What It Was Like Flying Qatar Airways Qsuites Business Class During The Pandemic

In 2019, I flew over 120,00zero miles and took almost 100 flights. Against this, and as a result of coronavirus pandemic, I traveled on simply 4 flights in 2020 for a complete distance of round 15,00zero miles, all of which came about earlier than mid-February. So it was with no small quantity of trepidation that I ready to fly for the primary time in almost 10 months at the start of December.

After almost a month of consideration and research, the date for my journey to Kenya lastly rolled round. I might be taking Qatar Airways from Los Angeles to Doha and on to Nairobi, then coming again two weeks later, with an eight-hour layover in both course. Carrying a negative Covid PCR test from the day earlier than my flight, a passenger consent form with my testing particulars, and an arsenal of pandemic journey provides together with bins of medical masks and latex gloves in addition to splash-proof goggles, a stash of hand sanitizer, and two completely different sorts of alcohol-based disinfectant wipes, I headed to the airport to start my journey.

The primary leg of my journey was aboard an Airbus A350-1000 with the airline’s Qsuites in business class. The second was on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with the Qatar Airways’ older reverse-herringbone seats. My return was on the identical plane sorts and configurations. I spent my in a single day layover on the way in which again at Doha Hamad Worldwide’s Oryx Airport Hotel. Right here’s what it was like flying Qatar Airways enterprise class throughout the pandemic.

Test-in Guidelines

I arrived at LAX almost three hours earlier than my departure. Although this specific flight had been comparatively empty within the days main as much as mine, I had checked the seat map and seen that my aircraft was comparatively full. I figured I might simply spend any additional wait I had at an empty gate, social-distancing from different individuals. It turned out I didn’t have an excessive amount of time to spare, although, for the reason that check-in procedures had been much more robust than these normally in pressure pre-pandemic.

As soon as inside Tom Bradley Worldwide Terminal, I headed to the Qatar Airways counters and the lane reserved for enterprise class passengers. There, an airline consultant double-checked all my paperwork: passport, digital ticket, Covid check outcomes from inside Kenya’s 96-hour time requirement, and a Kenyan visa. As soon as happy that every thing was so as, she gestured me towards the brief line to the counters.

There have been only some individuals in entrance of me, together with a household, and the check-in agent was arranging for them to have one of many Qsuite quad seating sections so they might all sit collectively in a gaggle. When it was my flip to examine in, the desk agent verified all my paperwork one other time, then handed me my boarding passes for each flights. Sadly, the airport’s Oneworld lounge was closed as a result of Covid restrictions, however no less than I used to be in a position to make sure a TSA PreCheck designation on my ticket by offering a trusted traveler quantity.

Face Shields And Flight Attendants

The safety traces at LAX had been virtually empty, and I sped by means of in about 90 seconds. After accumulating my belongings, I took a stroll by means of the terminal, which felt deserted. Usually bustling with worldwide vacationers, there have been no individuals in a single complete wing of it. Lots of the shops had been closed altogether, and only some plane idled on the tarmac.

The gate from which my flight was departing was one of many solely busy areas. As traces shaped for boarding, airline representatives diligently handed out complimentary face shields to each single individual, which the airline requires passengers to put on all through the flight besides in enterprise class. As a result of this and different procedures, Qatar Airways was not too long ago ranked among the finest in COVID-compliant passenger safety by AirlineRatings.com.

I used to be among the many first to board, and although I believed it will be extra off-putting see crew greeting me in full PPE, their sheer heat and enthusiasm instantly assuaged a few of my anxiousness. After a closing examine of my boarding go, I used to be proven to my Qsuite, and was capable of snap some pictures earlier than different passengers took their seats.

The business-class part of Qatar Airways’ A350-1000s contains 46 Qsuites break up into a bigger fundamental cabin up entrance, and a smaller aft cabin simply in entrance of economic system. Seats are organized in a 1 – 2 – 1 sample. There are 9 full rows plus a tenth with simply two seats within the ahead cabin, and two rows of 4 seats every within the mini-cabin towards the rear. I used to be instructed that 40 of them had been occupied on my flight, and that the aircraft was 80% full in all. As the vacations had been approaching, flights had been beginning to attain capability.

