I have had the pleasure of flying several business-class models on various Qatar Airways flights, most recently aboard the A350-900.
While many dream of flying a model with Qatar Airways’ Qsuite product, the airline also offers other business-class models on flights to several of its international destinations.
I flew the A350-900 from Kochi, India, to Doha, Qatar, and in this blog post, I’ll review the A350-900 and let you know whether it is worth upgrading to.
Checking in at the Kochi Airport
Upon arrival at the Cochin International Airport (COK), I made my way to the Qatar Airways check-in counter, where there was a separate line for business class and other priority members.
This is standard when flying out of other countries with Qatar Airways, and a “perk” I will always be grateful for.
The line was much shorter than the regular lines, making for an expedited check-in experience and letting me go through customs much earlier than planned. That was great, since I found the immigration lines extremely long.
Earth Lounge
Qatar Airways does not have its own lounge at Kochi Airport, but I was given access to the Earth Lounge, which is offered to business-class passengers.
In all honesty, there was nothing about the lounge that impressed me or led me to want to spend a significant amount of time there, so I’m happy I didn’t have to, as boarding began shortly after I arrived.
Boarding the Flight
Once it was time to board, I joined the business class line, but it didn’t make much of a difference, as both economy and business class passengers were merged into one, and there was a bit of a wait to board the plane, which wasn’t great.
Eventually, we were all able to board, and I went through a separate door into the business section of the plane.
If you read my experience on Qatar Airways’ Qsuite flight from Doha to Kenya, you will understand why I was underwhelmed.
The pre-flight experience from Doha is an experience all in itself, so it’s safe to say I have been spoiled!
Business Class Seat Layout
The seat layout on the A350-900 features single and double-seating in a 1-2-1 seat configuration.
I was traveling alone and opted for a single seat on the right side of the plane.
As a solo traveler, I usually do my best to avoid booking a double seat so I don’t have to share the space with a stranger, and it’s been successful so far.
Inside of the A350-900 Experience
Business class seats on the A350-900 model mimic what I would call a pod-like seat.
All of the seats have direct aisle access, making it easy to get up and around on a flight if needed.
Here’s what my experience was like:
Seat Features
The seat at 21-22.25 inches wide is extremely comfortable.
It is, in my opinion, one of the most comfortable business-class products Qatar Airways offers.
It is a flatbed seat with a small pillow and a plush blanket, both waiting for me.
There is also a button control panel to the side with a variety of seating positions to choose from, which was very nice, especially because I was flying in the morning and didn’t plan to sleep, but was still able to position myself at a comfortable angle for the duration of the flight.
This was a late morning flight where I would have landed back home around 12 PM, so I didn’t necessarily want to sleep so the full bed option was not something I utilized.
However, I really loved that I was able to elevate my feet while seating and even sit at an angle that was extremely comfortable during meal time and while watching a movie.
The large tray table is perfect for the full dining spread provided, as well as for laptop work or writing of any sort.
The only downside of the seat is the lack of privacy, which is most noticeable when other passengers board the flight and cannot help but peer into the pod.
Once boarding was complete, it was fine as there was not much movement.
There was a reading light and an area to keep your water bottle within easy reach right behind me, as well as a general space where I kept some of my go-to items, like my camera, while in flight.
The tray table is a lot larger than the one in economy, which was great for dining.
In-Flight Entertainment
The 17 – 22 inch screen included within the seat was equipped with several movies and TV shows to pass the time while on the flight.
Qatar Airways always offers a great selection of entertainment options, so I am never disappointed in that area.
WiFi was offered on my flight, and I was able to connect without any issues. It worked at a high speed, which was nice.
I usually choose to unplug on shorter flights, but it was useful to be able to send messages and communicate with those I needed to.
I spent most of the flight watching F1 The Movie, a movie I didn’t get to see in theaters, so it was a great treat.
Space and Legroom
There was an ample amount of space in my seat as someone who is 5’5”.
The legroom was amazing, allowing my legs to stretch out completely without compromising my comfort.
The seat included two storage compartments–one to my left that contained noise-cancelling headphones and a bottle of water, and one to my right that was empty and allowed me to place some personal items inside.
I was very happy with the seat’s space and felt extremely comfortable throughout the flight.
No Amenity Kit
To my surprise, there was no amenity kit included in this flight.
I expected to receive a small bag with items like a toothbrush kit, earplugs, lotion, etc. like what is typically offered on Qatar Airways flights, but noticed that it was not.
I didn’t expect much given that it was a fairly short business class flight, but I was a bit disappointed that there wasn’t an amenity kit, as that’s something I generally look forward to when flying.
Noise-canceling headphones were provided at the seat, and items like lotion and toothbrush kits were available in the lavatories so the usual amenity kit items were integrated into the flight experience in other ways.
With this in mind, it makes sense that an amenity kit wasn’t included and it isn’t a big deal but it was something I noted during the flight.
Dining Onboard
Two menus were included within my seat: an à la carte menu with all day dining options and beverages offered and an alcoholic beverage menu.
Dining included a three course option with the ability to select my meal of choice for the starter, main course, and dessert.
The meal set up was great as my tray was set up by a flight attendant with metal utensils, a tablecloth and glassware that really added to the experience.
I ordered the following:
• Starter: Qatar mezze with pita bread and hummus, moutabel, and labneh spreads
• Main course: Kerala, prawn moilee with carrots and beans poriyal served with coconut rice and tamarind dal
• Dessert: Jaggery sandesh with motichoor parfait
My meal also came with a bread basket, butter, and my choice of flavored olive oil.
I found the food to be okay on this flight.
The food honestly did not blow me away, however, I will say that everything was flavorful and edible. It just wasn’t my cup of tea, per se in terms of the meal options.
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I sat in the last row of business by choice and on the A350–900, business class is separated by the serving section due to the layout of the aircraft, and it did take a while for service to start for those of us that were in the second half of business class.
The flight attendants did make sure to hold us ever by providing us with some snacks like potato chips, nuts, dates, and Arabic coffee, which was a thoughtful touch and necessary as I had not eaten breakfast yet that day, as I assume many passengers had not.
I also did receive some chocolates after dining, which is always a sweet appreciated touch.
The Bathroom
The bathroom on this model was nothing breathtaking, but it was still nice and clean.
Hand lotion, facial water, and toothbrush kits were available for use.
The direct aisle access and seats on this model meant I could get up as I pleased, without any issues, which was incredible and something I really loved.
The bathroom also included a full-body mirror, which was a great touch.
Customer Service
When it comes to service, Qatar Airways has yet to disappoint me, and this flight was no exception.
The flight attendants were very nice and assisted me with anything I needed throughout the flight.
My headphones weren’t working at first, but I was able to get new ones without any issues.
They checked on me consistently throughout the flight, and I was satisfied with the service.
Final Thoughts on Qatar Airways A350-900 Business Class
The A350–900, to me, is the next-best business class Qatar Airways offers after its Qsuite product.
The 1-2-1 seat configuration makes it even more worth booking because you can get your own seat without being attached to anyone else, adding to a somewhat more private experience and greater comfort while flying.
I upgraded my flight from economy, and I will say it was absolutely worth it, and I would do it again.
Let me know if you would also upgrade if given the chance, and leave any questions or thoughts about this business-class experience in the comments below!
