QR946 Hamad International Airport-Doha to Singapore Changi featuring QSuites Business Class
Summer Premium Adventures
Note: This section is image heavy.
In this Summer Premium Adventure (Warning: Long!)
- In the Summertime when the weather is hot…
- Off to Heathrow, British Airways Galleries North Lounge
- BA762 London Heathrow to Oslo – A321neo (EuroTraveller)
- Oslo Airport, OSL Lounge
- AY914 Oslo to Helsinki, Business Class
- Helsinki Airport lounging
- QR302 Helsinki to Doha (Business Class)
- Doha Lounge Stop Part 1
- QR946 Doha to Singapore (QSuites)
- Hotel Indigo, Katong, Singapore
- Exploring Hawker Markets
- Intercontinental, Bugis, Singapore
- Orchids Everywhere – The National Orchid Garden
- Off to Changi featuring the Singapore Pokemon Centre
- Scoot TR604 Singapore to Bangkok
- Dream Hotel, Bangkok
- Exploring the Wats
- Food Mistakes in Bangkok (Or Regrets. I have a more than a few)
- Back to Suvarnabhumi, Qatar Airways Lounge, Bangkok Airport
- QR833 Bangkok to Doha (QSuites)
- Another long Doha Layover
- QR175 Doha to Oslo
- Back at Oslo Airport
- BA767 Oslo to London Heathrow (EuroTraveller)
- Homeward bound
- Always Curious
QR946 Hamad International Airport Doha to Singapore Changi Airport
Qatar Airways, Airbus A350-1000
Seat 9K, Business Class
140 Tier Points earned, 3,858 Base Avios + 965 Cabin Bonus
It’s an A350-1000… trust me (even if the engine was open).
Welcome aboard.
I was welcomed aboard the Airbus A350-1000 operating QR946 and turned right… and headed down the QSuites Business Class Cabin. Whilst the overhead bins had been deleted from the centre of the cabins, the cubes felt very… private.
The cabin
1F
I found my suite of 9F and settled down to get myself comfortable, as well as organised for the flight to Singapore. And yes – I would be sitting backwards. Those times flying in Club World have finally paid off.
I shoot with more than one camera. What do you expect??
The seat
A bit of a panorama.
9G showing the open storage compartment.
Stitching detal
A contactless payment reader. Didn’t seem to be active
Lighting
And yes, there are air vents.
Decorative pillows everywhere.
So, QSuites has had a lot of positive coverage out there – let’s take a look. The seat is a Collins Aerospace seat that of course – goes fully flat. Priestman Goode won the contract to design the space, and there are little design features that do stand out – like the stitching and styling, which uses the Qatar Airways colour palette well.
Meanwhile in front of me is a big IFE screen – again by Thales Aerospace.
The IFE Screen. Note the HDMI and USB socket up front.
There was IFE outside too… with an Air India Express aircraft pushing back
Air India Express pushing back
A member of the cabin crew came along to introduce themselves and also asked if I have flown on this product before. As I hadn’t – they walked me through the suite, where the items were stored, controls and the emergency exit card.
Yes. There’s a dedicated egress guide for QSuites.
A welcome drink was also offered. And taken.
Pyjama and slipper set.
Menus were also handed out, and orders taken for food.
Menu for QR946
Yes – all suites have an emergency exit procedure in case the suite door gets stuck, or you need to egress in an emergency. It’s important to also note the suite doors are locked in position for taxi, take-off and landing – so you can’t just board an aircraft and lock yourself in a private bubble.
The Regular safety card.
With the safety procedures carried out, it was time for our A350 to push back for the journey to Singapore.
The safety video played, and this time – we had… you guessed it. The AAB Enforcers performing.
And Al Alkbar Bakers enforcers ensuring that all is well.
With that done twice, we were on our way for a short taxi around Hamad International Airport.
See you soon Hamad Airport.
Let’s get this party in the sky started.
Srilankan Airbus A320neo
It’s a neo. Look at the engines on that thing!
Qatar Airways Airbus A330-300
And another..
Beacons: on.
Cabin during taxi. Note, the suite doors stay open during taxi, take off and landing.
A Qatar Airbus A350 pushing back
Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737, along with Qatar heavy metal.
Of course, I had tail-cam on. Why? AVGeek reasons.
It does look a bit like a spaceship.
When QR946 found a runway it liked, The Rolls Royce Trent engines spooled up, and pushed us into the air.
