Qatar Airways introduces the most luxurious Business Class to date

The travel community is abuzz with Berlin hosting the largest travel trade show. For days, Qatar Airways was expected to become a key player of this year’s edition…and the airline did not disappoint.

On the first day of the fair, Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker announced a potential order of 50 Airbus A321neos and plans for a 100-aircraft domestic airline in India. Two major announcements for the industry, even though nothing as exciting as the unveiling of the airline’s new Business Class, happening on the same day. The new QSuite concept will be retrofitted on to the existing Qatar Airways fleet starting from June 2017, at an estimated rate of one aircraft a month.

The lavish unveiling ceremony was attended by international media and guests of honor, including the Mayor of Berlin, Mr. Michael Müller and the Qatari Ambassador to Germany, His Excellency Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. Everyone celebrated the launch of this groundbreaking new seat design, created over a period of 2 years.

Each seat is crafted with thoughtful and luxurious details such as hand-stitched Italian leather and satin rose gold finishing, bringing an unprecedented level of luxury, privacy, and style to Qatar Airways’ Business Class offering. QSuite features the industry’s first-ever double bed available in Business Class, with privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room.

Adjustable panels and movable TV monitors on the center four seats allow colleagues, friends or families traveling together to transform their space into a private suite, allowing them to work, dine and socialize together. These new features provide the ultimate customizable travel experience that enables passengers to create an environment that suits their own unique needs.

In addition to the existing decadent ‘dine on demand’ service, the new Business Class menu will now offer a selection of snack ‘sharing dishes’ available throughout the flight, allowing travelers to turn dining at 35,000 feet into a social experience. A wake-up Express Breakfast will also be available for those who choose to sleep a little longer by making the most of the ‘Do Not Disturb’ option available on the door of their private QSuite.

10 Best first class Airline cabins

With holiday travel around the corner, many are busy gearing up for flights—not only by booking reservations, but mentally preparing for hours spent huddled with seats and tray tables in their upright and locked positions.

However, while some carriers continue to cut space and service, several have gone a different route. Committed to luxury for the long haul, the following airlines have taken off in popularity, thanks in part to cabins that make conventional first-class compartments seem commonplace and that offer a passenger experience that rivals five-star resorts.

Here is how we rank the 10 best first-class.

10: Qantas First Class

With a safety record that is second to none, Australia-based Qantas also has a reputation for refinement. Each premier pod in the First Class section contains an oversize seat that fully extends to accommodate a sheepskin mattress and a bounty of bedding. When awake, passengers can easily pass the time with a 17-inch entertainment system programmed with movies, games, and radio channels—all enjoyed with noise-canceling headphones.

In-flight meals—a gastronomic eight-course tasting menu—are prepared by Australia’s culinary giant, chef Neil Perry. A la carte entrées are also of equal excellence. Those who prefer wine when they dine have access to Sommeliers in the Sky who will pair dinner with the ideal varietal and vintage. This atmosphere of elegance may have a few feeling underdressed in Qantas’s complimentary cotton sleeping suits, but not to worry—a jacket is not required. Fare example at time of writing: one-way, first-class from Los Angeles to Sydney is about Euro 9.460 ($10,000). (qantas.com.au)

9: Korean Air Kosmo Suites 2.0

Premiered on Korean Air’s new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft, the carrier’s first-class Kosmo Suite 2.0 improves on its predecessor with a sliding door of one-way glass and higher partitions for enhanced privacy. Within each enclave is a 24-inch, high-definition monitor with a handheld remote and Bose headset, office space with a worktable, and a seat that is spaced almost 7 feet away from the nearest neighbor and is fully adjustable with one-touch controls.

Korean Air’s first-class fare combines cuisine from Japan, China, and the West with traditional Korean specialties in order to tempt any taste. Also sating the senses is an amenity kit with Davi skincare essentials and designer sleepwear from Gianfranco Ferre. Fare example at time of writing: one-way, first-class from New York to Seoul is about Euro 9.460  ($10,000). (koreanair.com)

8: Lufthansa First Class

With ample room to move about the cabin, German carrier Lufthansa’s First Class section comprises only eight posh pods aboard its Airbus A380. Passengers are ensconced in ergonomic seats measuring 6.5-feet in length and over 2.5 feet in width. Turndown service before slumber transforms the seat into a cozy bed with a mattress topper, fine linens, and a temperature-regulated duvet.

