ALONE in Qatar Airways’ SECRET First Class

ALONE in Qatar Airways’ SECRET First Class

In today’s video I get to fly the first class katar Airways doesn’t talk about and boy am I glad I checked it out I’ll show you everything there is to show from the world famous Al safwa first class Lounge to the incredible food on board to the huge first class Suite that

Was all mine for the price of a few air miles on short and medium distance routes in the Middle East katar markets its premium cabin as first class for historic reasons but this comes with a mostly inconsistent product aircraft swaps are common and you might equally

End up in a wonderful Q Suite or Natty recliner meaning it’s often not worth spending the money or miles but if you’re flying to Istanbul well things are different we’ll cover the 1,714 m in just under 4 hours of flying Time yes welcome to another video and good morning from the first class ow sappa Lounge here in katar I am absolutely blown away by this Lounge I’m in a Jacuzzi at the airport we begin today’s video in a car ride to the airport I’ve been looking forward to

This trip for some time and just mentioning to the driver I needed to be dropped off at the first class area was quite the thrill first class passengers are met and escorted with their luggage through to the exclusive alafa check-in area here you’ll be sat down given a hot

Towel and generally relax while the formalities are completed this really is exclusive service and a great way to start the trip but what’s waiting for me next is one of the greatest privileges in commercial Aviation the alafa Lounge my very first stop in the lounge is to see if there are any spa treatments available in their exclusive spa and I’m in luck and I’m led to the dressing room so you can take a shower in here it seems a bit Ott for just a foot massage

But I’ve been doing my reading and you can actually get a Jacuzzi bath here in the alafa lounge there’s just one Jacuzzi bath and it takes 45 minutes to prepare but the therapist has said that she will go and do that for me so I’m really looking forward to that bath and

An airport The Spar dressing room is nicer than pretty much any other airport shower Suite I’ve visited and the treatment itself was excellent it’s not cheap but I definitely recommend doing this if like me you’re in here for a one-off treat look at this Whoa a jacuzzi in an airport what a time to be alive eh just a word of caution if you do use the bath here there is actually no lock on the bathroom door which is a bit odd this Lounge is exclusively for katar Airways first class passengers and Qatar privilege club Platinum members

Traveling business class with catar Airways you can also get access for 600 Kari reals about $165 if you don’t otherwise qualify and a flying business class this place is absolutely incredible Al saafa opened almost 9 years ago and for me it is one of my fav airport lounges I’ve ever visited second

Perhaps only to Lanza’s first class terminal in Frankfurt which has a more intimate vibe in contrast to the bushy confidence and enormous Open Spaces here at Elafa a particular highlight of coming here is getting lunch there is a full service bar and a restaurant with a super little menu it’s all included of course and you can have as much or as little as you like I was absolutely Blown Away by the three course lunch

Which was even served with an off menu amuse B and the steak was absolutely incredible the only problem is trying to eat early enough to leave room for my dinner on board which in catar first class is also an event worth looking forward To there’s no doubt this is one of the world’s great Airline lounges and to cap it off even though my aircraft is at a remote stand today there’s private boarding from the lounge the concierge looks after you and waiting to be called while drinking lemonade is quite the Vibe okay thank you there that’s great thank you so much thank you wow so private boarding from the lounge and I hope it’s a first class bus hello Istanbul thank you very much thank you thank you so much hello thank you wow I’ve seen pictures of katar’s legendary First Class Bus before but

Nothing compares to actually being on it and while we’re here let’s quickly explore what I paid for this first class flight a one-way cash fair from DOA to Istanbul sets you back a cool £3,000 but of course I didn’t pay that this route is bookable on avios through

The British Airways Executive Club I paid 52,500 avios and just 8510 in fees it’s just me on board this bus and I’m hoping I’m really hoping I’m the only person In First Class on this very special 4-Hour flight today’s flight is on a former Cafe Pacific Boeing 7300 ER

On lease hence its unusual white Livery katar Airways has four of these aircraft and they feature a fully specified Lon haul first class cabin as well as a premium economy cabin now katar doesn’t actually sell premium economy but if you’re flying economy and get this aircraft you can pay a little extra to

Sit in it as an extension of the normal economy cabin and katar well known for equipment swaps pretty much guarantees the tri 7300 ER on the first and last daily departures to Istanbul thank you very much thank you thank you oh it’s hot man Hello hello there thank you thank You First class is at the very front and comprises just six enormous seats in a 111 configuration each Window Seat gets three Windows to themselves and I’ve chosen 1 a for today’s flight to Istanbul I’d rate this as the very best seat on the aircraft and better than 1K

On the other side why well the aide has a solid wall separating the aisle from the middle seats so this is very private indeed if you’ve been subscribed to me for a long time you will definitely recognize these first class seats from when I flew from Hong Kong to New York

VI Vancouver with Cafe Pacific in 2018 apart from a minor facelift and the additions of katar’s trim colors these are the very same seats and I have to say it does look fantastic even with such a mishmash of a fleet katar’s brand is so strong and it’s been splashed

Everywhere over these aircraft well almost everywhere our crew today are superb and I’m soon acquainted with some champagne olives and Arabic coffee as well as the menus which we’ll take a look at a bit later I’m having a great day I’m glad you’re coming with me too because these

Flights are always so much more fun knowing that I get to share them with you guys anyway cheers and here’s a fabulous flight Ahead If you’re enjoying this video please consider subscribing you’ll join a community of hundreds of thousands of other trip report enthusiasts exploring the world with me did you know that katar Airways maroon color comes from its flag which in turn gets the color from the ancient purple D industry on

