Are Q Suites Worth It? I Flew All Three Qatar Airways Business Class Cabins to Find Out

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Getting “Qatared” (and Un-Qatared)

Qatar Airways is famous for its world-class service and its luxurious Q Suites — but as many frequent flyers know, those coveted suites aren’t guaranteed. If you travel often, you’ve probably heard the phrase “I got Qatared,” a term born from the heartbreak of booking business class with Q Suites in mind, only to be swapped into an older cabin configuration at the last minute.

Well… that’s exactly what happened to me. I got Qatared. About a month before my trip, I received an email letting me know that my Mumbai–Doha flight had changed. But in a fun twist of fate, I also got “un-Qatared” on the same journey. One of my return legs quietly switched aircraft types, and when I boarded the plane, I realized I’d finally landed one of the iconic Q Suites — without any prior notification.

And this was just the beginning. Keep reading for my full experience flying three different Qatar Airways business class products, from the oldest configuration to the crown jewel of the fleet.

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Booking, Fares, and Seat Selection Drama

My journey began in Mumbai. I had booked the Classic Fare, but even then, there were no free seat reservations available. I refused to pay extra fees just for seat selection and hoped that I could get seated with my husband together during online check-in. This, however, didn’t work in the case of one leg, where my husband and I were seated separately, namely the Mumbai to Doha leg. I tried to change our seats online, but no two seats were available together. Luckily, the Qatar helpline quickly resolved the issue, and my seat was shifted next to my husband.

Mumbai: Adani West Wing Lounge

Now that check-in was through, we were ready to hit the lounge. In Mumbai all the airlines’ business class tickets have access to the Adani West Wing Lounge, which does have some great food and the best of all, a fifteen-minute free foot massage. We had a light snack even though it was 2:30 a.m., as the food was hard to resist, I went for my relaxing massage, and then it was time to board.

Flight 1: Mumbai to Doha – Old 777-300ER, 2-2-2

Starting in the Mumbai to Doha sector, we were seated in one of the oldest seating configurations of Qatar’s business class. It was a Boeing 777-300ER with a 2-2-2 configuration with dated seats. However, there was so much space between the rows, I honestly didn’t mind it. It was surprisingly comfortable and very spacious. My favorite part? They had Kevin Hart in the Qatar Airways safety video!

As it was 4 a.m., I couldn’t enjoy any food on this flight, considering I was exhausted enough to pass out. I chose to sleep off the moment the flight took off. The seats were lie-flat, relatively comfortable, and a nice, soft blanket was provided, which, unlike other airlines, was quite spacious, so your feet didn’t stick out.

The space between the seat rows is much bigger than some of the other newer configurations of Qatar business class seats. Yes, if you were expecting the Q suites and were downgraded to these seats, you would be very upset, but as the section was very short from Mumbai to Doha and I had to just sleep throughout, I was okay with it.

Doha Layover: Al Mourjan Lounge & The Orchard

After landing in Doha, I was most excited to explore this airport with a four-hour layover. I was even more excited to visit the famed Al Mourjan Lounge with its celebrity-loved Diptyque Amenities. As I booked the Classic fare, I had access to the lounges; if I had taken the Lite fare, I wouldn’t have access.

The airport was so beautiful with famous artworks like the Lamp Bear Art Statue and the Small Lie by KAWS to name a few. It is also a hub for some great international restaurants, and the ones that stood out to me were the Harrods Tea Room, Oreo Café, Fendi Café, and Gordon Ramsey’s burger.

Safe to say that even if you don’t have lounge access at the airport, you can easily pass several hours here, as there is also a brand-new section to explore called the Orchard – a beautiful indoor garden with over 25,000 plants and lush greenery. We landed in Terminal C, which is the Garden Section of the Airport. However, I knew travelers preferred the original Al Mourjan Lounge South near Terminals A and B, so we took the Sky Train and went to the lounge there.

Showers & Diptyque Heaven

We landed at around 5:30 a.m. in Doha, and the first thing we did once we reached the lounge was to get in line for the showers. After a 30-minute wait for the covered showers, I got the complete idea of the sheer luxury of this lounge. Every single bath product was Diptyque! The hair wash, shower gel, lotion, conditioner, and even the hand wash!

There was even a Diptyque hand sanitizer gel! That being said, there were no combs or deodorant wipes provided here, and the toothpaste and brush had to be specially asked for and were not available in the bathrooms. I asked for a comb, but they did not have any. That said,  I did have a luxurious shower with the Diptyque products, so overall I felt quite good.

