I didn’t initially plan to review this flight from Doha to Dubai. The flight was originally scheduled on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Since it was such a short hop, I honestly didn’t expect there would be much to write about. Then came a last-minute equipment swap to an Airbus A350-1000 with Qsuite. At that point, how could I not?
Flying from Doha to Dubai in Qsuite isn’t something you come across every day, and regardless of how short the flight is, a Qsuite flight is still a Qsuite flight.
Starting at the Al Safwa First Class Lounge
One of the biggest advantages of this short-haul flight was that it gave us access to the Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Class Lounge before departure. That alone made the experience feel far more special than you would normally expect from a regional first class flight.
We arrived early enough to spend several hours at Al Safwa before the flight. That gave us time to enjoy the lounge properly rather than just stopping in briefly before boarding.
By the time we headed to the gate for Dubai, we were already pretty relaxed. And seeing that A350-1000 waiting for us only made things better.
Qsuite on a One-Hour Flight
I’ve previously shared my experience flying Qatar Airways Qsuite on the Boeing 777-300ER multiple times, so I won’t go too deep into every feature of the seat again here.
The A350-1000 Qsuite is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, with fully flat beds, sliding privacy doors and direct aisle access for every passenger. For this flight, we settled into the center seats that make up part of The Quad. Or, as we like to call it when the divider is lowered between the two middle seats: The honeymoon suite.
Pre-Departure Treats
Shortly after we settled in, pre-departure drinks were served. But what surprised me more was seeing two flight attendants walking through the cabin serving Arabic coffee and dates.
That is something I usually associate more with experiences like Emirates First Class, so seeing it on such a short regional Qatar Airways flight was a nice touch.
The Qsuite Seat
Again, I won’t turn this into another full Qsuite seat review. But the essentials are all there.
The seat controls, power outlet, USB charging ports and headphone jack are all positioned along the side console, while the retractable entertainment remote is also within easy reach.
The tray table is stored underneath the entertainment screen and slides out easily when needed.
As we began pushing back, the purser came over to introduce himself. We spent a few minutes taxiing before taking off at exactly 2:00 a.m. And from that point forward, the crew understood they had very little time to work with.
Meal Service
The flight attendants were proactive and efficient throughout the flight. Barely five minutes after takeoff, food and drinks were already being served. Considering how short this flight was, Qatar Airways kept things simple with an All Day Platter.
I opted for the Seasonal Vegetable Curry Pie, while my wife went with the Chicken Tikka Pie. Both were served with moutabel and Arabic bread, followed by a sea salted caramel tart with fresh berries for dessert.
For a flight that was barely over an hour, I thought this was more than enough. There really wasn’t much time for a drawn-out meal service anyway, and the crew did a great job getting everything served without making the experience feel rushed.
Service That Stood Out
The crew was probably the strongest part of this flight. Two different flight attendants came over at separate times and offered to take pictures of us sitting together in The Quad. That was a small gesture, but one we appreciated. Sometimes it’s those little interactions that make a flight more memorable than the hard product itself.
Lavatories
There are three lavatories serving the Business Class cabin on this A350-1000 configuration. Two are located at the front of the cabin, while the third is positioned by the galley between Business Class and Economy. Again, not something that matters much on a one-hour flight, but worth mentioning for anyone reading this before a longer A350-1000 journey.
How I Booked This Flight
This was the second leg of our journey from Milan to Doha and then onward to Dubai. I booked the itinerary using 55,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles per person. The Milan to Doha segment was operated in Qatar Airways Business Class Airbus A350-900, while this short Doha to Dubai leg was booked as part of the same award.
Already Time to Land
About 30 minutes into the flight, we began our descent toward Dubai. That’s how quickly this flight went. Tray tables were cleared almost immediately, the cabin was secured, and just like that, our Qsuite The Quad experience was basically over. We landed in Dubai at around 3:46 a.m. After a short taxi to the gate, our very brief A350-1000 Qsuite flight is a wrap.
Final Thoughts
There really isn’t much more to say about a flight this short, but that is also what made it fun. This Doha to Dubai flight was the second leg of our trip from Milan, which I had booked for 55,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles per person. I expected a regular Boeing 787 on the short hop to Dubai, but a last-minute equipment swap put us on an A350-1000 with Qsuite instead.
We had Arabic coffee and dates before departure, sat together in The Quad, enjoyed a proper meal, received excellent service, and somehow managed to fit a complete Business Class experience into just over an hour.
Was that enough time to properly review Qatar Airways Qsuite on the A350-1000? Definitely not. Fortunately, I have another A350-1000 flight from New York to Doha in a few months. That one should give me more than enough time to properly test the seat, bed, service, and overall experience.
For now, though? A Qsuite is a Qsuite. Even when the flight is barely long enough to enjoy it.
Kayode is the creator behind Travel With Kayode, sharing practical tips on points, miles, premium travel, hotels, and destinations around the world. His goal is simple: help travelers get more value from every trip and experience more for less.