Many of the longer flights from Germany are catered by a rotation of top chefs from leading hotels (currently, outbound intercontinental flights feature entrées from Michelin three-star chef Harald Wohlfahrt from Hotel Traube Tonbach). Also pleasing the palate are wines selected by former Sommelier World Champion, Markus del Monego. More delightful distractions include a personal selection of 100 films in eight languages, 200 television shows, 300 music CDs, and over 30 radio programs to peruse. Fare example at time of writing: one-way, first-class from Miami to Paris is about Euro 7.000 ($7,400). (lufthansa.com)

7: British Airways First Suites

The sun may have set on the British Empire, but not on its elegant airline, as proven with British Airways’ First suites. Serenity starts preflight with a therapeutic treatment of choice at the Elemis Travel Spa (if traveling from London’s Heathrow or New York’s JFK airports). Once on board the airline’s A380, First passengers bask in one of 14 suites that contain generously sized seats (doubling as 6.5-foot beds) and 15-inch televisions with 1,600 hours of entertainment (including 130 movies and 650 shows).

On the menu are multicourse meals comprising a starter, a gourmet entrée, and a variety of desserts including a cheese platter garnished with chocolates and seasonal fruit. An afternoon tea service keeps delightfully true to the culture and is nothing short of scrumptious, as is the traditional English breakfast. And to nourish the skin, the complimentary amenity kits include products from Elemis. Fare example at time of writing: one-way, first-class from Washington, D.C., to London is about Euro 8.990 ($9,500). (britishairways.com)

6: Air France La Première Suite

A bon voyage is assured if flying in one of Air France’s La Première Suites aboard its Boeing 777-300s. Limited to only four per aircraft, each of the ample accommodations—dressed in wood accents, metallic finishes, and tweed-like touches—provides an expansive seat (with leather headrest) that doubles as a full-length futon. Curtains block out the rest of the cabin’s bustle, and a 24-inch display (programmed in 12 languages and loaded with 1,000 hours of entertainment) keeps any chance of boredom at bay.

As would be expected of an airline whose country is famed for food, Air France presents La Première passengers with delicacies crafted by Michelin-starred master chefs Michel Roth, Anne-Sophie Pic, Joël Robuchon, Guy Martin, and Régis Marcon—complementing the cuisine with an ever-changing wine list. The sumptuous spread is served on Bernardaud porcelain plates accompanied by Christofle cutlery and glassware—sophisticated touches that give any journey that je ne sais quoi. Fare example at time of writing: one-way, first-class from New York to Paris is Euro 7.950 ($8,400). (airfrance.com)

5: Cathay Pacific Airways First Class Suites

A top-tier transport for almost 70 years, Cathay Pacific Airways continues to come up with new ways to coddle passengers. Its Boeing 777-300ER airplanes now feature nine redesigned First Class suites set in a cabin accented with art from sculptors Maria Lobo and Linda Leviton. The solitary sanctuaries include leather-trimmed seats that transition to beds, a widescreen television with numerous on-demand audio and video selections (as well as a multiport connector to stream from your own tablet to the television), and an LCD touchscreen controller to adjust seat settings and the immediate environment. The complimentary amenity kit carries a 100-percent-cotton sleep suit from PYE (complete with slippers and eye mask) and an assortment of Aesop skincare products.

First Class dining is just that. Working in partnership with chefs from the Mandarin Oriental hotel group for many of the flights, Cathay Pacific’s exclusive menu reflects the diversity of the airline’s home city Hong Kong. Global gourmet selections are created in a galley equipped with rice cookers, toasters, and steam ovens so that meals are made fresh to order—and caviar is a constant. Fare example at time of writing: one-way, first-class from Los Angeles to Hong Kong is about Euro 8.800 ($9,300). (cathaypacific.com).

