Qatar Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Business Class

2. QATAR AIRWAYS FLEET

Qatar Airways operates a fleet of both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, consisting of the Airbus A320, Airbus A330, Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Boeing 737 MAX, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 Dreamliner families, totaling 255 aircraft. The airline has 48 Dreamliners in its fleet – 19 Boeing 787-9 and 19 Boeing 787-8 -with an average age of 8.1 years.

3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN

Qatar Airways’ Business Class on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is located in one single cabin in the plane’s front section. The cabin features 30 Business Class suites arranged in a 1-2-1 herringbone configuration. The seats on the sides are angled toward the plane’s windows while the seats in the middle are angled towards each other. The center seats are placed a little more upfront than the side seats, so as a result, there is an extra (eight) row of seats in the plane’s center while there are only seven rows of seats on each side of the cabin.

The cabin itself features a gorgeous design. Qatar Airways’ signature burgundy brand color accents many of the cabin finishes and fixtures, including the sliding doors and front cabin walls. Passengers enter the cabin directly (contrary to the galleys that are the entryways in planes of most other airline companies). The back of the cabin features a bar counter with a shiny table and a flower arrangement along a Qatar-branded textured wall. Overall, the cabin on the Boeing 787-9 feels more spacious and airy compared to the Business Class cabins of Qatar Airways’ planes fitted with the famous Qsuites.

4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)

Qatar Airways’ Business Class seat on the Boeing 787-9 has a pitch of 50 inches (127 cm) and a width of 22 inches (56 cm). Each suite has direct aisle access with a sliding door to ensure the ultimate in privacy and comfort. The easy-to-use sliding door is locked open by the crew for taxi, takeoff and landing, but can closed during the other phases of the flight. Passengers seated in adjoining center suites can lower the privacy panels away to create their own enclosed private space for two.

Next to each seat is a console holding a storage unit with vanity mirror. The console – which can be used to store smaller items like a wallet or glasses – is located on the aisle side for the center seats and the window side for the window seats. The outside wall of the console also features a reading light, dedicated phone holder (equipped with a wireless charging technology for both iOS and Android devices), a handset for the inflight entertainment and the power ports.

In front of the seat is a 18-inch high-definition touchscreen. A bi-folding tray table is located under the TV, and can be pulled forward and backward according to the passenger’s liking. The tray table can also be swiveled outward, making it easy to get up even during the meal service.

At the touch of a button, the Business Class seat transforms into a 200 cm (79 inches) fully-flat bed (the ottoman below the TV screen is part of the flat bed). The aisle armrest can be left up for more privacy, or lowered for providing some welcome extra bed width when the seat is fully reclined. Turndown service is offered by the Qatar Airways cabin crew, who also provides a quilted mattress and slipcover for the largest pillow to enhance the sleeping comfort in the flat bed.

What are the best Business Class seats?

• Solo travelers should select one of the window suites, while travel companions should go for the center seats.
• Travel companions will especially like the two center suites in row 8, which is offset from the rest of the cabin, providing a little bit of extra privacy.

What are the worst Business Class seats?

• The window suites in row 5  are missing windows, and are thus best avoided.

Click here for a seat map of Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

5. AMENITIES & BEDDING

The following amenities were provided during the flight:

• A Diptyque branded amenity kit, customized for male and female passengers. Male passengers get a black colored bag, while female passengers get a white & pink colored bag. The amenity kit contains socks and eye shades as well as Diptyque lip balm, body lotion, face cream, and fragrance.
• Sleepwear (slippers and pajamas) exclusively designed for Qatar Airways by The White Company.
• Two pillows: a larger one for lounging and sleeping (a slipcover is provided during turndown service) and a smaller decorative one with a reference to some of the world’s most iconic cities (e.g. Amsterdam, Singapore, etc …)
• A plush, burgundy-colored duvet, which feels extremely comfortable.
• Oryx One branded noise-isolating headphones, which are of decent quality.
• Dental and shaving kits are stocked in the lavatory during the flight.

6. MEALS

One of the areas where Qatar Airways excels with its Business Class product is the quality and presentation of the food. The carrier offers dine-on-demand service in its Business Class cabins: passengers can dine at any time of their choosing and order whatever they want from the extensive menu (with accompanying wine list).

On this seven-hour flight, a late night supper was served right after takeoff (around 2 am local time). I choose the following selection from the menu:

• Qatar hamour mashkool with spiced yoghurt, basmati rice, black lemon, and crispy onions
• Selection of international cheese, served with grainex, lavosh and assortment of accompaniment

About 90 minutes prior to landing, a multi-course breakfast was served, and I choose the following selection from the menu:

• Greek yoghurt with mango compote and toasted quinoa granola
• Seasonal fresh fruit
• Hand-rolled omelette with cheese and roasted tomato, chicken Cumberland sausage, sautéed mushroom, baby spinach and Mornay sauce
• Selection of breakfast bakery (butter croissant, soft roll, pain au chocolat)

7. ENTERTAINMENT

Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system is called Oryx One. The system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more.

The entertainment selection can be selected by either directly touching the HD screen or with a wired remote controller which has its own small screen. This allows passengers to watch a movie or TV show on the main screen while keeping track of the flight’s progress on the wired controller. Both the screen itself and the handheld remote are incredibly responsive. 

Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners are also equipped with two outdoor cameras — one facing forward and one downward, which is a nice touch for aviation geeks.

8. ONBOARD INTERNET

Qatar Airways’ B787-9 is equipped with in-flight WiFi. I used the WiFi throughout the flight and the speed was decent. The following WiFi plans were available on this flight:

• One hour of complimentary onboard WiFi for member’s of Qatar Airways’ frequent flyer program, Privilege Club.
• $10 USD for onboard WiFi for the duration of the flight

9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES

# CREW: Qatar Airways’ Business Class service ranks among the best in the sky. The young Qatar Airways cabin crew members on this particular did a great job and they were all very friendly and helpful. Something I like (and only experience with Middle East and Asian carriers) is that they present themselves individually before take-off, and also thank you in person for choosing Qatar Airways before landing. It makes you feel very special and welcome.

# LAVATORY: Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787-9 features two lavatories for the 30 Business Class passengers, both of them located at the back of the cabin. The lavatories feature Dreamliner-standard amenities like touchless sinks and flushing, and they even have windows.

10. MY VERDICT

• Cabin design: 9/10
• Seat comfort (upright): 9/10
• Seat comfort (bed position): 8/10
• Seat privacy: 9/10
• Food (quality): 9/10
• Food (quantity): 9/10
• Food (presentation): 9/10
• Inflight entertainment : 9/10
• WiFi: 9/10
• Service: 10/10
• Overall experience: exceptional 9/10

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