When my wife and I start planning our dream trip to the Maldives, we know it has to be unforgettable. This is a true “bucket list” adventure for us. But before we even reach the Maldives, the excitement begins in the air, as we will be flying Business Class on Qatar Airways (Qsuite). I have heard so much about this incredible product, and I can hardly contain my excitement to experience it firsthand. From the moment I book the flight, I am counting down the days. This is not just any flight — it is the start of a journey I have dreamed about since I entered the world of points and miles. 

Award Flight Booking (8/10)

I book this flight as soon as the American Airlines AAdvantage award window opens (331 days out), using 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles per person, along with a small amount of taxes and fees.

Here are the exact flight details:

• QR 708: Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Doha, Qatar (DOH), departing 8:05 P.M., arriving 4:40 P.M. (+1 day)
• QR 676: Doha, Qatar (DOH) to Malé, Maldives (MLE), departing 1:20 A.M., arriving 8:05 A.M. (Full Flight Review)

Note: This specific review only covers the first flight.

I do consider other options for booking with points, like using Avios through British Airways or Qatar Airways, but since Avios prices flights per segment, it would cost significantly more points for this journey. Here are some example award booking rates for this route: 

• British Airways: 85,000 miles (higher taxes & fees)
• Qatar Airways: 85,000 miles (higher taxes & fees)
• JetBlue: 123,000 miles (higher miles)

In this specific instance, using American Airlines AAdvantage miles works out best for both availability and value.

Related: The Best Ways To Earn American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Related: The 10 Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Airport Check-In (10/10)

Arriving at Washington Dulles is always a bit of a spectacle, with flights heading to destinations all over the world at the same time. We quickly find the Qatar Airways check-in counter, and while the Economy Class line is long — at least 50 passengers deep — we walk right up to the Business Class counter. It is such a smooth process. We check in our bags and get our boarding passes without any delay.

Since we both have TSA PreCheck, we breeze through security. From the moment we arrive at the airport, everything feels easy and efficient — a perfect start to our “bucket list” adventure.

Airport Lounge (6/10)

Qatar Airways directs its Business Class passengers to the Turkish Airlines lounge at Dulles. While it is a nice lounge, it tends to get quite crowded, especially since it is accessible to Priority Pass holders. Turkish Airlines does a good job of managing crowd levels by restricting Priority Pass customers when the lounge starts to fill up, but it is still busier than I would like.

Related: The Best Credit Cards For Priority Pass Lounge Access

Related: The 10 Best Priority Pass Lounges In The World

Instead of settling there, we decide to visit the brand new Capital One Lounge, thanks to our Capital One Venture X card. This lounge is fantastic! It is less crowded, offers great views, and we kick off our trip with a celebratory champagne toast while enjoying some delicious snacks. It is the perfect spot to relax before boarding.

We leave the lounge at 7:05 P.M. since boarding is scheduled to start at 7:25 P.M. After taking the train from the main terminal to the A Gates, we arrive at gate A23 to find passengers already lined up to board. However, we quickly discover that Qatar Airways is using two boarding doors. Business Class passengers board at gate A25, which makes the process much smoother. Boarding starts five minutes late, but once it does, it is extremely efficient. We scan our boarding passes and head down the jet bridge toward what I know will be an amazing flight.

Aircraft Cabin and Layout (9/10)

The Qatar Airways Qsuite cabin on the A350-1000 is stunning. It has 46 Business Class suites in total, with 38 seats in the forward cabin and 8 more in a smaller cabin behind the Business Class entry door. The layout is 1-2-1, meaning every seat has direct aisle access.

In the center section, some seats are closer to the aisle, while others are arranged as “honeymoon” suites, with pairs of seats closer to each other, ideal for couples traveling together. Seats along the sides alternate between being closer to the window or the aisle, and each row alternates between forward- and rear-facing seats. One thing to note is that there are no overhead bins in the center of the cabin, but there are bins along the sides.

