{"id":215224,"date":"2024-07-18T11:17:50","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T01:17:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/?p=215224"},"modified":"2024-11-15T00:15:20","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T13:15:20","slug":"qatar-airways-economy-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/travel\/qatar-airways-economy-review","title":{"rendered":"Qatar Airways Economy Class Review: The Good, Bad &#038; Ugly"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>We flew Qatar Airways economy to Europe and this is our first hand review. With the news that Qatar is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/travel\/qatar-airways-scraps-first-class\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">scrapping first-class because their CEO thinks it\u2019s pointless<\/a>, we all need to get better acquainted with <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/travel\/qatar-airways-lite-business-class\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">their business class<\/a> and economy offers\u2026 Here\u2019s what we thought. <\/strong><\/p><hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"><div id=\"block_5bf3bb6a503743ba45a1572335553f21\" class=\"wp-block-acf-article-reviews acf-article-reviews\">    <div class=\"review-main\">        <div class=\"review-wrap\">            <h3 class=\"review-title\">                <span>Qatar Airways Economy Class<\/span>                <span class=\"rating-score\">                    <span class=\"star full\"><\/span><span class=\"star full\"><\/span><span class=\"star full\"><\/span><span class=\"star full\"><\/span><span class=\"star\"><\/span>                <\/span>            <\/h3>                        <div class=\"review-desc\">                <p>VERDICT: Without a doubt, Qatar offers one of the best economy cabins out there, even if their seat configuration leaves a lot to be desired. <\/p>            <\/div>                    <\/div>                <div class=\"review-links\">                            <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skyscanner.com.au\/\" class=\"button button-primary review-link\"  rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">Book via Skyscanner<\/a>                            <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qatarairways.com\/en-au\/homepage.html\" class=\"button button-primary review-link\"  rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">Book via Qatar Airways<\/a>                    <\/div>            <\/div>        <div class=\"review-pc\">                <div class=\"rpc-item\">            <h4 class=\"rpc-title\">Pros<\/h4>            <ul class=\"rpc-list rpc-pros\">            <li>Great legroom<\/li><li>Amenity kit<\/li><li>Meal pre selection<\/li><li>Great entertainment selection<\/li>            <\/ul>        <\/div>                <div class=\"rpc-item\">            <h4 class=\"rpc-title\">Cons<\/h4>            <ul class=\"rpc-list rpc-cons\">            <li>Questionable seat configuration<\/li><li>Transiting through Doha<\/li>            <\/ul>        <\/div>            <\/div>    <\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-flight-facts\">Flight Facts<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Route:<\/strong><\/td><td>Sydney \u2013 Madrid, via Doha<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Flight Number:<\/strong><\/td><td>QR 907, then QR 147<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Aircraft:<\/strong><\/td><td>Boeing 777-300ER, then Airbus A350-900<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Flight time:<\/strong><\/td><td>15 hours &amp; 5 minutes, a 2 hour stopover, then a second flight of 7 hours &amp; 40 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Seat:<\/strong><\/td><td>25B, then 30J.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Price:<\/strong><\/td><td>AU$1,259.96 (Sydney \u2013 Madrid return)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this Qatar Airways review\u2026<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-flight-facts\" data-level=\"2\">Flight Facts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#The-Review\" data-level=\"2\">The Review<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-old-school-toilet-taps-aren-t-the-greatest\" data-level=\"3\">Old-school toilet taps aren\u2019t the greatest<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-you-ll-be-force-fed-nbsp-served-beef-pies-in-the-middle-of-the-night\" data-level=\"3\">You\u2019ll be force-fed \u00a0served beef pies in the middle of the night<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-self-explanatory-dairy-milk-chocolate-amp-vegetarian-pastries-eat-separately\" data-level=\"3\">Self-explanatory: dairy milk chocolate &amp; vegetarian pastries (eat separately)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-you-ll-memorise-the-safety-demonstration-video-after-watching-it-for-the-trillionth-time\" data-level=\"3\">You\u2019ll memorise the safety demonstration video after watching it for the trillionth time<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Where-to-book-\" data-level=\"2\">Where to book<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>    <div class=\"content-subscribe\">\n        <div class=\"subscribe-box\">\n            <p class=\"subscribe-title\">Curated news for men, <br\/>delivered to your inbox.<\/p>\n            <form class=\"subscribe-form\" method=\"POST\">\n                <div class=\"subscribe-input\">\n                    <label class=\"screen-reader-text\" for=\"subscribe-email\">Email:<\/label>\n                    <input type=\"email\" name=\"email\" id=\"subscribe-email\" placeholder=\"Enter your email\" required class=\"form-control\" autocomplete=\"on\" \/>\n                    <button type=\"submit\" class=\"button button-primary subscribe-button\">Sign Up<\/button>\n                    <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"source\" value=\"article\" \/>\n                    <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"_wpnonce\" name=\"_wpnonce\" value=\"e2df992756\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215224\" \/>                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"form-result\"><\/div>\n            <\/form>\n            <p class=\"subscribe-copy\">Join the DMARGE newsletter \u2014 Be the first to receive the latest news and exclusive stories on style, travel, luxury, cars, and watches. Straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <p>Hot tarmac. Clear skies. Trundling suitcases. A bright Sydney afternoon and a prompt 4:30pm takeoff called more for sunglasses than the eye mask and blanket we were provided with on Qatar Airways\u2019 Boeing 777-300ER flight to Doha.