Airline Review: Qatar Airways (long haul Economy Class)

The Qatar Airways long haul Economy Class was on my list for a review for a long time. On my way from Doha to Kuala Lumpur, I finally had the chance to write a new review. In this installment, I’ll try to give you an idea on how flying the Qatar Airways Economy Class is like.

I’ve already reviewed the Etihad Airways long haul Economy Class and sure enough also dozens other economy, business and first class products. That said, I was keen on giving Qatar Airways and Emirates a try to get reviews online for you, so you’ll see how flying with these popular airlines is like.

• Airplane: Boeing 777-300ER (the cover image shows an Airbus A350)
• Cabin Class: Economy
• Daytime: Night
• Food: Dinner / Snack
• Seat Pitch: 32 Inch (84 Centimeter)
• Seat Width: 17 Inch (43 Centimeter)

I’m starting with Qatar Airways today, but will also follow up shortly with Emirates. This way, you’ll be able to compare Etihad, Emirates and Qatar before booking your next journey. Let’s get started with the review. I flew from Doha to Bangkok on an approximately eight hour long flight over night.

Seating in the Qatar Airways long haul Economy Class

My flight in the Qatar Airways Economy Class was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

These planes come with a 3-4-3 configuration and offer a decent seat pitch of 32 Inch. That’s a little above industry average and makes seating quite comfortable.

The cabin had quite a modern look and was exceptionally clean. The seats are one of the most modern in the industry and come with a sleek grey design with Burgundy finishes.

While the seats look rather slim, they are quite comfortable in both positions. There is not too much of a recline, but you can at least get a little more comfortable for sleeping.

Something I really liked about the seats in the Qatar Airways long haul Economy Class were the little touches including the double adjustable headrest (height and shape) and the perfectly located headphone jack and USB port. There are also two plugs for three seats.

I also found the adjustable table as well as the large storage department of the seat in the Qatar Airways Economy Class to be practical.

Catering in the Qatar Airways long haul Economy Class

Catering-wise I’ve never been disappointed by carriers from the Arabian peninsula. This flight in the Qatar Airways Economy Class was no exception. For dinner, there was even a choice of three different mains.

After having an ‘Orzo Pasta Salad’ as a starter, I went for the ‘Braised Beef with Hot and Sour Sauce’ before finishing my meal with a ‘Strawberry Summer Cake’.

Sounds like Business Class to you? Well, as you’d expect everything in the Qatar Airways long haul Economy Class was served on one tray and didn’t look exactly appetizing.

Yet, from the metal cutlery to the quality of the food, I was positively surprised by the offerings. The beef was decent and so were the sides. The Pasta Salad was okay, while the dessert tasted a little too synthetic to me.

I was also offered a bread roll alongside my choice of drinks (including spirits and wine). Before landing, there was another meal, which I’d classify as a snack.

The menu described it as a ‘Savoury Pastry and Sweet Cake’. I’d sum it up as edible, but nothing to write home about.

Entertainment in the Qatar Airways Economy Class

Regardless of the length of your flight, you can expect a decent entertainment system when flying Qatar Airways. The Oryx Entertainment Box comes with plenty of options ranging from movies to shows to music to games to documentaries.

There’s also quite a lot of new stuff, so you can catch up on everything you missed in the cinema. It’s worth noting that most movies and shows are available in several languages, which definitely is a plus.

In my Boeing 777-300ER the screen was also quite new, had a good resolution and was easy to use. At the same time, I was rather annoyed that there were the same three ads before any choice I made in the entertainment system in the Qatar Airways long haul Economy Class.

Upon boarding, you’ll also find headphones at your seat. These are okay for Economy, but I’d highly recommend to bring your own nevertheless.

Amenities in the Qatar Airways long haul Economy Class

On this flight in the Qatar Airways Economy Class I was offered a couple of amenities. These included a decent blanket and a rather thin pillow.

Further waiting at my seat were headphones (see above) and a small amenity kit. This one came with socks, a sleeping mask, a toothbrush with paste as well as oropax. Definitely not bad for Economy Class.

Bottom line Qatar Airways long haul Economy Class

While I love flying Business Class, it’s worth noting that the Qatar Airways long haul Economy Class is a good way to get from A to B. The seats are fairly comfortable, the seat pitch is decent, the food is quite good for economy and the entertainment system comes with a great choice. There are some minor points I didn’t like, but that aside I’d highly recommend flying in Economy Class with Qatar Airways. That’s also true as connecting at Doha Airport is very easy.

Book your Qatar Airways flight now:

• Expedia
• OneTravel

 

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