[Click above for the video review.]
Airline: Qatar Airways (Cathay Pacific Airframe)
Flight Number: QR675
Route: DOH-MLE
Class: Business Class
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Registration: A7-BOC (Leased from Cathay Pacific previously B-KPP)
Delivered: February 2010
Flight Duration: 4 Hours 25 Minutes
Distance: 2,055 Miles
Overall Impression:
In our previous video, we flew Qatar Airways’ Business Class product on one of the Boeing 777-300ER airframes that they leased from Cathay Pacific. This time we are very fortunate to also try Qatar’s First Class product on these leased airframes. We have flown Cathay Pacific’s First Class product a while back and have always been a fan of the product, so we were eager to experience the it over again, but this time with Qatar’s service. The seat and cabin arrangement remains the same as before with just a few minor upholstery changes. Although the airframe and seats is Cathay, the service, amenities, and catering are all Qatar, which is a great thing!
What I liked:
The seats – I was seated in 2A. Although these seats are over a decade old, I don’t find it as a downgrade from Qatar’s First Class seat. I found the seat amazingly spacious and comfortable for both lounging and sleeping. The only thing missing is a door for privacy.
The service – The crew that we interacted with were very charming, and eager to please. They offered us a pre-departure beverage before takeoff. They were also quick to respond to our requests and plated our meals beautifully. Turndown service was also offered after the meal, which was awesome! I was able to get a couple of hours of sleep and was offered a hot towel and box of chocolates before landing.
The Food – The catering on this flight was absolutely scrumptious! The meal service started with a caviar course, followed by an amuse bouche, bread service, main, and dessert. It’s worth noting that Krug (vintage) champagne was also available on their wine list, which we took full advantage of. We were very satisfied (and full) with the meal service on board.
The Onboard amenities – A Diptyque Amenity Kit, Loungewear by the White Company London, and protective kit including mask, latex gloves, and hand sanitizer were offered to First Class passengers. These items are normally only offered on long haul business class flights, so it was quite a treat to get them on a 4-hour flight. The lavatories were clean, and offered toiletries and amenities like toothbrushes, mouthwash, and razors.
It was OK:
The Leeli Lounge at MLE – The Leeli Lounge is a contract lounge, and it appears it is the only Lounge at MLE airport, so there isn’t really much of a choice. The lounge is clean and offers plenty of seating, but the food and beverage selections remain very limited and meh…
What I didn’t like:
No Personal Air Nozzles – Sadly this plane is not equipped with personal air nozzles to keep you cool during the flight. Not the end of the world, but just so you know…
Bottom Line:
This was an almost flawless flight. We were pleasantly surprised how great the food and service were on this flight considering it was only 4.5 hours long. I have to admit that although the seat remains to be Cathay’s, the excellent Qatar Airways catering, amenities, and service are light years ahead what we experienced even on Cathay’s First Class product. Great job, Qatar!
qatarairways #businessclass #doh #mle #boeing #777 #goingplacestogether
TravelingFoody.com 