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-978981742\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1208186982 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1208186982 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-978981742\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1208186982.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-978981742\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1208186982);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>Don\u2019t get me wrong: they <em>were<\/em> appreciated. But once I dug them out from underneath the seat in front of me, several hours later, they didn\u2019t hold the same appeal. But we\u2019ll get to that. First, let\u2019s set the scene.<\/p><p>Flying economy to Europe, you used to have two options. You either got a cheap red-eye stopping off in Bangkok, Helsinki, Beijing and the Polar North, or you booked a legacy airline that would transport you across the globe in two (relatively) swift bounds.<\/p><p>These days, however, British Airways, Emirates and Qantas are facing some serious competition from the likes of Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways. For this trip, I chose Qatar, flying from Sydney to Doha (on the 777), stopping over for 2 hours, then Doha to Madrid (on the A350-900).<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1697841758\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1519377970 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1519377970 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1697841758\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1519377970.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1697841758\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1519377970);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>While my expectations were admittedly lower than normal after a series of disastrous domestic Jetstar flights, I was pleasantly surprised by my experience with Qatar\u2019s flagship airline.<\/p><p>That said: not everything was perfect. From meal mix-ups (and the garlic-infused feet of the woman who \u2018stole\u2019 my exit row seat) to the generous legroom and intuitive entertainment system, this is everything I loved and loathed about Qatar Airways\u2019 economy experience.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"The-Review\">The Review<\/h2><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Qatar\u2019s economy-class legroom<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone wp-image-215491 size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/qatar-legroom-960x580.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-215491\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image credit: One Mile At A Time.<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Although I foolishly spent most of the flight with my bag under the seat in front of me (the struggle of having a laptop and wanting to use it), the first thing I noticed was the ample legroom.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-2015434778\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1714355459 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1714355459 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-2015434778\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1714355459.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-2015434778\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1714355459);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>While this may have something to do with my recent RyanAir and Jetstar experiences, the fact remains: compared to a budget airline, Qatar Airways\u2019 777 Economy feels like Business.<\/p><p>Side note: for the Doha to Madrid journey, I was on an Airbus A350-900, which had noticeably less legroom.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Some economy class passengers lack general hygiene\u2026<\/h3><p>I bypassed the long check-in queue by checking in online, and strolled up to the \u201conline check-in\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/travel\/best-luggage-brands\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">baggage drop-off area<\/a>. So far so good.<\/p><p>I then waited for my check-in attendant to finish her conversation with her supervisor. Just before I got annoyed (alright, I\u2019ll be honest, it was a couple of seconds later) I realised she was a trainee.<\/p><p>I was then offered the chance to change my seat to an exit row. My mildly bruised ego restored itself, and I started stretching my hamstrings and wiggling my toes.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1029023349\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_816077256 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_816077256 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1029023349\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_816077256.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1029023349\");});};adsQueue.push(load_816077256);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>I then got onto the plane only to find she had booked me into the wrong side of the aisle; the woman across from me had lucked into the coveted 25D.<\/p><p>Not content with crushing my \u2018extra legroom\u2019 hopes, she then whacked her feet up, sans shoes, for the entirety of the flight.<\/p><p>Side note: I later discovered I had actually been booked into the exit row from Doha to Madrid, not Sydney to Doha, and all (except the garlic feet) was forgiven\u2026<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-721371660\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_168552183 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_168552183 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-721371660\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_168552183.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-721371660\");});};adsQueue.push(load_168552183);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick and trouble-free boarding means you get more \u2018me\u2019 time<\/h3><p>Having recently experienced cancellations, delays and general mayhem from Jetstar, I was so surprised when the fight announcement board switched from \u201crelax\u201d to \u201cboarding now\u201d on time that I barely had time to finish my chicken and avocado toasted sandwich, before rushing to the gate.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The questionable seat configuration can be a bit of a lucky dip<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone wp-image-215487 size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/the-foot-2-960x580.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-215487\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Why dank you\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Although Qatar\u2019s economy is mostly set up in a 3-3-3 configuration, this turned to 3-4-3 for the front two rows of each section, meaning you hit the jackpot with seats 25D and G (or each partition\u2019s equivalent). For some reason, this bothered me more than the entirety of row 24 (an exit row) having extra legroom (although this might have had something to do with the woman opposite me\u2019s feet).