Alternating rows of Qsuites confronted back and front. On the perimeters of the cabin, those who confronted the rear had a large armrest on the aisle and had been nearer to the window, offering various privateness. Seats within the center part had been alternately nearer collectively – ideally suited for {couples} or a guardian with a small youngster – and farther aside by row, in case you occur to be positioned in certainly one of these as a solo traveler. Sure four-seat sections is also mixed into household or co-working suites.

Seat Choice

I had chosen one of many facet Qsuites for privateness. Whereas different passenger had been boarding, I carried out an intensive wipe down of my seating space with my very own disinfecting wipes, however I discovered it to have been cleaned extraordinarily totally earlier than my arrival, with nary a crumb nor smudge in sight, which was reassuring. Qatar Airways makes use of Honeywell’s Ultraviolet Cabin System, a beverage cart-size gadget that treats surfaces, seats, and cabins with germ-killing UV gentle with out the necessity for poisonous chemical substances. Like most business plane nowadays, the A350-1000 additionally homes industrial-size HEPA air filtration programs, which take away as much as 99.97% of viral and bacterial pathogens from the air.

As I used to be ending up my cleansing routine, the flight attendant who can be taking care of me launched herself, requested if I would love her to indicate me any of the seat options, and supplied me a pre-departure beverage. I declined the seat directions, however opted for a glass of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée-Rosé and a glass of water.

When she returned, she was carrying my drinks on a tray, in addition to a set of The White Firm pajamas. I waited till the cabin was absolutely boarded till I took a number of sips of the champagne, in order to keep away from having my masks down whereas individuals had been actively passing my seat.

Within the meantime, I appeared round my Qsuite. Like these aboard the airline’s Airbus A350-900s and Boeing 777-300ERs, mine had a door that stretched about midway to the overhead bin above my seat. Whereas the door was merely for privateness and didn’t actually have something to do with pandemic security, the truth that it will forestall undesirable intrusions into my private area by of us strolling up and down the aisle was an enormous promoting level for me.

I might hold the door closed all through almost all the flight with a “don’t disturb” indicator for full solitude, or summon a crewmember for requirements with a name button. Even with the door closed, although, the seat felt roomy. The chair was 21.5 inches extensive, although the area itself was a lot wider, and it reclines to a mattress that’s 79 inches lengthy. The leisure display was additionally 21.5 inches extensive, and the airline offered disinfected and sealed headphones together with a bottle of water inside the broader armrest, which doubled as a storage cubby that might additionally match my laptop computer.

Though the seat didn’t transfer in as many configurations as another fashions on the market, the place particular person elements are extra adjustable, it was greater than serviceable with intuitive button controls. There have been additionally easy-to-reach USB ports and a common energy plug to maintain electronics charged in flight. One attention-grabbing perk throughout my journey: the airline had determined to make Wi-Fi free for all passengers, so I might textual content, e-mail, and carry out some primary web-based work all through my flight.

The airline offered a small amenity package stocked with Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio skincare merchandise, a watch masks, earplugs, and socks. However what I appreciated extra was the sealed plastic “Journey with Confidence” pouch with an additional medical masks, a small bottle of hand sanitizer, and latex gloves. I tucked these away in case I wanted them later.

Finally, the captain made his pre-flight announcement, and we taxied for takeoff. As quickly as we had been at cruising altitude, flight attendants got here by means of the cabin and closed everybody’s doorways. I left mine that approach by means of the flight, besides rare journeys to the rest room. Talking of which, the crew made certain to tidy up and disinfect them between every passenger. That concerned ready at some moments, however it did make me really feel higher about rest room breaks, as did the no-touch sensors on the sinks and bogs.

My return flight from Doha to Los Angeles was a lot the identical, although for that one I chosen a backward-facing seat in order to have much more separation from the aisle.

