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Category: Airline Reviews

  • Qatar Airways Business Class Q-Suite (787 Dreamliner)

    Qatar Airways Business Class Q-Suite (787 Dreamliner)

    Qatar Airways’ Qsuite is famously known as one of the world’s best business class products, often feeling closer to First Class than business. With fully enclosed suites, dine-on-demand service, and even caviar on some routes, the hype is immense.

    But not all of Qatar’s business class cabins are the full Qsuite. On our recent flight from Frankfurt (FRA) to Doha (DOH), we had the pleasure of flying on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which features a slightly different, more compact product the aviation community has nicknamed the “Qsuite Lite.” So, how does it stack up? Here’s our full review.

    Understanding Qatar’s Business Class Products

    Qatar’s offering on its newer planes is simple: Economy and Business Class. While the airline’s CEO has announced plans for a groundbreaking new First Class, for now, their top-tier product is business.

    • The Qsuite: Found on their A350-1000s and refitted Boeing 777s, this is the famous product with the quad seating option.
    • The Business Class Suite (This Flight): Found on the 787-9 Dreamliners, this is a more customized, forward-facing herringbone suite that lacks the quad feature.
    • The “Classic” 2-2-2 Business Class: Found on older, non-refitted Boeing 777s and the Airbus A330 fleet, this is the product to watch out for. These seats are comfortable but offer no privacy and do not have all-aisle access for window passengers.

    The Ground Experience in Frankfurt

    Starting our journey from Frankfurt Terminal 2, it’s worth noting that Qatar Airways does not operate its own dedicated lounge here. While your business class ticket grants you access to a third-party contract lounge, we’ll begin this review from the moment we stepped onto the plane.

    The Cabin & The Suite

    The Boeing 787-9 business class cabin is intimate, with just 8 rows in a 1-2-1 herringbone layout. This means every passenger has direct aisle access. We sat in two of the middle seats, which feature a retractable privacy divider.

    The suite itself is beautifully designed, with high-quality finishes and the all-important privacy door that closes you off from the aisle. That said, if you lower the divider to speak with your travel partner, the angled, outward-facing position of the seats can make conversation feel a bit awkward. It’s a small quirk and certainly not the same “dine together” experience you’d find in the full Qsuite on the A350.

    Amenities & Comfort

    The comfort level on this flight was exceptional. Waiting at our seats were pajamas from The White Company (ours were the special edition F1 design), a cozy blanket, and stylish “his and hers” amenity kits from the luxury French brand Diptyque. The attention to detail is remarkable. The seat fully reclines into a comfortable bed, which was perfect for a quick nap even on this relatively short flight.

    Dine on Demand Service

    This is a signature feature of Qatar Airways’ premium cabins. You can order whatever you want from the menu, whenever you want it. As we were hungry, we ordered our main meal service right after takeoff.

    The food was, without a doubt, restaurant quality. The presentation, flavors, and options were all superb. Sadly, the steak had already run out by the time the crew reached our row, but the alternative dishes were so delicious and the service so proactive that we hardly noticed. I also ordered a Whiskey Sour from the open bar, which was expertly made.

    The Verdict

    All in all, this was the best flying experience we have ever had. It’s not just about getting from A to B; Qatar Airways has turned the flight itself into a luxurious and memorable part of the journey.

    While the 787 suite isn’t the true “quad” Qsuite, it is still a world-class product with incredible privacy, comfort, and five-star service. The food was phenomenal, and the amenities were top-notch. It truly is as close as you can get to a First Class experience. We landed punctually and safely in Doha, ready to explore the airport’s lounge paradise—but that’s a story for another time.

    Pro-Tip: If you specifically want to fly the full Qsuite with the quad-seating option, look for the “Qsuite” logo on the seat map when booking on the Qatar Airways website. It is always clearly marked.

    Have a look at our Lufthansa Business class review as well.