4: Qatar Airways First Class

Quality in quantity is the hallmark of Qatar Airways, especially in its First Class cabins. Each personal parlor presents a flat-bed seat, a 26-inch LCD display with over 2,000 choices in entertainment, and work space facilitated by a USB port and on-air mobile service. Bedtime is a dream with Frette linens, designer pajamas, and, when ready to rise, a Giorgio Armani amenity kit.

In-flight meals have reached a milestone as the airline has teamed with celebrity chefs Nobu Matsuhisa and Vineet Bhatia to craft culinary delights that take into account religious and dietary restrictions and comprise flavor combinations best suited to our altered taste at altitude. And while alcohol is not part of Qatar’s repertoire, the ambience is intoxicating enough. Fare example at time of writing: one-way, first-class from Los Angeles to Doha is about Euro 8.330 ($8,800). (qatarairways.com)

3: Singapore Airlines Suites

Already synonymous with excellence, Singapore Airlines ups the ante with first-class Singapore Airlines Suites available on its A380s. Recalling deluxe sleeper cars from the golden age of train travel, the enclosed compartments are decked in dark wood finishes and leather, and equipped with sliding doors and window blinds to diminish distraction. The comprehensive entertainment system consists of a 23-inch LCD display, over 80 on-demand movies, numerous interactive games and applications, and Bose noise-canceling headphones. Hours of sitting are sublime thanks to an oversized, hand-stitched-leather Poltrona Frau chair. And when ready to recline, a dedicated bed also beckons.

To personalize the pampering even more, passengers can customize their culinary experience through Singapore’s Book the Cook service (arranged at least 24 hours before the flight), selecting, in some cases, from over 60 memorable meals. And a wine list lush with celebrated Champagne, Grand Cru Burgundy, and Second Growth Bordeaux adds beautiful balance. Fare example at time of writing: one-way, first-class from Los Angeles to Singapore is Euro 7.380 ($7,800). (singaporeair.com)

2: Emirates First Class Private Suite

The sultan of the skies, Dubai-based Emirates serves those in its First Class Private Suites (available on its Airbus A380s and A340-500s, and most Boeing 747s) as if they were sheiks. Lavishly cocooned from the rest of the cabin, passengers dine any time they desire. Regionally inspired entrées (with ingredients culled from local sources) are paired with sommelier-selected wines and served on Royal Doulton bone china mated with Robert Welch cutlery and white-linen tablecloths. 

When sleep is on the menu, mattress-padded seats recline completely flat to form a On the A380, other A-list amenities include access to the Onboard Lounge (and its array of canapés and cocktails) and the A380 Shower Spa supplied with Bulgari bath and beauty products. No wonder actress Jennifer Aniston has nightmares about flying with anyone else. Fare example at time of writing: one-way, first-class from New York to Dubai is about Euro 20.350 ($21,500). (emirates.com) bed.

1: Etihad Airways Residence and First Apartments

Considered the finest commercial accommodations in the air, the Residence aboard Etihad’s Airbus A380 puts a premium on privacy and panache. The 125-foot, three-room suite is furnished with a Poltrona Frau leather sofa, two dining tables, and a 32-inch flat-screen television featuring over 750 hours of programming. Guests stretch out in the opulence of a double bed dressed in Egyptian-cotton sheets, a natural-fiber duvet, and plethora of pillows. Satisfying the appetite at altitude is a private chef (butler service is also provided) serving gourmet fare on fine bone china and libations in Lucaris crystal. Before landing, a shower in the en suite bathroom will ensure that travelers arrive revived.

Also within Etihad’s A380 are nine First Apartments, each arranged with a Poltrona Frau armchair and an ottoman that transitions to an 81-inch bed. In addition, a 24-inch television, a refrigerator, a vanity, and access to the First Class bathroom and shower help set the scene for serenity. Fare examples at time of writing for one-way, first-class flights from New York to Abu Dhabi: The Residence is $32,000 for one or two guests, and the First Apartment is Euro 15.100 ($16,000) per person. (etihad.com)

Seven of this Year’s Nominees for the Best Aircraft-Cabin Innovations

The Crystal Cabin Award is to aircraft interiors what the Oscar is to films. Earlier this year, a couple days after the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for this year’s Oscars, the Crystal Cabin Award Association released its shortlist for the 2017 honors.

