Some in the travel industry see “business class” becoming “holiday class”.
And, for sure, in business class on this Qatar Airways flight to Doha, there are business travellers, but it is also clear a considerable number are retirees treating themselves to more space and refinements than can be managed in the economy cabin, even in this well-designed and presented Qatar Airways A380-800, with snappy crew.
The cabin is arranged 1-2-1. Solos, like me, are on the outer, feet facing out, towards the side of the plane. Couples in the two middle seats are angled towards the centre, feet closer.
There is a lounge area, with a bar and side sofa seating. While, on our night flight, this doesn’t become a social area (most travellers are fast asleep), it is a good, spacious area to stand, stretch, move around . . . and yes, some still manage to lean on the bar.
Back at my seat, Clement introduces himself and explains the wide, comfortable, lay-flat seat with its position settings. He refers to the menu, and offers loungewear in three sizes by The White Company, London.
The amenities are in a cardboard box, secured with an elegant ribbon, and by Diptyque of Paris. There’s eau de toilette, body lotion, face cream, lip balm, ear plugs, eye mask and socks. Diptyque was born in 1961, in the St Germain area of Paris, and has been making fragrances, skincare products and “desirable decorative items” ever since. As the company mantra says: “As many creations for oneself and for the home as stories where the imagination is set free.”
A company statement also says it mixes “reverie and reality”. I don’t know about that, but the fragrance are divine — complex, refreshing and engaging.
There are no fixed meal times in business class. The a la carte menu has three choices of starters (soup, Arabic mezzo, and tiger prawn and scallop), four mains (Angus beef fillet, spiced barramundi, chicken cordon bleu, vegetarian risotto), cheeses, and a chocolate brownie desert.
On this flight, which leaves Perth at 10.45pm and arrives in Doha about 5.35am, after 11 hours and 20 minutes of flying, there is also a breakfast menu.
“Indulge in the finest cuisine from our personalised gourmet selection at any time of your journey,” the menu says.
There are all sorts of beverages, hot and cold.
After a comfortable two-hour connection in Doha, the wine list on the six hours, 30 minutes flight to Paris is equally encouraging.
There is a choice of Taittinger or Gosset champagne, a St Clair chardonnay from New Zealand, and Robert Oatley sauvignon blanc from Margaret River. The Oatley family’s heritage traces back to the early days of European settlement. The first vines were planted in the 1960s, and the late Bob Oatley established the winery in 2006. It is now run by his eldest son, Sandy.
There’s a French Mirabeau Rosé from the Coteaux d’Aix en Provence appellation and other strong choices.
We arrive in Hamad International Airport in Doha and I connect to a flight to Paris using Al Maha Services.
For this second business class flight, I am in a QSuite in a Boeing B777-300ER.
While the A380 has that “herringbone” capsule seating, the QSuites are cubicles — very private, with high dividers, and a door panel which slides shut to completely enclose the traveller.
This is a private yacht cabin-style room.
There is a comfortable seat that lies fully flat, a big TV screen with Oryx entertainment, lots of places to put your stuff, another set of loungewear, and more Diptyque.
But the greatest thing is privacy. For most of the flight, quite simply, I feel like I’m the only one onboard.
qatarairways.com
AL MAHA SERVICES
The overnight plane from Perth to Doha lands after 11 hours and 20 minutes in the air, and I stretch and shuffle along the aerobridge with my waking companions.
Doha in this very early morning is muted; the sun lost in dust, giving the world a beige tint.
And there, at the end of the aerobridge, is a smartly uniformed greeter with my name on a board, spelled correctly: Mr Stephen Scourfield.
“Mr Stephen,” says the Al Maha Services hostess (the official title), explaining that she will take me to a lounge near the next departure gate for my onward flight to Paris. She will leave me there, and return to take me to the gate.
Al Maha Services is the complimentary meet-and-greet assistance Qatar Airways provides to its Gold and Platinum Privilege Club members. I’m taken to the Al Mourjan Garden Lounge in the airport’s Northern Wing, adjacent to the Orchard, with its tall trees and glitzy shops. The lounge is quiet and comfortable with nice food and drink offerings, and impeccably clean washrooms with showers.
And then I’m collected again, and off to Paris, feeling rather spoilt and very well looked-after.
al-mahaservices.com/almaha
BUSINESS LOUNGES
There are a lot of lounges for business travellers throughout Hamad International Airport.
As part of the expansion which saw the opening of Orchard, several new lounges were opened. They are Al Mourjan Business Lounge — the Garden, which also has its Louis Vuitton Lounge, North Plaza lounges — Al Maha Lounge, Oryx Lounge, and Gold and Platinum lounge.
+ Stephen Scourfield was a guest of Qatar Airways. They have not influenced or seen this story before publication.