Review of Qatar Airways - Business Class - BHX-BKK November 2023 - & Updated with Return December 2023

[davidge]

Qatar Airways BHX-BKK November 2023

Although it’s 25 miles closer to me than Heathrow this was the first time I’d flown from Birmingham. I booked this flight because when I looked 5 weeks before travel it was much cheaper than anything decent from Heathrow. I paid £1967.40 by booking through the BA website.

Taxi arrived 7.20am but with Monday morning traffic and lots of roadworks it was a very stop start journey. It took three and a half hours to get to the airport including a short comfort break.

I went to get a trolley to find you have to pay! Not clear exactly how it works as its card only. Anyway, I just continued without one.

There’s construction going on at the terminal and it wasn’t at all clear where I was meant to go. It looks as if construction is badly needed as the terminal looks old, shabby and is quite shambolic. I went in through a door marked Arrivals and then I could see signs to departures. I think the outside route is blocked by the construction. The sign outside says Qatar used check in area D but when I got further down the electronic board said C.

Check in was open and fairly quiet. Swissport operate it on behalf of Qatar and the member of staff was rather brusque and gave the impression she had better things to do.

To get to security I had to go back towards arrivals and then upstairs. Airport staff at the entrance were disinterested and unhelpful. The security staff were without doubt the rudest I’ve come across in a very long time. People kept waiting around, staff going off to do other things and leaving belongings in a real mess when they searched bags. Despite it being fairly quiet it probably took about 25 minutes because of the staff.

It’s not a big airport so it didn’t take me long to get to the lounge. Qatar use Clubroom which is a lounge that any passenger can walk in and pay to use. It was fairly busy but no problem finding a seat. Later on it did get pretty full. 

There’s water, juice etc available and pastries. Tea, coffee and the bar items are ordered from the staff and they bring it to your table. Food is ordered from a menu and brought to the table. I don’t know if there was another toilet at the other end of the lounge but I don’t think so, at my end it was just one toilet for general use and one disabled. Fairly basic (no tissues, paper towels etc) and not particularly clean.

The staff were good and lunch was ok.

75 minutes before departure the board in the lounge showed the gate number and ‘Boarding’. Short walk to gate where they were getting Business and Special Assistance passengers through into the departure lounge.

Other passengers were left to queue outside the departure lounge for about 20 minutes.

there weren’t enough seats in the departure lounge but they’d opened the doors to the next gate so people could sit there, though a number just stood up.

We had to go down a number of quite steep steps to get to the plane. There was one small lift for wheelchair and other assistance passengers but there was a long queue and they were still waiting when Business passengers were called to board. We had to wait about 10 minutes on the gangway as they weren’t quite ready for boarding. Boarding took some time and was finished about 5 minutes before scheduled departure.

The amenity kit and a bottle of water were already at the seats. Cabin crew came around to introduce themselves, very pleasant and friendly as usual with Qatar. They brought menus for the ‘dine on demand’ and took orders just before take off. They also brought a welcome drink and a towel.

We pushed back 10 minutes after scheduled departure and took off about 10 minutes later. Flight time was 6 hours so we landed slightly ahead of schedule.

Service on board was excellent. The Business Class cabin on the Dreamliner was full except for the 2 seats at the back near the toilets and behind the snack bar. I find the seating on the Dreamliner to be very good. Not cramped and everything within easy reach.

There was an issue with the sound on my IFE but they reset it and it was fine. A reasonable selection of new movies and I enjoyed the 2 I watched.

I didn’t want a big meal so asked for the soup and bread about 30 minutes after take off and the afternoon tea 2 hours before landing. The leek soup was good and bread excellent. They did offer an appetiser before the soup (Alaskan crab) but I declined. The finger sandwiches were nothing to write home about but the scones were delicious. The Bordeaux was absolutely excellent.

Unlike the last time I was on a Dreamliner we did go to a gate and not bussed. We were at A gates so a fair walk to transfer security but there were moving walkways most of the way. Security was friendly and quick.

