Qsuites: Finally off the bucket list!

Ah, Qsuites, my old nemesis.

Ever since this game-changing “first in business” product launched in mid-2017, it’s been a perpetual fixture on my bucket list- because every attempt to fly it has thus far ended in tears. 

The first bid was in September 2019 from Kuala Lumpur to Doha, where a few days before departure, Qatar Airways downgraded the aircraft to a non-Qsuites A350-900. I made a follow-up attempt in October 2020 from Singapore to Doha, only for COVID to wreck the party. The most recent failure came just a few months ago in February 2023, when literally at the boarding gate, my Doha to Singapore flight was swapped from Qsuites to the old Super Diamond seat. 

But try as it might, Qsuites couldn’t elude me forever. I decided to make a fourth attempt on a recent trip to London, and on both the London to Doha and Doha to Singapore legs, bam: Qsuites!

The trip report and full reviews are coming soon (‘soon’ being relative; bear with me), but in the meantime, I thought I’d write a stand-alone post with  my thoughts on just the Qsuites hard product.

My virgin Qsuites experience

Before we talk about Qsuites proper, I should highlight that my two flights were operated by two different aircraft:

• B777-300ER from LHR to DOH
• A350-1000 from DOH to SIN

While the bones of the product are the same, there are some differences.

The most obvious one is that the A350-1000 cabin feels much more spacious, because of the lack of overhead bins over the middle seats.

There’s other differences too:

• On the B777-300ER, the HDMI port is on the side console; on the A350-1000, the HDMI port is on the IFE bezel (with an additional USB charging port). The latter arrangement keeps things neater, as it means no wires running across the table

• On the B777-300ER, Qsuites uses a two-point seatbelt; on the A350-1000, it’s a three-point seatbelt. The latter feels more constricting, though the shoulder strap need only be fastened for take-off and landing (edit: according to Head for Points, forward-facing seats have the shoulder seat belt, while rear-facing ones do not)

This YouTuber sums up the differences very comprehensively:

Now, regardless of which aircraft you fly, Qsuites will be in a 1-2-1 configuration, with staggered seats alternating between:

• forward-facing and closer to the aisle (even-numbered rows)
• rear-facing and away from the aisle (odd-numbered rows)

I know some people dislike the idea of flying backwards, but unless you suffer from severe motion sickness, you’ll hardly notice it once airborne. Besides, if you want a seat that’s further away from the aisle, or if you want the double bed (for couples in the middle seats), you’ll have to fly in the “wrong” direction as all these seats are rear-facing.

One of the Qsuite’s party tricks is that the four seats in the middle, known as a Quad, can be combined into one giant “room” where the occupants face each other. This makes it ideal for family dining or co-working, to the extent your family or office budget allows for the purchase of four Qsuites.

I didn’t actually witness this on my flight, but here’s how Qatar imagines it’ll look like:

Unfortunately, Quads come pre-blocked. You won’t be able to select them online unless you have a party of at least three passengers.

This can create a peculiar problem: because Quads are blocked, passengers travelling together as a couple may not be able to select a pair of seats in the centre (though it seems to vary based on route, with no hard and fast rule). In that case, a call to customer service usually sorts things out, though it’s a case of YMMV.

For what it’s worth, once a quad has been “broken” by being partially selected, the remaining seats open up for selection online.

Qsuite: Privacy

The first thing you’ll notice about Qsuites is how private it is. The cabin almost looks like a fortress, with high walls ensuring you’re blocked off from everyone but the person directly across the aisle.

And when the door is closed, you don’t see anyone, period. Even though there’s a slight gap at the bottom, I’d take that any day for more privacy up top.

It’d take some effort for someone walking down the aisle to look into your suite. The photo below is with me lifting the camera up to eye level (~1.7 metres), and even then the seat isn’t highly visible due to the slight setback from the side console.

