Welcome Aboard Qatar Airways Business Class

Its arguably one of the best business class products on the market and perhaps for good reason; a number of its characteristics and offerings mimic more of a First Class product vs your standard business class affair. 

In addition to roomy seats that transform into fully flat beds, some of these suites come fully enclosed with sliding doors. Plus, on select flights, patrons are treated to caviar service, pajamas + slippers, an amuse bouche, and course meals. 

⚠️Fair warning though. Not all seats are created equal. Perhaps sometimes one of the baffling things about the airline - the lack of consistency. For its flagship product, QSuites (fully enclosed suites) you’d want to be on the lookout for this designation when booking your flight. Typically these can be found on the carrier’s A350-1000s and select B777-300ER and A350-900 aircraft. A nearly identical product also exists on their B787-9s. 

Overall top notch service and crew (albeit if some were not quite as enthusiastic as others). Well done. 

For attentive, trusted, and customized travel itineraries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

Ibiza, Island of Beaty; A brief memo

Sure, Ibiza, one of the islands in the Balearic sea, has long been synonymous with hedonism and debauchery of all manner, and to be sure, it wears this designation well. But, did you know that it’s also a place of immense natural beauty, lush landscapes, stunning beaches, and immaculate sunsets? If you’re looking for an alternative, a place to simply relax and chill, eat delicious food, take in the bountifulness of nature, it’s certainly an excellent option. 

For bespoke itineraries, do not hesitate to get in touch. We’re at your service. 

Wheels-up, Up Front

Dinner Service Aboard British Airways Club World (Business Class)

Let’s face it, provided the means, one would be hard-pressed to find a reason to elect to fly in the back cabin vs. upfront where it’s much roomier with added luxuries and creature comforts.
With fully-flat beds in (in some cases) fully enclosed suites, gourmet chef-inspired meals, premium beverages, lounge access and so on, it’s no wonder these come w/ hefty price tags.
The savvy traveler however can oftentimes workout how to circumvent some of these hefty costs via leveraging alternative currencies (credit card points), to secure upgrades or pay for the entire trip outright (another topic entirely), so it certainly isn’t beyond reach.

Over the years we’ve had the opportunity to try some of these premium cabins - some we’ve enjoyed more than others (they certainly aren’t all created equal, so be mindful). To inspire a future trip, we’ve featured a handful here including Emirates, Etihad, British Airways, Swiss & Iberia.

Iberia Business Class: New York - JFK to Madrid Barajas - MAD

What’s it like to fly @iberia Business Class transatlantic? Overall, a decent option. No particular standouts and on the other hand not necessarily at the bottom of the pack either.

The hard product: This particular flight was operated with their flagship A350-900 aircraft (note, the other option would typically be the older A330), so it was a quieter and generally more comfortable ride, owing to nextgen technology on these aircraft series.

The soft product: While ironically I’ve had much better, more personable service on previous flights, in Economy, the crew on this flight seemed mostly disinterested—performing their duties adequately though somewhat remotely.
In the same vein, meal and beverage offerings were mostly fine though nothing terribly earth shattering. Once again, ironically, I’ve had just as good in the back of the plane.

Overall, a decent option especially if priced right. At times discounted upgrades are offered close to departure. It could be well worth it if for nothing else at least, the chance to have a sleeper suite.