As I had over 2 hours to my next flight I did go up to the lounge. I didn’t want to eat but it was good to sit down somewhere slightly cooler and I had a few glasses of water. It was busy but finding a seat wasn’t a problem. The restaurants were very busy so it’s just as well I didn’t want to eat. There was a queue at the escalator to go to the upstairs restaurant as they were holding people there until tables opened up. The downstairs restaurant at the far end was taking people’s names and giving them a time to return. When I went to the gents people queuing for the showers were told it would be at least an hour if they wanted to give their names and return.

I made my way slowly to the gate in what I thought was plenty of time. I got there 70 minutes before departure and the departure lounge was already almost full. They were making Economy passengers wait outside. I managed to find a seat. As soon as the first wheelchair passenger was taken on board nearly everyone got up and starting moving towards the gate. All fairly chaotic but managed to get through and on board.

A 777 on this flight with 2-2-2 seating so I had one of the centre seats. Cabin was full. Enormous leg room on this plane. You can’t reach the seat in front without getting up.

Welcome drink and menus. Amenity kit (different to first flight) already at seat. Took off 25 minutes behind schedule, flight time under 6 hours, landed a couple of minutes ahead of schedule.

A different selection of movies on this flight. There were more of them but mainly older ones.

The wine list was the same as the first flight.

I ordered the soup and cheese plate for immediately after take off and just fruit and croissant just before landing. In the end I didn’t feel like anything for breakfast so just had another bottle of water before landing.

Lemongrass and coconut soup.

Very generous portion of some very nice cheese with selection of crackers.

Our gate was at the far end of the E gates so a fair distance from immigration. I was glad I’d ordered the buggy as I was really struggling after the journey. The first immigration area was very busy, queues out to the corridor and even the Fasttrack had quite long queues - not seen that before. My escort took me past the queues to an empty desk for Flight Crew. It took longer than usual as the fingerprint reader wasn’t working properly but I was soon through. A short wait for my suitcase and to the car. I was leaving the airport 35 minutes after getting to the gate.

 

In summary, the flights confirmed my opinion that it’s difficult to find anyone that’s better than Qatar for on board service etc. They are definitely the best of the airlines I’ve flown with.

 

[rog555]

You like soup !

I do too.   I wonder what a 'hand rolled omlette' is ?

 

[G_Money]

@davidge What buggy service did you use?  I used one company often before Covid but can’t remember their name.  Not for the buggy but for the escorted fast track.

Also, as a Business class flyer I believe you’re allowed to use fast track.

Great reporting BTW.

 

[davidge]

13 minutes ago, G_Money said:

@davidge What buggy service did you use?  I used one company often before Covid but can’t remember their name.  Not for the buggy but for the escorted fast track.

Also, as a Business class flyer I believe you’re allowed to use fast track.

Great reporting BTW.

 

I use https://www.limousine.in.th/

Yes, I can use Fasttrack as a Business Class passenger but I want to book the buggy so have to book Fasttrack with them as well. I have a back problem and can’t be sure what I’ll be like after a flight. This time was quite bad. I was struggling to stand up long enough to shave last night. 

I really appreciated the buggy yesterday as it was a long way to Immigration. It was also good being taken around the queues to an empty desk.

I book buggy, porter and taxi with them. So the escort hands me on to a porter, who gets my luggage and phones the driver so the taxi comes to the pick up area when we get there.

Worth it for me.

[mercmanrob]

Great report, shame about the Birmingham lounge, sounds a bit of a shit show. Good price as well in this day and age

[davidge]

29 minutes ago, mercmanrob said:

Great report, shame about the Birmingham lounge, sounds a bit of a shit show. Good price as well in this day and age

The Lounge was ok, apart from toilets, though waitress service for most things is a nuisance. Obviously designed to cut down on consumption.

[LoneCelt]

 

Great report.

 

I was in BHX last month, the construction is a nightmare but security has always been a nightmare there but hopefully the new setup will alleviate that. End of days for taking out your electronics and liquids.

