Review: Doha to Abu Dhabi in Qatar Airways First Class

This is my review of a recent flight with Qatar Airways from Doha to Abu Dhabi in regional First Class. 

Qatar Airways QR1054
Doha (DOH) to Abu Dhabi (AUH)
24 Jan 2024
Depart: 19:50 (scheduled) 19:43 (actual) 
Arrive: 21:55 (scheduled) 21:50 (actual) 
Duration: 1h 03m 
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Seat: 3A (FIRST)

A reader recently requested more Avios content. I promised some was on the way, and this is the first part of keeping that promise. 

Qatar’s quirky regional First Class

My favourite way to travel from Doha to Abu Dhabi is on Qatar Airways in First Class. One quirk of Qatar Airways is that on some short-haul flights around the GCC and Middle East, the premium cabin is marketed as First Class rather than Business. The primary benefit for passengers is access to the exceptional Al Safwa First Class lounge in Doha. 

Transit trouble 

This trip got off to a slightly rocky start. I was in transit and needed the onward boarding pass to Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately, the premium transit desk was unstaffed when I arrived.

A helpful sales agent went to find someone to help, which took some time. The agent then struggled to print the boarding pass. Usually, I would have been quite relaxed, but I could feel my time in the Al Safwa lounge draining away.

In retrospect, I may have been able to use my booking confirmation to pass through security, head straight to the lounge, and get the boarding pass there. 

There was no queue at Premium Security. However, my bag was pulled for secondary screening, which delayed things further. I am embarrassed to admit it was my own fault. There was a bottle of water in the carry-on from my previous flight. I tutted to myself as I legged it to the Al Safwa lounge. 

Al Safwa First Class lounge 

The Al Safwa Lounge is a cross between a luxury hotel, an art gallery, and a museum. It is unique because it looks and feels less like an airport lounge than almost any other I have spent time in. It is possible to forget you are in an airport. 

My review of the Al Safwa lounge will be published separately. 

Boarding from the lounge

When I received my boarding pass and again while checking in at the lounge, I was informed that boarding would be direct from the lounge. I was surprised. I have used the Al Safwa Lounge several times but have never boarded directly from the lounge. 

None of my Doha-based friends have ever mentioned it, either. It turns out it is only offered for flights departing from remote stands. The lounge staff said this has been the case since the lounge first opened. 

This being Qatar Airways, I imagined a transfer in a luxury car. But no, it was the usual Qatar Airways Premium Bus with admittedly comfy seats and tons of space. I was first on the bus and shortly joined by two other passengers. 

Five other passengers were already onboard in the First Class cabin when we reached the aircraft. I assume they either had short connections and went straight to the gate or had chosen to use one of the other Qatar Premium lounges before the flight.  

First Class seat and service 

I had selected 3A, a window seat in the last row of the cabin for this flight. 

This is an older-style seat that still makes a good impression. The seat is upholstered in an elegant grey fabric. A burgundy pillow was already on the seat, adding a pop of colour. There was no blanket, but these are available on request from memory.  

The seats are very comfortable, and there is a ton of legroom. An adjustable headrest provides plenty of support if you want to nap. There is also a small extendable tray between the seats if you need more room for food or drinks.   

I was quickly offered a welcome drink and towel. Followed by dates and Arabic coffee. I choose the signature Lime & Mint. 

Both the cabin crewmember working First Class and the cabin senior came by to introduce themselves. I was also addressed by name then and throughout the rest of the flight. 

The curtain between the First and Economy cabins was closed as soon as the cabin crew could move about after take-off. 

Inflight Entertainment 

There are no seat back screens on this regional A320 in First. However, gate-to-gate streaming with your own device is available via Oryx One Play. 

There was a massive amount of content available. I counted over 150 films just under the Hollywood Movies tab. Despite the short flying time, I had sufficient time to watch two episodes of The Office. 

Helpfully, there are also two USB and EmPower universal sockets between the seats. These plugs are compatible with power plugs from over 170 countries. 

The one thing missing from the seat design is a holder or ledge to rest your device easily. You either need to construct a makeshift stand or hold the device in your hand. I did the latter/ That’s fine on a short sector but could become frustrating on a longer flight.

Food and drink

Qatar serves a small all-day platter on this short sector. The only choice is between a vegetarian or non-veg option:  

• Lemon and saffron labneh with Arabic break 
• Roast chicken spring roll and vegetable spring roll or
• Seasonal vegetable and cheese spring roll
• Strawberry tartlet

Considering the length of the flight, there was also an extensive range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available, including six wines and 11 types of tea.

The order was taken before take off. I chose the vegetarian option with a cardamon karak chai.

I am always impressed by how the cabin crew hustle on this short flight. Four minutes after taking off my tray, the table was set. I was the last passenger in the cabin to be served, yet my plate was delivered eight minutes after departure. 

The small platter was delicious, particularly the lemon and saffron labneh. On a longer flight, I would have asked for seconds. I found the quality and taste of Qatar’s food on these short flights consistently excellent.  

Booking with Avios 

I booked this flight using Avios from my British Airways Executive Club Account. The redemption cost was 21,000 Avios + £85.70 GBP. Considering one-way cash fares on this route are usually over AED 4,000, I thought that was excellent value. 

Earning Avios in the UAE is more challenging than Etihad Guest Miles or Skywards Miles. However, several bank cards in the UAE earn convertible points that can be transferred to other airline programs.

For example, the Emirates NBD Marriott Bonvoy World Mastercard earns Bonvoy Points that can be transferred to over 40 airline loyalty schemes, including Qatar Privilege Club and British Airways Executive Club. 

Is Qatar Airways regional First worth it? 

Qatar Airways in First has long been my favourite way to get from Doha to Abu Dhabi. This flight did nothing to undermine that view with an excellent crew, a comfortable seat, easy boarding despite the remote stand, a delicious snack and, of course, access to the beautiful Al Safwa Lounge (more on that later) before departure. Paying for the trip with Avios also meant it was extremely good value.