Business class review: Virgin Australia and Qatar’s first international flight
This historic flight could change how we travel to Europe – and Qantas should be extremely worried.
This is the first international flight of the Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia partnership, with the federal government and ACCC giving the green light to Qatar buying 25 per cent of Virgin Australia in February.
The new partnership means Virgin Australia has returned to flying internationally for the first time since the pandemic shut borders and sent Virgin into voluntary administration and back to focusing on domestic routes.
Virgin Australia will now offer flights from Sydney to Doha and on to another 170 destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Virgin Australia is wet leasing planes off Qatar, which means it uses Qatar planes, staff, catering and service.
This first flight to Doha comes almost two years since the Federal Government blocked Qatar’s application for more flights into Australia for reasons of “national interest”.
The decision sparked backlash from the tourism industry and raised questions about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s close relationship with former Qantas boss Alan Joyce.
Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways services will follow in Brisbane from June 19, Perth from June 26 and Melbourne in December.
On the ground
When I arrive at Sydney Airport to check in at Gate E, there is a jovial mood, with a number of Virgin Australia staff to witness the monumental day and ensure it all goes smoothly. There are also Qatar staff at a novelty stand next to the check-in counter offering customers dates as a “Taste of Doha”. All passengers are queued up for check-in as there is no online check-in as yet for Virgin Australia’s international flights. I am in the business class line for just a few minutes before checking my bag, getting my ticket and going through customs. The new security machines at Sydney airport mean I am through to the terminal in mere minutes. Business class passengers can access the Air New Zealand’s new lounge and I spend an hour there before heading off to the board the flight. The spacious lounge is almost empty; the coffee and food are good quality and I can see the Qatar plane from the window.
Take a seat
The Qsuites are in 1-2-1 seating configuration and I am in 2D, which is an aisle seat. There are forward-facing and rear-facing seats in alternate rows and the seats in the centre aisle can be transformed into a double bed for a couple travelling together. This is an award-winning business class for a reason; it is incredibly spacious with a 55cm seat and a 261cm pitch. There is plenty of storage space and even essentially another half seat next to me where I put my bag and the pillow. But the best bit is the privacy door. With it closed, it truly feels like your own enclosed cabin. The Qsuite is not a new product but it is still so far ahead of many other business class offerings. I really feel like I am in first class.
Tech Talk
Each Qsuite comes with a universal power socket, USB, HDMI and NFC ports. But the biggest technological advancement of this flight is the unbelievably fast and complimentary wi-fi through technology called Starlink. This means that not only can I access the internet, social media, I can send emails, send videos, texts and even make video calls during the flight. It is better than my wi-fi at home. I hear multiple people having conversations with loved ones so I video call my husband and kids through WhatsApp and excitedly show them the spacious Qsuite. But this new technology may not be welcome for all as a flight attendant interrupts my call after two minutes, saying my neighbouring passenger has complained about the loudness of my voice. I promptly end my video call experiment from the sky.
That’s entertainment
The Oryx One in-flight entertainment system has a choice of up to 8500 movies, TV shows, audio and games. The 54cm touchscreen can also be controlled by a remote if you don’t fancy leaning over the huge gap between the seat and the screen. The downside of having such incredibly fast wi-fi and being connected to the outside world is that I find myself spending more time working and answering WhatsApp messages about children’s sporting commitments than settling down to watch a movie. When I do eventually switch off, I check out the fairly limited selection of new releases (Paddington in Peru, Wicked, Better Man) but instead settle on the second series of BBC’s The Split.
On the Menu
As part of the new partnership between Virgin Australia and Qatar, the airlines have recruited Sydney chef and restaurateur Ross Lusted to create a few dishes for business and first class passengers on the flights from Sydney to Doha. This includes a seared cured fish plate as an entree, lamb osso buco with heirloom carrots, parsley and lemon for a main course and Basque cheesecake as a dessert.
I have a champagne after takeoff and then opt for an early dinner and choose the Qatari mezze with pita bread for starters, which has hummus, baba ghanoush and a spicy capsicum dip called muhammara that is one of the most delicious dips I have ever tasted on or off the plane. The next course is just as tasty; Hunter Valley chicken with a satay-style cashew nut sauce, jasmine rice and broccolini. I try Lusted’s Basque cheesecake for dessert, served with dried fruits, cinnamon, walnuts and vanilla and it is rich and indulgent.
It is all-day dining so I can order all three again if I fancy during the rest of the 15 hour flight but my eyes are bigger than my stomach and I instead have a light breakfast of Bircher muesli with strawberries, blueberries and toasted coconut.
In the bag
Passengers can take 40kg of baggage and two pieces of carry-on, weighing up to 15kg total.
At your service
The service is excellent, from the moment staff generously pour and re-pour my champagne to bringing my coat once I land. It is also the extra little details; the dates and Arabic coffee served after takeoff, the box of chocolates they bring around for you to choose one (or three) to make you feel like you are really being looked after when on board.
Make your points
Members of Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program can earn points on these flights.
Verdict
Qantas should be extremely worried. The partnership between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airlines gives Australians a far superior choice for travel to Europe when it comes to the pointy end of the plane as the Q-suite cabin, service and restaurant-quality food cannot be beaten. And aside from the Australian menu inclusions, as soon as you step on board this is clearly a Qatar Airways flight. It seems the airline has finally got those extra flights it was denied back in 2023.
The bottom line
A one-way Q-suite business class fare from Sydney to Doha from $7740, based on airline website search departing two months from publication. Return flights from Sydney to Paris for the same dates from $14,740.
Milanda Rout was a guest of Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways.
More Coverage
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout