft, took my seat, the doors were closed, and we took off. Whether it was because I was booked for the connecting flight in First Class or because the ground service at the new Doha Airport always works so perfectly, I still don’t know today. But the end result or impression is what counts, and that was “world-class”!

REVIEW OVERVIEW

Seat (Business Class)
Catering
Crew
On Board Entertainment
Lounge (Social Area on Board)

SUMMARY

Truly a top-class product. Especially the social area on board is a welcome change from the bar area of the Emirates A380, thanks to its open design. As always, it is the crew that puts the finishing touches on the feeling of well-being on board, and they were once again excellent! Qatar Airways remains a top product in Business Class.

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Reviews

Truly a top-class product. Especially the social area on board is a welcome change from the bar area of the Emirates A380, thanks to its open design. As always, it is the crew that puts the finishing touches on the feeling of well-being on board, and they were once again excellent! Qatar Airways remains a top product in Business Class.Review: Qatar Airways A380 Business Class