Qatar Airways is upping the stakes in Business Class this week, with the introduction of caviar as part of the meal service on selected routes, a delicacy that is usually the preserve of those in First Class cabins, both on board the Doha-based carrier and when flying with its top-tier global rivals, like Singapore Airlines.

The good news for our readers is that all three daily Singapore flights have made it to the initial list of Qatar Airways routes that will benefit from this luxury extravagance, on flights to and from the carrier’s Middle East hub.

Qatar Airways offering caviar in Business Class

From 15th August 2024, Qatar Airways will be introducing caviar service on its menu in Business Class, which you can opt to have as a standalone option, or as part of the regular meal courses.

I’ve only ever enjoyed caviar on board a flight in the First Class cabin until now.

While I did once have caviar in Business Class on EVA Air, it was a small garnish on top of the starter, rather than a dish in its own right.

If caviar is on the menu, it’s a must for me.

“Qatar Airways takes pride in providing the best premium business class travel experience. The introduction of caviar service, commonly available only in first class cabins, further elevates Qatar Airways’ award-winning business class experience. We are committed to continuously enhance our onboard services to elevate the industry’s standards and delight our passengers.”

Xia Cai, SVP Product Development and Design, Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has not revealed which brand of caviar it will be serving in Business Class, but it will likely be farmed rather than wild-caught.

Beluga and Ossetra caviar are probably off the cards due to their their cost (you do see them in First Class though), so we’re predicting a more common and affordable Sevruga variety.

Qatar’s media images indicate that the caviar will be served with Balik-style salmon, a common pairing with sturgeon roe in upscale dining experiences. This option frequently appears on the airline’s long-haul First Class menus.

This looks to be served alongside blinis, melba toast and traditional accompaniments of crème fraîche, finely chopped chives, hard-boiled egg yolks and whites, minced red onion, and a lemon wedge.

A mother of pearl spoon also looks to be part of the caviar service, a key element for some – designed to preserve the delicate flavour without any metallic taste creeping in.

Which routes?

Here’s the full rundown of 13 routes to and from Doha on which Qatar Airways will be including caviar in its Business Class meal service.

• Boston
  (10/week)
• Dallas
  (14/week)
• Hong Kong
  (14/week)
• Houston
  (7/week)
• London
  (63/week)
• Los Angeles
  (14/week)
• Melbourne
  (14/week)
• New York
  (21/week)
• Paris
  (28/week)
• São Paulo
  (14/week)
• Singapore
  (21/week)
• Sydney
  (7/week)
• Washington
  (14/week)

This isn’t a hugely surprising list, since it includes what are most likely the carrier’s highest revenue routes, which command expensive fares in Business Class.

Among these routes, six only feature the Qsuite in Business Class: Dallas, Houston, Melbourne, New York, Singapore, and Washington, so your caviar comes paired with a fantastic hard product as well.

Overall, more than 480 Qatar Airways flights each week will now offer caviar in Business Class. The great news of course is that all three daily Singapore flights in each direction are included.

That means if you’ve snagged a Qsuite award, for example from the Lion City to Doha for 50,000 Avios points, or even to somewhere in Europe via Doha from as little as 70,000 Avios points, you’re in for a treat provided your flight is departing on or after 15th August.

I’m booked on a Qatar Airways Business Class Qsuite redemption from London Heathrow to Singapore via Doha next month, on the way back from a little Europe jaunt.

While it cost me 75,000 Avios and a hefty GBP 390 (~S$660), largely due to the UK’s stealth APD tax, the news that caviar will be on the menu for both sectors sure has coloured me excited!

Qatar Airways ups the game in Business Class

The news of adding caviar to the menu comes just three weeks after Qatar Airways revealed its latest QSuite 2.0 cabin, which is due to be installed on the carrier’s upcoming Boeing 777-9 aircraft from 2025, and on new Airbus A350 deliveries from 2026.

Interestingly when it comes to caviar in Business Class, Qatar Airways doesn’t really have to worry about stepping on the toes of its long-haul First Class product, because it offers so little of that.

Those cabins operate on the carrier’s Airbus A380s, which currently only fly about five departures per day from Doha – to London, Sydney, Bangkok, Paris and Perth.

There’s also a six-seat First Class cabin and service offered on Qatar’s ex-Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ERs, which operate on selected Bangkok, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Kuwait, Male, and Riyadh flights.

Indeed Qatar Airways already markets its Qsuite product as “First in Business”.

Carriers like Singapore Airlines and Emirates, on the other hand, can’t start dishing out caviar in Business Class without being seen to devalue their (more substantial) First Class offering.

In our experience, Qatar Airways already offers a very elaborate high quality dining experience in Business Class, including dine-on-demand, meaning you can choose your meal time and the order in which you want your preferred dishes to be served.

You can also pre-select your meal from an expanded list of options on selected routes within 14 days of departure, including Lobster on some flights.

When you couple all of these perks with caviar, the Qsuite hard product, alongside pyjamas from The White Company, one of Singapore’s best airport lounges, and soon some of the fastest free Wi-Fi in the sky, Qatar Airways certainly provides one of the leading Business Class experiences in the industry.

Qatar Airways will offer Business Class passengers on 13 routes the option of a caviar course from 15th August 2024, a luxury extravagance more commonly seen only in First Class and Suites cabins.

Singapore makes the list, as one of the carrier’s key Business Class revenue routes, which is great news for those who’ve snagged Qsuite award seats over the coming months (myself included!).

It’s certainly impressive to see this continued investment from the Middle East carrier, who recently revealed a next-generation update to its popular Qsuite hard product.

The caviar course will be served with traditional accompaniments, alongside Balik-style salmon, further enhancing Qatar Airways’ standing as offering one of the best Business Class products on the market – in our humble opinion at least.

(Cover Photo: Qatar Airways)