Back in April we reported on the happy news that Qatar Airways had reinstated pre-COVID full Qsuite operation on all three of its daily Singapore flights, a welcome return for the carrier’s highly-lauded Business Class product without the added risk of older seat types in the mix.
Of course there remained one caveat – that the airline always reserves the right to make operational substitutions where required, meaning potential disappointment for some.
There’s good news though – after 10 weeks of planned all-Qsuite operation on the route, the chance of Business Class travellers being faced with the older Collins Diamond seat (itself not exactly a dreadful proposition) has been just 1%.
Qatar is sticking to its ‘promise’
On the Singapore – Doha – Singapore route, only 3 flights out of 222 departing Changi between 11th April and 23rd June 2023, or around 1%, have operated with the older Collins Diamond seats.
That’s a 99% Qsuite success rate over the last 10 weeks.
The 3 flights with the airline’s older Business Class product during this period were likely unavoidable operational changes, which can happen to any airline, necessitating an aircraft swap usually to retain schedule integrity.
Here’s how actual day-by-day deployment of Business Class seat types on Qatar’s Singapore – Doha route has looked during this period.
Qatar Airways Business Class seats
Singapore – Doha
11 Apr – 23 Jun 2023
| Date | QR945 02:40 |
QR943 10:45 |
QR947 21:00 |
|||
| A/c | Seat | A/c | Seat | A/c | Seat | |
| 11 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 12 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 77L | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 13 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite |
| 14 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 77L | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 15 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite |
| 16 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 77L | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 17 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 77W | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 18 Apr | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite |
| 19 Apr | 351 | Qsuite | 77L | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 20 Apr | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 21 Apr | 351 | Qsuite | 77W | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 22 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 23 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 77L | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 24 Apr | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 25 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 26 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 27 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 28 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 29 Apr | 351 | Qsuite | 77L | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 30 Apr | 359 | Qsuite | 77L | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 1 May | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Diamond | 359 | Qsuite |
| 2 May | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite |
| 3 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 4 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 5 May | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 6 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 7 May | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite |
| 8 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 9 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 10 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 11 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 12 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 13 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 14 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 15 May | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 16 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 17 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 18 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 19 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 20 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 21 May | 359 | Diamond | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 22 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 23 May | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 24 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 25 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Diamond | 351 | Qsuite |
| 26 May | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 27 May | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 28 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite |
| 29 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 30 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 31 May | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 1 Jun | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 2 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 3 Jun | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 4 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 5 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 6 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 7 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 8 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 9 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 10 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 11 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 12 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 13 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 14 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 15 Jun | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 16 Jun | 77W | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 17 Jun | 77W | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 18 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 19 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 20 Jun | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 21 Jun | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 22 Jun | 359 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 23 Jun | 351 | Qsuite | 359 | Qsuite | 351 | Qsuite |
| 24 Jun ↓ 28 Oct (plan) |
359 or 351 |
Qsuite | 359 or 351 |
Qsuite | 359 or 351 |
Qsuite |
With only 50% of Qatar Airways’ Singapore flights featuring the Qsuite towards late March 2023, before the carrier was loading all-Qsuite operation on the route, this is fantastic news since it shows the airline is most certainly sticking to its ‘promise’, except for some very occasional unlucky operational swaps.
It’s not just chance
If you’re flying on a Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1000, you’re guaranteed the Qsuite in Business Class – these planes simply don’t have anything else in that cabin.
It’s only if you’re flying on a Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 to or from Singapore, or your flight is substituted for a Boeing 777-200LR or 777-300ER aircraft, there’s a risk of a non-Qsuite cabin on board.
Crucially though, 54% of flights on the Singapore – Doha route during the last 10 weeks have been operated by these ‘non-Qsuite-guaranteed’ aircraft types. Less than 30% of the carrier’s A350-900s have Qsuite, for example.
Make no mistake about it – this is a deliberate policy on the Singapore route by Qatar Airways, now that a large number of Qsuite-equipped aircraft have returned to service following the resolution of a spat with Airbus over peeling paint.
