Qatar 777 Business
Is the Qatar Airways Business Class 777 just as comfortable as the Qatar Airways A350 aircraft? In our Qatar Airways Business Class review, we found that while most amenities, like using the Qatar Airways Business Class Lounge or getting priority check-in, are the same across the different types of flights, comfort and seat layout can differ.
- Qatar Airways was awarded the World’s Best Business Class 2018 accolade by Skytrax. The 2-2-2 seating configuration in our Business Class cabin includes extra-wide seats that recline 180 degrees, into fully lie-flat beds.
- Qatar Airways is operating the Boeing 777-300ER on a variety of long-haul destinations. There are three versions of the B777-300ER, both with only two classes of service where all Business Class seats feature 180 degree recline.
- Qatar Airways Boeing 777. A world of comfort. Our Boeing 777 cabin is spacious, with high ceilings and an abundance of natural light. Our comfortable seats, delectable dining options and award-winning.
We got to experience this product more than I had initially anticipated. We first flew this plane from Cairo to Doha. This flight was considered a “First” Class flight. This is what Qatar calls their Business Class flights within the Middle East. This is similar to how US carriers call Business Class, “First” Class, on flights within the States.
The second flight on the Boeing 777 was from Doha to Cape Town. When I booked this flight, it was going to be served by a Boeing 787. The 787 is a much newer and nicer plane. I was disappointed in the change, but the flight still proved to be a great one.
The Seat
The seats are arranged in a 2-2-2 layout. This layout is ideal for passengers traveling with a companion, but not great for passengers traveling alone. The seats are spacious, comfortable, and each feature a nice sized entertainment system. The seat reminded me of my first ever Business Class flight on Turkish Airlines.
I would suggest trying to pick seats in the middle row. This will give you and your seat mate direct access to the aisle. Having to climb over someone else or having someone else climb over you to get to the aisle is never a fun experience. I put us in the second row of the middle aisle. These seats gave us both access to the aisle in case we needed to use the rest room. I also like being closer to the front, but not immediately next to the front galley.
The Service/Food
On our first 777 flight, we had a lovely flight attendant from South Africa. She was super excited to hear that we were headed to her home country. She and the other flight attendants did a great job with the quick meal service from Cairo to Doha. The food was tasty. The crew was also excellent at making sure our drinks were never empty.
The second flight was just as good… at least i think so. The flight took off at 4:20 AM and I was exhausted and don’t remember too much. The flight attendants were attentive and provide great service throughout the overnight flight.
Bonus
This isn’t directly related to the 777, but related to flying on Qatar in general. Qatar offers a free city tour multiple times throughout the day. If you have a long transit in Doha, I would recommend checking out the tour. You can find information here. Here are some cool pictures we took on the tour.
Conclusion
Qatar has a dated Business Class product on their 777 planes. It wasn’t bad by any means. The experience was still solid and offers a great seat if you’re traveling with someone else. It was just a little letdown because Qatar’s offerings on their A380, 787, and A350 look much better and newer.
That being said, the service provided by the crew was always great. I look forward to my next opportunity to fly with Qatar. I’m just going to make sure that opportunity is on one of their newer planes.
What are your thoughts on Qatar’s 777 in Business Class?
Qatar 777 Business Class Review
Qatar Airways’ First and Business Class cabins are being refitted with new seats and products over the next few years. It is therefore helpful to know what to expect in the upcoming months as the carrier undergoes the refitting process in their long-haul planes.
Please note that this post exclusively concerns Qatar’s widebody aircraft.
Overview
Qatar Airways has one of the fastest-growing fleets in the world. It currently has 193 aircraft in-service, of which 142 are widebody passenger jets, including:
- 36 Boeing 777-300ERs
- 9 Boeing 777-200LRs
- 30 787-8s
- 8 Airbus A380-800s
- 19 Airbus A350-900s
- 4 Airbus A340-600s
- 13 Airbus A330-300s
- 21 Airbus A330-200s
Airbus A380, Airbus A350-900 and 787-8
Qatar 777 Business Class Review
The First Class product on Qatar Airways is unique on their Airbus A380s. There are 8 seats on the Airbus A380 arranged in a 1x2x1 configuration, with a divider between the middle seats in the center of the cabin. The seat measures 23 inches wide and comes with an 83-inch pitch. It is not an enclosed suite, however. While the product has great reviews, it appears that it doesn’t offer much more than its Business Class product already does. There are also no showers offered on the Qatar Airways Airbus A380, which is a unique feature that its primary competitors, Emirates and Etihad Airways, offer to their First Class guests. There is, however, an onboard bar that Business Class customers can use on the Airbus A380.
The Business Class seats on Qatar’s Airbus A380s feature the “Super Diamond” B/E Aerospace seat arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, reverse-herringbone style. These seats are also on the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787-8, as Qatar does not offer First Class on either of these two aircraft. The Business Class hard product is relatively consistent across the Airbus A380, Airbus A350 and 787-8, with a seat width of ~22 inches and a pitch of ~50 inches. When fully extended, the bed goes out to ~80 inches for the A380 and A350 and ~77 inches for the 787.
Boeing 777-300 ER (Version 1) and Boeing 777-200LR
This seat features the B/E Aerospace MiniPod product, which was considered revolutionary back in the mid-2000s. It is now largely obsolete given that customers prefer all-aisle access seating and these are designed to be in a 2x2x2 configuration on the 777s. These seats will gradually be replaced by the Qsuites in the coming years. It currently measures 21.8 in width x 78 inches when fully extended, which is also the length of the seat pitch.
Boeing 777-300 ER (Version 2)
In March 2017, Qatar revealed their new business class product which they’re calling Qsuites. These will be fully-enclosed suites with direct aisle access. The 777-300ER was the first plane to feature the new Qsuites, and all 777s and A350s will eventually receive it. The carrier has stated that the 787s and A380s will feature a modified version of the product. Only a limited number of Qatar’s 777-300ERs feature the Qsuites, which are presently flying from Doha to London Heathrow and New York JFK.
The biggest selling point of the Qsuite is its versatility: it can either function as an individual suite (with a sliding door), a communal space for workers or friends to co-mingle thanks to retracting privacy dividers, or it can double as a romantic bed for two if the couple is traveling together. More information can be found by clicking on this YouTube page.
Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300, and Airbus A330-200
Qatar offers First Class on each of these aircraft, although these planes will eventually be replaced by newer Boeing and Airbus variants. The First Class seat on these planes feature the MiniPod seat on the Business Class of the 777-300ER, but with a little extra room, a privacy divider and an ottoman.
The Business Class seat varies between the B/E Aerospace Diamond seat and the older-generation MiniPod product, depending on whether or not the plane has been retrofitted.
Future Fleet
Qatar Airways also has ordered the following aircraft:
- 30 787-9s
- 12 777-300ERs
- 10 777-8s
- 50 777-9s
- 24 Airbus A350-900s
- 37 Airbus A350-1000s
- 2 Airbus A380-800s
It has yet to be announced what Qatar will be using on the 787-9s, Airbus A350-1000s and 777-8/9 planes, but presumably, the Qsuites will arrive on those as well.
Qatar Airways Business Class 777
There is a helpful Qatar Airways Guide FlyerTalk thread that keeps tabs of the major updates to the Qatar Airways’ fleet based on aircraft registration. As the retrofits continue, it would be helpful to refer to this site often to be able to see which aircraft feature the new products as they are deployed, particularly if you know your registration in advance.