For 11 years now, it has been the annual indicator of trends in aircraft cabins and passenger experience: the Crystal Cabin Award. After last year’s tenth anniversary awards attracted so much attention for winners and finalists all over the world, the 2017 competition is more international and more hotly contested than ever before. 85 applicants from 21 countries have made it onto the shortlist this time round. This is not just a new record in terms of countries; it is also the third time in a row to see a new record for shortlist entries. Aircraft manufacturers, airlines, suppliers, engineering firms and universities are battling it out to take home this year’s striking white trophies, traditionally awarded on the first evening of the Aircraft Interiors Expo (4 – 6 April, 2017) in Hamburg. Submissions range from complete cabin systems to innovative individual components, from an economy seat for short-haul flights to luxury cabins for long-haul private jets.

Delta One Suite

In the airline’s new all-suite business cabins, each passenger has a private space that is accessed by a sliding door and includes stowage areas, an advanced in-flight entertainment system, and premium materials, trim, and finishes. The suite is scheduled to debut this year on Delta’s flagship A350-900 aircraft and be retrofitted on Delta’s existing 777-200 fleet beginning in 2018.

United Polaris

Designed for the business-class section of the airline’s wide-body international fleet, the suites are configured in a 2-4-2 layout that provides each passenger with direct access to an aisle. They include plenty of stowage and work space and offer on-demand entertainment. Each is also equipped with an illuminated do-not-disturb sign. Passengers will have access to the Polaris Lounges that are opening at various airports. In the lounge, you can have a meal, take a shower, or relax on a chaise lounge. The Polaris business-class program launched in December with the opening of the first lounge, at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. The seats are expected to debut on the airline’s Boeing 777s early this year.

Quantas A330 Business Suites

The lie-flat seats in the Business Suites, which were designed in collaboration with Marc Newson and are available on 26 Qantas A330 aircraft, are billed as the first in the world that allow passengers to recline from takeoff through landing. The suites are configured in a 1-2-1 layout so that every passenger has direct aisle access. Each suite also has a do-not-disturb feature: The suite number glows red, indicating to the cabin crew that the you want to be left alone. Other features include a 16-inch video screen, a large vanity mirror, an integrated coat hook, and a water-bottle holder that has been certified for use during taxiing, takeoff, and landing.

Hawaiian Airlines Premium Cabin

This cabin design features 18 seats that recline fully flat and are aligned in a 2-2-2 configuration, making it ideal for people traveling in pairs. The seats are equipped with intuitive controls and an in-flight entertainment system that you control with a large-screen tablet that’s integrated into the seat arm. Each seat is also equipped with an adjustable partition that contains natural reeds embedded in resin.

Kestrel Aviation Management BBJ 787

Kestrel oversaw the design and completion of this custom-configured Boeing Dreamliner, an aircraft that can make 17-hour flights and, in airliner form, carry 240 passengers. The forward area of the lounge is furnished with twin sofas that slide together electronically to form a daybed that faces a 55-inch video screen. Adjacent to the sofas are four single seats (two on each side of the aircraft) with pop-out tables that can serve as workstations. In the master suite, the walls are equipped with extra soundproofing to further insulate the space from engine noise and sounds from the main lounge. The suite is furnished with a California king-size bed, a 42-inch video screen, and a refrigerator and freezer in the dressing area.

Lufthansa Technik/Mercedes-Benz Style VIP Cabin

Mercedes-Benz Style collaborated with Lufthansa Technik to create the VIP cabin, which is designed for narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing BBJ and Airbus ACJ. The front of the cabin features a galley in which food can be cooked instead of just heated and served. This section of the cabin also includes a VIP lavatory. In the aft part of the cabin is a bedroom with a king-size bed, a concave-shaped and upholstered head wall, and a glass-enclosed shower. The cabin, which accommodates 16 passengers, has a helix shape that enabled the designers to eliminate many lining and wall elements.

Ameco Beijing’s Airbus ACJ319 Cabin

Created by China’s Ameco Beijing for the business-jet version of the Airbus A319 airliner, this cabin concept features a master bedroom with a bathroom and shower, a VIP lounge with two club seats and a divan that holds five people, and a large guest area with eight mini suites and a bathroom. The interior’s design motif was inspired by the traditional Chinese ink-and-wash landscape paintings of the Song Dynasty (960–1279). The cabin is intended to accommodate 10 passengers.

