What's the main difference between Qatar and Emirates?

Both airlines offer excellent service and amenities, but Qatar Airways has a slight edge in terms of in-flight entertainment and food options. Emirates, on the other hand, has a more extensive network of routes and a more modern fleet of aircraft.

How do I book a flight with Qatar Airways?

You can book a flight with Qatar Airways through their website or through a travel agent. It's a good idea to book in advance to secure the best rates.

What's the baggage policy for Qatar Airways?

Qatar Airways offers a generous baggage allowance of 30kg for economy class passengers and 40kg for business class passengers. However, excess baggage fees apply for bags exceeding the allowed weight.

Can I get a refund if I cancel my flight?

Yes, Qatar Airways offers a refund option if you cancel your flight. However, the refund amount will depend on the fare type and the time of cancellation.

How do I contact Qatar Airways customer support?

You can contact Qatar Airways customer support through their website, phone, or email. They offer 24/7 support in multiple languages.

What's the check-in process like for Qatar Airways?

Qatar Airways offers online check-in, which can be completed up to 24 hours before your flight. You can also check-in at the airport, but be prepared for long lines during peak travel periods.

Can I upgrade to business class?

Yes, Qatar Airways offers an upgrade option for economy class passengers. However, the availability of upgrades depends on the route and the time of booking.

What's the in-flight entertainment system like?

Qatar Airways offers a top-notch in-flight entertainment system with a wide selection of movies, TV shows, music, and games. You can access the system through your personal device or the in-flight entertainment console.

Are there any other perks I should know about?

Yes, Qatar Airways offers a range of other perks, including free meals and drinks, priority boarding, and access to airport lounges.

Qatar vs Emirates: Which Airline Reigns Supreme?

Name: The Great Airline Showdown: Qatar vs Emirates - My Recent Flights and Honest Review
Item: Qatar Airways
Rating: 5
Author: CaglarSahin

Hello everyone!

Qatar Airways took back its title as the world's best airline in 2024, marking its eighth win.

The competition has been going on for over a decade, with the winner changing hands each year. It's no surprise that the debate over who's better, Qatar or Emirates, never seems to die down.

As for me, Qatar Airways will always hold a special place in my flight map because I took my first major connecting trip with them back in 2009. It was a 30-hour journey (including the layover) from Moscow to Doha to Cebu in the Philippines, and I'll never forget it.

Since 2009, I've also flown on the following routes:

Moscow to Doha to Seoul

Moscow to Doha to Malé, Maldives

But memories are nice, but they don't tell the whole story. What does Qatar Airways have to offer now?

My most recent flight with Qatar Airways was in July 2024, and it was to the Maldives and back.

I've already started sharing some of my experiences from this trip in my previous reviews:

Sheremetyevo Airport/Terminal C

Duty Free at Sheremetyevo Airport

Choosing an airline:

I had my destination picked out, so it was time to decide: fly direct to the Maldives or with a layover. I'm not a fan of long non-stop flights, even with comfortable seating. So, I opted for the layover and saved some cash in the process.

I went for the most budget-friendly option, and to my surprise, it was Qatar Airways. Although Emirates was more convenient since they fly out of Domodedovo, which is the closest airport to my home, Emirates would have cost an extra 30,000 rubles per person. So, I decided to take Qatar and splurge on my trip instead.

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📌 Cost:

I booked my tickets in early April on the Qatar Airways website.

💰 They came out to be 103,000 rubles per person for a round trip.

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🛫 Flight QR 338 Moscow - Doha

Departure at 23:50 from Sheremetyevo, Terminal C

Boeing 787 aircraft

Class: economy

🧳 25 kg of checked baggage + 7 kg of hand luggage (per person)

As always, baggage is registered up to the final destination.

Flight time to Doha is approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes.

Moscow to Doha flight route QR 338 (screenshot from Flightradar24) Our flight out of Moscow was a breeze, thankfully, with only a minor delay. I was a bit worried about the layover in Doha, which was around 2.5 hours, but everything went smoothly. Hamad Airport may be huge, but we managed to grab some duty-free shopping and enjoy a coffee with dates in chocolate before our flight.

✈️ On board:

The legroom between seats is one thing I really value. I hate it when your feet are dangling in mid-air, not exactly the most comfortable feeling.

Qatar Airways gets it right, though. After all my flights, I've never had a complaint about the seat spacing.

As for the standard in-flight amenities, the blanket, earbuds, and travel kit with a cute design (sleep mask, disposable slippers) are all great touches.

The new blankets are a lifesaver when it's chilly on the plane, but our flight from Moscow to Doha was comfortable temperature-wise. The return journey from Doha to Moscow was a different story, though.

The in-flight entertainment system with touch screens and a wide selection of movies, TV shows, and kids' programs is also a plus.

Since the flight was at night, I didn't feel like watching anything, so I just left the map of our flight on the background.

