How to Make the Most of Qatar Airways First Class

Qatar Airways first class is the most luxurious way to fly this Doha-based Oneworld alliance member airline. Here’s what you need to know before flying Qatar Airways first class cabin.

What to expect flying Qatar Airways first class

Expect excellent service, access to the world-renowned first class lounge, Al Safwa at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, and lavish onboard extras, like exclusive amenity kits and luxurious pajamas.

• Bag allowance. All first class passengers may bring two carry-on bags totaling up to 33 pounds. For checked luggage, the number and weight of bags you’re allowed depends on the route you’re flying and the cabin class of the original ticket you purchased (as opposed to the cabin you end up flying). On certain routes, there's a maximum weight allowance; on others, it’s a bag limit. First class passengers flying to or from the Americas or Africa are allowed to bring two bags up to 70 pounds each. For all other routes, first class passengers can bring as many bags as they want, as long as they do not exceed 110 pounds.

• Boarding. Qatar boards in zones, with first class passengers receiving priority.

• Seats. When in the seated position, Qatar's first class seats are 23 inches wide between armrests. They fully recline to flat beds that measure 81 inches long and 33 inches wide. Qatar's first class cabin is available exclusively on its Airbus-A380 planes. The cabin features only eight seats, and each has direct aisle access. The seats are in a 1-2-1 configuration.

• Lounges. First class passengers have access to all of the first and business class lounges offered by Qatar, plus over 600 business and first class Oneworld alliance member airline lounges around the world.

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How to book a first class ticket with Qatar Airways

Booking a first class ticket with Qatar Airways is pretty straightforward, as you can complete the entire process online. From the Qatar Airways homepage, select the Book option and then choose flights. Enter your preferred route and travel dates, mark your cabin preference as Premium and click Show Flights.

This will bring up a list of available flights so you can see your booking options. You can filter the results by price, duration, departure time, arrival time or through city (if applicable).

How to get good value from your ticket

Since booking first class can cost a pretty penny, we've found a few strategies to get maximum value from your purchase.

Book a first class ticket from the outset to take advantage of premium perks

Qatar Airways baggage allowances and lounge access are based on the rules for your original ticket booking. If you opt to buy a cheap ticket then upgrade to first class later, you’ll be stuck with the fare class rules for your original ticket. This could mean no lounge access and lower baggage allowances.

» Learn more: Qatar Q Suites versus Emirates first class: Battle of the airline suites

Redeem miles for Qatar first class

To save money on airfare, you can redeem Qatar Airways Qmiles or miles of a partner airline. To see how many Qmiles you need, use the Qcalculator.

If you have Citi ThankYou points or Marriott Bonvoy points, you can sign up for Qatar’s loyalty program, Privilege Club, then convert your points into Qmiles. Citi ThankYou points transfer at a 1:1 ratio and Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio.

Some examples of award ticket prices include 64,500 Qatar Airways Qmiles to book first class one-way flights with Qatar from Doha to Paris. For the same route, it would cost you 62,500 American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

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Fly through Hamad International Airport to enjoy the first class lounge

The Al Safwa first class lounge, available to select passengers, is about as luxurious as a lounge can be. It has free spa services, hotel-like private rooms with showers and beds, and an impressive restaurant experience.

To get the most out of your first class ticket, fly through Hamad International Airport to experience this exclusive lounge.

» Learn more: Review: Qatar Airways first class review Al Safwa Lounge, Doha

Save your appetite for Qatar Airways first class food

Food is always a big reason to splurge for first. Between lavish lounge menus available to Qatar Airways first class passengers and Qatar’s signature a la carte dining during the flight (which includes a caviar tasting experience), you’ll want to save your appetite so that you can fully indulge and get your money’s worth.

Take advantage of Qatar’s stopover program

Qatar Airways has an extremely generous stopover program for passengers who transit through Doha. Not only do the free stopovers include a free visa, but they also allow you to select either a 4- or 5-star hotel from one to four nights at great rates.

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Final thoughts on flying Qatar Airways first class

Though Qatar Airways is best known for Qsuite — its ultra-luxurious business class offering — you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to book their exclusive first class cabin, especially if you’re transiting through the Middle East.