Breakfast at Al Mourjan

I then proceeded to have some breakfast. There were two dining options, one was a deli where you could order sandwiches, and another restaurant with an à la carte menu and a full buffet. I chose to go to the latter because of a more extensive range of choices. The à la carte menu was limited, but the buffet had some good options. I

did try some waffles from the menu, but they were just alright. However, I appreciated the bread section where the bakery goods were kept inside a warmer. I also tried for the first time in my life the famous vegetarian Middle Eastern breakfast “Ful Medames”. It was creamy and topped with all the condiments, a hearty start to my morning. All of this with the gorgeous view of the tarmac. However, as the day progressed, they closed the view with extra-large automated curtains due to the heat of the sun.

After having a lovely breakfast and having my fill of the lounge, we decided to fully explore the airport and all its sections. I had a sneak peek of the Al Mourjan Lounge – The Garden, as your boarding pass allows you to access both lounges. Personally, I decided to spend my time there on my return journey because I found that the lounge was better compared to the South Lounge. After all, it had a more open layout overlooking the Orchard and had the famous Louis Vuitton Lounge.

Flight 2: Doha to Rome – A350, 1-2-1 (Non-Qsuite)

I went to board my flight, and this time we had the one-two-one seating configuration on the A350. Again, this was not the Q suites. But I loved the seating and the screens. This was my first leg of the flight, where I would stay awake and experience the famous Qatar Airways hospitality. We were warmly greeted, and waiting at our seats were our Diptyque amenity kits, which had everything from hand lotion to fragrance.

The amenity kits were different for men and women and were both equally amazing. We were offered a choice of welcome drinks. I tried the signature lemon mint drink.  It was refreshing but I found it to be a little too sweet. Diptyque refreshing towelettes were waiting at our seats to freshen up. The menu was extensive, and the best part is that it was dine on demand; we could dine at any time during our flight and did not have to dine with everyone else!

I made it a point to book our meals in advance so that we could get the options we wanted. You can choose the main course option in advance, starting from around fourteen days before your flight. The other best part is that, as we are non-alcoholics, we were surprised to see the extensive section of mocktails that we could order. Never had I been so excited seeing an in-flight menu.

Seats, Service, and Mocktails

The seats were spacious. There was a hand rest that could be pulled up after takeoff, which offered a little privacy. The A350 has a high ceiling, and our seats were in the rear section, separated by a middle lounge area. I personally loved the open layout of the entire business class section. I do not like feeling constricted in a smaller section.

They had even kept some munchies in the middle lounge area. The service on this flight was impeccable; the screen was lovely and large with excellent entertainment options. We were first served our mocktails, and I went for the pineapple punch, which was yum! This drink was awesome, paired with some warm mixed nuts and chips (yes, I took both options when offered!). I then also asked them for the non-alcoholic bubbly Le Petit Étoile with my lunch! It was delicious!

The Food: Mezze with a Twist

Then came the food, which was also brilliant, starting with a burrata amuse bouche, followed by the mezze course, which was not your average mezze, it was mezze with a twist – the hummus was a pesto hummus, avocado muhammara, and a tahini labneh! Three different types of warm bread were served, along with a selection of flavored Monte Vibiano Extra Virgin Olive Oil (I loved the tomato chili flavor).

To top it all off, there was the artificial candle flickering on your table; it was just all so luxurious and delicious. In the main course, which I preselected online, there was also an online exclusive option, which I selected for my husband — the vegetarian ravioli. I, on the other hand, selected from the in-flight menu in advance the Thai green curry for myself. It was quite delicious as well. For the dessert, I went ahead with the Tiramisu Ice Cream with crumble, which I paired with a Cadbury hot chocolate (I was just so amazed by their drink selection that I had to try a few!) Overall, I had such a wonderful meal, one of the best I have had on a business class flight in my life.

Turn-Down Service & The Best Nap Ever

I requested the turn-down service (which many other airlines do not offer) a little too soon before my meal, but was still provided with the same. And I was given such a comfortable mattress and pillow! I was on Cloud Nine! I had a nap for a few hours after my meal and then spent some time watching Gladiator in preparation for Rome!

Before we knew it, it was time to land. This was the first time I didn’t want a flight to end. This leg of the journey, despite not being in Q suites, exceeded my expectations on all fronts. I did not miss the Q suites at all. Everything from the seat to the service to the food was just incredible.

Return Journey: Finally, Qsuites (Twice!)

After a lovely vacation in Itay, it was time for my return journey.  Here is where in both sections, I had the pleasure of travelling by Q suites. I timed my check forty-eight hours in advance, in the hopes that I would either automatically get assigned the coveted backward-facing E and F seats, which turned into a double bed by lowering the center partition, and turned into a private suite, suitable for a couple, or at least I would get a chance to select those seats from the free seats available.

To my utter surprise and luck, on both segments of my journey, we were assigned E and F seats! Yay! The excitement built up for those forty-eight hours leading to my flight in anticipation of the world’s best business class seats experience!

