FLYING IN STYLE

Luxury service on Qatar Airways flights

Qatar Airways (qatarairways.com is deemed a luxurious airline worldwide, a reputation it has earned through its noteworthy service across cabin classes. In October, at the Business Traveller Awards 2016, the airline was victorious in the Best Business Class and Best Middle Eastern Airline categories, and in January this year, at the Business Travel Awards, it was recognised as the Best Long-haul Airline.

Since it started fiying to India in 199 , it has expanded to a network of 13 Indian cities on its route map: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, *oa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Nagpur, New Delhi and Trivandrum. These are served by the B787, B777, A330 and A320 aircraft.

FLEET FACILITIES (aircraft serving Indian routes)

On the B787 Dreamliner, its “lower altitude-equivalent pressure, improved air-quality and optimal humidity” helps arrive at your destination feeling less fatigued. Full-spectrum LED lighting on-board is intended to relax you further, enabling you to adjust to changing time zones. You can also electronically dim windows to alter the amount of natural light you wish to receive.

The B777 cabins come with high ceilings, thus giving a sense of having more space in the capsule. Plenty of natural light through its large windows adds to this perception. Its business class seats have the additional massage setting, which means you can opt for an unwinding treatment before landing. You are most likely to enjoy the sleeper suits (on overnight fights and Giorgio Armani amenity kits when flying this aircraft, or the A320.

Generous overhead compartments across all cabin classes give enough room to each passenger aboard the A320 to store their luggage. Known as one of the more quiet aircraft, because of its engines that are fitted with updated technology, it is a peaceful fight for many, especially with its mood lighting. As for the A330, its business class seats have an additional storage space fitted into them, four-way adjustable inflatable back support and a six-way adjustable headrest.

Qatar Airways’ VP-ISC, Vincent Coste adds, “Some of the popular Qatar Airways routes enjoyed by Indian travellers are London, Paris, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas and Washington DC, and the airline continues to provide its passengers with a superior travel experience.”

GENEROUS GIFTS

In recent months Qatar Airways has upped its on-board amenity kits in economy, business and first class cabins. From October 2016, first class passengers on select A380 services are gifted amenity kits created in partnership with Giorgio Armani. Available on overnight services, the ladies’ kits include SÍ Lotion (75ml , SÍ EDT (75ml , Giorgio Armani Perfection Eye Makeup Remover ( 0ml , Giorgio Armani Crema Nera Extrema (20ml and a hairbrush. The gentlemen’s kits include Armani Eau Pour Homme Shampoo (75ml , Armani Eau Pour Homme EDT (20ml , Armani Men Master Lotion ( 0ml and Armani Men Perfect Master Serum (5ml . Both commonly also have a lip balm, socks, eyeshades and ear plugs. In January 2017, The White Company sleeper suits were added to the offerings on A380 flights to London, Bangkok, Paris, Sydney, and Guangzhou.

In December 2016, the carrier partnered with luggage designer BRICS and Italian skincare brand Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio to provide passengers “with the finest keepsake amenity kits” on long-haul flights. First class kits are styled after BRICS’s Bellagio series bags and its Sintesis line of trolley bags influences the design of the business class kits. Both include a lip balm, hydrating facial mist and anti-ageing moisturiser; the night recovery cream is added to first class kits.

Within ten days of this release in partnership with BRICS, the airline unveiled amenity kits for premium passengers of flights within five hours from the airline’s home base, Doha. These are created in partnership with New Delhibased travel and accessory brand Nappa Dori and carry images from the airline’s network of over 150 cities. They include a Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio lip balm, eyeshades and socks.

From January, the long-haul flights’ economy kits too feature cityscapes on the carrier’s network. Each bag includes an Institut Karité Paris lip balm, a Miradent dental kit, an eye mask, socks and ear plugs.

Commenting on the launch of this kit, Qatar Airways senior vice president of customer experience, Rossen Dimitrov, said, “This will be a year of change for Qatar Airways travellers, with numerous upgrades to our on-board products and services, including our new economy class amenity kits. We like to continually surprise and delight our passengers in every class of cabin.”

FOOD AND FILM

As for in-flight entertainment, all Qatar Airways’ aircraft models give passengers access to the Oryx One in- Áight entertainment and communication system. It has a touch-screen control unit, through which you can access up to 3,000 entertainment options — the latest blockbuster movies, TV shows, music, and games to name a few. The dualscreen interface also allows multi-tasking wherein you can play a game on the handheld device while watching a movie on your personal screen. All seats come with a USB port, Apple iPort and wifi.

Commenting on giving its passengers the option to stay in touch with the Earth below, Coste states: “Passengers can stay connected with a laptop power outlet, USB plug and personal telephone. Our air mobile service enables you to send and receive SMS data during your flight. Wifi services are available on-board our A380, A350, B787, A319 and selected A330, A320 and A321 aircraft, making it easier to stay connected across the globe.”

Aboard the A380 is The Lounge that Qatar Airways describes as “your sanctuary in the sky”. Despite spacious, fully-flat bed seats, first and business class customers may choose to spread themselves comfortably in this cosy lounge. A wide selection of magazines are available on-board to browse through as you enjoy fresh food, delicious snacks, and a poison of choice here.

These F B offerings are in addition to the usual in-flight meals. The carrier has signed up with some of the best chefs worldwide to curate à la carte menus for the premium classes. Fish kibbeh, hummus, tabouleh, muhammara and lahim bil agine served with Arabic bread, thyme roasted chicken breast with supreme sauce potato gnocchi and seared tomatoes, and banana and caramel slice are examples of the food served onboard. The hot beverages include a rich selection of cappuccino, espresso, café latte, macchiato, American coffee, earl grey, English breakfast, green, roasted Japanese, Moroccan mint, camomile, sencha green, and green jasmine.

Coste adds that Indian food is also a regular feature on its fights: “Qatar Airways offers passengers extraordinary cuisine designed to suit local taste, with Indian food holding prime significance in our on-board menu.” This selection, however, is for flights flying out of India.