Qatar keeps Qsuite cabin on Bangkok-Doha route through March 2019

Greetings from the Air Canada lounge at Frankfurt airport. In less than an hour I’ll be boarding the Qatar Airways Qsuite on the Airbus A350-1000 to Doha and it’s certainly an exciting feeling to be trying out this fantastic looking new product.

There’s some more good news for those of you waiting patiently for your turn to try this ‘First in Business’ experience – one of the daily Qatar Airways Doha-Bangkok flights currently featuring the Qsuite, which was scheduled to revert to the older cabin configuration from 28th October, will now continue to be served by a Qsuite equipped Boeing 777 through the end of the northern winter season in March 2019.

This provides you even more opportunity to experience the Qsuite within easy reach of Singapore, and will supplement a daily Singapore-Doha A350-1000 Qsuite flight from 2nd November this year. See our article from last week about that service, which will ramp up to two daily Qsuite aircraft by December.

The schedule

From 28th October the Qsuite will continue to feature on the Bangkok – Doha route as QR831, a morning departure from Bangkok arriving into Doha at lunchtime.

On the Doha – Bangkok sector QR830 carries the Qsuite, with overnight service departing around 8pm for a 7am arrival into Bangkok the next morning.

Here is the full current summer schedule for this route, and the new winter schedule coming into force on 28th October. Note also that an additional 7th daily service is introduced for the winter season (QR838/839), though unfortunately this does not feature the Qsuite.

Qsuite flights are those highlighted (QR830/831) in each case.

Current schedule (until 27th October 2018)

Bangkok – Doha

* Next day. EQV – Equipment varies.

Doha – Bangkok

* Next day. EQV – Equipment varies.

New schedule (from 28th October 2018)

Bangkok – Doha

* Next day

Doha – Bangkok

* Next day

Qatar Bangkok lounge

You may notice that the new schedule from 28th October, with better distributed departure timings from Bangkok and a 7th daily service, will mean significantly improved opening times for the new Qatar Airways lounge at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport.

The lounge features a manned bar, delicatessen and private dining area, which should offer à la carte dining options in future.

As it stands this relatively new facility, which is also available to Business Class passengers flying with other oneworld airlines like Cathay Pacific, JAL and Finnair, is closed between 9am and 4.30pm, however this closure will no longer be possible under the new schedule.

With the longest gap between Qatar departures from Bangkok set to be 5 hours each day, there is little point in the lounge ever closing and we foresee 24-hour opening being announced from 28th October.

That’s good news if you’re flying Business or First Class with another oneworld airline as this lounge is likely to be a nice change with potentially better service and amenities than the usual Cathay or JAL offerings.

Do note however that oneworld Emerald status is not sufficient to access this lounge, you must be travelling in Business or First Class with a oneworld airline to be eligible.

Redemptions

Here’s a quick reminder of the redemption rates on Qsuite flights (which are the same as other Qatar Airways Business redemption rates) from Bangkok to Doha and also Singapore to Doha, with a variety of frequent flyer programs.

Qatar Qsuite redemption rates
FFP used	BKK – DOH	SIN – DOH
	67,500
	50,000
	60,000
	53,000	65,000
	40,000

American Airlines AAdvantage miles or Asia Miles represent the best value here.

Summary

More Qatar Qsuite Business Class seats closer to home is good news for many of our readers looking forward to trying this exciting new seat. If booking a full-fare ticket is your way to experience the Qsuite, fares to and from Bangkok are usually significantly cheaper than those to and from Singapore. We also find redemption availability to be a little better.

Extended opening of the new Qatar lounge in Bangkok from the end of October is also great news for anyone flying oneworld Business or First class looking to try this facility.

We wonder if the Qsuite product is the first real contender to the excellent long-haul Business Class products offered by Singapore Airlines, and in the next few hours we’ll be finding out for ourselves.

Stay tuned to our Instagram channel for the latest updates, and of course look out for the full Qsuites review coming up soon.

(Cover Photo: Andy Luten at www.andystravelblog.com)