Kiki and Ollie
I’m a sucker for a luxury in-flight experience, but flying Qsuites with your baby-in-tow takes it to a whole ‘nother level! If you’re thinking of flying Qatar’s Qsuites with your little one, this review will cover everything you need to know!
Flight: LAX to DOH to CPT (2 Qsuite Flights)
Age of Flight: 8 Months Old
Before becoming a mama, I was based in South Africa for four years, and Qatar Airways quickly became my preferred airline. I’ve personally flown over 165 hours and nearly 100k miles with them 🤯—and about half of those flights were in their Qsuites business class product.
I still pinch myself any time I fly in “upper” class—I’ve done a LOT of miles in economy, so it will always feel like a dream to me!
When we were planning our trip from Los Angeles to Cape Town, I was so excited to learn that Qatar offered bassinets in some of their Qsuites.
Our entire journey would span 35+ hours (the first flight was just shy of 16 hours direct to Doha). Oliver was 8 months old and still small enough to fit in a bassinet, so this was a huge bonus for us with an overnight flight!
The truth is that travel changes with a baby, including business class. I can’t believe how many airlines don’t offer bassinets in business class!
I get it—not everyone wants to hear a crying baby on a flight, especially not when they’ve spent a lot of $ or miles to upgrade. But, what I also know is that if anyone needs the service and space offered in business class… it’s parents 😂 If you’re flying for the first time with your baby, you’ll definitely want to check out My Ultimate Guide to Flying with a Baby.
Now, onto the Qsuites—I’ve sung praises of them for years, but they are truly the most remarkable way to fly!
I enjoyed a luxurious amenity kit, a huge selection of movies, and the most delicious food. I’ll always be blown away by the menu onboard—everything from Alaskan King Crab mac and cheese to truffle omelettes!
On our first leg, we experienced a Qsuite with a bassinet. Then, on our second leg, a double Qsuite (2 seats in a middle row), which combined to become a full-sized bed.
Here’s my review of Qatar Airways Qsuite Business Class with a baby!
Which Qsuites Seats to Fly with a Baby
Each Qsuite is its own private suite—the first of its kind for a business class offering! If you’re flying Qatar Qsuites with a baby, there are a couple of great options for you to choose from.
Qatar Qsuite Bassinet Seat with a Baby
If you have an overnight flight, where you know your baby will likely get more sleep, you might want to opt for one of the single Qsuites with a bassinet.
We flew LAX to Doha (16 hrs) with an 8-month-old and decided to test it out!
Qsuite Bassinet Seat Specs
- There are limited bassinet seats, and they are different on each aircraft—look for a pram symbol when choosing your seat. E.g., the Airbus A350-1000 has 2 Qsuites with bassinets (12B & 12J).
- The maximum weight of the infant should not exceed 11 kgs (24 Lbs), and the age must not exceed 24 months.
Keep in Mind
The cabin lighting shines right in the baby’s eyes when they’re in the bassinet because of how high it sits. We packed a Cozigo, and it was a lifesaver. You could also pack a roll of painter’s tape to cover light sources.
Sleep & Sun Protection Cover
COZIGO
This Cozigo Sleep & Sun Protection Cover works for just about everything. It’s designed to fit over an airplane bassinet, but it also works as a stroller blackout cover. It was absolutely essential for us when Oliver was a baby to cover him in the airplane bassinet and on stroller naps.
Double Qsuite Seats with a Baby
If you are flying as two adults with a lap infant, you can book two middle Qsuites and convert them into a double-bed suite!
The center divider can be pushed down completely to create one big suite for the whole family.
This is a great option for a busy baby. You can co-sleep and play with tons of space—like an enclosed inflight playpen—all while enjoying the privacy of a private suite.
Where did you change his diapers? And where do you throw them away?
There’s a bathroom in the business class section with a baby changing table! I recommend packing some dog poo bags for “bigger” changes. Attendants will usually ask you to bring poopy diapers out of the bathroom for them to discard.
More About the Qsuite Experience
In addition to priority boarding and the option to reserve a bassinet seat, parents traveling with infants will have access to Qatar Airlines’ special kit, which includes diapers, baby food, and other items.
As soon as you take your seat, your dedicated flight attendant will take your drink order. You can choose from bubbly or a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages of your choice.
Qatar’s signature drink is a glass of mint lemonade served with a warm towel.
That said, I do love a glass of celebratory bubbles to kick off a trip before a flight!
The Qsuites are seriously spacious, with a side storage compartment that becomes the perfect seat for a little one.
Each suite comes with an all-in-one control and power center with a USB port and universal plug. There are enough power points to charge your phone and laptop.
Another cool thing about the Qsuites is that you can remove the center compartment of the middle section to make a huge 4-person suite.
This is an excellent option for larger families!
The seat reclines 180 degrees to a flatbed of 79 inches. The comforter is one of the most comfortable I’ve ever had on a flight (a HUGE, soft, velvet blanket)—we all managed to sleep for several hours.
Planning your first long-haul flight with baby or a toddler? Overwhelmed with what to pack? Don’t miss these guides!
