Something magnificent is happening on flights between Auckland and Doha in business class. Qatar Airways operate this ultra long haul flight which clocks in at a shade under 18 hours.
The thought of it invites trepidation among veteran frequent flyers. It seems like such a long time to be in the air and sounds terrible. I’m here to show you just how wonderful this long flight really is.
QR921 – Auckland to Doha (AKL-DOH)
26 April 2017
Boeing 777-200LR – A7-BBG
Seat: Business Class 5F
Departure: 15:07 Arrival: 00:03+1
Business class passengers board last on Qatar Airways however in New Zealand this is not the case. When I arrived at the gate I could hear the agents discussing my seat so it was no surprise when my boarding pass beeped and I was taken aside.
It appears the entertainment screen in 5E was broken so they wanted to move the couple in 5E and 5F to 5A and 5B which meant me moving from 5A. After some discussion I decided to move as it meant I would still have the seat next to me free.
Welcome Champagne and Pyjamas
Once on board my crew member came by and introduced herself. Asked if I would like a drink, I selected a glass of the Billecart-Salmon Champagne.
Safety First
Once everyone is on board, the safety demonstration is played. The one on Qatar features footballers, runs for about five minutes and is in both English and Arabic.
Magnificent Dine On Demand
Forgive me if I gush, but dine on demand is the best thing to ever happen on board from a passenger perspective. You can eat anything you want from the menu anytime you like. I really love it! The menu and wine list is handed out on the ground and the crew take some orders on the ground and some in the air depending on how much time they have.
Entertainment and Surroundings
Oryx One is the Qatar Airways on demand entertainment system and it features things such as all the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings movies as well as new releases. I settled on watching Passengers with Jennifer Lawrence. The screen pops out of the arm rest and is quite a generous size.
An Afternoon Snack
When it’s time for your meal, your crew member comes by and lays a white table cloth on the pull out tray table. You then have an amuse-bouche delivered and on this flight it was a single prawn and some mustard dip.
Spiced Tomato Juice
As I didn’t want to be drunk throughout the flight, I spotted the spiced tomato juice on the menu. It is a virgin mary and when asked if I wanted tabasco my answer was a resounding yes.
Godiva Chocolates
According to legend, Lady Godiva rode naked – covered in only her long hair – through the streets of Coventry for one reason or another. Today they are a famous brand of chocolates and these are the ones Qatar Airways hand out to passengers.
Sleep In A Magnificent Bed
When checking in, I asked if the free seat beside me could be kept free. On my flight from Doha to Auckland, I had the seat beside me free. This meant I could use one seat for sitting, movies and eating and one seat as my bed. Happily I had the seat beside me free once again.
Cocktails and Mocktails
Keeping with my theme of drinking non-alcoholic drinks interspersed with the hard stuff, I decided to try a mocktail. You can have both mocktails or cocktails and I really like the fact these are offered.
Now It Must Be Dinner Time
More time passed and we were still over Australia when I decided to have dinner. Your tray is set again, this time with a bowl of bread, salt and pepper shakers, butter dish, bread plate and the cutlery. Roasted red pepper and tomato soup was first.
That Bulkhead Screen
When you are seated in the bulkhead seats, there is a screen which is on and flipping between the moving map and various static announcements and so on. The flight information is presented in an interesting manner, showing where you are and how fast you are going.
Standard Toilet
Compared to the super whiz bang toilet facilities on the Qatar Airways A350, the Boeing 777-200LR’s facilities are showing their age. It is the only thing about this aircraft that isn’t really worth being delighted about.
Breakfast Above The Clouds
After more movies and some more sleeping we were a couple of hours out of Doha and it was time for breakfast. I really like to try everything but the breakfast menu is far too extensive for that. On this flight I chose the Bircher museli to start.
… And Just Before Landing
Green tea is a perfect finish to a flight and I enjoyed this one. Mints are handed out prior to landing and the crew clean up the cabin and get ready for the event.
Overall Thoughts
What can I say? I loved being on board the longest flight in the world. I think the Boeing 777-200LR business class seats on Qatar Airways are seriously underrated. There have been two newer business class seats introduced since and one still to come and having tried the other two I still think this is the most spacious layout, if not the most private.
Dine on demand is a serious competitive edge and it makes the flight. That coupled with a decent inflight entertainment system, the chocolates, pyjamas and slippers (yes, you get slippers too), and the fact the seat converts to a fully flat bed really puts this flight into a class of its own.
I can’t say enough about the magnificent cabin crew who are friendly and obliging throughout as well as being the busiest crew in the sky. They anticipate your needs and ask what you need without that obsequious hovering that you can get when people are trying to “give good service”. It all just works and I found it delightful.
Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
Like planes? See my “Does anyone remember” series.
