Qatar Airways Old Style Business Class Review on Boeing 787-8

[@TC.C]

Despite so many people understandably questioning how Qatar is voted the best airline in the world, they are generally amongst the best. Loved the video! Now I’m so hungry! Lol

[@mygreygapyear]

Yeah, I agree with you, I think Qatar provide great service and I can only report what I see. Glad you enjoyed the video, Phil

[@deanfacer]

Keep up the superb work Phil... I've been following you since back when you had around 100 followers and what I truly love about your content and delivery is that it's genuine, it's real as well as being so easy and enjoyable to watch. Forget the haters, 9 times out of 10 they are purely motivated by jealousy. Congratulations on the Telegraph article 👍🏻 For me, it's so relaxing watching your content as you are certainly not a "self obsessed, egocentric, narcissist" with a fake tan, and any number of fake body parts like the vast majority of content creators... You are a genuine, down-to-earth gentleman... Wishing you much continued success!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thank you for the kind comments and support, it really does mean a lot to me. It is great to hear from a subscriber who was there at the start.

[@gill2373]

Newbie subscriber.Really enjoying your content.Fantastic delivery.Better than other long term travel vloggers.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your kind comment and your support, it's much appreciated. And welcome to the channel.

[@internationAL21]

The 787-8 Qatar BC is still a solid product. I do wish they’d resume flying these from my home airport, Cardiff, as I used to love flying the Dreamliner to Doha.

[@mygreygapyear]

I hope they do too, I find it frustrating that other Oneworld carriers fly from regional airports but my own flag carrier makes me fly into Heathrow.

[@Mzd10006]

Great vid! I was upgraded to their Qsuites at the gate DOH-LHR on the A350 a few days back , great experience and very welcome after just completing KUL-DOH leg!

[@mygreygapyear]

Cannot beat a cheeky upgrade, at the gate no less. Other passengers claiming to be honeymoon couples or wearing suits looking on in envy. Love it, hope you had an amazing flight

[@lannblade]

Nice video mate, keep going you have a great personality I see you reaching a million subs!

[@mygreygapyear]

That would be something, but I'm grateful to the supporters that I have, I don't take anyone for granted. Thanks for your comment, Phil

[@peterfinn6098]

I prefer this to the Q suite. I like to have the openness and appreciate the space. Q suite feels boxed in and like a confessional box at church.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, I felt a bit boxed in in the Qsuite too, if the three seats I think I found the new suite on the 787-9 the best compromise.

[@jimmyjames6492]

1st class train breakfast was 🔥🔥🔥 Synchronized sitting 🤣🤣🤣 Not too bad of a product IMO. Thanks for the great review + info + video!!!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate your kind words, I'm glad you got the "synchronized sitting" joke, and you've got some thumbs up so it looks like a few others did too.

[@jamierogers3272]

Great Vid Phil, you are definitely growing into presenting.Much more polished,keep them coming.!

[@mygreygapyear]

Well thank you, that is very kind of you. I just hope to get a little better with each video.

[@MorgansWorld760]

Another great vlog.. I love how you snagged a £7 full English for a first-class train ticket

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your kind comment, the brekkie was a nice Brucie bonus.

[@ukdavepianoman]

I've only done Q-suites and loved it. This looked very decent. I also love the candle - gives an Arabic feel. Very enjoyable video.

[@mygreygapyear]

I think after QSuites its downhill from there. The candle grew on me and I've wondered since the flight if it was boarding in Birmingham that turned me off to the candle.

[@rickreid8572]

hahah love how the snobbery is growing with each trip as the dread of returning to cattle class grows.... great vid..... the 'shuttle thing' at Birmingham Airport was in fact, the world's first MAGLEV train I believe...... love the Betjemanesque poetry on the climb out over Brum lol ......

[@mygreygapyear]

I'm really don't look forward to economy flights any more, I don't think I've sat next to anyone for about 2 years. I think the Maglev train proved to be unreliable and it was retired and replaced by this one.