<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The basic amenity kit came with a not-so-basic and funky lip balm<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/lip-balm-960x580.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-215486\"><\/figure><p>The handy little amenity kit handed out on take-off enhanced the first impression given by Qatar\u2019s trademark blue and orange hues (and legroom). The kit had toothpaste, a toothbrush, an eye mask, earplugs and- differentiating it from the other airlines I have previously flown with \u2013 a colourful tube of lip balm.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Be warned: you can only pre-select your meals 24 hours prior to flying<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicken-and-peas-960x580.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-215485\"><\/figure><p>I\u2019m no vegan, but as a cheese-averse carb-lover I thought I\u2019d be extra clever by logging into my Qatar Airways account the night before this trip and selecting the vegan option. Unfortunately, as dinner rolled around, I discovered any dietary preferences must be made more than 24 hours in advance.<\/p><p>Fortunately, I\u2019m not a real vegan and the \u201ccreamy chicken and mushroom\u201d with penne pasta and green peas was pretty good. Sure: it looked like something you\u2019d get out of a school canteen, but it (almost) tasted like something you\u2019d eat in your local Italian. Almost. Just close your eyes, child.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1551889524\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_544769669 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_544769669 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1551889524\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_544769669.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1551889524\");});};adsQueue.push(load_544769669);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>Oh, and to be fair: had I been vegan, I would have been able to order the Udon Noodles (it would have been a 20-minute longer wait though, so I went with the chicken).<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The tactile entertainment screen made for great viewing pleasure<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/tactile-960x580.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-215489\"><\/figure><p>Fortunately for the man in front of me, this is the first airline I\u2019ve ever flown on where I didn\u2019t need to aggressively jab the screen in front of me to get it to respond; a light tap sufficed.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting just one hour of free Wi-Fi made me feel like I was using free dial-up from 2001<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/wifi-image-960x580.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-215501\"><\/figure><p>Oh, how times have changed. Just a few years ago, getting any kind of Wi-Fi was a blessing. Now it\u2019s expected, and although you get a complimentary hour, if you want more the only option is to pay $10 US dollars, which entitles you to Wi-Fi for the whole trip (one way to get around this is by having a secondary device, which gets you a second hour for free).<\/p><p>Although we were grateful for the Wi-Fi we got, to stay ahead of their competitors (and so I don\u2019t have to get Instagram withdrawals again) Qatar would do well to introduce a smaller payment option on their 777\u2019s for those who want a second or third hour of Wi-Fi, rather than the current \u201call or nothing\u201d scheme.<\/p><p>Having said that, by giving a complimentary hour they are still doing better than (or at least; keeping up with) most of the competition. It\u2019s also more than you get on their A350-900 from Doha to Madrid, which gives you just half an hour, and which (in my case) stopped working after 10 minutes.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1622799300\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_2081601010 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_2081601010 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1622799300\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_2081601010.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1622799300\");});};adsQueue.push(load_2081601010);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you listen closely you can live vicariously through the flight attendants<\/h3><p>I loved eavesdropping on the flight attendants\u2019 dating gossip, as they talked about having a port in each call and breaking up with the clingy ones on Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p><p>On a serious note: they were very friendly, professional, spoke more languages than a multi-tongued Oxford dictionary, and switched between them with ease. I didn\u2019t ask them about their next hookup though.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-371660424\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1511444586 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1511444586 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-371660424\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1511444586.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-371660424\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1511444586);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Doha Airport is wildly underwhelming when compared to Dubai Airport<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/doha-air-960x580.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-215494\"><\/figure><p>Considering the inflight experience was on par with Emirates, I landed in Doha half expecting the same exotic \u201cbright and breezy\u201d feel you get in Dubai. However the airport experience was a little flat, and we had to take both a train and a bus to get to our next flight.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-2050143084\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_2085409979 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_2085409979 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-2050143084\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_2085409979.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-2050143084\");});};adsQueue.push(load_2085409979);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Great movie selection with the exception of one thing\u2026<\/h3><p>From surfing documentaries to Hollywood blockbusters, Ted Talks and dry BBC comedies, Qatar Airways\u2019 Economy had a wide variety of entertainment on offer. The only feature they lacked (which their competitor Emirates has access to) is live Premiere League football\u2026<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-old-school-toilet-taps-aren-t-the-greatest\">Old-school toilet taps aren\u2019t the greatest<\/h3><p>They were not automatic like some other airlines have. And definitely not for the germaphobe.