5 tips to get the most out of Qatar Airways Economy Class

With first class becoming less and less profitable for many airlines, passengers are choosing between business and economy class. While everyone would choose business class if they had the option, some airlines have invested heavily in developing quality economy class products that, while not providing the same experience as business class, still make traveling more than just a pleasant experience for passengers.

One of these airlines is Qatar Airways, which in 2023 was recognized as the best airline in the Middle East by Skytrax, writes Simple Flying . Here are the top 5 features of Qatar Airways economy class.

Established rules for baggage transportation

The number and weight of suitcases depends on the route and fare

When traveling, especially over long distances, baggage allowances are one of the main concerns of passengers. Airlines make a lot of money on excess baggage, and with average ticket prices well above 2019 levels, no one wants to pull out their credit card at the check-in counter.

However, when traveling in Qatar Airways economy class, you should be aware that the Qatari airline has a unique set of baggage rules. The number of suitcases you can take on board and their weight depend on the route you are traveling and the cabin class of your ticket.

An important piece of information you should not miss is that even if you decide to upgrade later, the baggage rules applicable to your trip will be the same as those on your original ticket. Therefore, if you purchased a Qatar Airways Economy Class ticket from Doha to New York's JFK Airport and then decide to upgrade to Business Class, you will still only be allowed two pieces of baggage with a total weight of 50 pounds (23 kg) each. In addition, you will not be granted access to the pre-departure lounge.

If you are a student, you may want to join the Qatar Airways Student Club, which offers increased baggage allowance and free WiFi. In addition, upon graduation, the airline will upgrade your status to the next level of the privileged club, the Qatar Airways Frequent Flyer Program (FFP), to recognize your academic success.

Choosing the right economy fare

Qatar Airways offers four economy class fares

Once upon a time, when aviation was not as sophisticated as it is today, passengers bought a ticket depending on whether they wanted to travel in economy or first class.

With the emergence of low-cost airlines, they began to unbundle their fares to better meet the needs of passengers and thus maximize revenue streams. Fare splitting has led to the creation of three, four, or even more fares for each cabin class, depending on the services that passengers require. In the case of Qatar Airways, there are four different fares for economy class: Economy Promo, Economy Class, Economy Convenience, Economy Comfort.

The first one is based on promotions and is therefore not always available. Economy Class is the next cheapest fare. However, holders of this fare cannot choose their seats. In addition, if you are a Privilege Club member, you will earn the fewest miles by purchasing this fare. The next fare, Economy Classic, allows you to choose your seat and increases the number of miles you earn. In addition to the benefits of the Economy Classic fare, the Economy Comfort fare allows you to choose your preferred seat and gives you access to the best upgrade fares when using Qatar miles (Qmiles).

Oryx One: endless entertainment

Enjoy up to 6,000 entertainment options

If you find yourself on Qatar Airways' longest flight from Doha to Auckland, you want to be properly entertained; Doha to Auckland is just one of many long-haul flights operated by Qatar Airways. Luckily, the airline has invested heavily in developing one of the industry's best in-flight entertainment systems - Qatar Airways' Oryx One. No matter what kind of entertainment you're looking for, Oryx One has something for every taste:

Last September, Qatar Airways was awarded the APEX (Airlines Passenger Experience) award for the best entertainment system in the Middle East in 2024. If you are traveling with children, entertainment is probably even more important. That's why Qatar Airways has developed a special Oryx One area designed for the youngest passengers - the Oryx Kids Club, which offers a wide range of interactive entertainment, special children's channels and games.

Stay connected

Enjoy Qatar Airways wireless connectivity

One of the biggest inconveniences of flying is not being able to stay in touch with those on the ground if the airline doesn't offer WiFi on board, as is the case with Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways allows you to purchase WiFi in all cabin classes, with different packages depending on your needs. If you plan to do so, you should pre-purchase your internet connection before the flight, which will give you a 20% discount. Additionally, if you sign up for Qatar Airways Privilege Club, you'll get a free hour of WiFi for free. WiFi is currently available on the following airline's aircraft

Boeing 777, Boeing 787-9, Airbus A350-900, Airbus A350-1000.

Your WiFi access code can only be used on one device. Therefore, if you want to connect to Qatar WiFi on your mobile phone but are already logged in with your laptop, you will need to log out of the latter first to be able to connect on your phone.

Enjoy one of the most comfortable economy class cabins in the industry

Second best economy class in the world according to Skytrax

Imagine booking a ticket for one of Qatar Airways' longest flights in Economy Class. Chances are, you'll enjoy the flight, as Skytrax has recognized Qatar Airways' economy class as the second best business class in the world in 2023.

From a regional perspective, in 2023, Qatar Airways' economy class was ranked first in the Middle East. Notably, the quality of food in Qatar Airways' economy class was recognized as the second best in the world after Turkish Airlines, while the quality of seats was ranked fifth, with Japan Airlines, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines on the podium.

A solid product alone is not enough to make a flight memorable. Comfortable seats and delicious food are always highly valued, but perhaps it is the service that makes an airline stand out from the rest. In this sense, Qatar Airways has once again proved itself to be the best airline, as last year Skytrax named the Qatar Airways crew the best in the Middle East.

If you're wondering where Qatar Airways' economy class ranks compared to other airlines, here's Skytrax's 2023 ranking for the world's best airlines based on their economy class product:

Japan Airlines

Qatar Airways

Singapore Airlines

Emirates

Virgin Atlantic

Turkish Airlines

Cathay Pacific

EVA Air

ANA (All Nippon Airways)

Hainan Airlines