This is a brief account of my experiences onboard Qatar Airways' Business Class flight between Buenos Aires-Ezeiza and São Paulo-Guarulhos. A Boeing 777-200LR performed the flight. Before I move into the report, I feel I need to make it clear that I've been meaning to try out one of the Middle Eastern carriers for quite a while now. Knowing of Qatar Airways' reputation and the fact this airline has been collecting awards all over the globe; my expectations were naturally very high. Plus, I do jump at any opportunity to fly with a Triple Seven ;)

Airline: Qatar Airways
Aircraft: Boeing 777-2DZ/LR
Registration: A7-BBC
Seat: 5A (checked-in as 7A)

1 – Booking: n/a
Done by the company itself.

2 – Check-in: 10
When I first got to Ezeiza Airport I was shocked to see how full the airport was. I had never seen Ezeiza this full. Indeed, I was worried I might have some trouble with long queues. My mistake. Qatar Airways has six check-in positions (two for Business Class passengers and four for Economy Class passengers) and when I got to the Business Class line, I was promptly called and checked-in. The airline employee who served me was both friendly and efficient. In less than two minutes, I had my boarding card and I got that window seat I so wanted - yes, as an avgeek, it's always one of my top priorities.

Ezeiza's Terminal "A" was quite busy	Qatar Airways has five Check-in positions at Ezeiza Airport

3 – Boarding: 7
Ok, let's this is probably the only issue I have with this particular flight. The first part is not really the airline's fault: Qatar Airways' flight QR922 leaves from Terminal C, the new terminal used almost exclusively by state-owned Aerolíneas Argentinas' long-haul flights. The terminal is brand new and to be honest, spacious and very comfortable. Two thumbs up. However, to walk from the security check and immigration control (done at Terminal A, where Qatar's check-in is located) over to the new terminal is quite a hassle: it takes a while to get there and the way is definitely less than enjoyable - at least its refrigerated, something I can't say about the immigration control. Now, as for the boarding itself, it was done in an orderly and controlled fashion, however, the speeches were poor and mumbled. As someone who doesn't speak Spanish (Portuguese is similar, but there are considerable differences) it felt rushed. I also couldn't make out what was said in English - and this is a real problem. But, all in all, since the boarding process itself was actually quite seamless, I suppose not much harm done. Still, this is something Qatar should definitely look into - particularly since it can be solved quite easily.

My Business Class Boarding Card	Waiting to for my flight in the new Terminal "C" at Ezeiza Airport

4 – Aircraft: 10
Let me start by saying that I'm a little bit biased when it comes to the Triple Seven. In my view, this airplane is "the" way to travel long haul nowadays, period. Needless to say, my flight was only a short tag-leg of a longer journey, but nevertheless, being a fan of the Boeing 777, I was looking forward to this flight, as it would be the first time I would fly with the dash -200LR (Long Range). The plane slated to operate that day's QR922 was A7-BBC, the third 777-200LR received by Al Baker's award-winning airline, having been received by Qatar factory-fresh in November 2009. The airplane was absolutely spotless, both from the outside as well as from the inside. On a personal note, I think Qatar's livery is a very attractive one with soothing colors, simple yet clean and elegant. The cabin decoration is also very tasteful. Judging from all those advertisements and photos I've seen from Emirates and Etihad Airways, I admit that I was a bit afraid that Qatar might also have too much "gold" and "over the top" decorations, which in all honesty, I never found attractive (quite the opposite in fact). I was pleasantly surprised to see that the decorations were actually quite delicate and the overall aesthetics were modern and clean, something I really appreciate. Everything was evidently designed bearing the practical element in mind.

Qatar Airways' fine Boeing 777-2DZ/LR A7-BBC	Settling down in Business Class after boarding

5 – Seat: 10
Having tried out a number of long-haul Business Class seats, it's safe to say that this one is by far the best I've ever used. It's spacious, turns into a full flat bed, reclining 180°, completely horizontal to the ground. Additionally, the massage functions are also quite nice - though I've never ever used any (on any airline). There is enough room for personal belongings (see the neon blue compartments on the photo above) and each seat has a clearly visible power socket and a USB port (which allows you to see your photos on the seat's 17 inch LCD screen, for example). Even on a short flight as this one, Qatar also offers each customer a very nice (and big) pillow along with a blanket. The seating arrangement is also very generous: the seats are spread out in a 2-2-2 configuration. This means that you either get an aisle or a window seat. No middle seat! On the Boeing 777, most airlines offer a 2-3-2 configuration in Business Class. Kudos to Qatar Airways!