On the day of the flights, we got a fast-track pass for the security at Fiumicino Airport. (Unfortunately, during arrivals, there was no separate line for business class at Fiumicino Airport, so while entering Rome, it took us an hour to clear immigration.) The lounge was pretty standard, shared with many other airlines, and full to the brim with credit card lounge access holders trying to get in.

We hardly spent ten minutes there and explored the airport for the rest of the time. Then came the boarding time, and as I entered the flight, I was finally able to lay my eyes on the coveted Q suites, which I had seen countless times before in so many videos, so it was familiar, but this time I was actually physically there! I entered my seat, or should I say cabin, and the sheer space and enclosure created by these special seats was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Once again, the refreshing Diptyque towelette and amenity kit awaited us, the service team greeted us personally, and drinks were offered. I couldn’t wait till the flight took off to convert our seats into a double bed.

Qsuite: A Double Bed in the Sky

Upon take off, it was a bit strange as we were seated facing backwards in the aircraft, so we were tilted in the wrong direction, but other than that, the flight was wonderful. I just spent so much time taking a ton of pictures of us seated in this beautiful enclosure! I was in awe. The amount of space that this enclosure created was massive. It is correctly called a suite as it is a suite in the sky.

Once the seatbelt sign went off, I immediately closed the cabin doors, lowered the middle divider, and asked for the middle divider cushion, which converted the suite into a double bed. I didn’t take the turn-down service yet as I wanted to finish my meal first. I had this time the pineapple margarita, complete with the salted rim, along with warm nuts and chips.

Then onto another great meal with all the Qatar Airways extras like the flickering candle, three types of freshly baked bread, and flavored extra virgin olive oil. This time, they had a more traditional mezze, but it was delicious too. I had prebooked both of our meals – cottage cheese and fig kofta with stir-fried vegetables.

These were again in the online exclusive menu section. The vegetarian option on the in-flight menu was ravioli. I, however, thought that after all the Italian food I ate on my trip, I would like to have some Indian food on my way back, and I was lucky to find the option online. The dessert was just ok, but I didn’t care because I wanted to get to the good part, which was that after the meal service, to request the cabin crew for our turn down service. One point to note, though that the catering out of Qatar was much better than the catering out of Rome on the return flight.

And finally, I got what I had been dreaming about for months, a double bed in the sky! The number of photos I clicked to just cherish that moment was countless. The sheer space of this cabin, when I lay down, many first-class products in the sky aren’t as grand as this suite was. Just for the abundance of space and privacy, Qatar Airways' Q suites deserve the award of the best business class seats in the world, in my opinion. I enjoyed the luxury and privacy throughout the flight, and before I knew it, it was time to land again. I was not sad, though, because my Doha to Mumbai leg also featured the Q suites.

Doha Again: Al Mourjan – The Garden & Louis Vuitton Lounge

We had another wonderful four hours at the Hamad International Airport. This time I went to the Al Mourjan - the Garden lounge, which I personally preferred as mentioned abov,e as I found the layout more open and relaxed and calming as it was facing the Orchard. We explored the areas and shops that we had missed the last time, then there were two places I just had to check out at the airport. One was Gordon Ramsey Burger and the next was the Louis Vuitton Lounge.

Gordon Ramsey Burger was in the Orchard area, and my god, was the burger and fries maybe the best I have ever had. Then we proceeded to the Louis Vuitton Lounge. Now the LV Lounge is in the Al Mourjan – the Garden Lounge, so you need to have a business class ticket to access it. However, it is not free of charge, and the food is separately payable. I had the famous monogram dark chocolate pastry and a coffee with their designer logo on the foam. It had been a dream of mine to experience this ever since I came to know about the Café in NYC. The pastry was delicious, decadent, and intensely chocolatey, just how I like it.

I then had some light snacks at the Lounge before it was time to board again. In the second leg from Doha to Mumbai, I just decided to skip my meal and slept for the entire duration of the flight. I enjoyed the privacy and the comfort of the double bed in the Q suites.

Final Thoughts: Was It Worth It?

All in all, Qatar Airways' business class not only lived up to the hype that I saw in so many videos, but it also exceeded all my expectations. The standard was set so high by watching those videos, and I was not let down. The service, the feeling of luxury even in the oldest of their seats, thanks to their excellent cabin crew, the food, the presentation, the variety of options for dining and mocktails, and the main plus point — dine on demand.

The great screens and large media library, the ultra-luxurious Diptyque amenity kits, spoiling yourself at their Al Mourjan lounges brimming with Diptyque amenities, I was downright overwhelmed with this entire experience and felt myself truly lucky to have gotten to do this bucket list dream.

If there was one thing that I would say was a negative, it was only the timing of my first flight from Mumbai to Doha, which was at 4 a.m. Other than that, this is an experience I would recommend trying once in your life at least. It is really and truly something special.

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