[@adriancarey7848]

Very colourful commentary with lots of texture. I like it!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thank you very much, I really appreciate your kind comments

[@tobybrassington7853]

Amazing video! Really insightful with prefect touches of comedy!! 🎉🎉 fairplay

[@mygreygapyear]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks

[@NatalieBudgets]

Great video as ever Phil!! You are going to have to swing by Belfast and do a little video of the majestic BHD Terminal! I'm determined to make it the perfect 80TP run from London!!! See you soon! Nat

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment Nat, Belfast is on the list 😊

[@Crazy_Charo]

Good video. Those box amenity kits are kinda sad, but Qatar also give out decent leather ones on business flights out of Doha. Sometimes they also put dental kits and shaving sets in the plane toilets.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, there were dental and shaving kits for those that wanted them

[@markbuhler5721]

@@mygreygapyear any chance you could put up the details of how to buy those products? I love the Qatar face cream, not oily and tried to buy it from DIPTYQUE without success

[@mygreygapyear]

Not a problem, I've scanned the QR Code from the box, it's qatar-airways.diptyqueparis.com/

[@redcomusic]

I just love those occasional train bits. POOOKE!!!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks Red, much appreciated.

[@calebcuthbert2420]

I Flew KL to EDI recently with the KL-Doha sector with the even older 777 seat. Personally don't mind the 787 seat in the video but Qatar need to simplify their variety of business seats.

[@mygreygapyear]

Oh, wow. Was that even in 1-2-1 with aisle access or 2-2-2? I have looked at that route and I have seen some of the flights with Qsuite, perhaps a classic Qatar equipment change?

[@calebcuthbert2420]

@@mygreygapyear It was 2-2-2, very strange as we had Q suite from Doha to KL outbound.

[@malpalmer3269]

Indeed - they need to phase out the 2-2-2 old seats to at least the 1-2-1 seats

[@mygreygapyear]

@@malpalmer3269 I think some consistency would be good, especially with a new Qsuite being released.

[@chrisburton4694]

Been lucky or unlucky depending on your point of view to of tried all of Qatars biz seats. Worst is the 2-2-2 on some 777 to q suite. I don’t feel they overly have a bad seat. It’s the service. Recently went lhr Doha Bkk. Ba vs Qatar back to back difference between the two is night and day in biz

[@mygreygapyear]

That's awesome, I'd like to try all their seats too, but I need you to clear something up, I'm guessing that the Qatar service was better than BA, I'm not clear from your comment, and I love other peoples views on those kinds of things.

[@chrisburton4694]

Yes correct. Qatar service was just that little bit above. For example. Qatar set your table, put the cutlery on the table. Your water glass down etc. BA essentially still bring things on a tray then swap out the main dish of that course. It’s just subtle differences like that. But I do think BA offer a very solid service.

[@mygreygapyear]

@@chrisburton4694 Thanks for clearing that up, I guessed you found the Qatar service a cut above.

[@mrd9908]

Did you get Club Room lounge access with your business class ticket or did you pay for it separately?

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment and question, the Clubrooms access was part of my ticket, so no additional charge for me to get in.

[@immiPlanet]

I love the mint and lime drink! Have you tried the Karak Chai? Next time you are on Qatar, try the Saffron Karak Chai!! Impressive Avios pricing. Also, the train announcement! Kind of says it all about having to travel on the train in the UK. I doubt it'll ever get better.

[@mygreygapyear]

I haven't tried the Karak Chai, I'll have to give it a go next time. Thanks for your comment and support, Phil

[@JB_Stitch]

Nice video. Flew on this product back in early 2020 between Gothenburg and Doha as part of an ex-EU trip to Sydney and thought it was a pretty decent product. Will be using it again later this year between Gatwick and Doha. QR also use the clubrooms at Gatwick North Terminal so it was nice to have an idea what I can expect. I'm thinking the lounge might be a little busier at Gatwick in September than it appeared at Birmingham though.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your kind comment, the club rooms are a notch above the usual paid lounges, hope you have an amazing trip

[@markstrainsplanes]

Hiya Phil! Another great video. Your aircraft Charlie Kilo was delivered in Dec 2012 btw!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for letting me know, perhaps that is when that seat was first introduced. And thank you for your support, Phil

[@markstrainsplanes]

@@mygreygapyear you’re very welcome! And 172k views for Emirates first class is going some!!!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks Mark, and it doesn't seem to want to slow down :)

[@k9killer221]

I remember BA for some reason (do you know the reason?) had to use QATAR planes and crew because they were short of planes or crews. Ended up very embarrassing because long-time BA customers saw for the first time what a top Middle Eastern airline was like. Unfavourable comparisons were made. Lol.

