On most international airline rankings, a number of elite airways reign supreme. Lately, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airways have duked it out for the highest spot. That pair of long-haul carriers are on high of their recreation, particularly in premium cabins the place they will dial the expertise as much as the max.
I’ve loved writing occasional airline comparability tales like Air France vs KLM (2020) and a battle royale between 5 Star Alliance carriers (2018). This previous yr I used to be lucky to fly lengthy haul itineraries on each Qatar and Singapore. And to comply with up the person tales on every expertise (Singapore JFK-SIN, Qatar JFK-DOH) it felt proper to pit these two heavyweights towards one another.
On this story I evaluate Singapore and Qatar on the premise of seats, service, meals, drink, leisure, facilities, and the bottom expertise at their respective hubs. And on the finish, I do my finest to crown a champion. That final job was powerful, as a result of it ended up being a VERY shut battle.
Whether or not you’re a seasoned street warrior, an aspirational fancy flyer, otherwise you identical to footage of fairly planes, you’ll get pleasure from this story. So click on / scroll under and skim on!
Guidelines for a good battle
Earlier than launching into the guts of the story, a number of floor guidelines and disclaimers. First, I’m not pretending to be a super-frequent flyer on these airways. (Aspect word: if you know the way I can turn out to be that form of particular person, please let me know). However I did fly a number of long-haul routes on every airline — sufficient to make a significant comparability.
For the sake of a good comparability, wherever attainable I centered on the longest-haul flight I took on every airline. In Qatar’s case it was a 777-300ER Qsuite flight from New York to Doha, clocking in at 12 hours. And for Singapore, it was really the world’s longest flight: 19 hours on an A350-900ULR from New York JFK to Changi Worldwide.
One other caveat: these are two huge airways that every provide quite a lot of onboard merchandise, airplane varieties, and locations. What I skilled on my flights might not apply to your expertise flying the identical airways. And it goes with out saying that this kind of comparability is very subjective. I’d actually love to listen to all of the methods you might disagree with me (the feedback part awaits!).
Lastly, I acknowledge that tales nitpicking and judging premium cabin flying can appear obnoxious. Be at liberty to roll your eyes and skip this story if it’s not your kind of factor. That stated, I believe we AvGeeks are additional appreciative of the unimaginable experiences airways handle to ship throughout the confines of a pressurized tube miles above the bottom. Flying in such type is like watching a seasoned orchestra carry out. It by no means ceases to amaze.
Okay, with out additional ado, it’s time for the battle to start!
The seat
Qatar’s popularity leans closely on its long-haul Qsuite enterprise class design. As a completely enclosed seat with a door, the product provides loads of room and privateness.
The cabin finishes are tastefully achieved, with plenty of subdued browns/greys and burgundy accents. Even eight years after its preliminary rollout, this seat design nonetheless holds its personal towards one of the best of ’em.
The seat goes absolutely flat and is snug as a mattress.
Qsuite boasts the flexibility for sure clusters of 4 seats to open up and turn out to be a shared “quad.” I’m undecided how typically folks make the most of that, nevertheless it not less than represents some artistic design pondering.
There are only a few Qsuite downsides. Because of excessive partitions, the doorways, and Qatar’s determination to maintain overhead bins within the middle part, Qsuite might strike you as extra confined. Additionally, half of the cabin’s seats face rearward. There’s a novelty think about going through the tail whereas flying, however as soon as the novelty wears off you might discover that you just’re not a fan.
In our different nook, Singapore Airways hasn’t (but) adopted suite-style seats, nevertheless it’s product is roomy, luxurious, and has a confirmed observe file.
Singapore provides the same type of seat throughout a lot of its long-haul fleet — usually in a 1-2-1-across configuration. The product seemed particularly good on the A350-900ULR I flew on.
The seatback itself measures a formidable 28 inches large — considerably wider than Qsuite’s.
One odd factor concerning the seat is that you would be able to’t convert it to fully-flat mode your self. The complete seat flips ahead to open up the mattress, a course of that requires a flight attendant’s involvement. That design permits the airline to optimize the seat surfaces for every section of flight, with a smooth mattress floor and firmer upright seat floor. However that profit comes on the expense of your capacity to independently swap between the 2 modes.
The winner: Qatar
It’s an in depth name, however Qsuite is simply too good. Suites with doorways have turn out to be a mainstay of the enterprise class seat elite. And along with their doorways, Qatar’s seats excel throughout the board in structure, decor, and performance.
As nice as Singapore’s seats are, there’s no getting round the truth that they’re rather more uncovered.
