Uncategorized

Qatar Airways Business Class QSuites Review from Chicago to Doha

a teddy bear on a bed

We may receive a commission when you use our links. Monkey Miles is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com and CardRatings. This relationship may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Monkey Miles is also a Senior Advisor to Bilt Rewards. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.


Qatar Airways Business Class QSuites Review

I’m not sure there is a better way to start off a honeymoon than hopping on Qatar Airways Business Class QSuites, or what most regard as the world’s very best business class, and whisking off to your far flung destination.  In our case, this was the Maldives, but my goodness, QSuites is such an experience. One, I experience a couple years ago with my family on the 77W, but this time it was completely different.  One thing in particular that makes Qatar Airways Business Class QSuites so special for honeymoon couples is the ability for two seats to make into one bed. Aside from the requirement of masks, etc this was as fantastic a flight as I had the first time I flew QSuites a couple of years ago.

a person standing on a bed with a teddy bear

We were incredibly fortunate to not only fly these to start off our honeymoon to the Maldives, but to do it for an incredibly attractive rate of 150k Amex Points roundtrip. I have to give a shout out to Spencer Howard and Premium Flights for making me aware of this deal that has populated throughout 2021 and one I booked just 3 weeks before our departure.

If you’ve been following the blog over the years then you already know I’m a huge fan of surprise trips, and this honeymoon was a complete surprise to my wife. Yes, she knew we were going somewhere, but it wasn’t until we arrived at the airport that she actually discovered we were headed to the Maldives, but even then didn’t know the resort, or that we planned on visiting two: Six Senses Maldives and St Regis Maldives. Let’s get into the full review of Qatar Airways Business Class QSuites including flight details, booking, choosing a seat, dining, and the whole she-bang.

@zacharyburrabel Surprise Honeymoon Part 2 ( booked with points obviously ) @elizabeth_henstridge #travel #travelhacks #traveltips #creditcards #sixsenseslaamu #qsuite ♬ Paradise – Bazzi

Flight Details:

  • When: August 2021
  • Where: Chicago ORD to Maldives via Doha
    • The first leg was on 77W and the second was on a 772LR
  • Seats: 7 E/F and 11E/F
    • You’ll see pics of both
  • Flight Time:
    • ORD to DOH 13h 30 mins
    • DOH to MLE 4h 25 mins
  • Cost: 150k American Express Membership Rewards
    • We booked these via Amex Travel via an Amex Business Platinum with a 35% rebate
  • Loyalty: Alaska Airlines
    • Mileage earned each way – 25k miles

a two monitors in a cabin

Why I Booked via Amex Travel instead of transferring

The ticket was pricing at $2300. You could book it via Chase Travel or Amex Travel, and since I carry an Amex Business Platinum and it gives me a 35% rebate on premium cabin travel, I opted to book it that way. This requires you having the full 233k points in your account, and then a few weeks later, you’ll receive the rebate. In this case…roughly 80k points.

a black and white screen with blue and white text

Why? 150k Amex points roundtrip is a screaming good deal to fly like this

a man sitting on a desk with his legs raised

On top of that it netted 25k Alaska Miles each way ( we are both MVP members, so if you’re Gold or 75k you’d earn a hefty amount more ) and secured elite status for me in 2022.  I’d easily value Alaska miles at about 2 cents a pop, so that’s like earning $1k back on the trip.

To put things in perspective if there was award space to the Maldives here are the roundtrip prices on several award programs:

  • Aeroplan
    • 150k  ( likely on Etihad but perhaps Star Alliance )
  • Alaska Airlines
    • 140k and 165k
  • American
    • 140k roundtrip
  • ANA
    • 136k roundtrip with high surcharges
  • Asia Miles
    • 170k roundtrip
  • Emirates
    • 235k roundtrip
  • Singapore
    • 244k roundtrip
  • Avianca LifeMiles
    • 156k roundtrip
  • United
    • 170k roundtrip
  • Qantas
    • 244 roundtrip

As you can see…150k roundtrip AND earning 50k Alaska Miles AND getting elite status AND no surcharges was BY FAR the best deal.