[@mygreygapyear]

I'd never heard of it so I Googled it, BA "wet leased" Qatar planes and crew for two weeks in 2017 due to strike action. Very interesting, thanks for telling me about it. I can imagine that, as you say, the difference was shocking.

[@peterhastings703]

Nice video, Phil. I flew on their 787-8 between DUB and DOH in this cabin as part of a trip to Singapore last year. As for meal choices, I'd suggest trying the chicken mashkhool next time. When I'm flying, I tend to steer clear of steaks and the kind of fish dish you had - salmon can get very dry very quickly! Maybe an intrepid aviation vlogger should review steaks across different airlines, though it would probably involve too many variables! Re the 787 windows on my flights: the DUB-DOH leg was entirely in daylight (9am takeoff) and I don't remember the windows being dimmed at all, though the cabin lights were possibly dimmed at some point. The return leg was the opposite (1am takeoff, 7am landing) so the windows didn't matter. Are you in Madrid this weekend? 😉

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for the tip, Chicken Mashkool it is, next time I fly with Qatar, the salmon was my fault, I should have realised that I would be disappointed with it. I've just got back from Madrid, it was a bit of a whirlwind experience, so I'm going to own this and hopefully not offend you by asking if you were there?

[@peterhastings703]

@@mygreygapyear 😄 no, I couldn't make it to Madrid - I would certainly have introduced myself if I'd been there! And congrats on the views for your Emirates First video. I've watched Matt's as well and am working out a way to get to do it myself.

[@mygreygapyear]

@@peterhastings703 Thanks

[@_Tripsandtips101]

Thanks for sharing this! I remember the #BoardingNotBoarding hashtag, you'll get a lot of that if you fly AirAsia. And this #BoardingNotBoarding situation brings me to my first point: I am annoyed at it too. Changi Airport is a frequent offender in this department as they alarm us with "Gate Closing" as early as 45 minutes before departure and yet no passenger is even on the plane yet. On to that plane, is it just me or was there no shine on the floor of the 787's galley walkway?

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, I saw Matt of Matts Planet fame talk about #BoardingNotBoarding and I always thought this was his joke, which is why I credit him with it, I'll look out for that in the future. I'm not sure about the shine on the galley floor, something else I haven't really thought of before and I guess something else for me to look for in the future. Does the shine indicate something or have I totally got the wrong end of the stick. Thanks Phil

[@_Tripsandtips101]

@@mygreygapyear thanks for replying. I just got the impression the galley floor wasn’t as shiny as one would expect it to be given QR’s luxury motif. But maybe that could be down to the camera.

[@mygreygapyear]

@@_Tripsandtips101 Almost certainly my camera 😊

[@Tom-ot7ky]

Great video mate, didnt know you were from stafford haha. Do you work or retired? Living the dream mate

[@mygreygapyear]

Currently not working a job, but at some point the money will run out and I will have to get a job

[@Thefunlifehour]

Amazing review ❤

[@mygreygapyear]

Thank you, I really appreciate you kind comment.

[@rickreid8572]

Would be great if you could do menu close ups as on this vid, but a little better focus and hold them there for a while so we can pause.... tough ask I know... but comparing the menus across services is really interesting....especially the wines! Top vid....

[@mygreygapyear]

Not a problem, I think I got all the menus at the end, starting at 16:48

[@rickreid8572]

@@mygreygapyear be a nice touch if there were a special menu section akin to your 'bog standard'..... good job....

[@mygreygapyear]

@@rickreid8572 Good idea, thanks

[@patnyb]

Could you not book Bali in one ticket (so including the change)? I’ve not considered using a redemption trip from BHX until you posted this. Great video 🤘

[@mygreygapyear]

Yeah I did book this trip to Bali as one single redemption, there might be some confusion because I've tried to break down the cost of this flight for me as a proportion of the whole cost, and then what it would cost if you booked just this part. On the way home though I did have to book from Melbourne to Doha and then Doha to Manchester separately. It just wouldn't let me book them together.