Final yr Singapore hinted that it’s engaged on a next-gen enterprise class seat with doorways, so the seat design class goes to be much more aggressive sooner or later.
Eating
Switching over from laborious product to smooth product, meals is among the predominant methods an airline could make or break your premium cabin inflight expertise. And each of our competing airways do a stellar job with eating general. They each serve meals instantly onto your desk, as an alternative of bringing over trays or serving off a cart.
Qatar provides a completely on-demand eating construction, that means you aren’t constrained by predetermined mealtimes. The pliability is nice, although in observe most individuals find yourself consuming an after-takeoff meal identical to you’d on different airways. You may as well pre-select your most popular entree choice on-line prematurely.
Qatar’s meal service is bold, when it comes to each the dine-on-demand mannequin and the menu of dishes on provide. In actuality, not less than based mostly on my private experiences, the execution might be hit-or-miss. For instance, the lobster I obtained after takeoff was plated fantastically however was overcooked to the purpose of being laborious as a rock.
However then my second meal later within the flight was absolute perfection, in each presentation and style.
Qatar made waves final yr when it began rolling out caviar service on lots of its long-haul departures from Doha. It’s a formidable characteristic for enterprise class, because you extra generally see caviar as a first-class perk.
I’m not going to faux to be a caviar connoisseur, nevertheless it certain was enjoyable to strive.
On Singapore’s facet, they serve up some superb in-flight delicacies as properly. They’re well-known for his or her Ebook the Cook dinner service that means that you can pre-select entrees from an expanded record of choices. The choice is broadest for those who’re on a flight departing Singapore, however departures from many different locations have entry to some extra Ebook the Cook dinner meal choices as properly.
Even premium financial system passengers can guide the cook dinner — I pre-reserved the very tasty meal under on a long-haul premium financial system flight.
However again to biz class: Singapore runs cool catering partnerships like this salad provided by the revolutionary indoor vertical farming firm AeroFarms.
After which later within the flight I attempted Moroccan grilled lamb chops that had been a collaboration with California’s Golden Door spa and wellness retreat.
The airline serves up fairly nice cheese and dessert choices too.
Singapore doesn’t provide a completely on-demand eating mannequin, although there may be some flexibility. At our flight’s midway level, the crew turned on the cabin lights for a second meal. However for anybody who saved sleeping, there have been nonetheless hearty meals choices out there all through the second half of the flight.
One unusual menu design alternative on our 19-hour Singapore flight was the dearth of an actual breakfast dish.
Winner: It’s a tie
I actually wished to keep away from ties on this story, however this class felt prefer it needed to be a draw.
Qatar’s absolutely on-demand meal service and caviar service are unimaginable. However the occasional misfires on execution dragged the expertise down a bit.
Singapore didn’t have as a lot wow issue with any particular person dish, and its service type isn’t as versatile as Qatar’s dine-on-demand mannequin. However Singapore’s execution was extra constant, and Ebook the Cook dinner supplies a formidable number of decisions.
Even drawing in information factors from my different flights with each airways, I actually couldn’t pretty identify a winner both approach. We’ll name it a tasty tie, and transfer on to the following class.
Drinks
Why do drinks get their very own class? For one, a wine record is a concrete approach to quantify an airline’s funding in its onboard expertise. Additionally, many airways get artistic with their beverage choices, showcasing distinctive flavors from their house nations.
Historically champagne is the highest-profile status merchandise on the menu. Singapore was serving 2018 Piper-Heidsieck once I flew them. That’s a formidable alternative even in contrast with what’s supplied on the world’s different finest enterprise lessons.
The cocktail record incorporates a hometown favourite, the Singapore Sling. The airline’s model is on the sweeter facet, however tasty.
Singapore additionally will get kudos for a considerate mocktail record. There’s a rising sober-curious motion on the market. And even for individuals who drink, there’s a robust case to be made for avoiding alcohol throughout flights (much less dehydration, improved sleep). So it’s good to see the airline offering some considerate non-alcoholic choices.
Singapore additionally stands out for a presumably best-in-class tea menu.
It additionally provides up a number of decisions of Illy drip espresso.
Switching over to Qatar, the airline additionally provides a aggressive drink menu.
The Billecart-Salmon champagne it served was spectacular, although possibly a half-step much less elite than what Singapore was pouring. To its credit score, Qatar’s menu had a separate rosé champagne choice.
Qatar provides a aggressive cocktail record and a formidable record of mocktails and different non-alcoholic choices.
