This Airline’s ‘Honeymoon Suite’ Is the Final Enterprise Class Seat for a Couple’s Journey—Right here’s Why

Solely as soon as in my life have I been mistaken for a celeb at an airport—and of all locations, it was at Los Angeles’ LAX, the place baggage handlers have IMDb pages and roughly 98% of the folks passing by are prone to be extra well-known than me.

It wasn’t my outfit or my angle … it really wasn’t about me in any respect. It was the Qatar Airways service agent escorting me with function previous the crowds that made different vacationers gawk and audibly marvel, “Who’s she?” as I used to be whisked by them.

My husband and I had been about to embark on a two-day journey to the Maldives (together with a 16-hour flight to Doha, a one-night stopover, and a five-hour second leg), however abruptly, that didn’t really feel lengthy sufficient. We had been enthusiastic about overwater villas and colourful coral reefs, however we had been virtually equally as pumped to cuddle up in a double mattress within the sky for a film marathon interrupted solely by on-demand eating and a premium wine record.

We knew very properly what we had been in for after we booked what was a dream journey for each of us. We didn’t write our personal marriage ceremony vows, but when we had, we’d have promised that at any time when routes allowed, any massive, essential journey we took collectively can be reserved for a Q-Suite.

Right here’s a breakdown of every thing you need to know earlier than reserving enterprise class on Qatar Airways—and why it’s the last word alternative for a honeymoon or any milestone journey for {couples}.

Checking In

The doting service agent at LAX was only a glimpse of what was to come back. Contained in the Tom Bradley Worldwide Terminal, Qatar enterprise class passengers have entry to the oneworld enterprise class lounge, the place we had been dropped off for a pre-flight snack and cocktails after check-in and expedited safety. Whereas it was a nice technique to kick off our travels, that was nothing in comparison with the check-in expertise at Hamad Worldwide Airport (DOH), Qatar Airways’ essential working base, upon our return.

DOH is persistently named one of many finest airports on the earth, with a tropical backyard, luxurious lounges, designer retailers, and eating choices so far as the attention can see. Qatar’s Al Maha meet and help service sends an agent to greet friends and escort them to the lounge whereas the immigration service is expedited. Then, they’re guided on to the gate for precedence boarding.

The Lounge

There are two Al Mourjan Enterprise Lounges at DOH, however we at all times select the newer Al Mourjan Enterprise Lounge – The Backyard within the North Terminal, which is sort of 80,000 sq. ft and has presumably the perfect view in your entire airport, overlooking the indoor gardens generally known as The Orchard, with its tropical crops and serene water options. There’s a la carte eating together with cold and warm buffets, however we regularly go for two bar seats close to the sushi, the place you may combine and match your rolls and nigiri of alternative. There’s additionally a spa with seven remedy rooms and a health middle. Whereas there, it’s also possible to entry the world’s first Louis Vuitton Lounge, with its monogrammed furnishings and baggage, stylish design, and French menu by famend Parisian chef Yannick Alléno. Globally, his eating places have a mixed 16 Michelin stars. Meals and drinks within the Louis Vuitton Lounge come at an additional value.

The Aircraft

We flew on the additional wide-bodied Airbus A350-1000, a technologically superior plane Qatar makes use of on a lot of its long-haul routes. Whereas these planes are recognized for being spacious, from overhead bins to seats, in addition they have LED ambient lighting to create a serene ambiance, complemented by interiors outfitted within the model’s signature burgundy and grey with rose-gold accents. Passengers can be ok with the superior HEPA air filtration and will know that this mannequin emits decrease carbon dioxide than its predecessors.

The Seat

For those who’re touring with Qatar as a pair, right here is one important tip: To safe a double mattress configuration, choose the center pair of seats (E and F) in an odd-numbered row. You have to be on the identical reserving to do that by the app or on-line. In any other case, you’ll have to name. When you’ve secured your “honeymoon suite,” you’ll be capable of substitute the divider with a cushion, and each seats will lie flat as one double mattress, which your flight attendant will make up for you with mattress pads, plush bedding, and travel-themed pillows. Whereas ours was being made, we become our complimentary System 1-themed pajamas (Qatar Airways is the official airline accomplice of F1), after which slid our privateness doorways shut and slept virtually too properly—we really regretted not staying awake for extra of the in-flight expertise.

The Facilities

Though we loved the uncommon time offline, Qatar not too long ago grew to become the most important world airline to supply complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi on board its Boeing 777 plane, and it’s including the service to its A350s beginning this summer time. At as much as 500 megabits per second, the connection is reported to even be robust sufficient for gaming. Amenity kits function hydrating Diptyque merchandise, and along with the aforementioned pajamas and premium bedding, slippers are supplied from London’s The White Firm.

The Meals

Arabic espresso flavored with cardamom is poured from a conventional dallah espresso pot and served with dates as a welcome deal with to start the flight. Qatar Airways is understood for its on-demand eating, and anytime snacks on the menu, together with lobster rolls and afternoon tea. We shared the steak and lobster mains for a surf-and-turf dinner within the sky to recollect, paired with a few of our favourite New Zealand wines. Meals are served on tremendous China, and tables are set with flickering LED candles to set the temper. On choose flights from Doha, even caviar service is accessible.

The Leisure

Oryx One leisure consists of sports activities, worldwide movies, TV, music, and video games. We have a tendency to make use of our Q-Suite time to make amends for a sturdy lineup of rom-coms, and this flight was no totally different. Nonetheless, my favourite Qatar Airways leisure expertise to this point was the time we flew on Thanksgiving and had been in a position to flip our flight right into a Hallmark Christmas film marathon. (My husband may need a distinct opinion.) No matter what you select to observe, the suite expertise seems like an elevated film evening at residence, making the hours fly by. And should you’re a little bit of an #avgeek, you will benefit from the A350’s tail and stomach cameras, which offer you outdoors views at a number of angles.

The Service

From the Al Maha meet and help service to the flight crew on board, Qatar Airways’ service was a spotlight. Each staff member we encountered was attentive and devoted to creating the flight a memorable expertise.

The Stopover

Final time we flew Qatar Airways, we spent our layover time within the airport, which mainly seems like a visit in itself. This time, nonetheless, we needed to get out and see Doha, Qatar’s quickly evolving capital metropolis. The airline is encouraging this with its stopover program, which features a evening at a five-star lodge from simply $24. We stayed at Banyan Tree Doha at La Cigale Mushaireb, which is steps from luxurious procuring and has an indoor and outside pool, and added a tour with Uncover Qatar, which took us by the perfect of town, from the Nationwide Museum of Qatar and the Corniche waterfront promenade, to the leisure district’s Katara Cultural Village and the normal spice stalls of Souq Waqif. 

The Routes

Qatar flies to greater than 170 locations around the globe, and has expanded its presence within the U.S. Now, vacationers can discover Qatar Airways flights from Boston, New York Metropolis, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

The Verdict

There are many airways with premium enterprise class choices, however there are solely a choose few that make you would like a 16-hour flight would go by extra slowly. Qatar Airways was voted No. 2 on the earth by T+L readers on this 12 months’s World’s Greatest Awards, however particularly for {couples} on special day journeys, for me, it’s No. 1. The beginning worth for enterprise class from LAX to DOH is $11,495. Since Qatar Airways is a part of Oneworld, my tip to U.S. fliers can be to save lots of your American Airways AAdvantage miles for the kind of expertise our home airways simply do not provide. Bookings may be made at qatarairways.com.