Review: Qatar Airways A380 business class, Sydney to Doha
With impeccable service and an inflight bar, the Qatar Airways A380 really is a fantastic way to fly.
By Sid Raja , January 22 2024
Route
Sydney - Doha
Aircraft Type
Airbus A380
Airline
Qatar Airways
Flight
QR909
Cabin Class
Business
Seat
18A
Notes
The Good
- Great lie-flat seat with plenty of storage
The Bad
- No inflight internet access
- Not quite as private as Qsuite
X-Factor
- An excellent bar and lounge area
Introduction
It’s easy to see the allure of Doha as a global hub, with some 150 destinations across Europe, Asia and beyond now accessible via the city. From Sydney and Perth, Qatar Airways Airbus A380 connects daily to the airline’s Doha base – and it’s a very sleek experience indeed.
Though lacking the superlative Qsuite business class found on QR’s A350 and Boeing 777, what the doubledecker jet does offer is arguably the next best thing.
Qatar Airways' spacious A380 business class.
With Qatar Airways’ superjumbo confirmed to continue flying for years to come, now’s a perfect time to see how the A380 business class experience stacks up from Sydney.
Departing at 9:45pm, QR 909 from Sydney to Doha has a flight time of around 15 hours, touching just shortly after 4am local time.
Lounge
Qatar Airways has an arrangement with Air New Zealand where business class travellers are invited into the Star Alliance member’s lounge on level two, adjacent to the Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge.
Sydney's Air New Zealand lounge makes a fine place to begin the journey.
As a Oneworld airline, QR passengers are also welcomed in the Qantas business lounge, though our recommendation would be sticking with Air New Zealand, as the alternative is rather tired and in much need of its imminent refurb.
(Passengers holding a shiny Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum card are also welcome at the Qantas Sydney First Class Lounge.)
Like its counterparts in Brisbane and Melbourne, Sydney’s Air NZ lounge is a monochromatic affair accented by pops of burgundy, neon pink and electric blue. Within is a lengthy cocktail bar and barista station, plus a well-stocked buffet and ample seating for work or play.
The bar pours a mix of wines, beers and spirits, plus even shakes up a selection of cocktails.
Wherever you sit, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to plug in and recharge your laptop, tablet or smartphone as AC and USB power points are everywhere.
On touchdown in Doha you can take advantage of two Arrivals Lounges: one airside before immigration, which houses a limited assortment of food and drinks plus its own eGates and immigration counters (a great way to skip the regular queues), and another landside.
The Arrivals Lounge shares similarities in decor to the Al Mourjan business lounge.
The latter is the larger of the two and delivers added benefits like shower rooms and a business centre if you need to catch up on emails, as well as some relaxation booths – in case you didn’t do enough of that on the flight.
Seat
Business class is perched on the upper deck of Qatar’s Airbus A380s, with seats in a 1-2-1 configuration providing direct aisle access for all.
Two pillows, pyjamas and an amenity kit are provided.
Naturally, we’d peg the window seats (A/K) as the best for solo travellers, particularly given the handy side storage bins, plus the presence of two controllable air vents for riding a little cooler versus a single vent above other seats.
A and K seats feature convenient window-side storage cupboards.
If you do net a centre seat (E/F), you’re not forced to make small talk with your seatmate thanks to a long privacy screen that can be raised and left in place, including during take-off and landing.
Wherever you end up, there’s no shortage of space to keep your gear – beginning with a fixed shelf that’s the perfect home for tablets, laptops and other gadgets when not in use.
A wide shelf to spread out your belongings, when not discreetly tucked away.
Further down, a smaller cubby proves ideal for amenity kits, cameras and reading glasses, and when closed, offers even more space on top.
A universal power outlet is conveniently provided.
A fixed footrest forms the tail end of your 22-inch (56cm) wide, 80-inch (203cm) fully-flat bed, softened by a fitted mattress and duvet.
The exact position of the seat can be customised via an array of buttons – either to a precise position or one of several pre-set modes. (For comparison, the Qsuite is 21.5-inches in width (54cm) and 79-inches (200cm) in length.)
When it’s time to sleep, the crew will happily install the mattress while you change into your supplied PJs.
Of course, there’s more to Qatar Airways’ A380 than your seat alone, with a bespoke bar and lounge inviting business and first class passengers to relax and stretch their legs. And it has a very different feel to its Emirates equivalent.
Within the dimly-lit space you’ll find a mix of seating for groups, couples and solo flyers, as well as AC power outlets for extended visits.
The inflight bar is arguably one of the best in the air.
The mosaic tile-backed bar is stocked with top shelf tipples including whisky, vodka and gin, as well as yet more Champagne, should you find your glass empty.
In my experience the bar was pretty quiet, with most passengers choosing to get a little shut-eye on the overnight flight.
Meal
Business class travellers are free to order anything from the menu at any time – whether it’s breakfast at dinner time, a hearty dish in the middle of the night or a bite to eat after settling in and getting some work done.
It’s a great approach allowing you to keep to your own schedule and time zone, rather than the airline’s. It also makes the dining experience feel far more personalised and restaurant-like.
Complementing this is the airline’s always-superb wine list. Our flight saw wines from Bordeaux and California, as well as a South Australian Penfolds shiraz.
Beginning the flight with a welcome glass of Champagne.
In addition, the A380 also has an excellent inflight bar and lounge area where you can help yourself to snacks – a sweet and savoury grab-and-go option were both provided – or enjoy a top shelf tipple away from your seat.
A welcome drink was offered almost immediately on embarkation: Charles Heidsick Brut Reserve and an exquisite Laurent-Perrier Rosé 2007, plus non-alcoholic options.
Once in the air, a late dinner service started with an amuse-bouche of salmon with roe to whet the palate, followed by a classic Arabic mezze platter.
A tasty way to begin the meal.
A trio of bread rolls make an appearance with every meal.
A main of beef tenderloin with fondant potatoes, pumpkin and wilted spinach arrived soon after.
The steak was surprisingly tender, and came with just the right amount of jus.
All up, it was a delicious meal – and worth burning the midnight oil to enjoy.
Prior to landing, a breakfast consisted of salmon and bresaola, gherkins, goat’s cheese and a hard-boiled egg, alongside greek yoghurt with berry compote and toasted granola.
An appreciatedly-light bite prior to landing.
Given this was served around 2am local time, it was an ideal amount of food.
Entertainment & Service
Qatar Airways’ Oryx inflight entertainment system has thousands of movies, TV shows, music tracks and games, all controlled via the 17-inch touchscreen or wired remote.
The latter also doubles as an independent screen, so you can browse through the Hollywood, Bollywood and classic movies or TV shows while watching the main screen.
Some passengers on my flight had trouble with their systems not working properly, but that thankfully wasn’t the case for me.
Sadly inflight WiFi is not available on the Qatar Airways A380. It’s only offered on select Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft, and the Airbus A350.
Verdict
Overall, the gate-to-gate experience of the A380 was enjoyable in both directions. Service on Gulf carriers is always a pleasure, and this trip was no exception.
Though not as private or refined as the walled Qsuite (which remains my preference), in some ways I’d say the A380 business class is actually more comfortable, as the seat’s both wider and longer and has considerably more storage.
The writer travelled as a guest of Qatar Airways.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Mar 2020
Total posts 23
the seats lack privacy - very exposed to the aisle. Prefer EK or QF seats that have some wrap around...
17 Nov 2023
Total posts 13
A380 every day of the week. Just a better aircraft.
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