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Qatar Airways is best known for its Qsuite business class on long-haul flights. But in my opinion, its short-haul business class product — which it often sells as first class — is just as impressive, if not better. And “first class” accurately describes the experience I had on a Qatar Airways Boeing 787-9 flight between Doha and Riyadh. It was just that good.
Here are five highlights from this 53-minute flight.
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5 Highlights From Qatar Airways Boeing 787-9 First Class
I’ve taken plenty of short-haul flights in domestic first class where I walked away thankful that the only reason I was up there was because of a complimentary upgrade. The so-called elevated experience wasn’t something I’d want to pay out of pocket for. On flights like that, I could easily give you five reasons why domestic first class just isn’t worth the money.
But on Qatar Airways, it’s a completely different story. Flights under an hour aren’t treated like an afterthought. In fact, the experience up front almost feels too good to be true. And I’ll show you why.
Business class is ticketed as first class
On flights under a few hours from Doha to destinations around the Arab Gulf, Egypt, and beyond, Qatar Airways sells its business class product as “first class.” While the fare code doesn’t change the seat you’re flying in, it makes a huge difference in your experience on the ground before you even step on the plane.
That's because having “first class” on your boarding pass means you get access to Qatar Airways’ first class lounge at Hamad International Airport (DOH), Al Safwa. This lounge is a cut above Qatar Airways’ Al Mourjan business class lounges at its hub, and the experience is nothing short of excellent.
Not only is Al Safwa a stunning place to spend time before a flight, it’s also got everything you’d expect from a lounge and then some. After enjoying a sit-down meal and a drink, you can take a shower, book a spa appointment, shop in the in-lounge duty-free store, or browse the cultural artifacts that line its hallways.
Hands down, there are few lounges I’ve enjoyed more than this one. Now if I could just manage to get there early enough one of these days to reserve the jacuzzi…
Related: Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access
Widebody jet on a short-haul flight
While Qatar Airways has a fleet of narrowbody aircraft, short-haul flights from Doha can be served by Qatar Airways’ widebody jets. On the day of my flight, Qatar Airways deployed a Boeing 787-9 on flight 1172 to Riyadh.
Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787-9s are arranged with 30 seats in business class and 281 seats in economy. That’s a lot of airplane for such a short flight, but it’s a big positive if you’re a passenger.
Larger jets like this are far more comfortable than single-aisle planes. The difference between a Boeing 787-9 (or the Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s Qatar also flies) and a Boeing 737 MAX 8 on a short hop is like night and day.
And beyond size alone, there’s a lot to love about the Boeing 787-9.
Lie-flat suites, sliding doors, and more
All of Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787-9 aircraft feature 30 Adient Ascent suites. They aren't the airline’s signature Qsuites, but they’re pretty darn close. These seats recline fully flat, have sliding doors that the crew unlocks for use even on short flights, and come with amenities like a large in-flight entertainment screen with full access to Oryx One, a small storage locker, and wireless phone charging.
It’s an extremely comfortable way to fly. It borders on excessive, and fifty-three minutes wasn’t nearly long enough to enjoy all the in-suite amenities. That’s mostly because Qatar Airways serves a meal, and the service from start to finish takes up most of the flight. More on that below.
If this cabin looks familiar, it probably is. The Adient Ascent suite has become pretty popular. You’ll find it on Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and on American Airlines’ new Boeing 787-9P. There are slight differences in each airline’s cabin layouts and seat counts, but these seats are popular for a reason. They’re a pleasure to fly.
Dinner service
I mentioned it earlier, but even on a 53-minute flight like this, Qatar Airways doesn’t skimp on feeding first-class passengers. Before departure from Doha, the flight attendants handed out menus and took orders.
On this flight, Qatar Airways served what it calls an “all day platter,” which was a single-tray meal with a choice of chicken and mashed potatoes or vegetable kabsa. It came with a side of dill labneh and pita bread, and an orange and pistachio basbousa for dessert. I’m still not exactly sure what a basbousa is or how to pronounce it, but I do know Qatar Airways should’ve put more than one on the tray.
The single tray made it easy to finish the meal in about 20 minutes. This was about the amount of time we had in the air before the captain announced we’d begun our descent into Riyadh. It was enough food to be filling without being so much that you had to rush through it and regret it later.
An excellent crew
Something that makes a world of difference on any flight is the crew. If you’ve got a good team, your flight will be far more memorable than if you end up with one that’s not so good. On this flight from Doha to Riyadh, I lucked out with a fantastic group of flight attendants serving the first class cabin.
Right after I boarded the plane, a friendly flight attendant offered to walk me to my suite. To both of our surprise, another passenger had already made himself at home in 6A. After politely evicting him, she quickly reset the seatbelt and pillow so the suite looked unoccupied.
Once I’d stored my belongings, she wasted no time taking my pre-departure drink order and bringing it back to my seat. It was the same flight attendant who unlocked the suite doors after departure and later served the meal.
There are plenty of differences in service standards between Qatar Airways and other airlines I’ve flown, but the courteous service and attention to detail on this flight didn't go unnoticed. It made an already great experience even better.
Bottom Line
Even on flights under an hour, Qatar Airways spoils you in its “first class” cabin. The food, the suite (if you’re lucky enough to be on a widebody jet), and the service are second to none. My only disappointment was that the flight wasn’t longer.
And the experience gets even better if your short-haul flight is ticketed as first class. That means access to the Al Safwa first-class lounge in Doha, and starting your journey there or visiting after you land is hard to beat.
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