  • Flying the Queen: A Lufthansa 747 Business Class Review (Upper Deck)

    Flying the Queen: A Lufthansa 747 Business Class Review (Upper Deck)

    There are few planes as iconic as the Boeing 747. Affectionately known as the “Queen of the Skies,” her distinctive hump makes her instantly recognizable. Lufthansa is one of the last major airlines to fly a large fleet of these magnificent aircraft, making any flight on one a bucket-list experience. This is our full Lufthansa 747 Business Class review, based on our flight from our home base in Frankfurt (FRA) to Chicago (ORD).

    Lufthansa’s Business Class: A Product in Transition

    It’s important to understand that Lufthansa is in a major transition period with its business class seats. The product you experience can vary greatly depending on the aircraft.

    • The Classic Seat (This Flight): The long-serving business class, found on the 747s and some A340s, which features a 2-2-2 or 2-2 layout.
    • The “Upgraded” Seat: A number of newer aircraft that Lufthansa acquired (like their 787 Dreamliners) came with a more modern, all-aisle-access business class product already installed.
    • The Future – “Allegris”: This is Lufthansa’s brand-new, highly anticipated business class. It offers multiple seating options, including private suites, and Lufthansa is progressively rolling it out on their new Airbus A350s and newly delivered 787s.

    This review focuses on the classic product, which you will still find on many long-haul routes.

    The Ground Experience: Lufthansa Senator Lounge, Frankfurt

    Our journey began in Frankfurt’s Terminal 1. As holders of an American Express Platinum card, we have access to the Lufthansa Senator Lounge. The lounge was a comfortable place to relax before the flight, offering a quality buffet selection, multiple coffee stations, and ample seating. It set a premium tone for the journey ahead.

    The Main Event: The 747 Upper Deck

    Sitting on the upper deck of a 747 was always a dream of mine. After boarding, you walk up a small staircase to a surprisingly intimate and quiet cabin.

    With only 32 seats in a 2-2 configuration, the cabin feels like a private jet. It’s completely separated from the main deck below, which creates a serene and exclusive atmosphere.

    The Seat

    The seats on our 747-8 use a V-shape arrangement, which offers a bit more room than older parallel versions. As a couple, we didn’t mind the 2-2 layout, but the main drawback is that the person in the window seat must climb over their neighbor to reach the aisle.

    However, the window seat on the upper deck has a massive advantage: enormous side storage bins. These lockers are large enough to store a carry-on, leaving the overhead space free and your belongings easily accessible. This is, in our opinion, the single best reason to choose a window seat here.

    The seat itself is a comfortable lie-flat bed with adjustable firmness, but it lacks the privacy of modern business class suites. The In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) screen is also visibly dated, though it offered a decent variety of movies and series.

    We recommend using tools like seatguru to check the best spots in your aircraft and seat configuration upon reservation.

    The In-Flight Experience & Dining

    The five-star service began the moment we settled in. We were offered a welcome drink—with a choice between champagne and Lufthansa’s signature cocktail, the “Avionic”—and some nuts. Shortly after takeoff, a proper three-course lunch was served. The food was truly excellent for an airline meal, and the flight attendants were incredibly friendly, professional, and helpful with wine pairing suggestions. Before landing in Chicago, a second, lighter one-course meal was served.

    The Verdict

    Flying Lufthansa’s 747 Business Class is a phenomenal experience. The impeccable 5-star service and the unique, quiet ambiance of the upper deck makes it feel incredibly special.

    One must be honest: the “hard product” (the seat and IFE) is outdated by today’s standards. However, for the romance of the aircraft and the quality of the service, we would do it again in a heartbeat. It was the perfect start to our Chicago adventure.

    Stay tuned, as we’ll be sure to review the new Allegris business class as soon as we get a chance to fly it!

    For Those Interested: How We Booked

    We booked our flights for this trip using miles, which is one of the best ways to experience premium cabins without the high cash price. Award availability for the 747 upper deck can be competitive, so we recommend searching well in advance.