I flew on Qatar Airways B787-9 in their new Business Class Suite from Doha to Istanbul recently.
Before the flight, I visited the Al Safwa First Class Lounge in Doha. I had an interesting Tibetan massage treatment in the spa and spent some time touring around the First Class Lounge.
Video
First Look of the Qatar Airways B787-9
Qatar Airways B787-9 joined the fleet at the end of 2019. During COVID, the 787-9 fleet was used as passenger freighter “Preighter”. They have now been fitted with a new Business Class and re-joined the passenger fleet in late June this year.
There are 30 Business Class Suite in 1-2-1 configuration. The seat arrangement is known as the “herringbone” style. What’s new is the door panel on each Business Class suite.
Economy Class is in a typical 3-3-3 seat configuration. Legroom is about 32-33″ seat pitch. There is a total of 281 seats across two sections of the B787-9.
Doha to Istanbul
My flight was operated by A7-BHD. Flight time to Istanbul was just a little short of 4 hours, with about a 50% load factor.
The Business Class Suite features a wireless phone charger, which is a handy feature and means no more messy cables.
As usual on Qatar Airways, dining is on demand. I had a colourful salmon and scallop starter. For the main course I had a rather bland vegetarian risotto, but I did have an excellent Arabic knafah dessert.
This is how the new Business Class Suite looks like from the top view.
You can see the wall panel isn’t very tall compared to my head position.
The New Business Class Suite is Narrow for me
The New Business Class Suite is narrow for me when compared to the original QSuite on the A350/B777. The footwell also has limited space, as the dining table is right on top.
For a 4 hour flight I had no issues, but I’d much prefer the wider QSuite on an ultra long-haul flight.
So far Qatar Airways seems to use the B787-9 on medium-haul sectors like Doha to Europe, Kathmandu or Kuala Lumpur.
The bar was not used during our flight.
Nice Landing Into Istanbul
We arrived in Istanbul around 18:30, which is the best time of the day. We flew over the entire city and Ataturk Airport before lining up for runway 35R of New Istanbul Int’l. Watch the spectacular landing on my YouTube video.
Final Verdict
The new Business Class Suite on Qatar Airways 787-9 isn’t the same as their award-winning Q-Suite, It feels more like a junior version. The centre seat pairs face away from each other and the suite feels narrower than QSuite on B777/A350.
Pros:
- Consistency in service delivery
- Wireless Charger
- Enhanced privacy with suite door
Cons:
- Narrower seat
- Centre seat pair face away from each other, this can be a problem for travellers traveling together
- When in full sleeping position, you’re quite close to the ground. The table on top of the footwell created less room to turn
I travelled on 30 sep on qatar airways. It was my seventh consecutive trip in as many years with a group of about 40 doctors and paramedic/ support staff to karbala and back on this airline. Due to change in flight schedule after I have paid emd to the airline, my group stay at doha was increased to 20 hours. Qatar Airways offered us a 30 Dirham voucher for one meal only in 20 hours and even we had to buy water for us. I talked to the transfer desk supervisor Muhammed Jhegam about it but he flatly and arrogantly refused to help us. My understanding is that As per IATA rules we should have been accommodated in hotel. We all were fully vaccinated, pcr negative and associated with medical profession in one form or the other. But I did not push for it because I sympathise that the pandemic has brought even company like qatar airways at the brink of financial bankruptcy, but what was mind boggling was the moral bankruptcy of qatar airways management and their in human behaviour against all courtesies and traditional Arab hospitality.
So beware folks Qatar airways is not what it use to be and make a conscious decision before believing in what they say in ads and their campaign because my experience is that nowadays they are frustrated, arrogant and inhospitable.
Dear Sam,
How did you enter Qatar (DOH) ? As for most of the countries are stilled banned in the little Gulf-state, or have they opened for GCC residents ?