Choosing Seats

All of QSuites are extremely private with closing doors, tons of storage, plush bedding, massive tvs, and dine on demand food. However…Qatar Airways divides their business class fares into 4 categories and most of them don’t allow you to choose seats ahead of time.

4 categories of Qatar Airways business class

  • Lite
    • no lounge or advanced seat selection
  • Classic
    • includes lounge access but no advanced seat selection.
  • Comfort
    • includes lounge and advance seat selection
  • Elite
    • includes lounge and advance seat selection

In the month since taking our honeymoon Qatar Airways has changed their lounge access to what is listed up above and goes into effect 10/1/21. Unfortunately, our Amex Travel tickets didn’t include lounge access or advanced seat selection. I believe that if you were to purchase the same fare class as we did via Amex Travel you’d have access to the Al Mourjan lounge in Doha which is fantastic.

a group of people in a building

The Qatar Airways Business Class QSuites cabin on the 777-200LR is broken into two sections which will populate like this on their website. If you see seats with an X in them, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are occupied, but instead, blocked. If you have an expertflyer account you can see the difference, and for our flight at least, it’s why I chose not to select any seats.

  • The odds seats in the center make into a bed.

If you’re traveling alone

Undoubtedly, choosing a window seat is tops if you’re traveling by yourself. My favorites would be either the A or K line since they sit away from the aisle providing more privacy and light.

a seat in an airplane

If you’re traveling as a couple

As I mentioned, we didn’t select seats ahead of time and still managed to land a honeymoon seat. The entire cabin was practically blocked not occupied, and I figured we could probably land the honeymoon seats without paying in advance. It can cost over $100 per seat assignment ahead of time, and honestly I just had a gut feeling. It worked out, and roughly 24 hours ahead of departure I could select my seats online and I did just that on both legs

As I mentioned up above, the odd rows make into a single bed. Super cool.

a teddy bear on a bedIf you’re traveling as a family

QSuites has a feature that allows you to join 4 seats together In the middle of the aircraft. It’s not often you see 4 award tickets in QSuites, but I lucked out in 2019 and did just that…booked a Quad. You’ll need to call Qatar Airways to secure this configuration, and it may just be worth paying the fee to enjoy something as unique as the quad.

  • 1/2
  • 3/4
  • 5/6
  • 7/8
  • 9/10

a stuffed animal on a table with computer screens

Arrival and check-in at the airport

I want to apologize in advance but I’d just told my fiancee, now wife, where we were going and completely forgot to take a picture at check-in. You can see her reaction below. I’ve flown internationally out of O’Hare 3 times since July and this was by far the smoothest. If this is new to you, airline staff are completely overwhelmed verifying information regarding where you’ve been, where you’re ultimately going to, the transit rules, your vaccination status, your Covid test status, etc. We were second in line and they processed us very quickly, but we also had everything out and ready to go.

@elizabeth_henstridge well that was a nice way to find out 😂 @zacharyburrabel #honeymoon #onetakewonder #actorsoftiktok ♬ The Magic Bomb (Questions I Get Asked) [Extended Mix] – Hoàng Read

The Lounge – absolutely underwhelming

Ordinarily, if you’re flying in One World business class, you’d be able to access the British Airways business class lounge in the international terminal ( or I presume the AA lounge if you wanted to change terminals ), but it was closed. The only thing open was Air France/KLM lounge and it was depressing. The food was sad. The drinks were sad. Everyone sitting in it looked sad. So we left and headed to wait at the gate.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Boarding

Not going to lie. It was a bit hectic and disorganized, but then, again this seems to be par for the course at O’Hare during the pandemic. We boarded between the two business class cabins, turned right, and it was at this very moment that I realized my wife had absolutely no idea what she was in for…I often forget that I’m a mega nerd and she loves to fly premium cabins but doesn’t geek out like I do. Here is a shot of the cabin in the light and it’s really impressive. You can see where the dividers are closed between the Quads, but should you wish to open them, it’s no problem. You can see in row 10 where the center divider is still raised.

a room with seats and screens

A shot of 7E/F with the divider down. They promptly asked us if we’d like it lowered, which we did, and you can see how it really cozies you up to your travel mate.

a two monitors in a cabin

You can also see what these seats look like with the divider up

a row of seats with monitors on the side

Pre-departure champagne. This is something that was exciting, but expected if you were accustomed to flying business or first. However,  with the pandemic, I’ve found it few and far between.

a glass of champagne on a table

The Seat

We’ve gone over seat choices, but every seat comes with a door, ample and private storage, a massive tv, international plugs, and a completely lie flat bed. Currently Qatar also provides each seat with a face mask, hand sanitizer, and gloves. You’ll also get White Company pajamas and Bric’s amenity kit. All very plush.