For this trip, I choose seats along the right side of the cabin, against the window. Even though it is our 5-year anniversary trip, both my wife and I love having a window view. I book my wife in seat 1K, which is closer to the window, and I sit right behind her in seat 2J, closer to the aisle. This way, we are near enough to chat while still enjoying our own personal space.

Business Class Seat (10/10)

As soon as we board, we are directed to our seats, and I am immediately impressed by how stylish and spacious everything looks. The Qatar Airways Qsuite lives up to the hype. I settle into my seat and instantly feel how much room I have. As someone who is tall with broad shoulders, this is a huge plus. It is noticeably more spacious than the American Airlines 787 pods or the older United Airlines 777 Polaris Business Class seats.

One of my favorite features of the seat is the shelf to my right, which really opens up the space. It adds width when I am in bed mode, making the seat feel much larger. The tray table is conveniently located under the TV screen and easily slides out when I need it. The TV itself is massive, and I can control it either by touchscreen or with a remote located next to the seat. I am already looking forward to browsing through the in-flight entertainment.

The footwell is generously sized, easily accommodating my size 13 feet — something that is hard to come by on other airlines. Below the shelf, I find the AC power outlet, a USB port, and a headphone jack, with a reading light immediately behind me. There is also a deep storage pouch that holds a bottle of water and provides space for smaller items like my glasses. It is these small touches that make the Qatar Airways Qsuite feel thoughtfully designed.

Another standout feature is the door. Qatar Airways was the first to introduce doors in their Business Class cabins, and it really makes a difference. Even though I am sitting near the aisle, once I close the door, I feel like I am in a private suite. It is an incredible level of comfort and privacy.

Related: The Best Business Class Airlines In The World

Business Class Bed (10/10)

When it is time to sleep, the Qsuite truly shines. The bedding is already placed on my seat when I board — a small pillow, a larger pillow, and a blanket. As soon as dinner service wraps up, the flight attendants offer turndown service. While I change into the pajamas provided by The White Company (which are soft and fit perfectly), the attendants transform my seat into a fully flat bed, complete with a mattress cover and pillowcases. I love that they offer two pillows, as I prefer sleeping with extra support.

The blanket is warm but not too heavy, and the seat itself is incredibly comfortable in bed mode. One of the most thoughtful design features is the cutout near my head, which gives me extra room to sleep on my side with my knees bent. This makes a world of difference compared to other Business Class seats.

With the door closed, I can control the temperature of my pod as air circulates around me, creating the perfect environment for sleep. I drift off quickly and enjoy one of the best night’s sleep I have ever had on a plane.

On-Board Entertainment (9/10)

Qatar Airways’ Oryx One entertainment system offers a massive selection of movies, TV shows, music, and games. I kick off the flight by watching part of Oppenheimer, but switch to reruns of The Office for some light entertainment before bed. The large screen and the noise-canceling headphones provided by the airline make the viewing experience enjoyable and immersive.

One of the coolest features is the tail camera, which offers a unique perspective of the flight. I love watching the view from the top of the tail, but there is also a camera under the plane that lets me see the landing gear and runway. It is a small detail, but one I find fascinating, pairing well with the more traditional flight map.

Wi-Fi is available, but I decide to disconnect and fully enjoy the flight without it.

Lavatory (8/10)

Business Class passengers have access to three lavatories in the Business Class cabin — two at the front and one in the back. What I find especially cool is that the lavatories have windows. There is something surreal about looking out of a window at 40,000 feet while freshening up in the restroom.

The lavatories are stocked with Diptyque hand soap and lotion, and there is a drawer with single-use toothbrushes and shaving kits. There is also a makeup mirror, which I imagine would be helpful for some passengers. Throughout the flight, the lavatories are kept clean and tidy, which I really appreciate on a 10+ hour long-haul flight.