[davidge]

1 hour ago, LoneCelt said:

 

Great report.

 

I was in BHX last month, the construction is a nightmare but security has always been a nightmare there but hopefully the new setup will alleviate that. End of days for taking out your electronics and liquids.

The young lady operating the X-ray took exception to the small talcum powder in my hand luggage. The same as I’ve carried for every trip for as long as I can remember without any issues.

My bag was ejected to the ‘search’ section where it sat for about 15 minutes before anyone could bother to look at it. Another, extremely rude, young lady eventually came and didn’t seem to know what talc was. She took my bag to another section a few yards away and when it came back everything was open, things hanging out of compartments and everything in a complete mess. I’ve genuinely never seen a security as bad - and that includes flying in and out of Saudi for years. Just an appalling attitude.

Once I’m home I will go on their Twitter feed - not that it will do any good.

 

[pattayaplayer]

That seems to be a very good price for Business Class.

[ICanand IWill]

Yeah - some UK airport security sucks. Only travelled through Birmingham a few times but have never been impressed, however, having experienced Manchester and Leeds/Bradford both of which are used as a breeding ground training school for new security guards to learn their obnoxious attitude, for me, it then makes even Heathrow a pleasant experience.

[tsmith18]

Qatar is one of the best, if not THE best. 

[davidge]

1 hour ago, pattayaplayer said:

That seems to be a very good price for Business Class.

I think I was lucky at the time I looked. As I said, the price was only available through the BA website. It was £400-500 more on the Qatar website.

Any airline I’d be willing to use from Heathrow was about £1000 more at least. Eva direct was £1250 more.

[Phoenix Dave]

I flew Qatar on my last trip, round trip NY JFK to BKK. The staff, plane and service were excellent, I'll not do it again for free.

I flew Premium Economy, and on all 4 legs of the journey, I was surrounded by kids with Philippine nannies. The moms sat several rows away while the kids screamed and carried on for hours, while the poor nannies were doing everything they could to keep the kids happy, apparently their income depended on satisfying kids. It was horrendous. I thought Japanese kids were the worst brats, but I was wrong. I'll go back to flying SE Asian or North Asian airlines.

[ZRHuser]

4 hours ago, Phoenix Dave said:

I flew Premium Economy

With Qatar? Do tell me more about it, because till now I never found one on any Qatar plane. 

[Phoenix Dave]

1 hour ago, ZRHuser said:

With Qatar? Do tell me more about it, because till now I never found one on any Qatar plane. 

I flew on a 777 from JFK to DOH, then an A-380 DOH to BKK. Then A-380 and 777 on the way home. I just checked, I thought it was Premium Economy, but no, it was Economy on all 4 flights, on the A380 I was upstairs, last 10 or so rows. The plane and service was as good as AA Premium Economy, but the passengers made it quite the shit show. It was quite bad between DOH and BKK (A380 segments).

[XXhriss]

Did almost the same route four weeks ago. Love the soup. We had a converted 777 with 1-2-1 out of DOH. Very small boxes. No Q Suite! Service from DOH to BKK was lousy. It depends on the crew.

[Link48]

Thanks for the great review. I am flying Qatar business class for the first time to Pattaya in December.  I can't wait to try out the Q-suite,  Although I didn't get it for that cheap price.

@davidge Did you pay with points or just got a good price when you looked for your dates?  Next time I'll try the BA website

[davidge]

6 minutes ago, Link48 said:

Thanks for the great review. I am flying Qatar business class for the first time to Pattaya in December.  I can't wait to try out the Q-suite,  Although I didn't get it for that cheap price.

@davidge Did you pay with points or just got a good price when you looked for your dates?  Next time I'll try the BA website

No, I didn’t use points. I was just lucky that the cheap fares were available through BA. I started by using Kayak which is where I saw the fares BUT a lot of the cheaper fares (about £1700) turned out to use Economy on one leg so I had to check carefully on the BA site. For the full Biz there was more availability for the early morning flights from/to Birmingham which wouldn’t have been so convenient but I found the lunchtime flights on a few dates so chose the ones that suited. I don’t know how often BA do this, or if it was a one-off.

