Qatar Q-Suites

I know everyone’s first question is more than likely: How much does it cost to stay in the Maldives, and what is the price of the plane ticket? Flying from Atlanta, GA, will have you at a travel time of 28 hours. Flying out of IAD (Dulles, Va) or JFK takes 18 hours, which is lucky for them, as they are the shortest route from the US to the Maldives. Finding this particular award flight in Qatar Airways Qsuite didn’t take much effort. I sign up for travel deals, which save me a lot of time researching flights. I booked my business class flight through Qatar Airways using 140,000 Avios. When I use points or miles for travel, I use AA miles, Marriott Bonvoy Points, or AMEX points to transfer to airlines.

The easiest way to accumulate almost half of the points it takes to fly to the Maldives is by applying for the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard. At the time in which I applied, my purchase of a bag of candy awarded me 60,000 bonus miles. Since Qatar and American Airlines are partners, you can use AA to search for the award flight to travel in your own Qsuite. I planned my flight and hotel to the Maldives 11 months in advance.

I took a 35-minute Uber ride to the airport and walked directly to the Qatar Airways Business Class priority check-in counter. When flying to the Maldives, you’re only allowed 20kg(44 lbs) of checked luggage and 5kg(11 lbs) of hand luggage. No bag should exceed 32kg(70 lbs), and excess baggage will be charged an additional fee of USD 5.00 per kilogram. After checking in, I headed to Atlanta’s first AMEX lounge. Their 26,000 sq foot lounge has an outdoor seating area, showers, printers & copiers, and fight monitors. I walked to my gate an hour before departure, and business class started to board by the time I arrived. I’ve learned that international flights will begin their boarding process about 60 minutes before departure and about 30-45 minutes for domestic flights. I was very excited to have my first Qsuite experience!

Let me tell you about the most comfortable 13-hour flight I’ve ever experienced! I chose a reverse-flying seat for my initial flight (3K). I was a bit nervous as I’d never taken off in the opposite position, but I would do it again! QSuites are Qatar’s best business-class seats, especially with the sliding privacy door. This would be my second time flying business, and I was not disappointed. The service was excellent, and I like the fact that you can dine when you want. You can eat shortly after take-off or when you’re hungry again. You’re given a set of pyjamas and slippers and a Diptyque amenity kit that includes face/hand lotion, lip balm, perfume spray, socks, ear plugs, and an eye mask.

In your Qsuite, you have two pillows and one thick blanket in your seat. You can have a pre-departure beverage while waiting for your meal or a drink with your meal. I took advantage of all three options. I ate a delicious three-course meal while watching “The Beekeeper.” After I finished eating, the FA was ready to make my bed. I hopped up and went to the bathroom to change into my pajamas so I could sleep as much as possible. Five hours later, I woke up and decided to have breakfast. I had time to watch another movie before getting ready to land in Doha, Qatar. About an hour before landing, the cabin crew began preparing to descend. 

Compared to my other business class flight with EVA Airlines (EVA Air blog), I would choose Qatar Qsuite overall. Qatar has a more extensive selection of entertainment, a privacy door, and a spacious suite area. The pyjamas you receive on EVA run smaller than Qatar, which gives Qatar the upper hand as It caters to passengers of different shapes and sizes. I greatly enjoyed the meal selections with Qatar as well. I would HIGHLY recommend Qatar Airways for international travel.