The Ultimate Guide to Flying with a Baby
The Ultimate Guide to Flying with a Toddler
Qatar Routes Featuring Qsuites
The Qsuites only appear on a select number of routes and aircraft. You’ll find Qatar’s award-winning Qsuite business class on flights to and from the following destinations:
Asia-Pacific
- Bangkok (Flight no: QR 830/831)
- Bengaluru (Flight no: QR 572/573)
- Canberra (Flight no: QR 906/907)
- Colombo (Flight no: QR 668/669)
- Hong Kong (Flight no: QR 816/815, QR 818/817)
- Maldives (Flight no: QR 672/673, QR 674/675)
- Mumbai (Flight no: QR 556/557)
- Shanghai (Flight no: QR 870/871)
- Sydney (Flight no: QR 906/907)
- Singapore (Flight no: QR 944/945)
Europe
- Amsterdam (Flight no: QR 273, 274)
- Berlin (Flight no: QR 77/78, QR 81/82)
- Frankfurt (Flight no: QR 67/68, QR 69/70)
- London (Flight no: QR 1/2, QR 5/6, QR 7/8, QR 15/16)
- Paris (Flight no: QR 37/38)
- Stockholm (Flight no: QR 171/172)
- Zurich (Flight no: QR 95/96)
- Munich (Flight no: QR 57/58, QR 59/60)
Middle East
- Kuwait
- Muscat
- Beirut
The Americas
- Chicago (Flight no: QR 725/726)
- Houston (Flight no: QR 713/714)
- New York (Flight no: QR 701/702)
- Washington (Flight no: QR 707/708)
**This information is as of 2018, so double-check before booking future travel!
Amenities
Once you settle in, the flight attendants come around and pass out White Company pajamas (if you’re flying at night) and slippers. You’ll also receive a toiletry bag from Diptyque.
It includes a lotion, face cream, lip balm, and a travel-size eau de parfum. You’ll also get a set with an eye mask, socks, and earplugs.
Depending on your route, you might get emailed the night before your flight for Super Wi-Fi available for purchase for $8.
For a flight that’s nearly 16 hours in flight, $8 is very reasonable!
In-Flight Entertainment
One of my favorite things about Qatar’s business class products is their excellent in-flight entertainment system. You’ll have a 21.5-inch monitor and a choice of over 4,000 movies, TV series, and documentaries to watch.
The media panel also has contactless NFC capabilities. You can use the Qatar Airways app to stream your own pre-selected playlists.
Check out this post for some travel toy ideas for your baby!
The Best Travel-Friendly Toys for Toddlers
In-Flight Dining
Qatar will always outshine other airlines when it comes to food and drinks.
It’s one of the few business-class products with open-style dining—meaning there are no set meal times, so you can order whatever and whenever you want.
This also makes it incredibly easy if your little one has started solids. You can order something to share or order them their own dish (or 2)!
Another thing that I love is Qatar’s “mocktail” menu. Usually, if you don’t drink alcohol, you’re limited to soft drinks, coffee, and water. But they have tons of creative non-alcoholic beverages to keep the experience exciting.
On our longest-haul leg from LA to Doha, the menu included dinner, light bites, and breakfast options.
For dinner, I ordered tomato and coconut soup, sea bass with black forbidden rice, and cheesecake for dessert.
Of course, I wanted to sample more of the menu—especially that Alaskan crab mac & cheese!!!—but once we got Oliver to sleep in the bassinet, I wanted to seize the moment.
Sleep when the baby sleeps, right?
I tried to make up for it at breakfast, so before we touched down in Doha, I ordered fresh orange juice, Greek yogurt with seasonal fruit, and the coconut steel-cut oats.
Don’t forget to pack some baby-friendly snacks for the flight!
Toddler-Approved Snacks for Your Next Flight
Hamad International Airport
While we waited to board our flight to Cape Town, we had a short layover at Hamad International Airport. Your business class ticket will give you access to the exclusive Qatar Airways Business Class Lounge.
I highly recommend Qatar Airline’s Meet and Greet Service when flying through Doha as a family. A representative will greet you and assist you through the airport and to the lounge. It made our layover so much easier!
In the lounge, there are dedicated family areas, there’s a delicious 24-hour buffet, or you can order from a selection of made-to-order dishes. You can also charge your devices and catch up on any work with the complimentary WiFi.
If you have the time, there’s also a Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Center in the airport. Book yourself in for a massage or go for a dip at the beautiful indoor swimming pool.
Read More: Layover Tips for Hamad International Airport in Qatar
Overall
The Qatar Qsuites have an unbeatable WOW factor. With an endless amount of entertainment, luxurious bedding and amenities, and plenty of privacy.
A Family Travel Favorite!
I have always had exceptional service on Qatar Airways (Qsuites and economy) in the past.
But their staff was extra amazing with Oliver! And Oliver loved them back.
Family travel with Qatar Airways has made me an even bigger fan–if that’s even possible!
It’s hard to beat the Qsuite experience when flying with a baby! It’s an all-around incredible product, and you can’t go wrong with an award-winning airline like Qatar.
Qsuites were already in a league of their own, but they now get “The Baby Abroad” seal of approval!
Have you flown Qatar Qsuites before? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments below!