The mighty GE90-115B engine after departure from Ezeiza	The seat turns into a 180° flat bed which is completely horizontal to the ground

6 – IFE: 10
This is most definitely one of the highlights. I have never ever seen such an extensive entertainment offer on any business class flight. Overall, the Oryx Multiplex system offers more than 1.000 entertainment options, including movies (200), television programs, video games and music. Wow! What's even more impressive is the fact that each seat has a 17-inch LCD screen with excellent video quality. The earphones are what you expect: noise cancelling and they provide an excellent viewing/listening experience. The movie selection also seems to be very diverse, ranging from classics to the most recent blockbusters (Hollywood, Bollywood, etc.). I also enjoyed the fact that there are always at least 2-3 audio options along with several subtitle options. This makes all the difference if you're aiming to be a global network carrier with global customers. Bearing in mind that this particular aircraft would continue from São Paulo-GRU on a 14,5 hour journey to Doha, an extensive in-flight entertainment program weighs heavily on the decision to purchase a ticket with airline A or B (if you disregard the schedule and price - and I'm not saying that Qatar is overpriced, quite the opposite actually: on the GRU-EZE-GRU route, Qatar Airways offers excellent fares). Qatar Airways also offers a wide range of magazines and newspapers (same as any other airline I've flown) on top of its own in-flight magazine (the content is what we've come to expect from any in-flight magazine).

Oryx provides an excellent in flight entertainment program on a 17 inch LCD screen	Over 1.000 entertainment options, including 200 movies

7 – Flight Attendants: 10
Excellent. Just excellent. I guess I know why Qatar Airways continuously collects major awards. The flight attendants were just impeccable. Incredibly courteous and relaxed at the same time. Granted, the Business Class wasn't full - in fact I was the only person in the second compartment (which is comprised of a total of 18 seats) - but I had the genuine feeling that the way the cabin crew talked to me/interacted with me was well beyond the call of duty. The service was so good that for the first time, I took the time to fill out a feedback form - I felt compelled to compliment the fantastic crew of QR922. Last but not least, I really enjoyed seeing a completely international crew: we had Brazilians, Argentinians, Chinese, British, etc. It made the whole experience feel "global". Fantastic!

Inflight magazine, duty-free catalogue, menu and entertainment guide	My light dinner choice

8 – Drinks & Meals: 10
I have to admit, I'm not in the best position to really evaluate the meal service, but that's only because I wasn't particularly hungry on the flight and specifically asked the flight attendant for a "light dinner", which is basically some crackers and a fine cheese selection. It was more than enough for me. It should be noted though, that even on such a short flight, the meal choice in Business Class is quite extensive:

1) Salad of crisp mesclun with chicken chimichurri and parmesan
2) Pan fried escallops of beef filled with mozzarella and sage linguini pasta, roasted red pepper and tomato compote
3) Chicken roulade with pistachio mousseline, green pepper corn sauce sliced potatoes and leek compote
4) Prawn provencale with black olives, saffron rice, steamed pak choy
5) An individual cheese plate of fontina roquefort and goats' brie, quince paste (My choice)
6) Orange bavarois charlotte, chocolate sauce

I also need to point out that Qatar Airways offers quite an extensive array of drinks. On a personal note, I was impressed by their wine choices. Add to that the fact that the flight attendants seemed to have taken a sommelier course (for all individual meal choices, they recommend a specific wine and they take their time to explain why) and it all adds up. Sublime.

9 – Arrival: 10
Very fast! My bag was already on the belt once I got there.

10 – Timing: 10
We left the gate right on time (23h10LT) and due to favorable winds, we actually arrived in GRU some 30 minutes ahead of schedule (ATA 02h40LT, STA 03h10LT). Impeccable!

The overall design of the cabin is very fresh and modern	Even on a short flight as EZE-GRU, Qatar offers its customers an amenity kit

Final evaluation & commentary: 9,7
Like I said in the beginning, I've been itching to try out one of the Middle Eastern carriers for quite a while now. What's more, I was fully aware of Qatar Airways' reputation: the airline is one of only five Skytrax 5-Star Airlines and it was voted the world's best airline by Skytrax in 2011. As such, my expectations were, needless to say, very, very high. I'm pleased to say that not only did Qatar Airways live up to my expectations, it surpassed them. The product is second to none and Al Baker's airline managed to set the bar quite high for the competition. One thing I need to comment on, is the fact that even on a flight which lasts little over 2,5 hours, Qatar Airways offers an amenity kit in Business Class seats with Molton Brown's signature. Quite impressive. Still, even though the product really sets Qatar apart from the competition - particularly, the Oryx Multiplex system and the 2-2-2 seat configuration Business Class on the Boeing 777 - it's the cabin crew that made the whole experience excel. Never before have I been treated in such a nice way on board any airline. Five stars indeed. If Qatar Airways keeps up the good work, it is certain to continue growing and exceeding in any new market it enters. Kudos and my personal thanks to Qatar Airways for providing such an incredible flight experience.

PS: the "roar" of the mighty GE90-115B engine is music to my ears and always add to the overall flight experience. As avgeeks like to say, the Triple Seven is a "real" airplane ;)

Marcelo F. De Biasi – February 2012

Note: the opinions expressed above only reflect the personal impressions of its author. My aim is simply to report my impressions and experiences.