The flip side to this is that the Qsuite can feel a tad claustrophobic, especially if you’re in a forward-facing even numbered seat that’s closer to the aisle. That’s because you’ll be pressed up against the wall and door that’s immediately to your side.

Compare this to the rear-facing odd numbered seats, which feel more spacious because the armrest separates you from the door and wall.

I much preferred this setup, which is another argument in favour of flying backwards.

Qsuites: Comfort & Sleep

Qsuites are admittedly not the widest Business Class seats out there. They’re a mere 21″ wide; for comparison, Singapore Airlines offers 28″ of width on their 2013 Business Class seat, and 25″ on their 2017 Business Class seat.

Still, it didn’t feel cramped at all, probably because the seat is “open” on one side (the armrest is lowered by default).

I’ve read some reviews complaining that the footwell is too snug, and while it’s true that it narrows towards the end, I didn’t find it inordinately restrictive (this coming from a back sleeper). However, if you’re very tall or have larger-than-average feet, this could be a concern.

The Qsuite has a low-intensity massage function, plus a wide range of lounging positions with the option to adjust individual seat components like the legrest and backrest. This means you can recline at any angle you wish.

In a thoughtful touch, they’ve placed a small button near your head, which only becomes visible when the seat is fully reclined. This allows you to return the seat to upright without having to sit up and reach for the side console.

In terms of sleep experience, the Qsuite converts into a full-flat bed just shy of 2 metres long. The seat already has good cushioning, and the crew add an additional mattress pad during turndown service which covers up the seams where the seat joins. I’d rate this as one of the best sleeps I’ve had on a plane.

By the way, if you’re a couple who manages to snag the two rear-facing seats in the middle, you’ll get to enjoy a double bed, though your feet will still be separated by the partition. 

Qsuites: Power & Connectivity

Qsuites offer all the standard connections you’d expect from a modern Business Class seat, including a universal power outlet, two USB charging ports (one of which offers high-speed charging), HDMI connectivity and NFC pairing. 

However, it does not support Bluetooth audio connectivity, so you can’t use your own headphones with the IFE system. It also lacks wireless charging pads, unlike the “not-quite-Qsuites” on its B787-9s.

That said, I’m of the opinion that wireless charging on airplanes is not quite ready for prime time. The connectors are often finnicky, and the juice rate is glacial (no more than 5W is my guess). I love the idea of fewer wires running around my seat, but until we can get at least 10W speeds I don’t think there’s much to get excited about.

HDMI connectivity means you can use that 21.5″ IFE screen as a second monitor, and this actually works quite well because you’re looking straight forward as opposed to down, which induces ‘tech neck’. 

Unfortunately, HDMI connectivity was not working on the A350-1000, in what was confirmed by the crew to be a cabin-wide problem.

Qsuites: Storage space

Storage space in the Qsuites can be found in two main places.

The first is the armrest, which depending on the aircraft may either just be enough for a charger, passport and headphone, or all that plus a tablet, depending on where you’re seated. 

The second is the console table, which has been cleverly designed in a two-tier layout to double the space. You’re technically not allowed to keep items here during take-off and landing, but it really boils down to how fussy the crew are.

And while we’re talking tables, I also want to mention that the Qsuites has one of the largest tray tables I’ve seen in an airplane. This could rival what Singapore Airlines offers in First Class, with plenty of space for a laptop plus a small plate and drink.

The main issue here is that the height can’t be adjusted, so it’s not as good for a breakfast in bed type scenario.

Conclusion

I’ve waited a long time for my first-ever Qsuites experience(s), and on the whole they didn’t disappoint. The seat offers superior privacy and a more comfortable sleeping experience than any Business Class seat Singapore Airlines has to offer, although larger-sized passengers might prefer the oversized dimensions of SQ’s long-haul seats.

As for the other aspects, my take is that Qatar Airways has the beating of Singapore Airlines in terms of ground experience and amenities, though I’d say SQ still has the upper hand when it comes to food and service.

I’ll be putting together the full reviews soon, so stay tuned for that!