Amenity Kit (7/10)

Each seat has an amenity kit waiting when we board, filled with high-quality Diptyque products. While the items themselves are great — perfume, body lotion, face cream, lip balm, socks, earplugs, and an eye mask — the packaging is a bit underwhelming. Instead of a stylish bag, the kit comes in a basic cardboard box. I was hoping for something more reusable, especially given the luxury of the Qatar Airways Qsuite experience.

That said, the contents of the kit are impressive, and there is always the option to grab toothbrushes and shaving kits from the lavatory if needed.

Food And Beverage (10/10)

As soon as I settle into my seat, I order the signature Qatar Airways mint lime drink, which is as refreshing and delicious as I had hoped. It comes with a cool towel, and I savor the moment as we prepare for takeoff.

Dinner Service

Dinner service is a multi-course affair, starting with a mocktail and mixed nuts. Soon after, the flight attendants set the table with a tablecloth, a “candlelight” centerpiece, and a bread basket with butter and olive oil. I opt for a glass of champagne and sparkling water, both of which are frequently topped off throughout the meal.

The meal begins with an amuse-bouche that is not listed on the menu — a tasty scallop dish that sets the tone for the rest of the meal. For my appetizer, I choose the American-style tapas, which features shishito peppers, carrot cumin dip, and marinated olives. The peppers and dip are delicious, though I skip the olives.

For my main course, I order the goat cheese-crusted lamb rack with herb jus, roasted potatoes, baby beetroot, and white asparagus. While the dish is flavorful, the portion is a bit small for a main course. Still, the presentation and flavors are impressive.

Dessert is where Qatar Airways really outdoes itself. I order the red velvet gateau with Chantilly cream, strawberries, and mint salsa, along with a glass of dessert wine. It is one of the best desserts I have ever had on a flight, and I almost wish I had ordered all the desserts on the menu just for fun (maybe next time).

Pre-Arrival Breakfast

About an hour and a half or so before we land, I order breakfast. A flight attendant puts down a tablecloth, and serves me a breadbasket with a croissant, a cinnamon roll, and a bread roll, as well as butter and jam. I order a glass of orange juice to accompany it.

For my first course, I enjoy a fruit plate with a fresh cappuccino. For my main course, I was feeling bold and order the breakfast enchiladas with corn, scrambled eggs, salsa, cotija cheese, and avocado cream. As I am looking for something a bit more substantial, this sits just right, while being quite tasty at the same time.

After my breakfast plates are cleared, and as we approach Doha, I receive some chocolates and a refreshing towel to thank me for flying with Qatar Airways.

Staff And Service (10/10)

The service on Qatar Airways is impeccable. From the moment we board, the flight attendants are attentive, professional, and genuinely welcoming. I am greeted by name and thanked for my Oneworld elite status with American Airlines. Throughout the flight, the staff is prompt in responding to my requests, and they actively encourage me to use the call button whenever I need something. For example, after waking up somewhere over Denmark, I order the cardamom karak chai. A flight attendant is more than happy to make me one, and it is one of my favorite drinks from the entire flight, partially due to how excited the flight attendant is for me to experience this popular drink.

What stands out most is the precision and care with which they go about their work. Every detail, from placing silverware to making sure drinks are topped up, is handled with grace and efficiency. I truly feel like a valued guest on this flight, which is not always the case on U.S.-based carriers.

Final Thoughts

As I reflect on this first leg of our dream trip to the Maldives, I can not help but feel incredibly grateful for the experience. Flying Qatar Airways Qsuite Business Class has truly been the perfect way to kick off this bucket list adventure. The level of comfort, privacy, and service has exceeded all my expectations and set the tone for the rest of our journey. This is more than just a flight — it is a part of the experience itself, and one I will never forget. Whether you are heading to the Maldives or any other destination, flying Qsuite makes the journey as memorable as the destination. I am already looking forward to our next opportunity to fly with Qatar Airways and can not wait to see what the rest of this trip holds!