[@richardstreet7518]

I'm surprised they didn't recognise your status as a goldie and offer you first choice of food... unless they knew you were on avios😂? Great trip again sir

[@mygreygapyear]

I didn't know status holders got first dibs... I'll make a big entitled fuss next time 😀

[@nkolekangwa4556]

Great video 👏👏😊

[@mygreygapyear]

Thank you so much 😀

[@lawrencehoward2635]

You know, I never thought of Brum as a place to fly from (it's always Manchesterford or Eefrow) so might look into Brum for next time

[@mygreygapyear]

It's usually a nice little place to fly from, if you're nearby then it's an obvious choice. Limited destinations, but still a nice place to go from.

[@Akkers24]

Try the chicken mashkhool next time, it’s always good. Nice trip report dude 👌

[@mygreygapyear]

Sounds like I made a rookie error with the salmon, Chicken Mashkhool all the way next time.

[@Maiiftl]

I booked a flight thinking it was this seat but then it ended up being the even worse 2-2-2 configuration...

[@mygreygapyear]

Oh no, Qatar equipment changes are the bane of those who book with them, it really isn't good enough. I hope it didn't spoil the experience too much.

[@charliebrown5]

Thank You ✈️

[@mygreygapyear]

You're very welcome 😀

[@martinbeaumont1135]

Heading to Bali, so does that mean you'll be coming down under once more? You're gonna be so close .... :D

[@mygreygapyear]

I did go on to Australia from Bali but I'm back now. kzbin.info/www/bejne/goaTZoCmgLJ2m80 I am planning to visit again later this year.

[@martinbeaumont1135]

@@mygreygapyear ah ok I though this was a "new" trip, YT times lines and real life can be confusing :-)

[@mygreygapyear]

@@martinbeaumont1135 Yeah, it's really difficult to edit videos while I'm away so it's always when I'm back for me, sorry.

[@ml66b]

What's "ugly" about the train trip from Stafford to Birmingham Intl?

[@mygreygapyear]

Well, it's from Wolverhampton really, it's all industrial all the way and it has been voted the ugliest stretch of railway.

[@M158-o3x]

No window and then the cabin goes into darkness by crew auto closing blinds... The silly little light - I think it is quite cute...

[@mygreygapyear]

That electric candle did grow on me. As they say, I think opinion is divided on the matter, I didn't really like it, everyone else thinks it's great.

[@Harmonikdiskorde]

What do you mean when you say "vegetable hotpot"?

[@mygreygapyear]

Hmmm, there's a beef and vegetable hotpot in the No1 lounge, on the hot buffet? Is that it?

[@tanvirahemd8938]

I prefer this to q suite... It's a more comfortable seat..

[@mygreygapyear]

It was definitely very comfortable, thanks for sharing your views.

[@horizontradinggroup5666]

wow thats cheap. im looking at london to thailand via doh. Comes to 150k points and £360! any reason why its 250k points when your going further than me? this is off peak also. thanks

[@mygreygapyear]

Qatar redemptions do offer good value, in my opinion, but one thig to watch out for is the "flexi" redemption. This just means that they are charging you double the points that they usually charge and these flexi fares are rarely worth it and this might be what you're seeing with the 250k points redemption. If memory serves then London to Australia via Doha is 45,000 Avios each way in economy and 90,000 Avios each way in business (but check that because it just sounds wrong as I type it)

[@alexblackstock3420]

Just started watching the channel.. Think it's pretty good.. But why so many adverts.. Really think they're over the top...

[@mygreygapyear]

I've always just accepted the KZbin defaults. I'll look at them in the future so there isn't so many. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

[@mygreygapyear]

I have found where to adjust the adverts after the publishing, there are two ad breaks now

[@malpalmer3269]

Heathrow business class for Qatar is a much better experience

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, I've been in the status lounge at Heathrow T4, I can only imagine how awesome the lounge for business passengers is.

[@GodAtum]

didnt the lady opposite you on the train get annoyed with you filming?

[@mygreygapyear]

No, she was fine. She was also pregnant and glad to be seated for the short journey to Coventry.

[@goldenkoi23]

that fry up 🍳 🥓 yummy 😋

[@mygreygapyear]

For a train fry up, it was good. The egg was perfect.