The alore islands but that’s enough trivia for now we blast out of DOA to the north and are soon on our way to Istanbul and now we’re Airborne I’ll show you some of the seat features of this very private Suite this isn’t the latest or most competitive first class

Seat but it is Miles better than what you’d likely end up with on most of the airlines Middle East and first class routs it’s not katar’s own product either and that’s why katar doesn’t advertise this rather secret f first class anywhere on its website the seat

Is massive and comes with a ton of storage even featuring a fulllength wardrobe to hang your jacket not that we’ll be needing a jacket today overall this is an amazing place to spend 4 hours or 14 today’s menu features a choice of four appetizers four mes and four desserts and you can dine anytime in first in business class on katar and this is definitely a boon if like me you ate rather well in the lounge for the champagne enthusiasts there are two good

Bottles on board I do like the lauron perer Rosé myself although I’ve already had three glasses of Fizz today plus a couple of cocktails in the lounge and I’ve got a video to film katar Airways does have good Wi-Fi but even In First Class you still have

To pay $10 for it I’m not sure sure how I feel about that to be honest what do you think let me know in the Comments being the only passenger in this first class cabin is so peaceful and relaxing but it’s soon time to eat again and having heard great things about katar’s caviar service I chose this to start katar Airways presentation of food is always stunning from the bubble effect caviar plate to the little

Fake candle to the beautiful water tumblers they really know what they’re Doing so of course I’ve gone for the caviar now the cabin crew asked me if I wanted any water and I said yes and then she asked me if I wanted it neat to which I said yes and of course I’ve misinterpreted her accent and inadvertently consented to having yet

Another drink Vodka of Course the perfect little salmon and Arch choke amuse and artisan bread is followed quickly by a mushroom and truffle soup which was absolutely delicious for my main course I stayed true to the locality a superb katari chicken match boo with daaku sauce created by Chef Aisha Muhammad Al Tamimi and it was

Absolutely popping with flavor and spice the banana tart tatan finishes off the meal service perfectly five stars in my book and an inflight meal I won’t forget before Long we’re soon passing over the mountains of the Armenian Highlands over Eastern Turkey a place I’d love to visit by train one day the airline has good noise cancelling headphones and a lot of choice on the inflight entertainment which like many airlines from Islamic countries features a kibla map to orient Muslims towards

Mecca the screen definitely needs the blinds closed to avoid any glare but otherwise is a perfectly acceptable size a very nice dipti wash kit contains most if not all of the amenities you would expect to find the rest being found in the bathroom now I remember when deep Vin thrombosis

Was a new Panic among air Travelers in the ’90s you don’t hear much about it now but Airlines still provide compression socks on Long flights pajamas and comfy slippers were also provided but on such a short flight I decided to keep them as souvenirs instead of wearing Them the rest of the amenities can be found in the bathroom now this is actually the smaller of the two first class bathrooms but it’s still spacious without being too opulent of course it was absolutely spotless all flight and so it should be as it was just me on

Board the seat convert into a huge LIF flat bed more than sufficient for our flight today and the bedding katar provides is topnotch soon we’re preparing to descend into Istanbul what an amazing flight it’s been it’s been less than 4 hours but it feels like so much longer than that this

Has been a really really good use of those avios that I saved again it’s 52,500 avios I paid and wow it has been quite the experience today descending into Istanbul now and I’ve got myself some chocolate and yeah what can I say I really recommend flying this wonderful

Catar Airways product of course on lease from Kate Pacific I love Landing into Istanbul it’s one of my favorite cities and arriving here is always a treat let me know if if you’ve been to Istanbul in the comments below and what you Think overall catar Airways Regional first class is an enigma it exists for purely historic reasons and you might often be disappointed with the aircraft and seat you get if you fly to many places in the Middle East region but Istanbul this Tri 7 dedicated to the

Route is the real deal and coupled with qatar’s amazing food and cabin service the spectacular Al saafa lounge and even the Epic First Class Bus heck this is definitely worth spending the miles for a oneoff I really hope you’ve enjoyed the video don’t forget to subscribe

Leave a comment and thumb up the video and of course join me next time time for a very exciting trip on one of Europe’s stunning sleeper trains which is one of the best kept travel Secrets I’ve stumbled across cheers and I will see you in the next video bye for now

Qatar Airways has a first class product you won’t find ANYWHERE on their publicity – for good reason! Superb ex-Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ERs are operating for Qatar from Doha to Male, Istanbul, Kuwait and also to Hong Kong. The Istanbul route is perfect to get a taste for this excellent and opulent regional first class product, costing me just 52,500 Avios to book – not bad for a one off splurge! I also got into the legendary Al-Safwa Lounge in Doha Hamad International, an experience not to be missed!

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0:00 Intro
0:55 Doha Airport and checkin
1:44 Al Safwa Lounge (Qatar Airways First Class)
3:44 Early Lunch at the Al Safwa Lounge
4:50 Boarding our 777-300ER privately, by first class bus!
6:57 First Class – just 6 seats
8:32 Taxi and takeoff
9:33 First Class seat 1A tour
11:13 Qatar Airways First Class food (caviar!)
12:56 More product observations – IFE, amenities
13:50 Toilet tour!
14:22 Descent, landing, conclusions and many thanks!

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Date of Travel: 21 SEP 2023
Airline: Qatar Airways
Livery: Qatar Airways plain white fuselage (leased a/c)
Route: DOH-IST
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Flight Number: QR 245
Miles: 1,714
Airborne time: 3h 42m

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