Business Class "Protocol" and Tips

[Geniusloci]

Hi all,

My wife and I are travelling to Europe in January, and we have decided this will be our first international business class trip.
We are flying from Brisbane to Milan on QATAR. We have not flown internationally in Business Class ... So I was wondering what the "protocols" are for sleeping in a flat bed (I'm looking forward to that....). I'd be interested in how others manage sleeping and not waking up looking like a crumpled mess who just got out of bed!
Any tips about making the most of our travels with QATAR (navigating Doha Hamad International, lounge tips, etc) will be welcome.
Thanks in advance to those who can share their experience.

Ron

 

[RooFlyer]

If you have Qsuites on your QR flight then you can wake up as bedraggled or baggy eyed as may be and no one will see you until you open the doors.

Honestly, I don’t care what I look like ( and it’s not pretty) as long as it’s vaguely within the realms of decency. Get changed in the loos, they will make up your bed for you. Rearrange your stuff then close the doors and the night is yours.

They will give you nice moist towels in a sealed container on departure ( you can ask for more) so if you like you can hang onto that and refresh your face when you wake up and then face the world, or at least the rest of the plane.

One thing about QR Cabin crew is that they are infinitely obliging. You can also eat whenever you want. You just tell them when beforehand and they’ll need about 20 minutes to prepare before the time you say.

The airport can be a bit challenging when it’s crowded. On the plane you can look up a plan of the airport on the entertainment system, which marks all the various features. I suggest you take a photo of that on your phone to consult when you arrive. You will also know your arrival gate so can plan from there. Unfortunately, they do sometimes use bus gates in which case where you enter the terminal in the lap of the gods. But you will have your map on the phone so can pick up a path.

You’ll go through transit security on arrival. Business have their own area and I’ve never seen it anything but completely open and easy to get through.

Two Al Mourjan business lounges - the original one in the southern part of the terminal nearer check-in and ‘the garden’ which is near the large vegetation area in the north of the terminal. It’s huge. Both can get crowded at peak times ( although I haven’t experienced that) so I suggest as you arrive head to the showers and book a spot. À la carte and buffet dining.

You’ve chosen a great airline to take your first business class trip with.

 

[PERLHR]

I'll also add that if being bussed to the aircraft at Doha for the leg to Europe, in business class you are called last (economy gets called first to the buses). You have your own business class passenger bus. If at gate for immediate boarding via air bridge I can't recall who boards first as I'm usually one if the last on! Enjoy the Qatar service.

 

[Seat0B]

Well what a treat is in front of you @Geniusloci!

For sleeping, I usually take a pair of exercise leggings, tracksuit pants, or other comfy stretchy pants (or shorts if the weather is going to be hot) and a comfy oversized T shirt in my carry on. This outfit can then double as my PJs on the rest of my trip and as an emergency change of clothes should my luggage go astray. I usually put these on soon after take off and hang (some airlines) or neatly fold my other clothes and put them in my overhead locker. That way, if I have any dining mishaps (eg spilling my lobster bisque or laksa, dripping my coffee - I’ve done it all ) it’s onto my spare set of clothes not my “better” items for the journey. Also, it avoids the rush in the bathrooms around sleep time. I don’t have a good solution for avoiding the “back into my clothes” rush just before landing, so do plan to change back with good time. Also note that the bathroom floors can get pretty messy so I always wear my airline amenity provided slippers/socks to the bathroom and just leave them behind at the end of the flight.

Another thing is don’t be afraid to let the flight attendants know it’s your first time in business. I did this myself my first time, and also when I jagged an upgrade to First for the first time, and I’ve seen others do it. The crew usually make a bit of an effort to let you know all the features you can expect/request/make use off during the flight, and will happily take tourist happy snaps for you and your wife.

Also, be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy the lounge at the start of your journey. It’s nice to have a shower if it’s a hot and sweaty day in BNE in January and then you can start your journey feeling fresh. Take along a change of undies in your carry on and even a fresh shirt if you think you might like that. The airlines provide soap, shampoo, towels etc in the showers, but not deodorant, so you might want to take that along too. And facial moisturiser can be a bit hit and miss in lounges, so your wife may want to take her own. Then, pour a glass of bubbles and toast yourselves.

