Flying Qatar Airways

I hear so many people complain about the hassle of air travel but no matter how often I fly, I’m still amazed by the fact that in mere hours, we can travel from one side of our glorious planet to the other. It doesn’t matter how many times I do it, air travel will always remain a modern miracle to me. I mean honestly … the fact that airplanes, so huge and heavy, can transport hundreds of passengers, their luggage and additional cargo, through the skies is really pretty mind-blowing.

{Seats 1A and 1B on Qatar Airways; photo via Johnny Jet}

For me, flying is as much a part of the adventure as my final destination. I recently had the privilege of flying Qatar Airways from New York’s JFK to Doha, Qatar and then on to Mumbai. I was excited to check out Qatar Airways. I’d never flown with them before and I’d heard all about their great product and service.

My fiance Johnny Jet and I departed from JFK close to midnight and I was excited to settle into the 12-hour flight. We were fortunate enough to be flying business class, which obviously makes a long-haul flight easier and since I don’t typically fly business, this was a real treat! John and I sat in seats 1A and 1B so we had lots of room to stretch out and get comfy. Business class passengers are given pajamas to change into, which made things even more comfortable. You can keep your pajamas after the flight but John and I packed ours up and gave them to a family in the slums once we arrived in Mumbai. I also swiped some of the fancy amenities in the bathroom (like lotions, toothbrushes and toothpaste) and gave them to the poor as well. (Sorry, Qatar Airways – I hope that’s ok!)

{Ready to change into my pajamas and settle in to a 12-hour flight from New York to Doha}

Business class passengers have their own personal entertainment systems (with over 1,000 entertainment options including movies, music and video games) and I was looking forward to settling in to watch a few flicks but unfortunately, my unit wasn’t working. Definitely a bummer but since we departed so late, I was just as happy to recline my lie-flat seat and get some shut eye.

{Premium class lounge at Doha International Airport; photo via Johnny Jet}

The flight was a breeze (I know – of course it was in business class!) and I felt relaxed and refreshed by the time we landed at Doha International Airport. The airport is currently undergoing construction so passengers are shuttled from the plane to their gate. But once we got into the airport, I was struck by how large, bright and welcoming it was. The premium class lounge is huge, with a large buffet filled with local and international foods and free WiFi – very important for an Internet junkie like me. How else would I update my Facebook status to let friends and family know I’d landed in Doha?

Overall, I give Qatar Airways top marks for a clean and comfortable plane, impeccable on-board service and all the special touches (pajamas, Godiva chocolates, a menu with gourmet food options) that make flying business class worth the price of a ticket.

Have you flown Qatar Airways before? What was your experience like?