Service Switches

Qatar Airways gives dine-on-demand service in enterprise class, even nowadays, so you may just about simply order something on the menu at any time you would like (with cause). On each my outbound to Doha and my return, I made a decision to spend the primary three hours of the flight working – masked and with my face defend on – whereas most of my fellow vacationers ate and went to sleep. As soon as the cabin was quiet, I hit the decision button to alert the crew I used to be able to eat.

Earlier than the pandemic, Qatar Airways coursed out the dishes throughout meal service, type of such as you would discover in a restaurant. Whereas that also occurred considerably, it was far more condensed, with the appetizer and fundamental, or fundamental and dessert served on the identical tray, and every element wrapped in plastic to make sure sanitary security. That was effective by me because it reduce down on extraneous interactions with the crew. Attendants additionally poured drinks within the galley individually, and in a brand new glass every time, in order to keep away from inadvertently passing any germs from one passenger to a different by merely refilling glasses from the identical bottle on a go by means of the cabin.

On my first flight to Doha, I began with smoked duck and roasted peppers over quinoa with honey mustard dressing adopted by rooster machhboos with cashews, white raisins and creamy mint raita, and chocolate-orange pudding for dessert. I loved a Chilean Syrah from Leyda with my meal. I stored my masks on and solely pulled it down for bites of meals or a sip of wine or water. That was a bit of additional effort, however it was so much much less onerous than I had been anticipating.

Once I was accomplished, I headed to the rest room to vary into my pajamas whereas a flight attendant reclined my seat, put a canopy on it, and laid out a blanket for me. I awoke about seven hours later and watched a film, then did just a little extra work. At that time, I ordered a cappuccino whereas the crew ready my subsequent meal. Since I’d be touchdown in Doha within the night earlier than an in a single day flight to Nairobi, I skipped the Western breakfast choices and went for the savory cashew upma with vegetable sambar and ginger-tomato chutney, which was simply what I wanted to tide me over. Like my different meal, the dishes all had plastic wrapping or coverings to restrict their publicity to different individuals (and their germs!).

On my return flight from Doha to Los Angeles, I began with the airline’s conventional Arabic mezze trio of hummus, eggplant moutabel, and tabbouleh. I used to be to see that even the bread got here wrapped in plastic this time. For a fundamental, I had rooster shish taouk and lamb kofta. The latter was really from the menu for the flight’s second meal, however the cabin crew had been solely too glad to make it for my breakfast. Then I had a second merchandise from the breakfast menu – hearty saffron upma with palak veda spinach patties and tomato chutney about two hours earlier than touchdown again in Los Angeles.

Earlier than my journey, I had been anxious to fly, even on brief hops, not to mention a serious worldwide itinerary like this one. However on my flights to and from Los Angeles, in addition to the shorter ones between Doha and Nairobi, I believed Qatar Airways’ airport and inflight well being protocols had been sterling.

What’s extra, the crew carried out their duties simply as flawlessly as ever, which was a feat contemplating the burdensome PPE wherein they had been attired, and the in depth new Covid-related protocols they have to comply with. What was extra placing, although, was simply how genuinely heat and welcoming they managed to be, even swaddled in medical robes and behind masks and goggles. Their sunny perspective, to an individual, made it really feel prefer it was not solely okay to journey, however okay to take pleasure in it, and I used to be totally impressed at how seamlessly they pulled that off.

To Lounge Or Not To Lounge?

As a result of timing of my flights, I had eight-hour layovers on each side of my journey. That was a serious consideration, as extra time within the airport amongst extra individuals may heighten my threat of contracting Covid, even with testing protocols and intensive cleansing procedures in place. I made a decision to spend my outbound layover within the airline’s palatial Al Mourjan enterprise class lounge, however booked a room on the Oryx Airport Lodge for my in a single day return, the place room charges begin at $251 within the coming months.