You’ll notice a smaller amenity kit…this was from the shorter flight into the Maldives, which was still overnight, but only 4.5 hours long. It didn’t offer pajamas, but did give mini amenity kits and full dining service.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The coolest part of this seat, by far, is the fact that it can make into a single bed. The pic is a bit fuzzy, but you get the picture lol.

a man sitting in a bed with a glass in his hand

Food

Qatar Airways QSuites offers dining on demand. That means you can order food whenever you want it, and as long as they have it, as much as you want. They were also serving Lallier champagne and Charles Heidsieck Rose.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

When I first boarded I wasn’t hungry at all since it was after 1am. After sleeping a few hours I ended up ordering Chicken Masboos and the Arabic Mezze. Both were fantastic and delivered within 15 to 20 mints. It’s order on demand so it requires a short wait for them to heat it up. Also note the presentation of cutlery, etc. No plastic silverware, etc. Also, if you notice in the mezze picture the drink – it’s their classic mint and lime soda and it is highly addictive. You’ve been warned. I also had breakfast just prior to landing and a lot of coffee. Truth be told, I only had half the breakfast offering, as they do eggs as well, but my wife had them and said they were quite good.

On the second flight I had the following which was also tremendous.

Overall

Another outstanding showing for Qatar Airways QSuites and a tremendous way to start off the honeymoon.

My Maldivian Honeymoon 2022

 

  • How I planned the trip
    • When I booked
    • Selecting the flights
      • Qatar QSuites
      • Emirates First Class
      • Lufthansa First Class
    • Selecting the resorts
      • 5 nights at the Six Senses Maldives
      • 5 nights at the St Regis Maldives
  • How I earned the points
    • 150k Amex for roundtrip QSuites
    • 400k IHG for 5 nights at Six Senses
    • 325k Marriott for 5 nights St Regis Maldives
    • 122k Emirates points for Emirates First Class
    • 107k Singapore miles for Lufthansa First Class
  • How I found the award space to book my tickets
    • Using Amex Travel for Qatar Airways Qsuites with a 35% rebate
    • Booking via IHG app for Six Senses
    • Booking via Marriott to find the cheapest rates
    • Finding award space on Emirates
  • Reviews:
  • What is the actual cost of staying at a 5 star resort

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

a blue credit card with blue lines and white text

Learn More

 Affiliate link 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card


4.8
4.8/5
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a great starter card that earns Premium Ultimate Rewards that can be transferred into over a dozen partners many of which are US based including Hyatt, Southwest, United, IHG, and Marriott.

Welcome Offer

60k Points after $4k spend in 3 months

Annual Fee

$95

Points Earned

Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards

  • 60k points after $4k spend in 3 months
    • Worth $750 in Chase Travel℠ and way more if you maximize transfer partners
  • 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
  • 3x on dining, including eligible delivery services for takeout & dining out
  • 3x on select streaming services
  • 3x on online grocery purchases
    • (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
  • $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit via Chase Travel℠
    • The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
  • 2x on all other travel
  • 10% Anniversary Bonus
    • Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel℠ and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ( primary ), purchase protections, etc.
  • Points are transferrable to 14 Ultimate Rewards partners
  • Redeem in Chase Travel℠ for 1.25 cents per point
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
    • Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is my favorite
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024
  • $95 Annual Fee

We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.

Historically 80k is a very, very good offer and hit in both 2022 and 2023. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back.

Main Cast: 

Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.

Supporting Cast:

Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on. 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is exceptional starter card and offers transferrable Ultimate Rewards, and pairs well with other Chase cards.

If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash® , Ink Business Unlimited® you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners

Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.

The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

3 Comments

Leave a Reply to Christian Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.