[@travel_and_explore_with_BIP]

Beautiful all I can say is Beautiful 🍺🍺🍺

[@mygreygapyear]

Thank you that means so much 😀

[@orcaswaling1143]

Haha, Have you stolen my personal details? one week you park next to me , the next you catch the train from Stafford, my birth town..👍

[@mygreygapyear]

That is odd, but I'm from Stafford and still live here. How old were you when you moved away? I left King Eddies in '89 after GCSEs (second year to take them).

[@ScottMatthews-gk8ef]

Another great video but looks suspiciously dark as though the crew had locked the windows on that dreadful tin can… Planning to fly to NZ later in the year, likely with Qatar however, will obviously avoid any route involving 787 equipment. Miserable!

[@mygreygapyear]

They always lower the cabin light shortly after take off, which is a pain when I'm trying to film the seat. Qatar have 787-9s which (I think) all have the new Qatar Suite in them, they're rather like BA club suite.

[@ScottMatthews-gk8ef]

@@mygreygapyear Had they actually locked the windows on dark as well though? Asides from getting to where I need to go, I fly for the enjoyment of it - to see & experience the world from such an incredible & unique vantage point. My heart sinks at the thought of being prevented from actually enjoying the magical scenery unfold above & below. I’ll hopefully make it on one of their 777s or A380’s soon to enjoy some mezze - perhaps even just a narrow body from Sofia!

[@mygreygapyear]

@@ScottMatthews-gk8ef I'm not sure, I find those windows unresponsive at best so I'm never sure if they're locked, being unresponsive or if I'm being a doofus.

[@scottstravel6179]

Much like BA where they get the meal service out the way, crank up the temperature and darken the cabin with the intention of trying to get you to sleep at 10am and then they have to do very little for the next few hours ;) Even Qantas, whilst I was flying F darkened my window at 6am or so. First time seeing Australia and a couple of hours to landing after an overnight flight - was enjoying the red desert views and they over-rode my window(s)

[@ScottMatthews-gk8ef]

@@scottstravel6179 That’s the reason I won’t be flying Qantas or BA when I eventually make it to Australia at least, not on any route that involves a 787! That said, one of my worst experiences was MAD to UIO with Iberia in Business on an A330 during the height of the pandemic so I could get into the US to see my then partner. Not long after the first meal service out of MAD, the crew forcibly shut all the window shades so I missed seeing the Caribbean & flying over South America, my first time in that part of the world. So disappointing & completely pointless as it was daylight throughout until we arrived when it was actually bedtime.

[@HaiderAlDelfi]

Seriously you come to Birmingham and you don’t tell me 😭😭😭😭

[@mygreygapyear]

I will give you advance notice next time 🙂

[@HaiderAlDelfi]

@@mygreygapyear Not least so I can check BHX queues for you, they have been on the news everyday recently 😅

[@mygreygapyear]

Just searched it, I've been away this weekend but I luckily had priority security at Heathrow. I almost flew out of Birmingham too...

[@gotrocs4751]

That's the standard business class seat on the 787 and a380. Nothing old style about it .

[@mygreygapyear]

I guess 2012 isn't that old but they have 2 newer and better products available now with the improved Qsuite incoming. In that context I think it is an old product

[@davidsinn5758]

I find that extremely annoying, penning you in the holding room at boarding

[@mygreygapyear]

It is one of my pet hates, it really is. In this case I wasn't there too long but the board was showing "final call" when they hadn't even started boarding yet.

[@jdejde6015]

this is why i rarely fly qatar their absolutely inconsistet fleet is a real issue

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment and support, I agree, with Qatar you've got to know what equipment you're booked on and hope that you don't get an equipment change.

[@alanhuntley]

Isn’t Qatar the country that supports Hamas?

[@legionnairegonk4425]

I highly doubt you get a complimentary seat upgrade from them if you mention you are a member of Hamas when checking in! 😁

[@mygreygapyear]

@alanhuntley I appreciate your comment. I'm honestly not sure of how accurate your comment is or if it's more nuanced than that, but I am determined to keep politics off this channel.

[@mygreygapyear]

@legionnairegonk4425 When I went through immigration they really looked like they had no sense of humour, so please ask next time your there and tell me what happens 😀

[@legionnairegonk4425]

​​​@@mygreygapyear Me ask? Wrong person buddy. Ask the OP to ask them! It's his bizarre thought process linking a country, a terror group and your airline video together! 😉