I haven’t flown QR out of BNE, so someone with better experience might comment, but you should also enjoy priority check in and luggage drop, maybe priority security too.

 

[Melburnian1]

Even when supplied, I have never changed into pyjamas when travelling in business class. Call me risk-averse, but in the event of an emergency (which we all know is unlikely), I don't want to be merely in PJs.

I regard airline business class as roughly equivalent to European railways' couchette cars (i.e. one rung behind proper sleeping compartments on trains). The convention in couchettes is to sleep in your clothes (it's mixed gender, normally, like airline business class).

I always have a polo shirt, a pair of jocks and socks and a jumper in my carry-on backpack: the jumper is because even if you board with just a shirt (or for ladies, blouse) on, the cabin may well be too cool for your liking. The others are in case you drop sauces/food on clothes, or for other such unpredictable events such as your checked luggage being misdirected by the airline or being left behind at an airport. Latter has never happened to me but it can occur if you're unlucky. Also have all your chargers in your backpack or carry-on luggage, and make sure your powerbak(s) if any are also there as latter (and any batteries) cannot be carried in the aircraft hold.

If you don't understand where various features such as USB ports are, or can't work out what some of the pictographs mean, ask a staff member. On the better airlines (of which Qatar is reputedly one - I've not flown it), cabin crew are mostly obliging and some understand that there has to be a first time for us all in each airline's various classes of travel.

If you enjoy privacy and don't feel a need to instantly (in-person) communicate with your wife during the flight, then book two window seats. If you look up the Aerolopa website and scroll to Qatar Airways, and then for QR899 from Brisbane, examine the twin aisle Boeing 773ER (Extended Range) display of seat configuration and layouts. This will tell you which seats are more 'protected' from the aisle: on many airlines, it's every second 'window' seat. You can do the same for your onwards flight to Milan: each of the three daily offerings looks to be an Airbus A359 at the moment, so look at that on Aerolopa.

One trap is Qatar apparently has five different configurations for its Boeing 773s (your BNE to DOH flight) and two for its Airbus A359s (DOH to MXP Milan), so you need to find out what applies in each case to choose your (and your wife's) favourite seat(s). Join USA site Expert Flyer for free, and then use 'create seat alert', and type in your flight number, origin and destination and date of travel. This should allow you to see what configuration the flight should be, and you can then match it with Aerolopa to solve the puzzle.

But above all else, be courteous to the staff, sit back, open the window shades half or quarter way for an occasional peek if the staff have asked or insisted you close them, and don't forget if applicable to have a midflight snack from the galley if you are hugry or thirsty. My preferred approach is to visit the staff in the galley (often halfway through there may only be one or two at most there, the rest could be sleeping) rather than noisily pushing the call button. Enjoy the experience!

 

[tgh]

I really really hate getting changed in a J loo..even worse getting re dressed when I have slept in and there is a queue
I have a so far unrequited ambition to buy some kind of a light classy crumple free jumpsuit or overalls (perhaps a flying suit with some fake hero tags) and wear the bloody thing all the way home to lounge to hotel

 

[RooFlyer]

I don’t have a good solution for avoiding the “back into my clothes” rush just before landing, so do plan to change back with good time.

Yes, I def change back early, but with QSuites, it is possible to change in the 'suite'.

 

[VPS]

Have a great trip. That first time in Business is great and especially Qatar

 

[Geniusloci]

Thank you all (VPS, tgh, Melburnian1, Seat0B, PERLHR, RooFlyer), so much for taking the time to respond. What you’ve shared is really helpful and reassuring. The practical tips, especially about settling into Qsuites, using the towels, and navigating the airport and lounges, bus transfers, and transit security, making the most of the lounges, carry-on recommendations, and engaging with the staff… so much valuable info! It’s gold to rookies like us.

It’s great to know what to expect and how things work in practice. All these experience-derived insights have made us feel much more prepared for the trip.

My only concern is that we’ll get hooked on business class! Hmmmm, we do have a trip planned to visit some missionary friends in Ukraine in April….perhaps business class into Warsaw?

One more rookie question: Is there an official or implied/expected dress code on board or in the lounge?

