Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.
I recently enjoyed a wonderful holiday in the Maldives. During my trip, I did not stay at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani – my favorite resorts in the Maldives (I am going back though in 2024) – but I tried out some new, ultra-luxurious and fabulous resorts. Read my trip reports here:
- Review: Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class from Brussels to Doha
- Review: Qatar Airways Boeing 777 Business Class from Doha to the Maldives (today)
- Review: British Airways Boeing 777 Business Class (new suite) from London to Male
- Review: Joali Being
- Review: InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
- Review: Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island
- Review: Alila Kothaifaru Maldives
- Review: Edelweiss Air Airbus A340 Business Class from Male to Zurich
Today: Qatar Airways Boeing 777 Business Class from Doha to the Maldives
Last February, I traveled with friends to the Maldives, but the outbound flight did not go as planned. We were all supposed to meet in London Heathrow and fly from there directly with British Airways to Male, but unfortunately, my friends stranded in Brussels as British Airways cancelled the Brussels to London leg of their itinerary. They were offered a new flight 3 days (!!!) later due to an issue with availability and the staff at Brussels airport was far from helpful. My friends noticed that there was still online availability with Qatar Airways (a British Airways One World partner) on the same day, so they called the British Airways help center in London and were eventually rebooked without extra cost on Qatar Airways. It’s a shame that British Airways never suggested this solution in the first place (the rebooking was only offered after my friends told the British Airways agents about this possibility). In the end, my friends enjoyed the hospitality of Qatar Airways and they arrived without further delay in the Maldives.
I asked my friends to take some videos and photos of their flights with Qatar Airways, and to write a trip report about their experience. I already published the trip report about the first part of their journey (Brussels to Doha on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner), which you can read here, and this article covers the second part of their trip (Doha to Male). The flight from Doha to Male was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER that Qatar Airways is leasing from Cathay Pacific. The carrier is currently using several Cathay Pacific B777s to deal with its aircraft shortage, which is driven by problems with its Airbus A350s. Over the past years, Qatar Airways grounded much of its A350s, claiming degradation of the A350 fuselage although Airbus has always claimed that the damage was purely cosmetic. A couple of months ago, the dispute between Airbus and Qatar Airways was settled though and the A350 are re-entering service, so I assume it won’t take long before the leased Boeing 777s will leave Qatar Airways’ fleet. On the flight from Doha to the Maldives, the Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 was piloted and staffed by Qatar Airways crew, and the onboard service comprised Qatar Airways’ soft product.
Have you ever flown with Qatar Airways? If so, what is your experience? Leave a comment.
- Trip: Doha (DOH) to Male (MLE)
- Airline: Qatar Airways
- Aircraft type: Boeing 777-300ER
- Aircraft registration number: A7-BOC (built in 2010)
- On time departure: Yes (1:30 am)
- On time arrival: Yes (8 am)
- Miles: 2060 miles (3320 km)
- Flight time: 4 hours and 30 minutes
- Seat: 18K
- Class: Business Class
In this review (more information & photos below my Youtube clip & slideshow):
- Cost of the ticket
- Business Class cabin
- Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
- Amenities & bedding
- Meals
- Entertainment
- Onboard internet
- Views
- My verdict (score)
1. COST OF THE TICKET
The cost of the Business Class ticket (Brussels- London-Maldives) was 42,500 AAdvantage miles + $376 USD for airport taxes. AAdvantage is the loyalty program of American Airlines, which is a oneworld partner of British Airways and Qatar Airways, making it possible for passengers to collect and spend miles on all three airlines.
2. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN
The leased Boeing 777-300ER featured Cathay Pacific’s premium hard product: a beautifully designed First Class cabin (with 6 seats in a 1-1-1 layout), a small Business Class “mini”-cabin (with 8 seats in a 1-2-1 layout), and a large Business Class cabin (with 45 seats, also in a 1-2-1 layout). Thanks to the herringbone layout in a 1-2-1 alignment, all Business Class seats had direct aisle access (no jumping over people’s feet here) and a significant amount of privacy. The Business Class seats on the sides were angled toward the windows (with about two windows per seat, offering great views), while the seats in the middle were angled towards each other. The herringbone layout was great for privacy, so even if you were traveling solo and ended up in one of the middle seats, there was nothing to worry about since you would barely see your neighbor.
3. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)
The Business Class seats onboard the leased Cathay Pacific Boeing 777s were great but not as excellent of course as Qatar Airways’ famous QSuite. Each seat came with plenty of storage space for all your personal items. A side cabinet housed a headset and a vanity mirror with enough room for a smartphone, pen, passport and other bits and pieces. Next to the seat, at eye level, were the seat and entertainment controls, reading light and power port. Seats had a universal power supply outlet and a multi-port connector with an RCA port, an iPhone/iPod connector and a USB port. The RCA and the iPhone/iPod connector allowed you to connect to your own devices and to watch videos through the TV screen. The seat featured a large tray table in addition to a work surface so you could eat and work at the same time. In front of the seat was a large footrest.
When tired, you could recline the seat into a comfy, fully flat-bed. The flat-bed was just over 2 meters (82 inches) long. The armrest could be lowered, which increased the seat width by 16.5 cm (6.5 inches), while the side storage compartment offered extra knee space for sleeping on your side.
What are the best Business Class seats on Qatar Airways’ leased B777-300ER?
- The seats in row 11 and 12 are located in their own little private cabin and are therefore highly recommended.
- Solo travelers should go fo the window seats.
What are the worst Business Class seats on Qatar Airways’ leased B777-300ER?
- The window seats in row 15, 21 and 24 are missing a window or have a misaligned window, and should therefore be avoided.
- I also suggest to avoid the last row of Business Class, row 26, which is close to Premium Economy bassinet seats.
Click here for the seat map of Cathay Pacific’s four-class Boeing 777-300ER.
4. AMENITIES & BEDDING
On this rather short flight of 4 hours and 30 minutes, Business Class passengers received a plastic bag containing socks, ear plugs and an eye mask. Noise-cancelling headphones, a pillow and blanket were provided as well.
5. MEALS
Qatar Airways offers on demand dining. Passengers can choose anything from the menu at a time of their choosing.
Right after takeoff, I ordered the ‘tasting menu’, which comprised hummus with Arabic bread, lamb rogan josh pie, seafood bisque, beef nori with sesame, cheese selection with dried fruits and walnuts, and a fruit tart.
6. ENTERTAINMENT
Called ‘Oryx One’, Qatar Airways’ inflight entertainment system allows you to choose up to 3000 (!!!) entertainment options, with a wide selection of movies, series, TV programs, music, games and reads.
7. ONBOARD INTERNET
The Boeing 777 was equipped with in-flight WiFi, which was offered at a flat rate of $10 USD for unlimited usage.
8. VIEWS
Upon landing, we were treated to some spectacular views of the Maldives.
9. MY VERDICT
- Cabin design: 8/10
- Privacy: 8/10
- Seat comfort (upright): 8/10
- Seat comfort (bed position): 8/10
- Food (quality): 7/10
- Food (quantity): 8/10
- Inflight entertainment : 9/10
- WiFi: 9/10
- Service: 9/10
- Overall experience: very good 8,2/10
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