The Al Mourjan enterprise class lounge at Doha Hamad Worldwide Airport constantly ranks among the many high airport lounges on the earth because of its expansive dimension and lots of options, reminiscent of a youngsters’s recreation room, varied eating retailers, and plentiful bathe suites. Once I arrived, the environment was extra subdued than on earlier visits, and its huge halls uncrowded. All the higher for avoiding different passengers, I believed. I entered round 6:00pm and headed straight for a bathe since there was no wait. The cabana was cleaned simply earlier than I arrived, although I went over every thing with disinfectant wipes, and donned a masks apart from once I was really within the bathe itself.

That bought me by means of the primary hour, however then I spent a short time strolling round to get the lay of the land. All of the amenities had been open, however the seating was sparser and socially distanced within the varied sections. Lounge attendants had been consistently readily available and visibly wiping every thing down.

Finally, I headed upstairs to the eating space, which remained busy all through my keep. Nonetheless, I used to be capable of camp out in a secondary space with tables and cubicles the place there have been far fewer individuals. So few, the truth is, that I used to be separated from anybody else by a lot of tables and no less than 30 toes.

In the principle eating room, meals was laid out alongside counters buffet-style on small, particular person dishes with plastic coverings. Guests couldn’t serve themselves, although. As an alternative, servers plated dishes and introduced them to the desk, in addition to filling drink orders.

There have been placards all through the realm with QR codes to scan with a smartphone for the beverage menu, and others reminding of us to keep up a wholesome distance from their fellow vacationers.

Fortunately ensconced at my personal desk, I arrange a brief workplace for myself and ate a number of falafel sandwiches and made-to-order sushi rolls over the course of my go to. I additionally ordered a bottle of water to attenuate my contact with the wait employees, although I did discover two servers maintaining a tally of me all through my keep to see if I wanted something.

As my departure time approached, I headed all the way down to my gate.

Overnighting At The Oryx Airport Lodge

On my return, I landed in Doha after 11:00pm, with my subsequent departure nearer to eight:00am. Relatively than relying on a non-public relaxation space within the Al Mourjan lounge being out there, I made a decision to ebook a room on the Oryx Airport Lodge, which is contained in the transit space, and thus doesn’t require passing by means of customs and immigration. It has simply 100 rooms and could be very central, so irrespective of the place you land or depart, it’s normally a reasonably fast stroll to your gate.

Since I had would eat on my flight from Nairobi, and simply wished to bathe and sleep whereas avoiding contact with others, the lodge appeared my best choice. It is usually at present underneath strict Covid cleansing protocols, which even embody virus-killing UV-C gentle sweeps on high-contact contact factors. I wiped down the room with my very own disinfecting routine earlier than a bathe and watching the information on the 42-inch flatscreen. Within the morning, I used the complimentary Wi-Fi to ship a number of emails earlier than setting off for my gate. The one draw back to the lodge was that there was no entry to exterior air sources, so that you’re depending on the local weather management system to maintain your room nicely ventilated.

That mentioned, there hadn’t been anybody in my room for a complete day in line with the entrance desk, the lodging had been spotless, and I added my very own sanitization routine into the combo simply to be triple certain that the room was as secure as attainable.

Journey Takeaways

I used to be each anxious and to see how the expertise of flying throughout the pandemic can be. On the one hand, I used to be enthusiastic about touring. On the opposite, I used to be very hesitant to place myself or others vulnerable to contracting Covid. Flying Qatar Airways appeared like the absolute best possibility for my specific itinerary, not solely due to the airline’s heightened pandemic safety procedures, but in addition due to the social distancing allowed for by the airline’s Qsuites enterprise class seats, in addition to the in depth sanitation measures put in place at its hub in Doha.

What struck me much more than the rigorous cleansing protocols I noticed all through my itinerary, although, was how heartfelt and welcoming the crew and airline employees managed to be regardless of tough circumstances. Even underneath masks and goggles, their smiles had been evident. Feeling how a lot they appreciated having passengers on board and nonetheless appeared to take pleasure in what they had been doing, to not point out the fixed consideration to sanitation they took, had been what made flying the airline really feel worthwhile and (nearly) regular once more.

Disclosure: The writer traveled as a visitor of Qatar Airways, however all opinions expressed are fully his personal.