Qatar Airways 777 Regional First Class Flight Review: Is This Really First Class?
- Sam
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Qatar Airways markets a First Class product on some of its regional routes, including this route that I'm reviewing from Doha to Riyadh. When I had the chance to upgrade from economy for 16,000 Avios, I took it - partly for the flight itself, but mainly for access to the Al Safwa First Class lounge during a four-hour layover.
But here's the uncomfortable truth that frequent flyers already know: Qatar's regional "First Class" is really just their Business Class seat with a different name. It's the same Business Class seat you'd find on any other route, just rebranded as First Class to give the product a premium sheen on shorter routes. And with Qatar offering so many different Business Class seats, it's pot luck to which you'll get!
If you want Qatar's actual First Class product, with proper suites and a genuine First Class experience, you need to fly on one of their A380's or catch one of the leased Cathay Pacific 777's they operate to Hong Kong. Everything else labelled "First Class" on Qatar is just Business Class in disguise. The question is whether that matters on a one-hour flight, and whether it's worth your Avios.
The Ground Experience
I was connecting from Athens in Economy (read that review here), with the real benefit kicking in immediately: access to the Al Safwa First Class lounge. This lounge is genuinely excellent, with excellent dining, and service that makes a long layover feel like part of the journey rather than dead time. For a four-hour connection, the lounge access alone justified the 16,000 Avios as this is easily the best lounge I have ever visited.
Boarding this 777 was less impressive. The gate area was packed with passengers. Priority boarding was offered, which helped, but standing in that crowded space watching everyone jostle for position wasn't exactly the experience you'd hope for.
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The Cabin and Seat
As mentioned, it's really luck of the draw when it comes to what Business... sorry, First Class cabin you'll get. In the two weeks prior, the aircraft had been switched three times, including a Qsuite equipped 777, sad times. This cabin looked smart enough, albeit a bit outdated.
Qatar burgundy leather seats, cushions, a Diptyque hand towel, and a great amount of legroom. It's clearly a premium product, and compared to a European business class flight where they just block the middle seat and call it a day, this is significantly better.
The seat itself was genuinely comfortable. Plenty of legroom, good padding, and I had the massage function running for basically the entire hour. The controls were easy to use, everything felt well-built, and for a short flight it was perfectly adequate.
Is seat perfectly adequate? Yes. Is it a First Class seat? No.
The Service
The crew deserves full credit here. They worked relentlessly to deliver a full service on what was essentially a 60-minute flight. Welcome drinks were offered immediately, but as this was a flight to Saudi Arabia no alcohol was onboard, so I opted for Qatar's signature lemon mint drink. Menus were distributed, orders were taken, and the crew moved quickly but never seemed rushed or stressed.
Despite the short flight time, they still laid the table properly with a linen tablecloth. It's a nice touch that shows Qatar's commitment to maintaining standards even when the flight barely gives them time to complete the service.
The Amenities
On flights less than five hours in length, don't expect one of Qatar's Diptyque amenity kits else you may be disappointed. As mentioned above, waiting at the seat was a Diptyque hand towel, always a welcome touch. In addition, you'll get the same Oryx One headphones that you would find on one of their normal Business Class flight, and these are an adequate pair of headphones, but I'll be sticking to my Sony's.
The Food and Beverage
This element of the service started immediately onboard with the welcome drink, with this swiftly being replaced by some Arabic coffee and a date. Menu's were then handed out, and this may sound slightly odd for those who are used to flying BA... The menu was only two pages long... Granted, I have flown longer length Qatar flights, and most of that menu is stuffed to the brim full of alcohol, which you're obviously not going to get on a flight to Saudi Arabia.
The meal service was good. Everything was well-presented on the one tray, for time reasons. For the main course, I had opted for the chicken tikka pie, which was served with moutabel and pita bread, with dessert being a sea-salted caramel tart with fresh berries. I had also opted for a glass of the "So Jennie", Qatar's non-alcoholic sparkling rose wine. I am genuinely impressed with how good some non-alcoholic drinks are getting, and I would happily opt for this again in the future if I wasn't feeling something as sweet as a Coke.
The Value Question
I paid 16,000 Avios to upgrade from Economy to First Class. Critically, this also gave me access to the Al Safwa First Class lounge for my four hour layover. With the lounge access included, the upgrade was worth it. Without the lounge access, I would have saved my Avios. Think about that carefully. On a one-hour flight, the difference between Economy and "First Class" is nice but not transformative. You get a much better seat, a proper meal, and attentive service. But you're only experiencing it for 60 minutes. If you're connecting through Doha with time in the lounge, then I would say the numbers work out.
For comparison, 16,000 Avios could book you a short-haul European flight or contribute significantly towards a long-haul Business Class redemption. Spending it on an hour of comfort is defensible only if you're also getting lounge access or have the Avios to burn.
To Conclude This Qatar Airways First Class Review...
Is Qatar Airways regional First Class really First Class? No, not really. It's their long-haul Business Class seat rebranded as First Class for regional routes. The seat is identical, the amenities are the same (or less in some instances). Qatar is essentially playing a branding game here, giving passengers the prestige of saying they flew First Class when what they actually experienced was very good Business Class.
None of this is necessarily bad. The seat is comfortable, the crew work hard, and the meal is good. But if you're expecting a genuine First Class experience, the kind with suites, exclusive amenities, and a clear step up from Business Class, then you'll be disappointed. What you're getting is Business Class with fancier branding.
My advice is straightforward. If you're connecting through Doha and have time for the lounge, upgrade. The Al Safwa lounge is excellent and makes the whole thing worthwhile. If you're flying point-to-point, or have a very tight connection, save your miles for a route where First Class is actually First Class, not just Business Class wearing a posher name badge.
Sam
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