Indeed it restores the carrier’s pre-COVID ‘Qsuite promise’ on the route, which was being achieved with a similar high percentage rate pre-COVID, and even in the early days of the pandemic, before the paint tiff with Airbus kicked off.
The policy is perhaps no surprise when operating at the home base of a large competitor – SIA – who continue to shun the privacy of closed-door suites as a Business Class option for now.
Qatar Airways prioritises its Qsuite product on the Singapore route, and it’s not hard to see why. (Photos: Qatar Airways / TPG)
The schedule
Qatar Airways operates three flights per day from Singapore to Doha, all of which now have the Qsuite through to the end of the northern summer season, with a mixture of Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft used.
Singapore – Doha
Now – 28th October 2023
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
QR945 A350  |
||||||||
| SIN 02:40 |
DOH 05:25 |
||||||||
|
QR943 A350 |
||||||||
| SIN 10:45 |
DOH 13:30 |
||||||||
|
QR947 A350 |
||||||||
| SIN 21:00 |
DOH 23:45 |
||||||||
From Doha to Singapore, the same three daily flights operate as follows.
Doha – Singapore
Now – 28th October 2023
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
QR948 A350 |
||||||||
| DOH 02:40 |
SIN 15:45 |
||||||||
|
QR944 A350 |
||||||||
| DOH 08:25 |
SIN 21:25 |
||||||||
|
QR942 A350 |
||||||||
| DOH 20:00 |
SIN 09:05* |
||||||||
* Next day
What’s the Qsuite like?
We first flew the Qsuite on the A350-1000 from Frankfurt to Doha back in September 2018, just after it launched.
It wasn’t perfect – the food and service were a bit of a let-down, and the seat itself is smaller than it looks (certainly no First Class competitor in size terms).
Nonetheless, the design and finish of the product, the excellent privacy and the ‘proper’ double bed or quad / group style middle seating options simply make this a fantastic hard product.
If you haven’t tried it – you should!
We have enjoyed several Qsuite trips since our review, and we’re happy to report it’s still well worth targeting for your trip – significantly better than any Business Class seat offered by Singapore Airlines, for example.
How to redeem the Qsuite
Qatar Airways does not pass fuel surcharges on to its own Privilege Club members (or BA Avios members) redeeming Qatar Airways, though unfortunately award surcharges have recently been re-introduced.
Nonetheless, the Avios programme is still among the cheapest redemption options from Singapore to Europe in Business Class, with the excellent Qsuite now offered on all Singapore flights (and many flights beyond Doha too).
Here are some example redemption options using the programme, showing miles rates and taxes payable for redeeming on Qatar Airways flights one-way from Singapore using Avios, against some other programmes (careful of those fuel surcharges!).
| Qatar Business Class redemption from Singapore | ||||
| FFP | Doha | London | Athens | New York |
 |
50k +S$159 |
75k +S$299 |
70k +S$299 |
95k +S$351 |
 |
61k +S$444 |
70k +S$757 |
70k +S$757 |
90k +S$895 |
 |
75k +S$444 |
119.2k +S$757 |
90k +S$757 |
159k +S$895 |
 |
82k +S$444 |
131k +S$757 |
131k +S$757 |
165k +S$895 |
As you can see even though you’ll pay slightly less to fly in Business Class from Singapore to London on Qatar Airways using Asia Miles, the fuel surcharge payable through that programme significantly increases the cash outlay to over S$750, compared to S$299 using Privilege Club or BA Avios.
You’re always better using Avios if you can, when redeeming Qatar Airways flights.
What about 29th October onwards?
Qatar Airways is currently listing its non-Qsuite equipped Airbus A350-900s on all three daily Singapore services from the start of the next northern winter season, which starts on 29th October 2023, before switching back to all-Qsuite operation in the summer 2024 season from late March next year.
Don’t read too much into that at this stage.
The airline usually makes final adjustments to its network schedule and aircraft type allocation only around two months before the next season starts.
For example, Qatar only switched its Singapore aircraft type allocation for the May to October 2023 period in late March 2023 – with initially rostered Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 787-8 operation changed to the (more typical) all-A350 services on the route.
