Last month, Men’s Journal announced the results of its best airlines of 2026 rankings, which were part of their 2026 Travel Awards. The publication writes, “We obsessed over every aspect of travel to make your next getaway unforgettable.” While it did not win any of the more specific categories, such as Best Airline for Comfort and Amenities, Qatar Airways stood out from the pack in the Best Airline Overall ranking.

The publication has created its overall airline award and the sub-categories by closely analyzing customer reviews, industry rankings, and airline policies. They have looked at the entire flying experience, including baggage handling and the inflight experience. Another aspect reviewed is the flexibility of the booking process and how each carrier’s frequent flyer program operates.

The Full Results Breakdown

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Men’s Journal has particular praise for Qatar’s QSuites Business Class, but it also writes that the fantastic service you can receive in this class extends throughout the aircraft. “What really puts Qatar on top is its commitment to quality that extends to Economy class, from generous legroom to tasty food and amenity kits,” it writes. Men’s Journal also points to the carrier’s award-winning Oryx One Entertainment system, which boasts 8,500 movies, audio, and television programs.

The table below shows the results for Men’s Journal’s best airlines rankings:

The Men’s Journal Travel Awards are also a great source of advice for other aspects of traveling, going far beyond just the carriers. Examples of the other categories include Best Travel Accessories, Best Travel Gadgets, and Best Luggage. As with the airline awards, each of these categories has been broken into sub-categories. For example, Best Luggage has a Best Checked Luggage classification.

A World Leader In Lie Flat Business Class

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Men’s Journal is right to point to QSuite as one of Qatar’s main differentiators, which secured it first place in Skytrax’s 2025 business class award. This product was launched in 2017, redefining commercial business class with lie-flat seating in mini-suites, a feature previously unique to first-class aviation. These suites have privacy doors and personal storage, usually configured in an incredibly spacious 1-2-1 layout. That gives every passenger direct aisle access without disturbing their fellow travelers. Many other carriers now offer this type of business class, yet Qatar’s QSuites stay ahead of the curve by offering twin, double, and quad suites. That eliminates the common problem with lie-flat business class, which can feel isolating.

Qatar combines this industry-defining hard product with excellent service, amenities, and ground experiences. Dine-on-demand means that passengers can decide exactly when they want to eat, rather than being at the mercy of the cabin crew’s schedule. The food itself is of excellent quality, with individual plating and course-by-course service. An example of a high-end main course commonly available is the braised beef short ribs with fondant potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and asparagus. Passengers can also enjoy fresh bread and small snacks if they get peckish between main meals.

The table below shows the seat dimensions, alongside the IFE screen size, that passengers can expect for their QSuite business class suite while flying on an A350 or Boeing 777-300ER, making use of the carrier’s data:

The jewel in the crown of Qatar’s business-class product is its Al Mourjan Business Lounge, located at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH). Passengers using this facility can enjoy a great range of international and local food options. There is also plenty of alcoholic, hot, and soft drinks available in the open bar. Meanwhile, the upstairs has à la carte dining for a more formal experience.

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An Expansive International Network

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Qatar offers a superb product across the classes, but that would be meaningless if the carrier didn’t offer its customers desirable destinations. However, the carrier offers a fantastic range of options for its customers, including mindbogglingly long routes served by modern, comfortable aircraft.

The table below shows the carrier’s top ten nonstop routes being operated from April to December 2026, measured according to maximum block time:

The second-longest route in this table is from Doha to Dallas. This route is incredibly popular. According to U.S. Department of Transportation data, Qatar served almost 400,000 passengers traveling to and from Dallas from December 2024 to November 2025. The carrier successfully filled 94.7% of the seats available. Qatar’s close relationship with American Airlines is essential for maintaining the success of this route.

What Simple Flying’s Contributors Are Saying

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Among the Simple Flying contributors who have enjoyed flying with Qatar is the YouTuber Paul Lucas, who traveled from Helsinki to Doha aboard A350 business class in 2020. He praised the comfort of the furnishings available to business class passengers, “Qatar’s bedding is excellent, with a wonderful velvet blanket, firm mattress support and a plump pillow ensuring even the shortest naps will be comfortable.”

Qatar has also received recognition from trip reporters beyond the Simple Flying ecosystem. The Museum of Wander traveled in Qatar’s economy class in December 2025, which was their first time flying with the carrier. “Qatar Airways economy class is for people who enjoy flying and expect the journey to be part of the experience, not something to endure,” they wrote. The reviewer compared the experience to Emirates, believing the food wasn’t quite as strong, but the overall experience was better.

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The Latest News From Qatar

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As a carrier based in the Gulf, Qatar has been profoundly impacted by the war in Iran. Since its beginning in late February this year, Gulf carriers have had to deal with periods of closed or limited airspace, along with an enormous increase in jet fuel costs. The way the carrier handles this crisis will determine whether it can maintain its reputation as the world’s leading carrier.

The step taken by Qatar that will impact its customers the most is the decision to suspend flights to 64 destinations in April, May, and June, which accounts for approximately a third of the carrier’s network. That will reduce departures by 27%. European cities featured in the suspension include Lisbon, Venice, and Oslo. There are also a number of suspensions in Asia, Australasia, and the Middle East. Routes to Atlanta, Boston, and San Francisco are also currently suspended.

The war in Iran has also augmented the types of aircraft that Qatar is using. It has grounded its Airbus A380s for at least two months, taking its eight active A380s out of service. A7-APC was the last to fly, with its final departure taking place on April 1. The current plan is for Qatar’s A380s to return on June 1, although the developing situation in Iran could lead to further changes.

Qatar Will Modernize Further With The Boeing 777X

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Qatar’s executives will hope that its substantial 777X order will allow it to maintain its position at the top of global aviation for years to come. Meanwhile, passengers will be able to enjoy the better comfort this new aircraft will offer. During President Donald Trump’s visit last year, the carrier placed a $96 billion order for 210 widebody aircraft, combining Boeing 787 and 777X models. This included firm orders for 130 787s and 30 777Xs, with 50 options that could be used for either model, and was the largest order made in the carrier’s history. Such a significant investment is a clear sign that Qatar believes Boeing aircraft are the future of its widebody fleet.

Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: “We are deeply honored that Qatar Airways has placed this record-breaking order with Boeing, one that solidifies their future fleet with our market-leading widebody airplane family at its center.”

Meanwhile, Qatar called the order a “critical next step” that could ensure its widebody fleet was young and efficient, reducing noise and air pollution, as well as operating costs. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said, “With this historic Boeing aircraft order we’re not simply chasing scale, we’re building strength that will allow us to continue to deliver our unmatched products and customer experiences.”