 

[Forg]

One more rookie question: Is there an official or implied/expected dress code on board or in the lounge?

I would consider it “I paid for it I can wear what I want” … there will be different opinions that different people have, but the reality is that attempting to sleep in clothes is an uncomfortable experience so you just wear whatever might help you be something closer to comfortable. I don’t think what people wear differs appreciably to what they wear in the squeezy seats.

 

[Quickstatus]

One more rookie question: Is there an official or implied/expected dress code on board or in the lounge?

That's the best way to make your thread last a thousand pages

If planning to change into JimJams, don't do it until after the flight has reached cruise altitude. Just in case something happens on take off and the flight has to return to the airport. Not a good look if you have to evacuate or disembark in JimJams

 

[RooFlyer]

One more rookie question: Is there an official or implied/expected dress code on board or in the lounge?

No really. IIRC you don’t get people dressed like slobs like you do in Australian domestic lounges but it’s basically just ‘street wear’ - but no open footwear I think and no PJs

PS both the north and south lounges in Doha are entered by escalators off the main concourse. Someone will scan scan your BP and then you can go up the escalator. That’s why the entrances can be a bit difficult to spot. It took me a couple of passes to find the north lounge the first time as I was looking for the actual lounge entrance.

 

[Geniusloci]

So...casual, comfortable, and respectful? No need for the dinner jacket!

 

[Forg]

So...casual, comfortable, and respectful? No need for the dinner jacket!

There are people that have an opinion of the social status of a business class flight which makes them think a more dressy style of clothing is required. My actual observation is that clothes in the lounge are no different to the general terminal, and the people onboard in Business are dressed no differently to those in Economy(*). Long haul at least … seems to me that domestic flights prolly have more suited people in the Business seats.


(*) I say this with the caveat that a daggy Versace tracksuit looks the same to me as a daggy Big W one.

 

[tgh]

Over my 50 or so International travel years, dress has changed with the times and almost anything goes these days
I sometimes wear a jacket and staff always take it, hang it and return it.

 

[Quickstatus]

Apparently activewear is Ok these days

 

[Geniusloci]

Thanks, duly noted... For me, it's not about status (airline or social), it's about being comfortable making the most of the experience and arriving as relaxed and rested as possible...
Now, where did I put my Peter Alexander tartan PJs?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks, duly noted... For me, it's not about status (airline or social), it's about being comfortable making the most of the experience and arriving as relaxed and rested as possible...
Now, where did I put my Peter Alexander tartan PJs?

Qatar provide you with PJs.

It’s a good idea, for safety, to only change after takeoff.

July can keep those for your shorter onward flight. Or at home.

Otherwise just be comfortable. Casual attire is fine.

Probably the biggest thing for a first timer is that you might be too excited to sleep well. That’s normal. You get used to it over time!

 

[Pushka]

The only time I've ever been disturbed by another passenger in J was a male who decided to clean his teeth walking up and down the aisle.

The beauty of J, apart from a flat bed, the space, the food, the amenities is that you can totally separate yourself from other passengers. I don't really notice what others are wearing.

I often don't change into the PJs for reasons others have posted. The suites do offer easier space to change under a rug and closed door. But I just can't do the change in the loo thing. I mostly keep the PJs.

Enjoy Qatar. A fabulous experience awaits. And sorry. You'll get hooked.

 

[jase05]

Have fun, will be hard going back to other business class.
Can’t add much more except to say on the QSuites I always grab a rear facing window seat.
On boarding I’ll assist my wife with putting luggage in the overhead and the.n say our goodbyes and then won’t often see her again until arrival. As soon as as I’m able to I’ll get the door closed and if a night flight I’ll change into a t-shirt or something cool to sleep in. Often I’ll change into my suite. Quick splash of water and a brush of my teeth before arrival.
If it’s a late night flight I’ll often have dinner in the lounge and then ask the crew to swap meals around. I’m not big on airline breakfast meals so I might eat something small and have a wine or vodka before sleep and then have my main meal when I wake up. Can’t help you with the DOH J lounges as been a long time since we’ve used them due to having QR Plat status. Haven’t heard the fortune of the dreaded bus gates either so can’t help there either