There have been some changes to Qatar Airways A350 business class service since the pandemic. There are fewer choices on the menu, you are handed a face shield at the gate, and there is no lounge at Stockholm Arlanda available.
Cabin crew wear personal protective equipment and you receive a travel with confidence pack for use during the flight. While there are all these changes, a lot remains the same, such as dine on demand in business class and impeccable on board service.
No Lounge Access Today
Many airports around the world have limited lounge access, with many facilities remaining closed due to the pandemic. At check-in, I was informed this was the case and received a 100 SEK voucher (US$12/€10/£9/AU$16) to spend in the airport.
QR170 – Stockholm Arlanda to Doha (ARN-DOH)
15 December 2020
Airbus A350-900 – A7-ALR
Seat: Business Class 2A
Departure: 08:15 Arrival: 16:25
I hadn’t removed the inside plastic liner on my face mask, so I was fogged up when I arrived at the door to the aircraft, which caused the crew much amusement! They then escorted me to my seat.
A Pre-Flight Drink
After I stowed my cabin bag, I elected to have a glass of Champagne to start the flight. The crew saw me taking photos and offered to get one of me in my seat, which was nice.
Breakfast Time
You can dine on demand on Qatar Airways and for this flight I wanted breakfast straight away. You can have pretty much what you want from the menu, which can make for a large meal.
Spic and Span Bathrooms
Qatar Airways always have completely clean toilets throughout the flight. This is because the hard working cabin crew actively check them as they’re used.
Scenes from A Qatar Airways A350
Thanks to the light load and passenger distribution, I was able to wander about getting some decent shots of the Qatar Airways A350 cabin. Usually flights are so full that it is quite difficult to get these.
The rest of the flight passed uneventfully. I had a great chat at my seat with one of the crew, who kindly let me take a photo of the Taittinger Champagne bottle.
Overall Thoughts
Qatar Airways A350 business class is excellent, even with what are now the old seats. Newer aircraft feature the Qsuite, which is considered one of the best seats in business class in the world.
Even with the changes due to the pandemic, flying Qatar Airways feels the same as it did pre-pandemic. Attentive service from the crew, decent food and a comfortable cabin – what more could you ask for?
Have you flown with Qatar Airways since COVID-19 hit? What do you think of the changes? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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