The Winner: Singapore
Elevate a glass to Singapore Airways, as a result of it’s the winner right here. It has a barely higher headline champagne, a bit extra native taste to its cocktail record, and in addition impresses with its numerous espresso and tea choice.
Facilities
Time to speak creature comforts. Together with a packaged towel, Qatar leaves an amenity equipment at every seat. Since 2022 its kits are from French luxurious model Diptyque.
The kits cowl the fundamentals after which some. By way of high quality, my spouse (who’s higher certified to remark) cherished the lotion and perfume.
Singapore Airways does facilities otherwise. For some time they didn’t provide amenity kits in any respect, although in 2020 they started providing primary kits and final yr switched to Le Labo because the provider. The contents are high-quality however extra restricted within the variety of objects as in contrast with Qatar.
It’s not that Singapore is stingy, however relatively that it does issues otherwise. As an alternative of a fuller amenity equipment, Singapore opts to maintain the bathrooms properly stocked with toiletries like combs, shaving provides, and dental kits that you would be able to take as wanted.
Winner: Qatar
First, I’ve to acknowledge that Singapore’s help-yourself technique is much less wasteful than commonplace amenity kits are. Eco-conscious flyers might desire Singapore’s method.
However I believe many passengers anticipate that for those who’re investing in a premium cabin flight you get an actual equipment, and in that regard Qatar satisfies expectations higher.
Crewmember service
Tangible objects like meals, drink, and facilities are vital. However service is the glue that holds the inflight expertise collectively. Each airways’ flight attendant crews usually function at a excessive stage, although there’ll all the time be some person-to-person variability.
On Qatar there have been a number of cases when crewmembers had been making an attempt their finest however had been displaying some pressure. To be truthful, the dine-on-demand mannequin places a ton of stress on them. I can solely think about how troublesome it should be to ship a meal just like the one under I had on the A350 flight from Cape City to Doha, and to do it for a cabin stuffed with passengers consuming at totally different occasions.
Anybody who has flown Singapore Airways is aware of that their flight attendants are essentially the most polished within the enterprise, dealing with even the busiest moments of flights with out breaking a sweat. The dinner I had on an A380 flight from Melbourne to Singapore (under) was presumably essentially the most easily executed inflight meal I’ve ever had.
Winner: Singapore
On both airline you’re getting handled very properly. However there was a bit extra consistency to our Singapore crews general, and so they had been particularly good at making laborious work look simple. You go, [Singapore] woman.
Inflight leisure
On a long-haul flight, an airline’s inflight leisure system has a huge effect in your general expertise.
On their ultra-long-range A350s, Singapore’s enterprise class seats embrace an enormous display screen. The airline options one of many broadest menus of films and TV on the market.
Surprisingly, the show isn’t a contact display screen. I saved tapping the display screen earlier than remembering to make use of the distant as an alternative. However you can even join your smartphone to the system through bluetooth and use it as your distant, which labored properly for me.
Particularly because it was the world’s longest flight I used the transferring map loads. And Singapore’s was glorious. Zooming out to the view under actually put in perspective how insanely lengthy SQ23’s route is.
Singapore’s noise cancelling headphones are fairly good.
Qatar’s leisure system on Qsuite additionally makes use of a big high-res display screen. And its content material library is MASSIVE.
Qsuite passengers additionally get noise-cancelling headphones.
One space the place Qatar let me down was the inflight map. The system felt not less than a decade outdated and didn’t provide a lot passenger management.
Winner: Singapore
This win was an particularly shut name. Singapore’s library of content material appeared to supply extra full seasons, although Qatar’s was barely bigger. The screens and interfaces are each fairly good.
For me, Singapore’s free WiFi and higher flight tracker map earned it the win, although in equity a few of Qatar’s newer plane provide a greater map system than their 777s do.
Singapore’s win within the leisure + connectivity class could also be quick lived, since Qatar is putting in lightning-fast and free StarLink WiFi throughout the fleet.
The bottom expertise
Although Singapore Airways and Qatar Airways are completely happy to have you ever go to their house nations, the airways primarily give attention to long-haul connecting itineraries the place you by no means go away the airport. That makes the bottom expertise at these hubs a significant factor in your general passenger expertise. So the final spherical of our battle pits their house airports face to face.
Doha’s Hamad Worldwide Airport consists of 1 huge terminal constructing. A stroll from curbside to the farthest extent of the terminal extends precisely one mile. The present terminal opened barely ten years in the past and it nonetheless feels contemporary and new. It’s stuffed with all the pieces you’d anticipate out of a Center Japanese mega hub: high-end procuring, a number of lounges, and a few spectacular artwork items. Whether or not you rely the multimillion greenback Lamp Bear within the “spectacular” class is a matter of non-public style. I by no means knew the road between creepy and cute might get so blurry… however I’ll admit the massive bear grew on me.
