In business class on the A320: how to fly on the smallest of Qatar's planes

Qatar has been the best company in the world, today fell from the top step of the podium undermined by Singapore Airlines. However, it retains the title of the world's best business class, the QSuite since it was introduced and installed on the first plane has won the award every year.

Specifications

Aircraft:

A320

Class:

Business

Treat:

SOF - DOH

Price:

150€

Book

I knew full well that my flight from Sofia to Doha would not have the gleaming cabin that everyone tries to copy, but I didn't think Qatar's A320 was so uncomfortable.

Reservation

This ticket was part of a complex itinerary that saw me also fly with Malaysian Airlines and Cathay Pacific. The ticket cost me less than 900€., was one of those immediate but thoughtful decisions. With this note I put 660 Tier points in my pocket, or the qualifying points needed to renew status in the BA Executive Club.

The best benefits of British Airways' Gold status? are the ones not written down

With the last flight I crossed the 1500 level points milestone that allowed me to renew for another 12 months my Gold status in the FF of British Airways, perhaps the status I am most fond of after of course the Club2000 of Air France KLM

At the airport

Since I like to complicate things I decided to fly to Sofia with Wizzair, my first experience with this company. I fly from Bergamo to Sofia early in the morning, statistically a time where I am less likely to be in the Dante's circle of delays and cancellations.

The gamble paid off and I arrived in Sofia 20 minutes ahead of schedule. From arrivals I went immediately to departures, with my flight scheduled for early afternoon.

Here the first surprise. I had not applied for the SGArrival card., I had completely forgotten about this bureaucratic necessity; fortunately, however, it is done online in 5 minutes and the PDF with the relevant authorization is generated immediately. Let's say that what scared me off was an overzealous gate agent, since the application can also be done at the airport in Singapore.

Passed the scare and obtained the 3 tickets + the voucher for access to the Aspire lounge., I headed to the security and immigration checkpoints.

Past these I took a tour of Sofia's very sad airport. and headed to the airport's only lounge.

The mood of the terminal is also experienced in the lounge, it seems to be in a world apart from the vibrant, young city that is Bulgaria's capital.

On board

Embarkation went off on time, this I believe is one of the rare European routes where Qatar flies one of the few single-aisle aircraft in its fleet, of course is an economic reason, few passengers that would not make a route with one of the Doha-based company's wide-body planes sustainable.

Unfortunately, the flight was operated in an 8-year-old A320 with the equally old business class cabin installed. A 2-2 configuration on three rows, with a total of 12 passengers in business.

The rest of the A320 is set up in the classic 3-3 configuration which is found on board all companies that use these planes around the world.

The chair

I had assigned myself seat 2F. The reasoning was based on the fact that in the first row you cannot keep your backpack close during takeoff and landing.

While the third row is closest to economy, so row 2 was the best possible option.

The colors are the iconic Qatar cabin colors, the seats are dark fabric, and the headrest is leather (or faux leather, I'm not sure).

The seating is wide, it could not be otherwise since two business seats occupy the space of 3 from economy.

However, it lacks everything that it would be logical to expect. It does not become a bed, there is no leg support, not even a footrest in the chair in front. The inclination is really small, and I don't understand why since the space between the chairs is really huge.

To get an idea of the space between rows, the assistant is able to stand in front of the passenger to set the coffee table even if the front passenger's backrest is reclined. The only positive note is the presence of the air vents.

The point is that being a flight of more than 4 hours and 30 minutes, at these levels it would be logical to expect at the very least more inclination and leg support to make it comfortable for the passenger to take a nap.

The service

What does not change is the smiles and timely service of the crew, the two business class attendants went out of their way to pamper the passengers, even handling those who were nervous for a reason unknown to me.

However, all the rest of Qatar's service is also missing. No amenity kit, or shortened version, is distributed. Instead just a bottle of water, a baggie containing socks and eye mask and nothing more.

IFE

Also disappointing to me was the in-flight entertainment system. There is no screen on the seats, but business passengers are given a 13-inch iPAD, while headphones were already in place.

The iPad is precarious with a lot of content, the problem is that a device to be held on the coffee table is not as convenient as a screen in the front seatback.

The reason is that I like to work on the computer while on the screen of the IFE I watch something for company, of course here I did not claim webcams, but a movie I have seen a thousand times before, or a background series I enjoy and relax. With this configuration you can't, as well as It is not comfortable to try to look at the iPad while trying to take a nap, too low table and definitely uncomfortable location.

Not to mention that with the table open, movement space is further reduced. Last but not least, the wi-fi was not working. This was the icing on the cake of the not-so-positive experience aboard this plane.

Food & Beverage

Qatar's wine cellar never disappoints; this time a Taittinger Rosé was offered on board as champagne, but there were other fine bottles available to guests.

What disappointed me (in part) was the food proposal. I did not get the Arabic Mezze to try the "Bulgarian" appetizer, bad choice. The filet I knew would come overcooked, but it was also straightforward and difficult to cut.

The only dish that was promoted was the strawberry panna cotta, although it was more of a cheesecake since it had the cookie at the base.

In conclusion

Of course I paid for 6 business flights less than 900 euros, means about 130 euros each way, but the point is that the same ticket could cost as much as 2000 euros that you would have the same service, I could bet that other passengers have paid far more than what I have spent, to fly even less far than what I will fly, and they too have had the same treatment.

From the FU' best company in the world, I expected something better,

The verdict

I knew what I would find, so I can't complain. Of course, though, this is not the best business class in the world. I have done intercontinental flights aboard single-aisle planes, so I have seen that you can definitely do better than what I found aboard this little A320

6

Service

7

IFE

5.5

F&B

6.5

Cabin and Armchair

5

Pro

• Service
• Price

Against

• The chair
• IFE and Wi-fi