Around mid-2016 last year, CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker was quizzed by airline journalists whether he had plans to introduce premium economy on its planes. He responded by saying,
“We are not going to introduce premium economy. The comfort we give you in economy is much more than premium economy.”
Al Baker also added that they were in the midst of developing a new business class product that will “put our competitiors in a disarray wondering how they will compete”.
This week, Qatar finally launched and showed the world their latest business class innovation – QSuite. And true to Al Baker’s words, “first class experience in business class”, or in other words, opulence.
Their business class product, also known as the QSuite, features the first double bed in business class. The privacy panel in the centre console can be lowered to form a private room with the seat next to you.
The centre four seats in the cabin have adjustable panels and TV console that are able to form into a bigger private suite – think of adjoining doors in hotel rooms.
Here are some of the other features:
Seats are stitched by hand in Italian leather with satin rose gold, luxury bed linens. There will be a new set of chinaware and cutlery to compliment the new business class meal menu. A ‘dine on demand’ service where you can choose when you would like your meals served. Also available on their new menu will be a selection of snack for your private party. If you cannot afford to lose any of your beauty sleep, a “wake-up express breakfast” service will also be offered. Qatar has also refreshed their amenity kits. A new partnership with The White Company will offer business class passengers cotten sleeper sutis and products from Italy’s Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio.
So, if you are keen on trying out Qatar’s latest business class product, you will have to wait until June before they start rolling out the QSuites. For the time being, maybe you can try their business class and verify whether they deserve to be awarded Skytrax’s best business class award – or not.