Wheels up to the Maldives. Planning the trip of a lifetime isn’t easy, but someone has to do it.
I was delighted to hear that Qatar Airways has started flying to Atlanta, Georgia – which officially bridges the gap between the Middle East and “The South.” Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
Qatar Airways had the most direct routes, superior customer service and economical rates. It was easy to fly with Qatar Airways for these reasons; however, I had never flown with them before. Here is my review.
We arrived to Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta, three hours before our flight. The check-in lines were fairly short and when we spoke to the gate agent, she was professional and personable. Our bags were weighed and we were under the limit (70 lbs for check-in bags, 33lbs for carry-on bags for business class and 15 lbs for carry-on bags for economy) – hooray we made it! Our carry-on bags were also tagged with Qatar luggage tags.
We were handed our boarding passes, but I had to ask – Is there any space available in first class?
PRO TIP: First/business class is typically sold at a discount right before the flight if there are still available seats.
The mister decided to splurge and we were upgraded to business class for $850/per person for the 13 hour flight ahead (well, worth it in my opinion). On the way back to Atlanta, we also got upgraded to business class but this time it was comped by the airline.
This is a summary of my experience flying business with Qatar Airways round-trip and everything I encountered along the way.
After we cleared security, we were given complimentary access to the premier lounge in the International (F) Terminal called The Club at ATL, which offers unlimited cocktails, beverages, and good eats.
Once we had our fill of food and drinks, the receptionist let us know our flight was boarding and we had priority access to board first. It’s always nice to board first because you’re aren’t crowded or waiting in a line to board.
As soon I walked onto the plane, a flight attendant personally guided me to my seat and offered some champagne or any beverage of my choice. I can get use to this. Rosé Champagne – please & thank you.
Immediately after the cocktails, we were brought hot towels to refresh ourselves and Bric’s toiletry bags, made with Tuscan leather. Inside the bag was packed goodies, which included an eye mask, socks, and Monte Vibiano’s lip balm, moisturizer, and facial mist. Additional toiletry items such as toothbrush, toothpaste and razors are located in the lavatory.
Then the manager of the flight stopped by to introduce herself to ensure we had a pleasant journey. We were given menus and told we could order anything from the menu, whenever we wanted. Eat at your leisure or on their schedule – the choice is yours!
Yup, that’s a waffle with caramelized bananas, crème fraîche, fresh strawberries and then garnished with mint. Delicious! Everything on the flight was divine and glorious.
Appetizer of grilled asparagus, mozzarella cheese with dried tomatoes, artisan bread with a pomegranate and mango salad
We were also offered turn down service – when the flight attendant will make your bed with a light mattress pad, pillow, and a heavy blanket. Also – not only does the seat turn into a flat bed but it also doubles as a massage chair.
Wait – you can’t too comfy without pajamas and slippers, which is also provided by Qatar Airways. They were very comfortable and soft.
Within hand’s reach are noise cancelling headphones as well as a touch screen entertainment screen with tons of movies, tv shows, audio books, and games. Over the ear noise cancellation headphones are cumbersome to travel with, so this was a delightful addition to the flight experience. Engine sounds – no more! There are also outlets next to seat to charge all your electronics (phone, laptop, etc.)
Overall, Qatar Airways exceeded my expectations of a world class airline. For the first leg, I slept 8 hours of a 13 hour flight. I arrived in Doha, Qatar refreshed and ready to take on adventure. I highly recommend travelers to not only fly Qatar Airways, but to upgrade to enjoy the amenities.
Going Places Together – Qatar Airways
Have you flown Qatar Airways? What has been your experience? As always, let’s continue the conversation on Twitter!