With thee aircraft safely airborne, and the cabin crew were released, one of the first tasks they did were to unlock the doors of the Qsuites. With that, the cabin crew unlocked the doors to the suite to allow for privacy in the cabin
So, I’m in my own cocoon and space. That leaves me conflicted – as the privacy is pretty much unbeatable. But I also love the open space of the previous product too.
With the aircraft in the air, and it being the middle of the night, it was time to enjoy a film. The IFE system is pretty similar to the last aircraft (a large Thales Avant style system, with both a remote and a touch screen interface).
This was fluid to the touch (the joy of large capacitive touch screens becoming available in the market is a wonderful thing).
As for IFE itself – I decided films would be order of the day. This time – I went with Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse. And I agree with a lot of people – it’s one of the best Spiderman films in some years.
I had chosen a dine on departure and dine on arrival option to allow me to get some food and to get rest. So for starters, there was a laksa style soup (a little inspired), followed by a Nassi Gouring with Prawns.
But first. Bubbles.
And this was pretty good for an evening meal. Lots of flavours in the soup, whilst the Prawns were cooked nicely, and the rice edible. Not bad at all
With the meal cleared down, I put the seat into a relaxed bed mode. Whilst it is a comfortable place to be, the bed did feel a little short compared to the other seat I was in earlier – certainly, the feet felt more enclosed (with a good warning from the crew to put your shoes to the side of the seat, as having them underneath could jam the seat.
The cabin crew also offered to make up the bed for me – with them adding a mattress pad too. A nice touch.
With into the Spiderverse playing, the sun was rising outside. It’s at this point the cabin crew lowered the blinds, to prevent the light entering the cabin.
I took this as a chance to grab a few Zzz’s before arrival.. Well, since I was locked off and closed to the world, it seemed like a good idea. That and the flight segment allows for a decent rest like this.
I woke up refreshed and with about 2 hours on the clock to go. Also, the perfect time for breakfast to be delivered in the cabin.
If there was a weak meal in this trip, I think I’ve found it in this one.
Again with the Mrs Bucket candlelight supper.
Cold cuts with vegan caviar
The cold cuts starter was pretty nice, with some interesting choices. The chicken was more than a little dry, whilst the vegan caviar… was different.
Not good, not bad, but different. Meanwhile, onto the main.
The Chicken sausage felt a little… well… unhappy in its colour and was rather dense for a sausage. The omelette at least was passable (as that is a challenge to get right in the air some days).
Not the greatest meal, I’ll be honest – although I struggle to think of an airline that can do a breakfast service “well” in any class.
With breakfast cleared, windows started opening in the cabin. Whilst the suites with doors can block a lot of light, they can’t beat the power of an afternoon sun.
They see me cruising…
And switching to Bob’s Burgers.
With sunlight filling the cabin, the announcement for 40 minutes to landing came up. It was time to convert this suite with a door back to a seat.
Even if the mattress cover stayed on.
With ease, the Airbus A350-1000 navigate its way to Singapore air space.
Tankers nearby. Must be near Singapore.
Flying over Malaysia.
With shoes back on and the seat in the landing position, the aircraft descended, and headed for the sunny and warm climbs of Singapore Changi Airport
Turning through the clouds
Closing in…
As part of the preparation to land, the door to the suite is locked into the open position. Least of all, in an emergency – you can escape easily.
With QR946 on the ground, it peeled off from the runway, and turned for the terminal complex. The aircraft taxied for a while, before eventually finding a gate.
Welcome to Changi.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 787-10.
Emirates Airbus A380
Scoot Boeing 787-8
Closing in on a gate
QR946 parking at Changi.
And wait for the jetbridges. At least they’re using both of them..
With a bong, the seat belt signs were released, it was time to gather my items and head out
Bye QSuite. See a version of you in Bangkok.
I thanked the crew and headed on my way back into the Lion City.
Overall: Well, QSuites is one of the products to beat in business class – hands down, in terms of storage, bed and seat. I’m still not sold on the door concept myself (I’m leaning towards open suites rather than closed ones), but I can see how people like this product.
And rightly so.
Whilst the service offered on QR946 was top notch and the crew being attentive, the catering for breakfast did let the side down. The chicken sausages were a bit of a low-light to be honest. But getting a decent breakfast in the air a challenge for most airlines.
Next: Into Changi and the Hotel Indigo Katong, Singapore
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