We strongly suspect the Qsuite will remain on all three flights on this route from 29th October 2023 onwards, as it did before COVID-19, with the older Collins-equipped aircraft effectively listed as a ‘placeholder’ for now (aircraft types on upcoming schedule seasons are usually a copy-paste of the previous year).
As we mentioned before, it’s no coincidence that Qatar showcases its Qsuite on the Singapore route where possible – directly on the home turf of a tough competitor!
We would therefore be very surprised given the ongoing rollout of more Qsuite-equipped aircraft if the Singapore route now downgrades again, so don’t panic about a booking on or after 29th October 2023 just yet.
How to check your flight has Qsuite
To be sure that your Qatar Airways flight has the Qsuite, and to monitor this until your departure date, see our guide below (click to expand).
How to check your flight has Qsuite
If you're flying on a Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1000, you're guaranteed the Qsuite in Business Class - these planes don't have anything else.
If you're flying on a Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 to or from Singapore, or your flight is substituted for a Boeing 777-200LR or 777-300ER aircraft, the airline prioritises those with the Qsuite for this route, but because not all of those models have it there is then a chance for a non-Qsuite substitution.
Before you book or redeem, check the seat map at ExpertFlyer. A free account is sufficient. If your flight has the Qsuite it will look like this, with seats shown staggered from one another at alternate rows:
The Qatar Airways website also labels flights planned with Qsuite aircraft in its flight search results listing (when searching cash fares, but not when searching awards sadly).
If the flight is operated by an A350-900 with the older Super Diamond seats it will look like this:
If you're flying on the Boeing 777, occasionally used on the Singapore route, again it's pretty obvious using ExpertFlyer whether your flight has Qsuite (left) or the older 2-2-2 layout (right):
Note that there are also some different Boeing 777 layouts thanks to ex-Cathay Pacific and ex-Virgin Australia aircraft now operated by Qatar Airways, but none of them look like the one on the left above when searching the seat map, because they don't have the Qsuite either.
Once you have a booking, you can select your seat on the Qatar Airways website using your PNR (booking reference), even if you book through another airline (e.g. BA using Avios or Cathay using Asia Miles).
The seat map then makes it obvious if you have the Qsuite (rows have a 'staggered' arrangement, some of the seats face backwards, plus it actually calls them 'Qsuite'):
You can keep checking the seat map this way once you have a booking to make sure your flight still has a Qsuite configuration.
If you know which aircraft registration will be operating your flight, you can also cross-reference whether it has the Qsuite based on the latest list of aircraft registrations which have the Qsuite installed below (click to expand).
Summary
All three daily Qatar Airways flights between Singapore and Doha are now operated by aircraft fitted with the popular Qsuite Business Class seats, a situation that’s planned until at least the end of October, and one we believe will become permanent.
The great news, based on the first 10 weeks of planned all-Qsuite operation on the route, is that there’s been a 99% success rate – only 3 out of the last 222 flights have been substituted with the older Business Class product.
This follows a rapid return to service for a dozen of the carrier’s A350s, following a spat with Airbus over peeling paint, returning a raft of Qsuite-equipped jets to the fleet in quick succession.
Happy Qsuite-ing to and from Singapore!
(Cover Photo: Qatar Airways)
If I want to book a Q suite flight for Jan 2024, when would be a good time to have a better idea (or better yet, almost a confirmation) that the flight will be Q suite? Since the aircraft plans for post summer 2023 are still up in the air for now.
I have a flight booked in Feb. certainly hope it’s qsuites as it’s showing as the Collins on 350-900 when I booked it.
Just took Qatar from sing to doha, doha to Chicago, all Qsuites. Happy with the seats.
It’s ridiculously difficult to find qsuites availability next year. My target is from sin-doh, doh-zrh from any date after 25 May before the third week of june. I have looked around in AA, BA and QR and the only awards left are the 2x avios rewards found on QR only. Any tips?
Keep checking is the best advice. Award space is dynamic and they do often add more later.
You might also consider checking award space from the likes of Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh and Bali if you don’t mind positioning to a different airport first, but do bear in mind not all of those services have the Qsuite.