Pampered silly on Qatar Airways' Dreamliner

Pampered silly on Qatar Airways' Dreamliner

How would I ever be able to fly budget carriers from now? Those were my thoughts when I recently flew on Qatar Airways' Dreamliner 787 aircraft from Singapore to Doha.

Spoilt rotten was what we were. When we flew Business Class on our connecting flight from Doha to Barcelona on an A330 aircraft, we were a tad let down - not because the service was bad, but when you have sat on the Dreamliner, very little could come close.

Qatar Airways had recently commenced operating the Dreamliner 787 aircraft on its Singapore-Doha sector, alongside its existing fleet of Boeing 777s, and my travelling companions and I were one of the first few privileged ones to take the jet on this route on April 4.

On Qatar's Dreamliner, customers get to enjoy the aircraft's new features in Business Class for the price they would pay for Business Class tickets on any other aircraft the airline operates.

Boarding the flight

You are the VIPs on-board the flight as there are no First Class seats, and so you get the flight crew's undivided attention.

The feeling that you are on a premium flight starts before you enter. First, the cool blue atmospheric lighting in the cabin adds a futuristic element and is the first sign that you are on a new plane.

Once you step on the plane, a mini lobby with a magazine rack and a small vase of flowers greet you. That is only if you are not distracted by the pod-like seats. Their Dreamliner's Business Class has a one-two-one seating arrangement, with an additional two seats behind the magazine rack. This is unique to Qatar Airways.

I was allocated one of the latter seats, and later found out that those were couple seats that the airline would recommend for honeymooners. For single travellers, however, it won't feel awkward sitting next to a stranger in the "couple seats" as there is a lot more personal space compared to other Business Class seats. There is zero chance of accidentally touching elbows if both of you are arm-rest hoggers. For those who want more privacy, there is a opaque screen you can raise.

Smart compartmentalisation

The seat itself will occupy you for awhile with lots of compartments and nooks to explore. For starters, there is a 17-inch screen and a shelf with reading light beside your headrest. The armrest next to the aisle opens up to reveal a bottle of water and noise-cancelling headphones.

The other armrest has a touch-screen console - the in-flight system is Android-based, so the user interface is very similar to mobile phones. There is also a USB 2.0 port for you to charge your gadgets - this is a huge plus for me since I don't have to fish out the charger plug from my hand carry bag. If you need an electrical socket, there is one under that armrest which does not get in your way while you sleep.

Also below the armrest is another storage compartment meant for you to keep newspapers and magazines when you aren't reading. The usual in-flight brochures and magazines are on the shelf beside your headrest, so you don't have to try to squeeze all your reading materials into one pocket. I find it useful to store my valuables when I am sleeping as it is just right next to me.

Below the screen is a leg rest to put up your feet for those with long legs, or you can use it to store your handbag. At the bottom, strategically placed right next to the aisle, is a drawer for you to store your shoes away. It is quite handy especially when your seat is fully reclined and you don't have to hunt for your shoes when you go to the toilet.

Spacious seats that recline flat

I flew on a red-eye flight and got a chance to test out the seat reclines into a flat bed. The cabin crew are attentive to approach to ask to prepare the seat for sleeping. They will lay a thin mattress cover over the seat.

So how was my virgin sleep experience? I can't sit on any other Business Class seat on Qatar without thinking of it. It is the highlight of the whole Business Class experience. The space is wider than other Business Class seat at a width of 30 inch (about 76cm) and a length of 80 inch (about 203cm). What this means for a 1.7m tall girl who sleeps in the foetal position is that I can sleep the same way as on my own bed without contorting in a weird angle.

The only minuses were that the pillow feels flat when you are lying on your back and the blanket is a little short when I stretch my legs, but the crew is more than happy to pass you extra pillows and blankets if they are available.

Luxurious amenities

If amenities are your concern, Salvatore Ferragamo is the brand for the lip balm, eau de toilette and hand cream. It comes in a stylish case in cream for women and black for men.

In the toilets, there are also toothbrushes and shavers. Staff are also attentive to replenish when supplies run low. And for a fancy touch, there is a single stalk of rose on the mirror. The germaphobe in me was impressed that a few features in the toilet were automated, such as the tap and the flush. Once you close the lid, it automatically flushes. There is also a pull-down baby change table.

Singapore is the first route in Southeast Asia to be using the aircraft, and 787 is also used on routes to London, Oslo, Stockholm, Zurich, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Jeddah, Munich, Riyadh, Delhi, Bengaluru, Dubai and Brussels.

There are 51 more 787s on order, so hopefully more routes start using the aircraft. Until then, I guess I would have to come back down to earth and get used to coach class once again.

natlim@sph.com.sg

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