Photo Report & Review : AirlineReporter

As a US-based flyer, after I consider the large Center Jap airways I consider epic long-haul flights on 777s, A380s, and different huge planes. However can these airways ship an excellent expertise on smaller single-aisle plane?

We bought to seek out out on an A320 flight from Doha to Zanzibar on Qatar Airways, Skytrax’s greatest airline on the earth for 2024. Over the course of the six-hour flight we bought an in depth have a look at the airline’s narrowbody enterprise class seat and “medium-haul” service fashion.

So what must you count on onboard a Qatar A320 in contrast with their 777s, 787s, A350s, or A380s? Learn on to seek out out. And as traditional now we have some window seat views so that you can take pleasure in alongside the way in which.

Premium cabin passengers get entry to a devoted check-in space and safety checkpoint.

We needed to take a second to understand the well-known lampshade bear sculpture. Is it cool? Is it bizarre? Is it each? You be the decide.

There’s a ton of fine meals and helpful facilities on the airline’s Al Mourjan lounges. We’ll have a separate story about Qatar’s lounges and the bottom expertise at their Doha mega-hub.

Although the terminal at Hamad Worldwide is large, Qatar Airways has grown a lot lately that a number of the airline’s operations are at distant stands as an alternative of jetways. That does add a little bit of trouble. However from an AvGeek perspective it means nice views of the motion on the ramp:

Meet the Seat

We rolled as much as the Airbus A320 that might be taking us on our six-hour journey to Zanzibar.

Qatar has two completely different enterprise class seat configurations on their A320 fleet. One has recliner seats such as you’d discover on most airways’ A320 or 737 enterprise courses. However the different configuration, designed for longer flights like ours, options twelve lie-flat seats up entrance.

The Collins Diamond seat design has two seats per row on all sides of the aisle. It’s a nicer seat design should you’re touring as a pair, since in any other case there isn’t a lot privateness out of your neighbor.

Total it’s an excellent seat for an A320 enterprise class cabin. Not fairly pretty much as good as another single-aisle enterprise class seats that supply unobstructed aisle entry for each seat, like JetBlue Mint for instance. However nonetheless nicely above common.

Service bought began with a hey from the flight attendant, a pre-departure drink in actual glassware, and an intro to the airline’s dine-on-demand service. Should you’re flying Qatar enterprise keep in mind to have a look at the menu early since they take your full meal and drink order earlier than takeoff.

Even at night time it’s straightforward to understand the wonderful scale of Doha’s Hamad Worldwide Airport. Take a look at the view as we took off:

Because the Doha metropolis lights pale behind us the double-chimes went off and the flight attendants kicked into excessive gear.

Beginning the service

We have been invited to have meals at any time and any order, as is the same old for Qatar flights. Right here’s a have a look at the menu for the flight:

And right here’s a have a look at the drink record:

Pasta might be boring as an inflight meal. This dish wasn’t. It tasted nice and I appreciated the recent greens.

A fast dessert rounded out the meal.

Our flight attendant crew was wonderful. Nonetheless, we might inform that the labor-intensive dine-on-demand service fashion had them engaged on overdrive.

Settling in for the lengthy(ish)-haul

Inflight leisure programs fluctuate throughout Qatar’s fleet. On this A320 the display was giant, and the library of films and TV was lots for this flight although not as expansive as Emirates’ system, for instance. The inflight map design took me again to the 2000s.

These seats go totally flat while you’re able to sleep.

It was a gentle and comfy mattress, and the airline’s bedding is superb. I bought just a few hours of high quality sleep earlier than waking up in time for a pre-landing view and breakfast.

Similar to dinner, breakfast was plated fantastically.

For a breakfast on the finish of a medium-haul flight this felt method above common.

The views on descent into Zanzibar have been stunning:

The decision

All in all, this was a comfortable trip for a medium-haul narrowbody flight. Positive, all else being equal its a nicer trip on Qatar’s longer-haul widebodies. Particularly should you’re flying solo, because the A320 seat doesn’t supply the identical common direct aisle entry or privateness that Qsuite and Qatar’s different widebody enterprise class seats do. However you continue to get the advantages of a snug lie-flat seat with good finishes. In the long run it’s a adequate platform to permit the airline’s service to shine and to land nicely rested.

Simply keep in mind that a part of the airline’s A320 fleet has customary recliner-type seats. So that you’ll need to take note of the seat map while you guide.

We’ll be again with extra tales about our time flying Qatar Airways, together with a long-haul expertise with their QSuites seat. Within the meantime, tell us your ideas within the feedback part under.