I tested the most absurd business class seat, and now I wish I was rich
I am a lifelong economy flier. I am all too familiar with the common man's grind of air travel: 20 minutes standing in line, trudging through crowded aisles, hoisting heavy bags into tiny compartments, and squeezing past grumpy people into hard, narrow seats.
Recently, however, I got a chance to see how the other half flies -- in Qatar Airways' Qsuite, the first ever business-class suite to include doors and a double bed. It's an experience reviewers have called the best business-class seat in the world, from the airline Skytrax has named as the world's best business-class airline.
It comes at a price: A business class flight from JFK to Doha on Qatar Airways could cost as much as $7,000.
The Qsuite made its U.S. debut in December in aircrafts at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, and Qatar Airways is now in the process of rolling it out nationwide.
I received a tour of one of the newly outfitted aircrafts, and a brief mock "flight" while it was grounded.
The Suite
The business-class cabin was outfitted in soothing, but futuristic colors: grey, red, burgundy, in various hues. Qatar Airways Vice President for the Americas Günter Saurwein told me that the cabin's designers aimed to combine modern western influences with a more traditional middle-eastern style.
The lights faded between colors like a slowed-down disco ball, red to orange to purple, dark blue, lime green, and back again. At times, the cabin's aura was reminiscent of a dimly lit, classy restaurant.
The airline claims the Qsuite is the first business-class suite to feature a double bed. That's technically true, but it's slightly misleading. Each Qsuite has a total of of one seat, which can be folded down into a twin bed.
The suites located in the middle of the cabin (as opposed to beside the window) are placed next to each other, and walls between them can be pulled down to create one large suite. The two twin beds, side by side, create a double bed, with a slight gap and two sets of bedding. So you'd need to buy two Qsuites to have a double bed to yourself -- but it's a good option for couples.
Being a solo traveler, I opted for a twin suite beside a window. I entered through a door the height of my shoulder, which I could open and close with ease. The seat was quite comfortable, and a control panel next to it featured about a million buttons to customize settings from incline and height to lumbar support. I left it alone to start.
Awaiting me in my suite were a soft blanket, several decorative pillows, pajamas from The White Company, over-ear headphones, and a toiletry kit from Bric's with higher-quality toiletries and earplugs than I've ever owned. (I never actually put on the pajamas during the flight, but I've worn them since, and they're quite comfortable.) Beside the seat were an Ottoman-style storage unit and a hook for my jacket. I was ready to "fly."
The Flight
Once we were settled in, the cocktails came out. Qatar Airways serves -- and I don't say this lightly -- the best drink I have ever had in my life. It's a non-alcoholic mixture of mint, sugar, and lime juice, and I am positive it's served in heaven. I had three over the course of the flight.
Next came the food. Everything on the menu looked delicious, and I felt the agony of indecision beginning to descend upon me. That was for naught, however: It turned out I would be served everything.
The meal had three courses, along with a la carte snacks. The food was delicious, and by far the best part of the flight. In keeping with the fusion theme, the Qsuite's menu blends middle-eastern staples with Western fare.
We received artisan breads with hummus, a chicken biryani with fried onions and toasted nuts, a wild mushroom ravioli, and a fluffy chocolate cake with figs. We also got a large snack platter including beef sliders, mini chili con carne tacos, and mini strawberry cheesecake cupcakes. I ate everything, and have no regrets -- it was delicious.
Wine was served throughout, and a friendly flight attendant asked if I needed anything every 15-20 minutes.
The bathroom was shiny with marble-looking countertops, and included hand soaps and sanitizers that were unlabeled, but smelled ravishing. It was a far cry from the cramped, pungent quarters that are a staple of economy cabins.
The most disappointing part of the flight was the entertainment. The TV itself was much larger than one you'd see on an economy flight, and it featured games, movies, music, and TV shows, but all in limited quantities. I occupied myself by watching the one available episode of Cooks vs. Cons, in very high quality, several times over.
Finally, I fiddled with my seat's control panel until it eventually folded all the way back. I spread out my bedding, put on the absurdly soft sleep mask I'd been provided, and lay down. Sleeping on the Qsuite's seat wasn't quite like sleeping on a mattress, but it was close enough.
While atop the makeshift bed, listening to the low murmur of voices, the tap of utensils, clinking of glass, and cordial laughs of the flight attendants waiting on customers hand and foot, I couldn't help but consider the absurdity of it all. The fact that the same aircraft can serve as both an annoyance to be endured for some (like me) and a chance for others to be pampered beyond belief. The fact that to those able to shell out many thousands on transportation, such an experience may not be a luxury, but rather a continuation of a status quo unimaginable for most. The fact that those people and I fly through the same sky, in the same groundbreaking hunks of metal.
That said, if I win the lottery tomorrow, am I flying in the Qsuite forever more? You bet your ass.
Topics Innovations
Monica wrote for Mashable's Tech section with a focus on retail, internet of things, and the intersections of technology and social justice. She holds a degree in creative writing from Brown University, and has previously written for Dow Jones Media, the New York Post, Yahoo Finance, and others. In her free time, she can be found attempting to cook Asian food, buying board games, and looking for new hobbies.