Flight reviews your thing? Mine are all indexed here.
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
!
Featured image by Darren Koch via Wikimedia Commons.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ae28379fcee3e382bedc383d2b3571e6082b0888373fcc25b7a066adf7ec5061.jpg Hello-I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled regularly since meeting my wife of 10yrs.Every time boarding economy,walking through business I tell myself one day,or dreams are free & then thinking why spend or that extra money anyhow.
Planning Auckland to Barcelona & was between Emirates & Qatar due to great itineraries.Vowed never to fly Emirates again due to their atrocious in-flight service but had A-380 for entire return journey.
Anyway have decided Qatar & think their political upheaval with their neighbours isn’t anything to worry about due to their massive wealth.
They have excellent pricing on mixed class fares + great online specials that’ll see us upgrading for whole return journey.
I’ve tryed to get advice from others opinions & walk away thinking you spent all that just to go to sleep,no thankyou.I’m the kinda guy that at least try to get some value from his buck,12k of wining,dining & comfort I know I’m pushing it a tad,but sleeping the plan for that is at the transit hotel in Doha.
The things I really enjoyed reading your review was the good things in life I enjoy,eating,drinking & get pampered service.So if I’m planning on business class why not do it on the longest 17hr 50min journey possible,more bang for my buck right.
Also loved the comment living on bread & water at home to help finance living the dream.The missus & I are frugal spenders who like to save & love to enjoy the finer things in life 😉
I am really pleased you’re getting to try the flight from Auckland and I’m happy the political upheaval isn’t putting you off. I am in the middle of a trip with them again right now – another Auckland – and the political situation does not bother me. If anything it made the airport experience in Doha less hectic than before.
It is definitely possible to stay awake for the entire journey and my sleeps were more like naps for a couple of hours here and there. It’d be rude not to try out the seat in bed mode, after all! Absolutely right that it’s the most bang for your buck doing it on the longest flight you can.
You and your wife have it all correct – spend frugally and then you can save it all for splurging on fantastic things. Thanks for the comment and I’m really happy you liked the review! 🙂
Stunning – That flight seems more about the food and drinks, wow! Never flown Qatar J but that ‘bed’ looks comfy.
Well, you don’t have to eat, but you know me – I like my food! The ‘bed’ was very comfortable indeed. The pillow is perfect!
I agree that everything about QR J is excellent. I like all their J configs, but think this config is one of the best if you’re a couple, or have the seat next to you free. The A340’s and 787s are best if you’re solo. Love dine on demand. Always get exceptional service. And the treat in DOH are the lounges. The Flounge (if you’re off on F somewhere next) is IMHO, the best in the world.
This configuration is so spacious! It is far more spacious than the A320 and A350 but those products would come into their own when travelling alone. Dine on demand is brilliant, I -really- love it! I’d love to try the F lounge in DOH. One day, when I can afford First Class! Thanks for the comment!
I think that the title is a bit misleading, since the majority of passengers are flying in the back. You should have mentioned Business Class specifically, although an 18.9″ wide seat in Economy is far from the worst in the industry.
Well possibly, though I have yet to see someone calling a flight in Economy as magnificent. I’m still waiting for that day myself. Very true though, I should have gone down the back and tried out the cheap seats because I hear they’re not so bad on Qatar! Thanks for the comment!
I’ve done SFO-SIN in Y and it was just exhausting and painful. This flight is even longer so I cringe when imagining what that experience would be like.
Thanks for the review. Safe travels.
That’s such a long flight in Economy! Totally understand your pain. I save hard to fly in business and it’s worth it a lot. Thanks for reading and I am happy you like the reviews 🙂 Safe travels to you too!
Good review Trent, and good to see the QR staff are happy to switch off the overhead displays too. I imagine they give out eye masks in the amenity kit in case it still bothers you during sleep?
I can only imagine the stampede to the showers in the lounge afterward too!
Yeah the amenity kit has eye masks but I find them to be terrible for sleep.
Glad you liked the review – and yeah it’s all about the showers when you land. I was in the JAL lounge in Frankfurt which was… interesting haha!
Nice to see someone else who appreciates flying business class. There’s not much not to like on those flights, if you have that mindset. Can hardly ever fault Qatar on any front. Great report.
Thanks very much for the kind words! Absolutely loved it – and I agree, Qatar are very good indeed!
More time passed and we were still over Australia when I decided to have dinner. Your tray is set again, this time with a bowl of bread, salt and pepper shakers, butter dish, bread plate and the cutlery. Roasted red pepper and tomato soup was first.
It appears the entertainment screen in 5E was broken so they wanted to move the couple in 5E and 5F to 5A and 5B which meant me moving from 5A. After some discussion I decided to move as it meant I would still have the seat next to me free.