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How good was the ambient temperature though?<\/h3><p>Although it dried my mouth out, that comes with the territory of flying. Apart from that, the air-conditioning gets 5 stars from me \u2013 not lacklustre, but not freezing us in our sleep.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1087130332\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_845356453 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_845356453 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1087130332\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_845356453.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1087130332\");});};adsQueue.push(load_845356453);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-you-ll-be-force-fed-nbsp-served-beef-pies-in-the-middle-of-the-night\">You\u2019ll be <del>force-fed<\/del>\u00a0served beef pies in the middle of the night<\/h3><p>I\u2019m pretty much always down for a meat pie, but when you\u2019re desperately trying to get some sleep, after having only had dinner a few hours ago, this moment is not one of them.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cleanliness was surprisingly good throughout<\/h3><p>I\u2019ve been on a few double pronged journeys where the second leg has clearly only been given a cursory clean. However, both legs of this trip started in immaculately clean planes: spotless chair pockets, sparkling bathroom (that was evidently cleaned multiple times throughout the journey). Two thumbs up.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For the unprepared (me), you\u2019ll need to buy headphone adaptors<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/headphone-jack-4-960x580.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-215495\"><\/figure><p>Although my partner\u2019s Bose headphones seemed to work fine by inserting their single prong into one of the two holes provided (designed for the double-pronged, cheap, complimentary headphones), my personal in-ear headphones only worked in one ear, and if the jack was nudged, it gave me a lot of static.<\/p><p>Although most airports sell \u2018single to double\u2019 prong adaptors, I look forward to the day when an airline designs its headphone jacks so that travellers can easily use their own products.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I was saved by the USB charger<\/h3><p>No one wants a dead phone. Or you can use it to charge your wireless headphones. Enough said.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Armrest battles can be tiring<\/h3><p>Who owns the armrest, really? Whoever can subtly wheedle the other one\u2019s arm off it, right? These guys are right up there with those who change the direction of the reading light and those that change the airflow of your air-con nozzle.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-627430786\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1314262359 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1314262359 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-627430786\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1314262359.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-627430786\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1314262359);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-self-explanatory-dairy-milk-chocolate-amp-vegetarian-pastries-eat-separately\">Self-explanatory: dairy milk chocolate &amp; vegetarian pastries (eat separately)<\/h3><p>Seasonal fruit is nice, but have you ever sunk your gleaming whites into a sweet hunk of chocolate? We did and found love at 10,000 feet. Also, the vegetarian pastries weren\u2019t too shabby.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-you-ll-memorise-the-safety-demonstration-video-after-watching-it-for-the-trillionth-time\">You\u2019ll memorise the safety demonstration video after watching it for the trillionth time<\/h3><p>Forget the Koran: after flying to Europe a couple of times I can now recite the generic \u201cAirline Safety Spiel\u201d in Arabic, French, Spanish, English and Mandarin, word for word. Although this is not exclusive to Qatar (every airline is legally obliged to do this), just when I thought I\u2019d got away with one, on the Doha-Madrid leg, where I had scored the exit row, the flight attendants pulled the TV out of my armrest for me and plonked it in front of my face, 1984 style.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Where-to-book-\">Where to book <\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Aunt Betty<\/strong><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.auntbetty.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check Prices<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Expedia<\/strong><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check Prices<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Agoda<\/strong><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.agoda.com\/?cid=1844104\" target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check Prices<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Skyscanner<\/strong><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skyscanner.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check Prices<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Kayak<\/strong><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kayak.com.au\/flights\" target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check Prices<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Qatar Airways<\/strong><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.qatarairways.com\/en-au\/homepage.html\" target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check Prices<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>eDreams<\/strong><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edreams.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check Prices<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Please keep your feet to yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101039,"featured_media":517538,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[237],"tags":[146406],"coauthors":[146230],"class_list":{"0":"post-215224","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel","8":"tag-reviews"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101039"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215224\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/517538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215224"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=215224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}