My first flight back is in Q suites. It’s a refitted 777 so they use reverse herringbone. I’ve had Q suites once before and although they are private I did find them a bit cramped. The Birmingham flights are always on a Dreamliner (as were Cardiff flights) so is 1-2-1.

[ronthebrummie]

Was at BHX last Sat came on the train to International used Maglev got off at airport, and as you say, what a f***in shitshow, disgrace to the 2nd city.

[Link48]

31 minutes ago, davidge said:

My first flight back is in Q suites. It’s a refitted 777 so they use reverse herringbone. I’ve had Q suites once before and although they are private I did find them a bit cramped. The Birmingham flights are always on a Dreamliner (as were Cardiff flights) so is 1-2-1.

Thanks for the tips. I'll keep an eye on the BA website/kayak for my trip in May next year.  When you do the return leg in the Q-suite, could you do a similar review when you get the time?  It's always good to get first-hand experience from a fellow traveller.

I think I'm on the same Dreamliner/777 flying out but on the A380/Dreamliner flying back to the UK

[davidge]

9 hours ago, Link48 said:

Thanks for the tips. I'll keep an eye on the BA website/kayak for my trip in May next year.  When you do the return leg in the Q-suite, could you do a similar review when you get the time?  It's always good to get first-hand experience from a fellow traveller.

I think I'm on the same Dreamliner/777 flying out but on the A380/Dreamliner flying back to the UK

I’ll probably update this review then, maybe not quite so much details. It’s just under 4 weeks before I fly home. I do like the Dreamliner. Nice Biz layout with plenty of room to stand and stretch at the back next to the toilets and snack bar. Just avoid the 2 seats stuck right at the back on their own.

[billybob69]

Thought that I would piggy-back on your review of Qatar Airways BHX to BKK rather than start my own thread.

Agree that BHX is particularly shambolic at the moment. It isn't a logical airport at the best of times, but with the construction going on at the moment it takes it to a new level. I found the BHX check-in experience worse for Qatar than other long haul airlines flying out of there (Turkish, Emirates), but I think that was mostly due to the other passengers rather than the staff.

I flew economy and overall very satisfied with service. Good planes - 787 Dreamliner, A380's etc on the majority of flights.
I would say that not quite as good as Emirates or Etihad. The food seemed a little better and slightly better in-flight entertainment with those. Also with Qatar there does seem to be a greater emphasis on payment for 'extras' and could barely get my preference of a window seat even though I checked in days in advance. I would definitely fly with them again, particularly if they continue to fly from an airports close to me (BHX and hopefully CWL again).

Check-in / baggage drop at BKK was WAAAY easier for Qatar than it was for Emirates the year earlier.

Edited November 23, 2023 by billybob69
Typo

[neilri2001]

Many thanks for the review. I had never considered Birmingham Airport even though there is a direct rail link from where i live. Unfortunately for my dates next April it is currently showing a whisker under £4k. I will play around with some dates after Christmas to see if this changes though

[Chrisrs]

50 minutes ago, neilri2001 said:

Many thanks for the review. I had never considered Birmingham Airport even though there is a direct rail link from where i live. Unfortunately for my dates next April it is currently showing a whisker under £4k. I will play around with some dates after Christmas to see if this changes though

Look at Turkish from BHX, I flew last year and didn’t hesitate to book again for next March. Paid approx £2400 both times. Euro business from Birmingham on a 737 was in a really nice seat in a 2 - 2 configuration and just under 4 hours to IST. Great lounge in IST and then a 9 hours flat bed B777 to BKK. Food excellent on both flights and lounge

[Bonkabit]

1 hour ago, neilri2001 said:

Birmingham Airport ...Unfortunately for my dates next April it is currently showing a whisker under £4k. I will play around with some dates after Christmas to see if this changes though

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