Qatar swings Airbus A350-1000 onto Sydney-Doha, Qsuites for Adelaide

By Brandon Loo, March 19 2019
Qatar swings Airbus A350-1000 onto Sydney-Doha, Qsuites for Adelaide

Qatar Airways’ stretched Airbus A350-1000 will make its Sydney debut from 28 October 2019, while an upgrade for Adelaide will also bring the airline's highly-regarded Qsuites business class to the City of Churches on its Airbus A350-900 starting August 16.

Both can be chalked up as wins for the business traveller, as we rate the Qsuites as the world's best business class in delivering a first class experience – not only through the well-appointed seat with sliding privacy doors but the 'dine on demand' meal service.

These changes also carry an added A350 advantage of flying in a jet that's more spacious, modern and quieter than conventional aircraft, such as the Boeing 777-300ER which currently connects Doha, Sydney and Canberra as flights QR906/QR907.

The Oneworld member's other daily flight between Sydney and Doha (QR909/QR908) will continue on the double-decker Airbus A380, which has eight first class suites and 48 of the previous-generation but still excellent business class seats.

Qatar Airways also flies to Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, although none of the flights to those cities offer the Qsuites on a regular basis.

As previously reported, flights between Perth and Doha will also get the Qsuites treatment between September and at least December 2019, and potentially into early 2020, as the route's current Airbus A380 heads into the hangar for routine maintenance and is replaced by a Boeing 777-300ER.

 Qantas Frequent Flyers can use their Qantas Points to book onto Qatar Airways, at a rate of 104,000 points for business class from Sydney or Canberra to Doha, or 139,000 points to go all the way through London (or many other major European cities such as Paris and Frankfurt).

Also read: How to book Qatar Airways Qsuites with Qantas Points

Additional reporting by David Flynn

Brandon Loo

Based in Perth, Brandon enjoys tucking into local delicacies, discovering new cocktails, and making aeroplane food look good on camera.

05 Dec 2018

Total posts 148

Good news for Sydney siders. 😊

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

30 May 2017

Total posts 2

I don't know. Maybe I am a bit weird. Flew Business to Germany last year on the A380 and the 777. So had the "old" business class as well as the Qsuite. As cool and exclusive the suite is, it almost feels too closed. I wonder if people are going a bit overboard with privacy while traveling... I prefer a more airy less disrupted view...

05 Dec 2018

Total posts 148

I am a big fan of the A380 Qatar setup in business class. The open first class looks nice too..

I haven’t tried the QSuites but I never had an issue with open planned A380 ‘old’ setup.

SKW
SKW

05 Mar 2015

Total posts 1

To each their own. In a premium cabin, my priorities are privacy and direct aisle access. Having my door closed also means I'm free to look out the window without disturbing others. It feels like a hotel room, and I love that.

Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles

14 Apr 2013

Total posts 326

Adelaide does sometimes - not always gets the A350-900 with Q Suites Installed.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

21 Jun 2017

Total posts 37

My go to airline for my monthly trip to the UK. The Q suites / wifi / service are amazing. No wonder qantas-star gives you 1/3 the status and points ti London when flying Qatar. Still worth Qatar. Lol

04 May 2014

Total posts 13

That'd be a *higher* cabin pressure, or a lower cabin altitidue

Joe
Joe

03 May 2013

Total posts 672

"Like the Boeing 777, the Airbus A350 features the airline's superb Qsuites – which we rate as the world's best business class – but with the added advantage of the A350 being a more modern and quieter jet which also has higher cabin pressure (and lower cabin altitude) for improved passenger comfort"


Alleluia - the 777 anti-christ is no longer. Now for BA, EY and EK to burn their iterations at the stake too. What an abomination of an aircraft for long and ultra long haul flying.

05 Dec 2018

Total posts 148

The new 777X is coming, seeing how things are with the 737MAX let’s hope

X doesn’t stand for eXperimental...

American Airlines - AAdvantage

13 Jul 2015

Total posts 273

While I would complain that Canberra and Adelaide get the Qsuites before Melbourne - I also realize that Melbourne only as 1 flight to Doha per day which is run on an A380. That means the capacity is high enough for an A380, but not high enough for 2 flights per day to add the A350 onto Melbourne, which is a shame because it would be great to fly the Qsuites directly to Europe or something.

Having said that, I upgraded myself to First on Qatar last time and I wasn't really blown away - and I was only 1 of 2 passengers - surely many can't be utilizing First Class?

20 Mar 2017

Total posts 7

I think it's more that Qatar have maxed out their available slots to Australia as to why they won't swap out Melbourne A380. Also the Perth swap out is only to manage the maintenance of the big bird until late 2019, early 2020. The capacity is there on the PER-DOH route to be an A380.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

20 Dec 2017

Total posts 7

Yeah, you are totally correct @dano282. I have flown Qatar from PER-DOH connecting to Europe multiple times both in economy and business. The A380 from Perth to Doha has always been full in peak and off-peak seasons. It comes at a bad time to have to pull one out over the Christmas break as I find the 777 less roomy as their A380. It will still be nice to see that aircraft here in Perth. Great article Brandon

20 Mar 2017

Total posts 7

Totally agree @oliverfreeman , really looking forward to seeing the 777 back in Perth. She is a beautiful aircraft to watch! I am actually doing a work trip to the states in October with QR and when I read this I got excited that I will get to try the QSuites, QSuites all the way to Washington DC and back to Perth. Cannot wait!

Air New Zealand - Airpoints

08 Aug 2014

Total posts 39

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Love, Love, LOVE Qatar Qsuites! It feels like you're travelling on a grand European luxury train with comfort and privacy, and impeccable service always on hand.

We used to love QR. We have flown 8 times in business class. This May 2019, we will be flying QR for the last time. They advertised heavily about QSuite and so on, but they can’t keep their promise and they will due to “Operational”. To us, don’t say anything if they can’t keep the promise or what they advertised heavily. It just looks and sounds good.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

20 Dec 2017

Total posts 7

I understand, however they do have a good product on their other aircraft. If you are flying May 2019, you will have the BE Aerospace Super Diamond seats which are great. I just got off them on a flight from London and they were super comfortable. I understand your frustration but I wouldn’t leave them for that.

20 Nov 2017

Total posts 1

Very excited to hear that QSuites coming to Adelaide on all flights now. I flew QSuite from Doha to Frankfurt last year and can see what all the hype is about. Looking forward to flying QSuites from Adelaide with my family in September this year.

Good luck Pepi to get QSuite from Adelaide. It will be great if they keep their promise unless they will say due “the operational” they need to change the aircraft type. 👍👍👍

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

11 Mar 2015

Total posts 191

halleluh! Finally Adelaide gets something good-flew a few times with the open seats and they are nice but a bit narrow when you try to sleep-the private doors makes this more upmarket -flew in EK -SQ-first class and it's very private although the Ek was hard to get in and out when the bed is down with this version if you take the back-facing seats -seems you get plenty space to get around-can hardly wait to try it soon!

Good luck to get the QSuite. Don’t hope too high. If on the day you get QSuite, it’s a bonus, otherwise you will be disappointed.

23 Feb 2014

Total posts 1

Looks like Adel QSuites available earlier, i'm in QSuite QR915 27 April, happy days!


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