🍽️ In-flight meal Moscow - Doha:

Well, are you ready for a spoonful of bitter?

Here it comes! The meal on Qatar Airways this year left me a bit disappointed 🙈. And that was a complete surprise!

I'm not a picky person when it comes to food, as long as they feed me, they feed me. But this wasn't my first flight with Qatar, but it's been five to seven years since I last flew with them. And I remember how they used to feed me back then. Bliss! First and foremost, it was all about the variety of cold cuts (cheese, fish, or meat), salads, and nice little treats like chocolates, buns, and so on.

Most of my flights are at night, and I completely understand that nighttime meals are different from morning and daytime meals, they're more modest. But not all airlines, that's for sure.

🥪 Around 1:30 am, the flight attendants offered us a choice between a vegetarian sandwich or a sandwich with some sauce. I don't remember the name of the sauce, but they said it was 'a bit spicy'.

I'm not a vegetarian, but I didn't want to risk the spiciness, so I took the simple sandwich with veggies. I was starving, as my last meal was hours ago, at 9 pm.

I thought I knew what a sandwich looked like by now, but I was wrong. They brought us an open, toasted pastry that tasted, smelled, and looked just like homemade pizza. And it was delicious! But there was a catch.

The whole thing was squished into a cardboard tray, and the utensils didn't come with it. We had to use our hands. The Qatari sandwich-pizza combo splattered olive oil, tomato sauce, and who-knows-what-else all over my hoodie. I'm still finding the stain months later.

And that was all the food we got for almost 5 hours of flying. I wasn't expecting a full meal, but Qatar used to offer some decent snacks and desserts at night.

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🛬 We landed in Doha around 5 am and were hit with a blast of hot air as soon as we stepped out of the plane. It was already +36°C.

Kudos to the airport staff, though – they got us into the air-conditioned terminal within 10 minutes.

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🛫 Flight QR 674 Doha - Malé (Maldives)

Aircraft: Boeing 777

Class: Economy

Flight duration to Malé: 4 hours 30 minutes.

Flight route QR 674 Doha-Malé (screenshot from Flightradar24)

The seats were, as always, incredibly comfortable.

We were stuck on the tarmac for over an hour, and I even dozed off. So, when we finally boarded the plane on schedule, we landed in the Maldives with a 30-minute delay.

✈️ Review of Velana Airport (Maldives)

🍽️ Food on the Doha to Male flight:

I'm going to complain about this, but only a little!

I'm no Gordon Ramsay, but I know how Qatar Airways used to serve passengers. Unfortunately, they don't do that anymore.

You won't go hungry (maybe only on the Moscow-Doha overnight flight), and the food will be hot and tasty. As always, they'll offer you a free drink (wine, beer, or gin).

But it's not going to be a wow moment! The selection has gotten smaller and simpler over the years. It's just standard fare now.

🏆 Interim results:

⚡ Comfort: 5

⚡ Seats: 5

⚡ In-flight service: 5+

⚡ Food: 4

📌 The return journey from Maldives to Moscow:

Comfort-wise, the planes and other parameters were pretty much on par with what I'd experienced before. Even the in-flight meal was almost identical.

What really stood out, though, was that all the planes were brand new and in top-notch condition. 👏

📝 Okay, so I'll just share some nuances that, for Qatar Airways, aren't exactly unusual situations - they're just part of the norm, having dealt with them before.

♦️ Airport announcements about flight delays:

We landed in Doha right on schedule. After checking the board, which showed our Moscow flight departing on time, we found the gate number and headed out to explore the Qatar duty-free. About 40 minutes before boarding, I heard an announcement that our Moscow flight was delayed due to 'unforeseen circumstances' and the gate number had changed. No new departure time or reason was given. That was a bit weird.

I'll be honest, I'm not thrilled about delays, but they're a fact of life for any airline. What usually gets me is when they don't provide more information - just a vague 'not our fault' excuse.

I had to do some digging to figure out what was going on, and it turned out that the delay was due to a late arrival of the plane in Doha. It would've been nice if they'd just come out and said that instead of leaving us in the dark.

♦️ The cold on the Doha-Moscow flight:

It's not the first time this has happened. I was freezing on this same flight back in 2014, so I made sure to pack my warmest clothes.

From what I could tell, the cold was worst in the middle section of the plane, near the front. Passengers were bundled up with blankets (it was coming from above), and you couldn't even make out their faces.

My teeth were chattering, my nose was numb, and all I could think about was not getting a fever the next day. And that was with me being prepared.

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📢 Qatar Airways: the final verdict

Despite having a few complaints about Qatar Airways, I'd give them top marks. But with a caveat - they used to be better in some areas. Now, they're actually losing out to themselves.

What I value most about Qatar Airways is the comfort of their flights and their punctuality, even with delays. If you've got a short layover in Doha (2 hours), I'd be confident flying with them, knowing I'd likely make my next connection.