This story is a enterprise class battle, and so the airways’ lounges issue closely within the floor class. Qatar’s Al Mourjan enterprise class lounges are thought of among the many finest within the enterprise. The decor is glossy, trendy, and general beautiful at each the unique South lounge and the newer Backyard lounge.
There are a number of self-serve meals stations at every lounge.
The South lounge additionally provides restaurant-style à la carte eating. It’s possible you’ll want to attend a bit for a desk right here throughout peak occasions, however the meals is great.
By way of companies and facilities the Al Mourjan lounges are high notch. There are many bathe suites for those who want a mid-trip refresh.
Each lounges additionally provide nap rooms, although the demand far outmatches the availability. Between three passes by means of Doha I solely managed to get a nap room as soon as, however I’ll admit the wait was value it.
Over in Singapore, Changi Worldwide is about as robust a challenger to Hamad Worldwide as you could find. It’s a perennial favourite on international airport rankings. It handles a larger variety of passengers, and is segmented into extra distinct terminals in contrast with Hamad’s single mega-terminal.
On the airport’s middle is the Changi Jewel — a six-year-old $1.7 billion retail and leisure advanced with the world’s tallest indoor waterfall at its middle.
Whereas no different a part of the airport can beat the Jewel, there are a number of different options that make Changi the wonderland of the airport world. There’s a butterfly backyard, indoor climbing wall, and complicated play areas, amongst a zillion different options.
As you’d anticipate, Singapore Airways provides a fairly nice lounge expertise for its premium cabin passengers. It has a number of lounges throughout the airport’s terminals, with loads of seating and attractive self-serve meals choices.
We discovered a pleasant nap space at one of many lounges, although house was first-come first-serve and laborious to snag throughout peak occasions.
As you may think about, each a part of Changi Airport is saved spotlessly clear, Singapore-style.
Winner: Qatar
First, I’ve to acknowledge that Changi is my private favourite airport on this planet. For AvGeeks, SIN would possibly as properly be an amusement park. Why, then, do I give Qatar the win?
For premium cabin passengers, the expertise at Doha feels a bit of extra luxe. The principle terminal is newer and airier. And Qatar’s Al Mourjan lounges beat Singapore’s flagship enterprise class lounges fingers down, when it comes to design, eating, and facilities.
By comparability, as enjoyable as Changi is, it’s an older facility. Many components of the airport really feel much less spacious. And the design alternative of inserting safety checkpoints at every gate as an alternative of a central facility might be annoying.
Changi’s Jewel is completely beautiful, however notably it’s landside (AKA pre-security) and subsequently more durable to go to throughout a layover. By comparability, Doha’s “Orchard” (within the photograph under) is airside and accessible to all transiting vacationers.
If I used to be touring in financial system I’d decide Changi for all of the enjoyable publicly-accessible options that may make even a prolonged layover fly by. However on this enterprise class battle, Doha is the profitable hub.
Crowning a champion
When you’ve made it this far, you may respect how spectacular each of those airways are. Choosing a winner wasn’t simple.
Based mostly on the whole thing of my experiences on every airline over the previous yr, Qatar Airways earns the general win. Because of its robust Qsuite seat, its bold inflight eating menus, and superb house airport, it deserves to return out on high.
However there are two main caveats right here. First: even for those who agreed with my verdicts in every class of the competitors, you would possibly decide a distinct general winner relying on how vital every class is for you. In spite of everything, there have been some areas like cabin service or beverage choice the place Singapore was the higher participant. And if a type of areas matter most to you, then I couldn’t fault you for siding with Singapore.
Secondly, it’s vital to level out that Singapore has plans to handle a lot of the areas the place Qatar presently beats it. Simply this yr the airline teased some partial pictures of a brand new suite-style enterprise class seat (with privateness doorways) that it’ll begin putting in on its A350 long-haul fleet subsequent yr.
Changi Airport can also be beginning work on a MASSIVE terminal 5 that appears unimaginable, although we’ll have to attend till the following decade to see the completed product.
In the long run, any airline’s win within the rankings is barely a short lived one. And that’s a great factor! So long as airways proceed fiercely competing, we as passengers find yourself as the actual winners.
And now for my favourite a part of the story: the place you get to share your tackle this comparability. Be at liberty to disagree with me — actually it’s extra enjoyable that approach! Put up your ideas within the feedback part under.
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