The world's Top 10 Airports of 2016

Changi Airport Singapore

Often awarded the number one airport in the world, Changi Airport Singapore entertains more than 50 million travelers per year.

Get some fresh air at Terminal 1’s rooftop garden, filled with more than 100 species of cacti and succulents, or take a nature walk at either Terminal 2’s Orchid Garden or Terminal 3’s Butterfly Garden. You can also catch a movie at the state-of-the-art theater and decompress at one of the spas or the rooftop pool. For a real layover pick-me-up, take a wild ride down Terminal 3’s four-story slide. (changiairport.com)

Munich Airport (Germany)

It’s Oktoberfest every day at Munich Airport, thanks to a roofed-in beer garden and on-site brewery featuring five rotating seasonal beers and three regulars. Complement those hops with a bit of golf at the airport’s mini-golf course, or catch a live event—from polo to volleyball—at the Munich Airport Center. This fall, from September 16 through October 9, the event center will offer travelers the opportunity to surf some artificial waves with its Surf & Style pool producing a 5-foot-tall wave. (munich-airport.de)

Chubu Centrair International Airport (Nagoya, Japan)

If flying inspires a desire for sky-high thrills, Chubu Centrair International Airport has just the thing: The airport’s 984-foot Sky Deck gives visitors a front-row view of departing planes. After the air show—which is open to travelers both day and night—relax at the traditional Japanese bathhouse for a soothing soak. (centrair.jp)

Hong Kong International Airport

Cathay Pacific’s hub, Hong Kong International Airport, has long been known as the standard-bearer for over-the-top lounges. The newly opened Pier First Class Lounge is the airport’s latest upscale endeavor, featuring such relaxing offerings as a spa and nap rooms. More active travelers can venture to the airport’s IMAX theater, its GreenLive AIR golf-course simulator, or its Aviation Discovery Centre offering aviation-themed exhibits and an observation deck. (hongkongairport.com)

Dubai International Airport

To say there are endless shopping options at Dubai International Airport is putting it mildly: Luxury brands like Cartier, Hublot, Montblanc, and Gucci are all available at the airport’s omnipresent Dubai Duty Free shops. If retail therapy proves an unsuccessful remedy for jet lag, the airport’s swimming pool or Zen garden filled with ponds, trees, and benches are sure-fire stress relievers. For a power nap, head to DXB’s SnoozeCubes, soundproof units featuring private beds, touchscreen TVs, and just enough room to store your carry-on luggage. (dubaiairports.ae)

Incheon International Airport (South Korea)

Like Seoul itself, Incheon International (ICN) is a shopper’s paradise. The Korean airport is one of the largest duty-free shopping destinations in the world, and includes Louis Vuitton’s first-ever duty-free outlet. ICN is also home to gardens, an ice-skating rink and ice forest, the Cultural Museum of Korea, and a spa. (airport.kr) 

Frankfurt Airport (Germany)

The Door to Gate, Gate to Door Service at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) sets the luxury tone before you even step out the door. The luxe chauffeured-limo service whisks travelers from their point of origin to an exclusive security checkpoint, then straight to the gate, bypassing all the trials and tribulations of an airport departure. The VIP service is also available for transfers and arrivals at FRA. (Frankfurt-aiport.com)

Helsinki Airport (Finland)

True to Scandinavian style, the Helsinki Airport is a visual treat with installations by local artists, an art gallery, and design shops from iconic Finnish brands like Marimekko. For a taste of local leisure, head to the two-story Finnair Premium Lounge, where you can experience a traditional Finnish sauna at the spa. (finavia.fi)

Schiphol Amsterdam Airport

Everything appears authentically Dutch at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, from the sidewalk-café-style restaurants serving the local delicacy of raw herring to the funky interiors by such Dutch designers as Marcel Wanders and Piet-Hein Eek. Other treats-in-transit include a casino, a mini-Rijksmuseum (reopening this fall), a meditation center, spas, and a library. (schiphol.nl)